Speaker: John Sloan, PE, & Tim Sherrill, PE

Date: Thursday, June 26, 2025

Topic:  The I-26 Green River Bridge Rehabilitation

Presentation: Video

Summary: The I-26 Green River Bridge is the highest Interstate Highway-carrying bridge in North Carlina at 225 feet tall. Built in 1968, the bridge spans the Green River south of Asheville with parallel nonredundant steel tension member 2-girder steel structures with a main unit having spans of 260’-330’-260’. John Sloan, PE, AECOM’s North Carolina Bridge Program Manager, and Tim Sherrill, NCDOT Bridge Preservation & Repair Engineer, will give a presentation on the rehabilitation project that consisted of strengthening and rehabilitation of the bridges that included:

• Adding cover plates

• Adding stiffeners

• Replacing the existing lightweight concrete decks with a new single lightweight concrete deck

• Adding shear studs to the girder and stringer top flanges to make them composite

• Tying the two bridges together with floor beams to make them a single structure

• Widening the deck

The project team has provided a feasibility study, final design, design phase load testing, and construction phase services that include the instrumentation and monitoring of the structure. All steel rehabilitation and strengthening work is complete, two phases of deck pours are complete, and the final phase of the deck replacement work is anticipated to be complete this year.

Bio: John Sloan, PE, has served as the AECOM North Carolina Bridge Program Manager since 2016. He began working for AECOM in 2004 and has completed numerous feasibility, design, inspection, and rehabilitation projects. Outside of the office, he is active in his local church and enjoys spending time with his family while walking on the greenway, reading books, and coaching youth sports.

Tim Sherrill, PE, is a Bridge Preservation & Repair engineer with NCDOT’s Structures Management Unit.

Speaker: Daniel A. Vallero, Ph.D.

Date: Thursday, May 15, 2025

Topic:  Engineers as Human Health and Environmental Risk Managers: Computational Tools

Presentation: Video

Summary: Engineers perform a critical role as human health and environmental risk managers. Dr. Dan Vallero from Duke University's Pratt School of Engineering will present on the quantification of risk, the process of risk assessment, and the integration of computational tools in risk management. Key computational models, such as SHEDS-HT, and the application of machine learning in evaluating per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) will be discussed. The presentation will highlight the importance of adhering to the principles of sustainable development and the ethical responsibilities outlined by the ASCE and underscores the necessity for engineers to balance societal, environmental, and economic impacts while minimizing resource depletion and managing uncertainties.

Bio: Dan Vallero is an internationally recognized expert in environmental science and engineering. He has worked in both the executive and legislative branches of U.S. government on the most important environmental problems, including global scale atmospheric problems such as persistent, bioaccumulating toxins (so-called PBTs), ecosystem response to climate change and acid rain, and human risks posed by chemicals, such as cancer and endocrine disruption. His 22 textbooks address pollution engineering, environmental disasters, biotechnology, green engineering, life cycle analysis and waste management. The sixth edition of "Fundamentals of Air Pollution" will be released on May 9. At Duke University, Vallero led the Engineering Ethics program, a popular and innovative program that introduces students to the complex relationships between professional, scientific, technological and societal demands on the engineer. He has taught courses in air pollution, sustainable design and green engineering, and ethics. His recent research has focused on cheminformatics applied to exposures to toxic substances.

Speaker: Shane Underwood Ph.D.

Date: Thursday, April 17, 2025

Topic:  Advancing Pavement Engineering: Durability, Safety, and Resilience through Multiscale Research

Presentation: N.A.

Summary: Understanding and predicting pavement performance requires more than empirical observation—it demands a fundamental grasp of the mechanisms driving behavior across scales. This talk will highlight research from the Asphalt Multiscale Mechanics and Characterization (AM2C) Lab at North Carolina State University, which seeks to connect material-level phenomena to network-level outcomes through mechanistic modeling and multiscale analysis. Broadly, the talk will cover research performed at the AM2C Lab across three interrelated areas: (1) durability and structural performance, where microstructural damage mechanisms to long-term cracking and rutting predictions are linked; (2) pavement safety, where texture and friction are characterized and modeled to forecast crash-related risks; and (3) resilience to extreme events, where researchers are quantifying how thermal, moisture, and loading extremes impact performance, and develop predictive tools to assess future vulnerability. A common thread across these efforts is the use of mechanistically-grounded models to support predictive assessments and decision tools—providing practitioners with the means to anticipate performance, optimize interventions, and design more robust infrastructure. Together, these efforts support more durable, safer, and climate-resilient transportation infrastructure.

