BiWeekly Newsletter
aculty, Staff, and PhD Student Updates F
Dr. Delong Zuo accepts NSF Grant in Civil, Mechanical, and Manufacturing Innovation: Dr. Zuo
is the recipient of an NSF Grant for Hazard Mitigation and Structural Engineering. This three‐year project will encompass developing “a model for wind‐ and rain‐wind induced vibrations of stay cables on cable‐stayed bridges. The problematic vibrations under study were first observed thirty years ago and today still elude full understanding. This research program will conduct wind‐tunnel tests of circular cylinders as sectional models of stay cables. The data so‐ obtained will be used to carefully supplement existing field observations of stay cable vibrations obtained through long‐ term full‐scale measurement. The experimental results will facilitate identification of the mechanisms that induce the vibrations and quantification of the core parameters that describe the phenomenon, on the basis of which a practical model for the vibration will be developed.” Everyone at WISE would like to congratulate Dr. Zuo on his grant approval!
Dr. Weiss prepares for his interview.
Patrick Skinner and Brian Hirth prepare the StickNets for their shot beside the Ka‐Band Radar Truck. Photos courtesy of Liz Inskip‐Paulk
DIY Network Films at Reese: Do‐It‐Yourself
Network’s “Deconstruction” was on‐site at Reese to film segments on August 4th for an upcoming show. The show’s producers toured the Reese Technology Center with Carol Ann Stanley; interviewed Dr. Chris Weiss about Ka‐Band Radar, Stick Nets, and tornados; Dr. Ernst Kiesling about safe rooms; Dr. Darryl James about the VorTECH Simulator; and Kelly Havens demonstrated the Debris Impact Cannon. The show explores the technologies in home improvements. Please see the show’s website for more details and airing schedule. The air date for this episode has not yet been released. The WISE center wishes to thank all faculty, staff, and students involved at Reese and on TTU main campus for making the filming a success!
Issue 11, August 13, 2009
Photo courtesy of Bruce Haynie and West Texas Mesonet
Mesonet Damage Survey Pictures: See Page 2
We need your news! Please send us what you’re up to in the world of Wind. Have you published something recently? Have you won an award or applied for a grant? Inquiring minds want to know! This newsletter cannot go on without your help. Send
us your happenings here. Thanks!
In other news:
• The McDonald‐Mehta Lecture Series is set! Check out the brochure here. Hope to see you all there! • WISE PhD Program is touted in Houston’s Change Magazine in the article “Finding a job in a tough economy…It’s all about sustaining” Check it out here on page 32. WISE Guns Up Photo Contest! We challenge you to test your skills and combine your school pride with your love of wind. Please submit your digital photos incorporating anything wind and you with your Guns Up for a chance to win. All staff, faculty, and students affiliated with the WISE Center are eligible to win. Two submissions per person only. Outside/unaffiliated entries will not be considered as this is an internal WISE contest only. The Prize: 2 tickets to the TTU vs. New Mexico football game on Parents Weekend October 3rd. These tickets are on the 50 yard line and only 10 rows from the field on the West side of Jones Stadium with aisle access. All submissions should be emailed to Kelsey Seger. All photos submitted will be judged by a panel comprised of members from faculty, staff, and students. Panel members will not judge their own entries. All photos and the images contained therein which are submitted to the contest become the property of the WISE Center and may be reproduced for any purpose with proper photo credit to the author. Submission deadline is September 8th at 5:00 pm. Judges will dileberate on September 9th and a decision will be announced in the WISE Bi‐Weekly Newsletter on September 10th. If there are any questions or concerns, please direct your inquires to Kelsey Seger. Give us your best guns up and May the best picture win!
Photos courtesy of Wes Burgett and the West Texas Mesonet
Mesonet Damage Survey Pictures: Wes Burgett and the West Texas Mesonet Team have posted new pictures from Childress, TX on July 30th here. Wes reports that Childress reported severe gusts, downbursts of wind, had a gust of 102mph at the airport, and the Mesonet hit 80 mph north of town. Please take a look at the damage survey pictures to see the power of wind! Also, be sure to check out the West Texas Mesonet site often for the latest weather details.
Photo courtesy of Guns Up Gallery
Red Panda at Tokyo Zoo Atsugi, Japan Photos Courtesy of Andrew Widmer
Issue 11, August 13, 2009