News

Patrick Ryan, of ABS visits Center for Infrastructure Renewal at RELLIS campus

February 17, 2023 by Pamela Mize

Texas A&M University hosted Patrick Ryan, Chief Technology Officer with American Bureau of Shipping this month to collaborate and discuss engineering research . The Center for Infrastructure Renewal (CIR) led by Director, Dr. Anand Puppala and his team which includes Dr. Nripo Biswas provided a tour of their research labs as well as part of the collaboration.

ABS has recently appointed Patrick Ryan as Chief Technology Officer to support continued development of ABS as a maritime technology leader.

Ryan has always been focused on cutting edge technologies around ships and ship building. Ryan’s background prior to joining ABS was in ship design, program management, and engineering leadership roles, at Newport News Shipbuilding.

Distinguished Professor Dr. Jimmy Williams, Jr. Tours the Texas A&M University Campus & Center for Infrastructure Renewal at RELLIS

February 17, 2023 by Pamela Mize

Dr. Jimmy Williams, Jr. was invited by Dean Dr. John E. Hurtado with the Texas A&M College of Engineering, for a discussion topic this week that included Hypersonics, Panda Powder, and Titanium Sponge and his new appointment as Senior Vice President and Chief Technology Officer at ATI, Inc. Williams joins ATI from Carnegie Mellon University, where he served as executive director and distinguished service professor of the interdisciplinary Engineering and Technology Innovation Management program. ATI, Inc. is a global producer of high performance materials and solutions for the global aerospace and defense markets, and critical applications in electronics, medical and specialty energy. ATI, Inc. is solving the world’s most difficult challenges through materials science. Previously, Williams was senior vice president of global engineering of Pall Corporation, where he led a 750-member engineering unit, driving global growth initiatives across its Life Science and Industrial Products business. This newly created role elevates technology at ATI, Inc. and accelerates progress on their product and process technology priorities, more directly enabling and aligning them with our business strategy.

Dr. Jimmy Williams, Jr. recently from Carnegie Mellon University is a Distinguished Service Professor of Engineering and Public Policy, Director of Engineering & Technology Innovation Management Program, and Professor of Technology for Product Management for the new iii Online program. Dr. Jimmy Williams, Jr. earned a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Texas A&M University, M.B.A. from Lindenwood College, Doctor of Science in Engineering and Public Policy from Washington University. He was also inducted into The Academy of Distinguished Graduates of Mechanical Engineering at Texas A&M University in 2021.

Dr. Williams has significant and practical experience in industry, employing both business and technical acumen as a proven business developmental strategist, operational leader, and technology and innovation manager. Previously, he has held roles as the Vice President of Global Engineering at Pall Corp, Senior Director of Research and Development at Alcoa Technology Advantage, and in research and development and program management positions at The Boeing Company.

During his visit, Dr. Williams toured the Hypersonics and Laser Diagnostic labs, and the Material Science and Engineering Labs on the Texas A&M University campus as well as the Bush Combat Development Complex on the RELLIS campus. He finalized his visit with a tour of the Center for Infrastructure Renewal (CIR) for a tour of the research labs with Dr. Anand Puppala the center Director at the RELLIS campus.

Dr. Anand Puppala Recently Named Director of the Center for Infrastructure Renewal at Texas A&M University RELLIS Campus

February 8, 2023 by Pamela Mize

Dr. Anand Puppala Recently Named Director of the Center for Infrastructure Renewal(CIR) at Texas A&M University RELLIS Campus

Dr. Anand Puppala, is currently A.P. and Florence Wiley Chair at Zachry Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Texas A&M University & Director of Center for Infrastructure Renewal (CIR).