Bio: Dr. Benjamin Shane Underwood is a Professor, University Faculty Scholar, and Associate Head for Undergraduate Programs in the Department of Civil, Construction, and Environmental Engineering at NC State University. He earned his Ph.D. in Civil Engineering from NC State in 2011, following M.S. and B.S. degrees from the same institution. Prior to joining the NC State faculty, he served as an Assistant Professor at Arizona State University in the School of Sustainable Engineering and the Built Environment. Dr. Underwood’s research focuses on the multiscale behavior of asphalt materials and pavement systems, emphasizing performance prediction, safety, and resilience. His work spans fundamental material characterization, fracture mechanics, and network-level pavement management. He has authored or co-authored over 160 peer-reviewed journal articles, led more than 45 funded research projects, and mentored over 15 doctoral students to completion. His predictive models and analytical tools have contributed to the development of performance-related specifications and climate-resilient infrastructure strategies. He is also recognized for his outstanding teaching, receiving multiple university- and college-level awards. Dr. Underwood actively contributes to national and international committees in pavement engineering and currently serves as a Senior Editor for the Journal of the Association of Asphalt Paving Technologists and as Associate Editor for the Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering and Road Materials and Pavement Design.

Speaker: Sue Kranes and Joe Angell II, PE

Date: Thursday, March 20, 2025

Topic:  Federal Program Briefing

Presentation: N.A.

Summary: Sue Kranes from NC Military Business Center and Joe Angell II with a federal program briefing and members of the Advocacy Coalition talking issues and initiatives critical to successful execution of the federal program.

Bio: Joe is a professional engineer with over 38 years of hands-on leadership experience infrastructure and facilities management from budgeting and resourcing. Joe was also named the 2021 Eastern Branch Civil Engineer or the Year and helped create the 2020 Mentor Program. Sue Kranes joined the North Carolina Military Business Center in 2008 to support NC Business as a Federal Military Construction Specialist. In that capacity, she helped existing businesses identify, bid, and compete for architectural, engineering and construction contracts. Joe and Sue gave an excellent presentation on federal opportunities, Collaboration and political engagement in the military.

Speaker: Joseph Threadcraft, PhD PE

Date: Thursday, February 20, 2025

Topic:  Combined Sewer Systems

Presentation: N.A.

Summary: Joseph Threadcraft, PhD PE will present on approaches to eliminate combined sewer overflows. Combined sewer systems use a single pipe to receive and transport wastewater and stormwater. During heavy rain events, the volume of stormwater entering the pipe exceeds infrastructure capacity and results in the discharge of untreated flows to receiving waters. The overflows that result from this design negatively impacts the receiving waters. The US EPA has indicated that nearly 860 municipalities in the US have combined sewer systems.

Bio: Dr. Threadcraft earned his Ph. D. in Construction Management from Indiana State University, his master’s in civil engineering with an emphasis in water resources from Norwich University, and an MBA From Albany State University. He is licensed in seven (7) states and is the current President of TEI, a civil engineering firm that is licensed to provide professional engineering services in North Carolina and Georgia. Dr. Threadcraft has gained a wealth of experience in capacities outside of TEI. Dr. Threadcraft has obtained 35 years of combined experience related to civil engineering, program/project management and contract administration. He has had Responsible Charge for the design and construction of over $3 billion dollars of complex projects.

Speaker: Chas Webb PE, CFM, M. ASCE

Date: Thursday, January 23, 2025

Topic:  Engineering and Ethics

Presentation: Video

Summary: This presentation will focus on general ethical principles that relate to engineering. It will look at examples and case studies involving engineers. It will also examine the ASCE code ethics and how it applies to these case studies as well as other topics such as artificial intelligence. The presentation will also look at real-life events where ethical decisions had to be made and examining how people can fall into the trap of making unethical decisions.

Bio: Chas Webb is currently the ASCE Region 4 NC Governor. He also has served as the NC Eastern Branch President and NC Section President. Chas currently works for the City of Raleigh as an engineering supervisor overseeing the City’s Drainage Assistance and Stream Stabilization programs. He’s been with the City for seven years. Prior to working in Raleigh he worked for seven years as a project engineer for the Hamilton County Sewer Authority located in Chattanooga, TN. He has a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering and Master of Science in Engineering Management from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. He’s a registered engineer in North Carolina and Tennessee. In 2023, Chas was selected as one of Raleigh Durham’s ‘40 Under Forty’ by the Triangle Business Journal. Chas enjoys landscape photography, golf, and classic rock concerts.

