PCI seeks research fellowship proposals for 20112012

CHICAGO — The Precast/Prestressed Concrete Institute (PCI) has issued a request for proposals for the Daniel P. Jenny Research Fellowships. PCI will offer several $20,000 fellowship awards for the 2011–2012 academic year.

The fellowships are designed to introduce graduate students to the precast and prestressed concrete industry through participation in meaningful research. The program is intended primarily for the support of candidates for master’s degree-level research. PhD candidates will also be considered.

Proposals should clearly describe the application of the proposed research to precast/prestressed concrete, potential contribution to the state of the art, timeliness of the proposed research, and possible impact on the industry market.

Support from a PCI Producer Member (or members) is an essential part of the program and ensures that the research results or implementation plan has possible benefits to PCI and its members. Fellowships generally conclude with a master’s degree thesis and a summary paper published in the PCI Journal.

Fellowship proposals should include the following information:
Title page with names of the university and research team
Description of the proposed research program (maximum of three pages)
Time and cost schedule, including additional support, if any
Brief resume of the faculty supervisor (maximum of two pages)
Brief statement by student candidate describing personal objectives and interest in the subject of the proposed research (maximum of one page)

Proposals must be received at PCI headquarters no later than February 21, 2011. Notification of the awards is expected to be made by April 29, 2011. Proposals should be submitted electronically to PCI’s managing director, research and development, Roger Becker, P.E., S.E., at rbecker@pci.org.

A list of research topics of interest to the industry is shown below. This list is provided only for guidance on topics and proposals need not be limited to these topics. Current research programs in development are also listed. These are potential programs under development by the PCI Research and Development Council and are most likely too large for a fellowship topic. However, smaller projects within the larger topic might be considered.

For more information about the fellowship and requirements, visit www.pci.org. Click on Technical Resources, and then click on Research and Development.

For questions or for assistance locating a potential industry research partner, contact Roger Becker at 312-360-3213 or rbecker@pci.org.

PCI Research Topics of Interest:
Performance of double-tee flange connections and joint leakage
Durability enhancement in precast concrete parking structures
Improved detailing of double-tee bearing plates
Diaphragm connection performance when subject to earthquake loading
Simplified seismic connections for precast concrete shear walls
Effects of reinforcement in anchorage concrete breakout zones
Simplification of anchorage calculations
Effects of early-age concrete on capacity of adhesive anchors
Lightweight concrete modification factor for shear friction
Effective shear friction coefficient for smooth surfaces
Minimum shear reinforcement in double-tee stems
Shear strength in end regions of pretensioned members
Effects of partial debonding of prestressing strands
Partially prestressed structural members
Release stresses in pretensioned members
Effect of multiple insulation layers on composite behavior of precast concrete sandwich panels
Precast concrete disaster resistant shelters satisfying FEMA and ICC requirements
P-delta effects for load-bearing panels subject to blast
Performance-based fire loading and design
Use of fiber reinforcement and FRP composites in precast concrete structural members
Cement replacement in concrete mixes
Camber prediction in bridge girders with high-strength concrete
Best practice for connection detailing in precast concrete adjacent box-beam bridges
Postcracking shear strength of bridge girders using self-consolidating concrete
Minimum spacing requirements for large prestressing strands
Simplified connections of prestressed bridge girders to deck

Current Research Programs in Development:
Dapped ends in thin stem members
Punching shear in load-bearing spandrel ledges
Disproportionate collapse
Standard test for strand bond