centerforinfrastructurerenewal

2023 Energy and Power Research Day

May 23, 2023 by Pamela Mize

The 2023 Energy and Power Research Day sponsored by the TEES Smart Grid Center (SGC) and the Energy and Power Group of the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering was held at the Center for Infrastructure Renewal (CIR) located on the TAMUS RELLIS Campus on April 28, 2023.

Presentations on research projects and invigorating discussions provided opportunities for direct communication within the industry. The event was chaired by Dr. Thomas Overbye, SGC Director (Professor, Electrical & Computer Engineering, O’Donnell Foundation Chair III, Member, National Academy of Engineering).

One of the sessions held was a workshop titled, “Power System Cybersecurity Roundtable: Challenges & Opportunities in Grid Cyber-Physical Intrusion Response” chaired by Dr. Kate Davis (Assistant Professor, Electrical & Computer Engineering).

An optional technical tour of the SGC Control Room Lab offered hands-on activities and demos. More than 90 attendees participated in the event including several Smart Grid Center faculty, collaborators, their students, and industry representatives.

For more information regarding the event here: https://smartgridcenter.tamu.edu/2023/04/28/energy-and-power-research-day/

Texas A&M partners with Prairie View A&M to lead national transportation center

April 20, 2023 by Pamela Mize

PRAIRIE VIEW, Texas (KBTX) -Prairie View A&M University has been selected as the first historically Black college or university (HBCU) to lead a competitively awarded national-tier University Transportation Center by the U.S. Department of Transportation.

The National Center for Infrastructure Transformation at Prairie View will focus on improving the durability and extending the life of transportation infrastructure through its research, education, and technology transfer programs.

Prairie View A&M University will lead the National Center for Infrastructure Transformation as part of a consortium that includes several members of The Texas A&M University System, including Texas A&M University, Texas A&M Transportation Institute, and Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station. Other partnering institutions include Arizona State University, Michigan State University, Rutgers University, and Blinn College.

During a special ceremony Monday at the Willie A Tempton, Sr. Memorial Student Center on the campus of Prairie View A&M Texas A&M University System Chancellor John Sharp announced the $2.5 million commitment from A&M System.

Chancellor Sharp says the investment made by the Texas A&M University System is a sign of the trust that the system has in the leadership of Prairie View A&M University and its partnership with the A&M System.

“This historic first for Prairie View A&M University shows the power of its partnership with the A&M System, which made this success possible,” said Sharp. “Prairie View A&M University’s alliance with the Texas A&M Transportation Institute and Texas A&M University is an example of how this kind of collaboration makes it possible for us to compete against the best research institutions in the country and win.”

The National Center for Infrastructure Transformation at Prairie View will receive $4 million per year for the next five years and is one of only five awarded national-tier centers. Its focus will be on practical research to improve the durability and resilience of the nation’s transportation infrastructure for the next century. The Texas A&M System’s contribution will support the administration of NCIT, as well as its programs in education and technology transfer, freeing up more assets to pursue research in better ways to design, construct, and maintain transportation infrastructure.

“Today I stand before you as one of five center directors responsible for leading a national university transportation center for the next five years. The newly awarded National Transportation Center to Prairie View A&M University is unequivocally a historic achievement. Per my discussion with the Office of Sponsor program, this is the largest competitive award that Prairie View has received. So how did this occur? It was through the invisible but divine hands that brought all the right people together to develop a proposal document built on three key elements, and they were innovation, intentional, and unique. Innovation. Given the infrastructure, investment, and job acts, historic investment in American infrastructure, we would have to be about the business of describing how we would change and lead change regarding the statutory research priority to improve the durability at extending the life of the trans transportation infrastructure intentional, the message had to be clear to anyone reading the document that our commitment to leading change was deliberate regarding the projects and programs listed under the categories of research, education and workforce development and technology transfer and collaboration.”

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.