Speaker: J. Darrin Holt, PhD, PE, F.ASCE

Date: Thursday, November 21, 2024

Topic:  Non-Destructive Testing Methodologies for Structural Assessments

Presentation: Video

Summary: Rehabilitating existing structures requires a thorough knowledge of their in-situ construction and condition. As-built plans often do not exist or may have been lost or not accurately represent what was built. When evaluating capacity, details regarding embedded reinforcing steel, foundation sizes and depths, and qualitative condition are integral parts of the Engineer’s investigation. Visual and destructive testing procedures have been commonly used, but can be time consuming and may not gather enough information. Towards this end, nondestructive testing (NDT) methods have been successfully used in industry to augment these inspections. Though helpful, careful consideration must be given to the particular methods employed to ensure the appropriate field measurements and data reduction techniques are used. This presentation will involve case histories to introduce and demonstrate some of the common problems and solutions encountered by the author through his work in the NDT field.

Bio: Dr. Holt is a licensed Professional Engineer with expertise in nondestructive testing (NDT) and advanced digital signal processing techniques used for evaluating civil structures. He is licensed in 48 States, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. His academic credentials include a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering, a Master of Science focusing on structural mechanics, and a PhD concentrating in computational and applied mechanics, all from NCSU. He is a pioneer in the development and implementation of Dispersive Wave Propagation methods used for infrastructure assessments and the author of many publications and field manuals. As an entrepreneur, Darrin was a co-founder of the FDH family of companies that offered NDT services throughout the western hemisphere, and subsequently grew to employ over 300 persons with offices in six US states.

Speaker: Tom Schipporeit, P.E., BC.GE

Date: Thursday, October 17, 2024

Topic:  Geotechnical Aspects of Stormwater Control Measure Design and Construction

Presentation: Video

Summary: The soil composition of many stormwater control measures is vital to achieving

their intended purpose. Determining the elevation of the seasonal high water table is an important step in the hydrogeologic design process for stormwater control measures. Some stormwater control measures require embankments for water storage, infiltration to remove and treat water, and/or liners to retain water to function properly. Critical construction issues include embankment materials, compaction, and outfall pipes; bottom infiltration rate verification, liner materials and installation, and filtration material testing. This presentation will address these issues and provide project examples.

Bio: Tom Schipporeit is a Senior Geotechnical Engineer with Terracon in Raleigh. He is a Professional Engineer and a Board-Certified Geotechnical Engineer. Tom received a Bachelors in Civil Engineering from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and earned a Masters Degree in Geotechnical Engineering from the University of Colorado, Boulder. He has 35 years of experience managing and executing a wide variety of geotechnical engineering projects. Tom has provided geotechnical recommendations and design for deep and shallow foundations, ground improvement methods, expansive soils, pavements, retaining walls, utilities, support of excavation systems, slope stability, seismic site classification, liquefaction, and stormwater control measures.

Speaker: Richard Kristof

Date: Thursday, September 19, 2024

Topic:  Next Generation Building Materials for Force Protection and Electromagnetic Security

Presentation: N.A.

Summary: In the realm of modern building materials, each component, from concrete to steel, plays a pivotal role in ensuring security and structural integrity. While steel might offer unparalleled strength, it is often cost-prohibitive and susceptible to corrosion. Concrete, once believed to be nearly indestructible, has evolved, but the emergence of a security-specific variant is relatively recent.

This presentation delves into the innovative science and practical experience behind this new building material, which excels at absorbing and dissipating energy from hostile threats while surpassing stringent ASTM building requirements. We will explore the technology's resilience and its capacity to shield structures from bullets, blasts, and high-impact incidents.

Furthermore, we'll shed light on ongoing laboratory advancements that aim to introduce electromagnetic protection for safeguarding sensitive infrastructure. Additionally, we'll showcase groundbreaking blast materials engineered to withstand even the most formidable 350 psi/ms blasts.

Join us to uncover the secrets behind this groundbreaking building material and the future of protective security.