As the Director of the Center for Infrastructure Renewal (CIR), a joint center between the Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station and the Texas A&M Transportation Institute, he leads the center as a global source for the development of transformative infrastructure solutions. Through cross-industry and government agency collaboration, the CIR facilitates the creation of state-of-the-art methods, technologies and solutions that society needs for infrastructure renewal. The CIR is a unique 138,000-square-foot research, testing and training facility, which was the first new facility on the Texas A&M RELLIS campus. The CIR currently houses researchers who are developing advanced and sustainable materials and structural systems that will reduce cost and extend infrastructure life, safety, resiliency and durability.

He has been conducting research on Stabilization of expansive soils, Sustainable utilization of recycled materials, Dams and embankments, In situ intrusive methods for site characterization, and Pavement material characterization studies. Dr. Puppala’s research is also highly regarded by the professional community.

Despite all of his positions, Dr. Puppala keeps busy discussing his students’ projects, working with faculties, and addressing different research issues. Dr. Puppala sits in various meetings throughout his day, he is a faculty member at the Zachry Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, and also participates in regular meetings with the Faculty on research on innovative ideas. Dr. Puppala tries to create opportunities and new networking lines at Texas A&M University College of Engineering as well as in other universities and industries.

Please congratulate him on his recent appointment as Director of the CIR.

NASA JSC Team Visits HVIL at the CIR

February 6, 2023 by Pamela Mize

NASA JSC Team and the HVIL led by Thomas Lacy at the Center for Infrastructure Renewal

In January 2023, NASA JSC team led by Drs. Eric Christiansen, the Hypervelocity Impact Technology (HVIT) lead, and Heather Cowardin of the Orbital Debris Program office toured the Hypervelocity Impact Technology lab at the Center for Infrastructure Renewal Center at the RELLIS campus recently.

The focus was road mapping research collaborations between NASA and the TAMU HVIL related to hypervelocity impact testing and analysis for shielding concepts related to micrometeoroid and orbital debris (MMOD) and other hypersonic vehicle applications.

CRH Americas Tours RELLIS Campus & Center for Infrastructure Renewal

February 6, 2023 by Pamela Mize

CRH Americas Associates, Dr. Anand Puppla, and Dr. Nripo Biswas

Dr. Anand Puppala, Director of the CIR provided a tour of the CIR on the RELLIS campus recently for CRH Americas. CRH Americas toured our research facility and collaborated with Texas A&M University regarding research. CRH Americas is the leading vertically integrated supplier of materials, paving and construction services across North America.

ERDC’s Geotechnical and Structures Laboratory (GSL) Visits CIR

October 24, 2022 by Kathrine Bradshaw

Earlier this month, the Geotechnical and Unbound Materials Innovation Lab and the Advanced Infrastructure Materials and Manufacturing Lab at the CIR were visited by ERDC’s Geotechnical and Structures Laboratory (GSL). The visitors included the Branch Chief of the Geotechnical Division, Mr. Chris Price, Dr. Lucas Walshire (Geotechnical Engineer), Dr. Joe G. Tom (Research Civil Engineer), and Samantha Lucker (Research Geologist).

Research underway at the CIR, located at the Texas A&M-RELLIS campus, encompasses all aspects of infrastructure, from concrete and asphalt to plastics and polymer additives. Dr. Puppala’s research group specializes in geomechanics and geotechnical aspects such as pavement and materials stabilization for infrastructure support and unsaturated and expansive soils characterization, and is part of the CIR’s Geotechnical and Unbound Materials Innovation Lab.

The GSL is dedicated to creating innovative solutions to support the nation’s security, defense, public safety, and infrastructure. This ranges from running the world’s most powerful centrifuge dedicated to engineering and scientific research to creating asphalt that quickly repairs remote airfields to developing rapidly deployable protection systems that shield buildings from damage.

As part of their visit, the GSL team was invited to present a TEES Tech Talk, along with touring several geotechnical laboratories with the Zachry Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, and the Center for Infrastructure Renewal (CIR). These included Dr. Marcelo Sanchez and Dr. Jean-Louis Briaud’s labs.

Dr. Puppala thanked the ERDC GSL team for their visit and possible future collaborations between TEES and ERDC.