OasisLMS

This is a recorded webinar from July 26, 2023.

This webinar is jointly sponsored by NEx: An ACI Center of Excellence for Nonmetallic Building Materials and the American Concrete Institute (ACI).

Civil engineering education is constrained by tradition and conservatism. For over 100 years, structural engineering courses have emphasized two paradigms for commercial buildings — reinforced concrete and structural steel. While it is true that wood and masonry structures also receive some attention, those topics are always less prominent and often reserved for graduate courses. The recent emergence of nonmetallic materials places is a new challenge for educators. The civil engineering curriculum is considered “full”, and it is hard to keep adding new topics without removing something. How then can advocates of nonmetallic materials ever hope to establish a foothold that would lead to an educated professional who carries enough knowledge to specify novel materials? This talk explores how codes and standards drive the education agenda. Educators strive to prepare engineers for the profession, but their understanding of the profession is too often constrained by conventional construction methods (and their own college courses years in past). Advocates for nonmetallic materials need to understand how current codes constrict usage of novel materials, and then address the need for codes that invite innovation. This presentation will assess the current state of civil engineering education, and present a vision for the future.

1. Review the history of structural engineering education and the role of design codes.
2. Identify “entry points” for innovation and new materials in existing courses.
3. Explain the need for codes and construction practice as a foundation for courses dedicated to nonmetallic structural materials.
4. Describe how the current literature and new codes might develop new content for future civil engineering education

View the recorded webinar. Complete 10-question quiz with a score of 80% or higher to receive a certificate for 0.1 CEU (1.0 PDH).
Continuing Education Credit: 0.1 CEU (1.0 PDH)
Approved AIA and ICC
Access Period: 30 days