Bio: As COO for TriHelix Investments, Richard Kristof works across portfolio companies in both managerial and advisory capacities. When the firm acquired 360 Ballistics in 2019 he worked to reshape the company into a high security materials licensee and led the process to create what has become Amidon Shield. The challenge to develop a next generation high performance shock absorbing material (HPSAM) was not without challenges. Along the way he received a patent for a ballistic fiberglass mold technology that would become the foundation for additional advanced research and development in the area of electromagnetic pulse (EMP) mitigation which continues to progress.

Richard is a longtime inventor and has pioneered adult learning technologies including learning management systems, (LMS), immersive world technologies, and financial services platforms. With 12 acquisitions totaling over $330 million to his credit and the startup and operation of several businesses, he is well rounded and prepared for anything. As a content creator he is responsible for over ten software applications, hundreds of training courses, and two bestselling book series with over 1.5 million copies sold. His work in financial services is a natural extension of his M&A background and history as a series 6 and 63 licensed dealer.

Speaker: Michael W. Johnson, PE

Date: Thursday, August 15, 2024

Topic:  Engineering Ethics – Ethics in the workplace (and life) – Focusing on choosing right v. wrong and recognizing the difference on a daily basis

Presentation: N.A.

Summary: As engineers, much of our job function and performance is directly related to public safety and quality of life. This presentation will illustrate the principles that engineers should embrace in order to uphold the highest standard of professional ethics. This topic applies to any profession, any job as well as daily life. This presentation examines the National Society of Professional Engineer’s; Engineer’s Creed, Fundamental Canons, Rules of Practice and Profession Obligations. We will also examine the topics of engineers' responsibility regarding; liability, standard of care, negligence and duty.

This presentation works through some real world examples of each of the above responsibilities and allows the audience to decide which actions are right or wrong.

The presentation is divided into 4 sections:

• Section 1: What does Ethics mean? To you as an individual, to the collective public.

• Section 2: History of Ethics, Current standards and practices

• Section 3: Ethics in Practice – Business/Life

• Section 4: Case Studies

Bio: Michael Johnson, P.E., received his BS in Civil Engineering from North Carolina State University and is a registered Professional Engineer in North Carolina. He worked as a consulting engineer for 5 years, and as a sales manager in the water and wastewater infrastructure market for approximately 17 years. As of 2019, Mike transitioned into a marketing role for engineered products and is currently the Southeast Marketing Manager for Concrete Pipe and Precast.

Speaker: John Briand, PE

Date: Thursday, June 27, 2024

Topic:  Planning the Drill: Best Practices and Key Considerations for Horizontal Directional Drilling Design

Presentation: Video

Summary: Trenchless utility installation methods, including Horizontal Directional Drilling (HDD), have become an essential component of infrastructure expansion and rehabilitation to address the challenges associated with crossing environmentally sensitive areas, such as streams, rivers, wetlands, and man-made obstructions, including highways, utilities, and railroads. A key consideration in designing HDD crossings is the widely varying geologic conditions in the Carolinas; from the coast to the mountains, the varying geology presents unique challenges and characteristics for trenchless installations. HDD is a complex operation that carries significant risk without proper planning and oversight. This presentation provides the framework to engage geotechnical and trenchless professionals to successfully design and construct pipelines and conduits using HDD methods. The presentation will include conceptual-level and final design considerations as well as construction oversight best practices and lessons learned. 

Bio: John Briand, P.E., is a Principal Geotechnical Engineer with 12 years of experience at CDM Smith Inc. in Raleigh, North Carolina. He is a registered professional engineer in seven states and the District of Columbia working on projects throughout the southeast and nationwide. Mr. Briand is responsible for supporting the design and construction of dams, levees, deep foundations, excavation support systems, retaining walls/bulkheads, and trenchless crossings on a variety of water, wastewater, commercial, federal, and large civil works projects.

Mr. Briand has prepared several papers for geotechnical conference proceedings and journals including the cover story in Deep Foundations Magazine May/June 2021 titled “Boston Waterfront Redevelopment: Re-Use of Existing Pier Piles to House Future Generations.” He is a member of the Deep Foundation Institute Ground Improvement and Micropile committees and an active member of ASCE, USSD, and ASDSO organizations. Mr. Briand has a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from the University of Massachusetts Amherst and a master’s degree in civil engineering with a geotechnical focus from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University.

