Resume

• 2009

  Master of Business Administration (MBA)

  Business Administration and Management

  General

  West Texas A&M University

• 2004

  Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

  Civil Engineering

  Iowa State University

• 2002

  Master of Science (MS)

  Civil Engineering

  Iowa State University

• 3.3

  Bachelor of Science (BS)

  Civil Engineering

  Iowa State University

• Wind Engineering

  Engineering

  Public Speaking

  Structural Engineering

  Research

  Statistics

  Higher Education

  Finite Element Analysis

  Matlab

  Microsoft Excel

  Renewable Energy

  Structural Analysis

  Microsoft Office

  AutoCAD

  Structural Behavior and Design of Barrier-Overhang Connection in Concrete Bridge Superstructures Using AASHTO LRFD Method

  Seungyeol Lee

  Kamal Mirtalaei

  Structural Behavior and Design of Barrier-Overhang Connection in Concrete Bridge Superstructures Using AASHTO LRFD Method

  Aaron Hunt

  This study examines usage patterns of educational websites that employ databases

  wikis

  and\ngeneral resources for information sharing and dissemination. To gather data about website usage

  \na quantitative survey was sent out to students and to the users of an existing educational website.\nAdditionally

  participants provided data on learning preferences and practices. Findings from the\nsurvey show that users visit an education website for finding information and getting connected to\na community. The survey results also show that while communicating information should remain\na top priority

  educational web sites will need to adapt to an increasing desire for interpersonal\ncommunication within their own online communities.\nKeywords: uses and gratification

  online courses

  online education

  educational websites

  \nsocial media

  and social networking

  Study of Internet Visitors on College Education Websites

  Gerald Chen

  Many advances have been made during the last decade in the development and application of computational fluid dynamics (CFD)

  finite element analysis (FEA)

  numerical weather modeling

  and other numerical methods as applied to the wind energy industry. The current information about this area of study may help researchers gage research efforts. Specifically

  micro-siting

  wind modeling and prediction

  blade optimization and modeling

  high resolution turbine flow modeling

  support structure analysis

  and noise prediction have been the main focuses of recent research. The advances in this area of research are enabling better designs and greater efficiencies than were possible previously. The trends toward system coupling

  parallel computing

  and replacing experiments are discussed. The shortcomings of recent research and areas of possible future research are also presented.

  Review of Computer-Aided Numerical Simulation in Wind Energy

  Michael Neill

  A major problem with high-mast light poles is the effects that wind vortex shedding can have on the pole itself because of the lock-in phenomenon. It is desired that the coefficients in the AASHTO Standard Specifications (5th edition) for Structural Supports for Highway Signs

  Luminaries

  and Traffic Signals be analyzed and refined. This is for the belief that the span of the shapes of poles for which the coefficients are used is much too broad and a specific coefficient for each different shape is desired. The primary objective of this study is to develop wind vortex shedding coefficient for a multisided shape. To do that

  an octagonal shape was used as the main focus since octagonal cross sectioned high-mast light poles are one of the most common shapes in service. For the needed data

  many wind parameters

  such as the static drag coefficient

  the slope of aerodynamic lift coefficient

  Strouhal number

  the lock-in range of wind velocities producing vibrations

  and variation of amplitude of vortex-induced vibration with Scruton number are needed. From wind tunnel experiments

  aerodynamic parameters were obtained for an octagonal shape structure. Even though aerodynamic coefficients are known from past test results

  they need to be refined by conducting further wind tunnel tests.

