Joshua Steelman is pursuing his PhD at UIUC while assisting with an ICT project to calibrate and refine Illinois’ earthquake resistance system strategy (R27-70). This project will develop refined seismic design criteria specific to the needs of Illinois.
Joshua elaborates on his current research, “This is a unique project, where we are pushing full scale test specimens to large displacements, and doing so with a mixed-mode control program that I personally wrote, specifically for these experiments, to coordinate the forces and displacements of three individual actuators so that they work in sync. It’s similar to replicating what NEES is doing with the LBCBs, except that these tests are constrained to a two-dimensional plane instead of moving in three dimensions. The body of knowledge that I’ve gained from conducting these tests is invaluable. When I look back on this experience, I think what will come back the most is the sheer scope of what has been done for this project.”
Post PhD and ICT, Joshua’s intent is to pursue a career in academia. He says, “When I started my PhD, I was working in the MAE Center on regional risk assessment (specifically, focusing on what would happen in Memphis, TN, if the 1811-1812 New Madrid earthquakes were to repeat). When I was offered the opportunity to work on this ICT project, I saw it as a chance to round out my credentials when applying for academic positions. I already have almost four years of design experience working in a structural engineering firm, but that experience is entirely based on buildings. This project expands my knowledge base to include bridge design, and also provides experimental research experience! The knowledge and experience that I will have at my disposal upon completion of this project will expand the range of positions that I can apply for tremendously when I am searching academic openings within the next year. In my ideal world, I’ll teach and perform research at a major university, and also engage in limited consulting on the side, but that may be too ambitious. I’ll just have to see how things work out in the next 10 – 20 years…”
Joshua is originally from Fayetteville, a small town in southern-middle Tennessee and that may be part of why he likes Champaign-Urbana, which like Fayeteville, he says doesn’t feel like a big city and is relaxed. He adds, “Still, if you want something that can only be found in a major city, Chicago is near enough for a day trip. For me, that’s just about perfect.”
Joshua previously attended the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, where he earned a Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering in 2001. He then worked in Huntsville, AL, for a small structural engineering firm that primarily provided design services for architects.
Regarding his work with ICT, Joshua says, “It has certainly been enjoyable to dig through details and explore parametric sensitivities as a fundamental component of research. I’m pleased that IDOT is engaging with the University through ICT. I think it is a mutually beneficial arrangement, and I’m personally pleased and grateful to have such a wonderful opportunity to provide a service to IDOT while simultaneously expanding my own store of knowledge and skills that can be leveraged in future endeavors.”
Photos: (top) Josh Steelman, (bottom) Josh demonstrates the testing equipment to the IDOT technical review panel with other students working on the project, Evgueni Filipov and Jason Fifarek.