Speaker: Christina Kranz, PhD

Date: Thursday, May 16, 2024

Topic:  Improving NCDOT Soil Best Management Practices using Compost and Wildflowers in Post-Construction Soils

Presentation: Video

Summary: How can we effectively use compost and wildflowers to improve soil function in disturbed soils? This presentation will cover several field experiments using wildflowers and compost in disturbed soils, and explore what was found to be effective to improve soil infiltration rate and vegetation cover. A multitude of soil properties were measured in these experiments.

Bio: Dr. Christina Kranz is a faculty member in the Department of Crop and Soil Sciences at North Carolina State University. She holds a BS in Environmental Science from Ithaca College, MS in Soil Science from University of Wisconsin - Madison, and PhD in Soil Science from NC State. She conducts research and provides training at the Sediment and Erosion Control Research and Education Facility. Christina has spent many years working with NCDOT to help improve their best management practices for soil improvements.

Speaker: F. Ross Stroud, CDM Smith

Date: Thursday, April 18, 2024

Topic:  The East Neuse Regional Pump Station - The Design, Construction, and Startup of one of NC's Largest Wastewater Pump Stations

Presentation: Video

Summary: Raleigh Water’s new East Neuse Regional Pump Station is part of a program to supplement the main arteries of their wastewater collection system and also aid in improving service for partner municipalities. This facility will allow removal of flow from the Neuse River basin and the Wendell service area from the existing lift station and interceptor system. In addition, the facility will allow diversion of flow from the Crabtree and Walnut Creek basins during extreme wet-weather events. This project presents CORPUD with an interesting challenge, however— how to design and build a pump station to operate efficiently with dry-weather flows in the range of 20 mgd, while still accommodating wet-weather flows exceeding 100 mgd. Adding to the challenge is the depth of the pump station dictated by upstream river crossings while avoiding inverted siphons or multiple pump stations.

This presentation will discuss aspects of pump station design, construction, and startup. Focus topics include physical hydraulic modeling to optimize the wetwell design, equipment and pump selection to accommodate the wide range of flows, construction challenges including deep excavation, river crossing, pipe connections and installation, and the startup coordination between the pump station projects and the interconnecting infrastructure.

Bio: Ross Stroud, P.E., is an Associate Engineer at CDM Smith in Raleigh NC. He has a B.S. in Civil Engineering from N.C. State University, and has been involved in the design and construction of wastewater and water treatment and conveyance systems for more years than he wants to admit. Ross is a member of NC One Water, and the Water Environment Federation. He is a native North Carolinian and now resides in Raleigh.

Speaker: David Ragan, P.E. and Nathan Wiggins, P.E.

Date: Thursday, March 21, 2024

Topic:  Perquimans River S Bridge Replacement

Presentation: Video

Summary: Stretching over the Perquimans River as it drains into the Albemarle Sound in northeastern North Carolina, a historic bridge connected the towns of Hertford and Winfall. Built in 1929, the previous structure carried a 0.6 mile long causeway of US17/NC37 on poor compressible soils including a 650 feet long bridge structure with a 161 feet Warren Truss Swing Span. Continued settlement of the causeway, flooding during severe weather, and deterioration of the structurally deficient Swing Span necessitated the replacement of the entire structure.

To replace the structure, NCDOT has embarked on its first movable bridge replacement through Design-Build procurement. McLean Contracting teamed with RK&K and Hardesty & Hanover to replace the existing structure with a new pile-supported bridge including 27 concrete approach spans and a new Steel Swing Span over the existing navigation channels for an overall length of 2700 feet. The approach spans consist of precast deck panel forms with a cast-in-place concrete deck pour, Florida I-beams, 30in. prestressed concrete piles and integral abutments. The Steel Swing Span consist of a stringer-floorbeam floor system with a lightweight concrete deck, and a Warren Truss.

Technical design requirements included strict adherence to durability requirements for concrete approach spans and concrete substructure, enhanced aesthetics of Swing Span and Control house, protection to turtle species, a new formulation for metallizing the Swing span structural steel, minimizing long-term machinery and electrical costs, and capabilities for remote operation of the bridge.

Speaker: Brian Ceccarelli, P.E.

Date: Thursday, February 15, 2024

Topic:  The Yellow Signal Light - Physics, Red-Light Cameras and Engineering Malpractice

Presentation: PDF

Summary: Mr. Ceccarelli introduced this topic to ASCE in 2017. Much as happened since then. For his new presentation, he will review the physics in the Institute of Transportation Engineer's (ITE) practice of determining the duration of the yellow light. Departments of Transportation use this ITE practice. The errors and omissions in the physics cause drivers to systematically run red lights. Red-light camera firms partner with governments, who together use the power of government to exploit these errors for profit.

