The Transportation Infrastructure Precast Innovation Center (TRANS-IPIC) had the honor of hosting 24 high school students during the Building with Memory session of the Grainger School of Engineering City Designers and Builders Camp. In the first part of the session, members of the Shape Memory and Structures research group and graduate students Alexander Chen, Siyoung Park, Ernesto Pérez-Claros, Kazi Ishat Mushfiq, and Osama Ibrahim as well as mechanical science and engineering professor Ann Sychterz presented information and demonstrations of equipment used by TRANS-IPIC researchers. In the second part of the session, students got to tour Newmark Crane Bay, seeing test setups for large-scale precast bridge girders and slabs.
The 24 students who participated ranged from those with a casual interest in the field of engineering to some already with goals of working in transportation infrastructure.
“I am very interested in civil engineering – specifically transportation engineering – and thought that this camp would be a great way to learn more about the major.”
-ManYi, Grade 11
“I want to be an influence to communities while using my love for math and physics, and wanted to learn what it takes to do so as a civil engineer.”
-Joshua, Grade 11
“[Precast concrete infrastructure] seems interesting, applicable, and helpful for society.”
-Matteo, Grade 12
Alex Chen, TRANS-IPIC educational activities coordinator and PhD candidate at the Grainger School of Engineering, said that this was a significant goal of the camp.
“We want to inspire more students to become involved in civil engineering and the transportation sector,” he said.
The session focused on showcasing innovations in precast transportation infrastructure, including shape memory alloys (SMAs), texture epoxy-coated bars, and 3D printed concrete. Demonstrations included activating SMA samples using heat, energy and induction, prompting interaction from the students.
“They began asking great questions,” Chen said.
“The most interesting thing I learned today was the possible future applications of memory retaining materials in structure and what it could mean for the life of things like bridges or buildings”
-Sabelle, grade 12
“I liked the demo with the metal coils that were heated and went back to their original shape.”
-Natalie, grade 11
“I thought the SMA’s were very interesting. They don’t deform easily and can’t ‘rebound’ to their original shape.”
-Nina, grade 11
According to Chen, TRANS-IPIC events that reach out to students is a favorite amongst himself and the other TRANS-IPIC graduate students and faculty. It’s also a critical part of TRANS-IPIC’s mission.
“High school students will play a critical role in building our future,” he said. “Engineering degrees will equip them with the tools needed to tackle tough problems, and events like TRANS-IPIC’s session are important in inspiring them to pursue engineering career paths.”
Photo Gallery
TRANS-IPIC is a Tier 1 University Transportation Center (UTC) funded by the USDOT and is working to develop solutions for the transportation infrastructure challenges by innovating precast concrete related technologies that are durable, safe, and economic.