  Development of Wind Vortex Shedding Coefficients for a Multisided Cylinder Structure

  David Carr

  Gerald Chen

  Wenlei Bai

  Advanced Materials Research

  Small wind turbine power performance testing with uncertainty analysis

  INSTALLATION OF 42 KW SOLAR PHOTOVOLTAICS AND 50 KW WIND TURBINE SYSTEMS

  Gerald Chen

  David Carr

  Yudan Xie

  Journal of Green Building

  A solar photovoltaic (PV) system and a wind turbine system are to be utilized to reduce\nenergy use from the electrical grid consumption at West Texas A&M University\n(WTAMU) through the use of renewable energy. WTAMU’s Alternative Energy\nInstitute (AEI) performed the installation of the PV/wind turbine systems.\nA 42 kW PV system located at the Palo Duro Research Facility (PDRF) is suitable\nto offset the energy use of the PDRF since the energy consumed by the facility is\nprimarily during the daytime

  with a peak energy use of approximately 225 kW. The\nexpected energy match of 42 kW compared to the typical daily energy consumption of\nthe building (75–80 kW) will have a significant impact on grid energy cost for this\noffice and research space.\nA 50 kW wind turbine system located at WTAMU’s Nance Ranch produces the\nenergy required by its cattle feedlot operations. It consumed approximately\n125

  000 kWh of electricity based on data monitored from June 2011 to May 2012.\nThe majority of the energy use at this facility

  is consumed on a schedule based upon\nfeeding operations

  grinding

  mixing

  and loading the feed. In addition

  there is\ncontinual energy used for maintaining proper heat in the feed additives

  as well as for\nthe steaming and cracking process for feedstuffs.

  INSTALLATION OF 42 KW SOLAR PHOTOVOLTAICS AND 50 KW WIND TURBINE SYSTEMS

  Taehee Jung

  Todd Couch

  Mark Bourland

  The number of permits for superheavy loads crossing Texas bridges has steadily increased over the years

  and compared with several other states

  the criteria that establish superheavy-load status are generous. The result is that many Texas bridges experience high-stress loads that cause accelerated deterioration. In this study

  bridge load and rating factors and the validity of the criteria for establishing superheavy-load status are evaluated. The primary objective of this study was to evaluate Texas superheavy-load criteria for bridges. To accomplish this

  field tests for the response behavior of a bridge subjected to overweight vehicles and a parametric study using finite element analysis were utilized to extract bridge criteria triggers. The field-verified solid model and related parametric study show that the Texas superheavy-load criteria are valid for the study bridge type. Load ratings computed using the distribution factors determined in this study show that the evaluated bridge has much reserve capacity

  even for short 1

  023 kN (230 kip) and longer 1

  383 kN (311 kip) superheavy loads. The parametric study using finite element modeling shows that the criteria adequately protect this bridge type. Because the criteria are based on prior permitting by Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT)

  a graphical version of the criteria might serve TxDOT and carriers better than do the gross vehicle weight limits alone. Long term collection of load frequency and load level data from a relevant bridge would help TxDOT determine the effects stress level variations have on the life of Texas bridges.

  Evaluation of Texas Superheavy-Load Criteria for Bridges

  Seungyeol Lee

  Kamal Mirtalaei

  Optimization of Post-Tensioned Box Girder Bridges with Special References to Use of High Strength Concrete Using AASHTO LRFD Method

  An experimental study was conducted on green roofs under the semi-arid summer climatic conditions of West Texas to investigate the effect soil type

  moisture content

  and the presence of a top soil grass layer on the conductive heat transfer through the roof. Two soil types were investigated: uniform sand and local silt clay. Tests were also conducted on a control roof. A dual-needle heat-pulse sensor was used to conduct thermal property tests on the soils. The tests reveal that unlike sand

  the thermal conductivity of silt clay did not increase continuously with soil moisture. Better heat transfer conditions were achieved when the sand and silt clay roofs were watered to a water depth of 10 mm per day rather than double the amount of 20 mm per day. The roof with silt clay soil had the lowest fluctuation in inner temperature between daytime and nighttime. Green roofs with silt clay soil required more than twice the amount of soil moisture than green roofs with sand to achieve similar roof heat transfer rates. The best net heat flux gains for vegetated green roofs were 4.7 W/m2 for the sand roof

  and 7.8 W/m2 for the silt clay roof.\n\nKeywords: Semi-Arid Climate

  Green Roof

  Thermal Conductivity

  Silt Clay

  Heat Flux\n

  Experimental Heat Transfer Study on Green Roofs in a Semi-Arid Climate during Summer