Departments of Transportation have been adopting the ITE practice since 1965. On March 3, 2020, he and his colleagues convinced ITE to admit that its practice was wrong. ITE published a new practice which adopts their new math equation and rebukes zero-tolerance traffic law enforcement. Most DOTs, like the NCDOT, ignore the new equation. And ITE and the NCDOT continue to inject errors and omissions making everyone run red lights.

Mr. Ceccarelli's presentation includes news of current red-light camera law suits and proposed legislation in North Carolina. We will talk about cities continuing to operate red-light cameras in spite of state engineering boards' rulings that the red-light camera engineering plans lack signature and seal of a PE and/or a firm licensed to practice engineering. We will discuss why NC courts and NCBELS still refuse to oppose a standard of care which does not rise to the requirements of NCGS 89C.

Bio: Brian Ceccarelli has a degree in physics from the University of Arizona. Ceccarelli is a licensed professional engineer. He designs and builds software for engineering and science companies. He is currently employed by the Cooperative Institute for Research in the Atmosphere at Colorado State University.

Ceccarelli became interested in traffic signal timing when the Town of Cary, North Carolina bestowed upon him a red-light camera ticket. That motivated him to research government’s obligations to conform man-made ordinances to the laws of science. Mr. Ceccarelli currently serves as expert witness in traffic signal timing and photo-enforcement in North Carolina and New York. Ceccarelli has presented this subject for the National Society of Professional Engineers, the United Kingdom's Autonomous Vehicle Symposiums, ASCE, and other venues.

Speaker: Jim Talian

Date: Thursday, January 18, 2024

Topic:  CMAR Helps Preserve Downtown Businesses During Disruptive Construction

Presentation: Video

Summary: The Construction Manager at Risk (CMAR) process has helped a highly disruptive construction project in a downtown central business district to be performed while reducing impacts to the thriving but fragile downtown business community.

The features of the CMAR process that contributed to project success are the ability to select a CM based on their willingness to be flexible: the guaranteed maximum price which enabled the selected manager to successfully budget contingencies; the ability of the CM to select subcontractors based on capability and understanding; and the participation of the CM in the design process so that surprises during the project were minimized.

Bio: James Talian, P.E., has over 45 years of professional engineering experience, primarily in water resources engineering.

He has modeled flood plains in Kentucky and Missouri; regulated dams on the Mississippi River; designed subdivisions in St. Louis; developed management policies for multi-purpose reservoirs in Kentucky, Tennessee, Georgia, and Alabama; designed and managed water, sewer, stormwater, street, and building projects for the City of Lynchburg, Virginia, and currently serves as the Capital Projects Program Manager for the City of Fayetteville, North Carolina.

Mr. Talian has bachelor’s and master’s degrees in civil engineering from Penn State. He has been active in engineering licensing policy, and government affairs with the American Society of Civil Engineers and is currently chair of ASCE’s national History & Heritage Committee. He is a licensed professional engineer in North Carolina, Virginia, and Missouri.

Speaker: Chas Webb, PE, CFM

Date: Thursday, November 30, 2023

Topic:  City of Raleigh's Drainage Assistance and Stream Stabilization Programs

Presentation: PDF

Summary: The Drainage Assistance and Stream Stabilization programs are two City of Raleigh programs that help private residents with public flooding and erosion. Public flooding and erosion is classified as water that comes from City right-of-way or public land. These programs have helped dozens or residents with stormwater issues on their property. The programs are funded through the City stormwater utility fee.

This presentation will look at the history of the Raleigh Stormwater and the programs. It will identify goals, challenges and successes. It will also look at newly created Stream Stabilization program which was authorized by the City Council in 2022 to complement the Drainage Assistance program.

Bio: Chas Webb is an Engineering Supervisor that oversees the Drainage Assistance and Stream Stabilization programs. Chas has been with the City of Raleigh for 6 years. He’s a graduate of the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (UTC) with his B.S. in civil engineering and M.S. in engineering management, both from UTC. He’s a licensed engineer in North Carolina and Tennessee and is also a Certified Floodplain Manager. Chas is also the ASCE Region 4 Governor of North Carolina. He’s authored four books.

