CEE Ph.D. Candidate Sheila Ariana Completes First Phase of O. H. Ammann Research Fellowship
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CEE PhD candidate Sheila Ariana has been awarded the prestigious O. H. Ammann Research Fellowship by the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) for the creation of new knowledge and advancements in structural design and construction.
Ariana is a graduate research assistant on a project titled “Century-Scale Carbon Sequestration in Cross-Laminated Timber (CLT) Composite Bolted-Steel Buildings,” which consists of two phases. She has now completed the first phase of the project, leading to the innovation and design of novel cross-laminated timber composites that enhance performance, serviceability, local availability, strength, and sustainability in wall and floor systems as green building materials.
As part of her ASCE research through the O. H. Ammann Fellowship, Ariana visited several completed and ongoing CLT and mass timber projects, structural laboratories, and manufacturing companies across the United States. During these visits, she met with design team members, industry experts and university professors. These visits provided her with valuable hands-on experience and allowed her to collect comprehensive data on the practical applications of CLT, helping to bridge the knowledge gap between academic research and industry practice.
Her visits included the University of Washington, Washington State University, Oregon State University, ICCU Arena at the University of Idaho, Mercer Mass Timber, various construction sites, and the offices of prominent firms active in the mass timber industry.
The second phase of her project involves full-scale testing of CLT diaphragms. The site visits provided Ariana with unique insights into practical processes in this emerging field, which will be incorporated into the second phase of her academic research to improve its readiness for immediate real-world application in the industry.