  David Carr

  Gerald Chen

  With the expansion of wind energy development

  there is a need to update wind data periodically for the state of Texas for developers and landowners to see if their properties could support wind turbines. This study presents an updated wind power map and a Windtane contour map of the state of Texas. The Windtane map shows the height above ground level needed to reach a baseline wind power level of 350 watts/m2. This level is where the middle of class 3 wind power occurs and is widely considered to be the lower limit of the annual power level fort wind turbines to be economically viable for installation. The Windtane map using ArcGIS can be reconfigured to represent different power levels if need to. Both maps use a ‘certainty zone’ concept to constrain the areas where wind power is projected and to give increased confidence in the data to those areas projected into.

  Windtane contour map of the state of Texas

  David Carr

  Testing and resource assessment for Texas

  New Mexico

  and Oklahoma have shown that renewable energy can provide a significant portion of the energy needs for the region. The Alternative Energy Institute at West Texas A&M University has been collecting resource data since 1978 and placing test projects for specific research topics for renewables at WTAMU and selected field sites. The potential for renewables and how they have merged into the existing grid and community/home/ranch use shows that these technologies have a place in the region of the Texas/Oklahoma panhandles. The potential for power production with reduced use of water is also important for this region.\n\nThis paper presents the success stories

  the potential downsides

  and the lessons learned from 30 years of renewable energy research. The focus is to provide evidence that renewables have a place in the energy plans of the Desert Southwest

  and if properly placed and planned

  are a long-term sustainable energy solution.\n

  RENEWABLES IN THE DESERT SOUTHWEST: SUSTAINABLE

  SUITABLE

  AND SUPPLEMENTARY

  Todd Couch

  Hao Zou

  Brent Phares

  Thermal Analysis of a Highway Overhead Support Structure

  Performance Prediction of a Multi-Stage Wind Tower for Indoor Cooling

  Partha Sarkar

  Brent Phares

  Development of a Procedure for Fatigue Design of Slender Support Structures Subjected to Wind-induced Vibration

  Brent Phares

  Partha Sarkar

  A Time-Domain Model for Predicting Aerodynamic Loads on a Slender Support Structure for Fatigue Design

  Aerodynamic Parameters on a Multisided Cylinder for Fatigue Design

  Chang

  University of New Haven

  West Texas A&M University

  Iowa State University

  Arizona Department of Transportation

  Alternative Energy Institute

  Canyon

  TX

  Administration\nResource Assessment and Testing\nWorkshop

  Training and Education\nApplied Research

  Director

  Alternative Energy Institute

  Several Bridge Design Projects (2007-2009)\nArizona Department of Transportation LRFD Bridge Design Guideline (2008)\nArizona Department of Transportation LRFD Box Culvert Design Standard (2008)

  Arizona Department of Transportation

  Research Assistant

  Wind-Tunnel Testing for a Multisided Slender Support Structure (2006-2007)\nLong-term Monitoring of Highway Slender Support Structures (2004-2006)\nMonitored the Launched Bridge Behavior (2002-2004)\nNonlinear finite element modeling for Iowa River Bridge (2002-2004)

  Iowa State University

  West Texas A&M University

  Canyon

  TX

  Institutional Service (2009 ~ Present):\n•\tCivil Engineering Curriculum Development\n•\tChair of Faculty Search Committee\n•\tEngineering Scholarship Committee\nResearch (2009 ~ Present):\n•\tEvaluation of Superheavy Load Criteria for Bridges \n•\tStructural Aerodynamic analysis for Slender Support Structures\n•\tSmall Wind Testing\nTeaching (2009 ~ Present):\n•\tStatics\n•\tStructural Analysis\n•\tSteel Design\n•\tFundamental of Engineering\n•\tComposite Materials\n•\tComputer-Aided Structural Analysis\n•\tComputer-Aided Draft Design.\n•\tComputer Programming\n•\tRobotics

  Assistant Professor

  West Haven

  CT

  University of New Haven