Speaker: Ghadir Haikal, PhD

Date: Thursday, October 19, 2023

Topic:  Computational Modeling of Interfaces in Complex Infrastructure Systems

Presentation: Video

Summary: The field of computational mechanics has witnessed significant advancements that have greatly improved our ability to model complex phenomena, ranging from large-scale structures to nanoscale systems, under conditions that cannot be replicated in a laboratory, and often at reduced cost compared to experimental testing. However, many challenges remain in the development of numerical models for complex infrastructure systems and composite materials where multiple components interact through an interface. Interfaces are critical pathways for load-carrying mechanisms that contribute to lifelong performance and structural resilience. Thus, it is crucial for the computational model to accurately capture the interface kinematics and force transfer processes, particularly in the presence of geometric and material nonlinearities, damage, friction and dynamics.

This presentation details the challenges and applications of interface modeling for coupled problems in engineering. I will introduce a new class of formulations that can efficiently handle complex interface interactions in structures and materials. I will discuss a physics-based model for accurate prediction of bond behavior in reinforced concrete (validated by experiments) that quantifies bond resistance from the material properties of steel and concrete constituents, as well as the mechanics of contact between them in the anchorage area. These new and robust interface formulations enable the modeling of complex structures for purposes of health monitoring and life-cycle management that also support the development of emerging materials and novel techniques for enhanced structural resilience.

Bio: Ghadir Haikal is an Associate Professor in Structural Engineering and Mechanics in the Department of Civil, Construction and Environmental Engineering at North Carolina State University. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering from Tishreen University, Syria and M.S. and Ph.D degrees from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, also in Civil Engineering. Prior to her current position, Dr. Haikal led the Computational Materials Integrity group in the Department of Materials Engineering at Southwest Research Institute (SwRI), and was an Assistant Professor of Civil Engineering at Purdue University. Dr. Haikal’s research focuses on developing advanced computational models for structural integrity and lifetime prediction in complex structures and materials. She is a Fulbright Fellow and is a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers, the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, the Society of Engineering Science and the United States Association for Computational Mechanics.

Speaker: Steve Williams, PE

Date: Thursday, August 17, 2023

Topic:  Back to Basics with Geogrids

Presentation: Online video

Summary: We’re going back to basics, but adding in new developments. For decades geogrids have been successfully utilized for subgrade stabilization and pavement optimization applications. During that time, the industry’s knowledge base has grown substantially. Recently, several new tools, methods, and products have been introduced that will enhance design capabilities

In this session, we will:

• Introduce geogrids used for soil stabilization applications and their performance mechanisms and benefits for construction

• Discuss fundamental concepts of Subgrade Stabilization using geogrids, other geosynthetics, and conventional methods

• Give guidance for design and a discussion of performance and specification criteria

• Provide a brief introduction to the concepts of Pavement Optimization using geogrid. We review the fundamentals of AASHTO flexible pavement design, show how geogrid can be properly integrated into the design, and discuss best practices for ensuring reliability in pavement performance.

• Discuss relevant case studies of these applications.

Steve is a 1995 graduate of Mississippi State University with a B.S. in civil engineering and has been a professional engineer since 2000. He has been working in the geosynthetics industry for over 10 years and loves the unique challenges that working for Tensar routinely brings. Prior to his current position with Tensar, Steve worked as the market manager for marine and ports which exposed him to a multitude of exciting projects worldwide. He currently lives in Wilmington, NC and manages the sales and marketing efforts of Tensar’s roadway applications in South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, and Washington, DC.

Speaker: Charles Webb

Date: Thursday, April 27, 2023

Topic:  Ethics in Engineering – A Lawyer’s Perspective

Presentation: N.A.

Summary: Charles Webb has been practicing as an attorney since 1959. He is a graduate of Alfred University and Albany Law School. He began his professional career as an Assistant Attorney General for the State of New York. Following that he worked in the private sector for many years in Syracuse. He also served as counsel to the New York House Majority Leader Perry Duryea. Mr. Webb helped write many legislative bills for the State of New York including the 1969 New York City school decentralization and 1971 New York City Rent Control Act.

In 1986, Mr. Webb began a law practice with Steve Berger, now Berger and Webb. Mr. Webb’s specialty is in eminent domain. He has worked on many high profile cases involving eminent domain such as the new Brooklyn Nets stadium and the Second Avenue subway in New York. He has been married to his wife Maritza for 40 years. He has a son Chas Webb and daughter-in-law Honey Minkowitz. In his spare time Mr. Webb enjoys playing golf, watching Syracuse games and being a reader at his local church.