Two Clemson University graduate students and their faculty advisors received the H.W.H. West Award for Best Overall Paper with a Graduate Student as the Lead Author at the 15th Canadian Masonry Symposium (CMS).
The winning paper, titled “Experimental Study on the Parameters Influencing Modulus of Rupture (MOR) for Masonry Beams and Comparison with Bond Wrench Testing,” was authored by Shreedhar KC, Aakash Basu, Laura Redmond and Ece Erdogmus.
Ece Erdogmus, Dean of the College of Architecture, Art and Construction (CAAC) and Laura Redmond, Associate Professor of Civil Engineering, collaborated on a series of projects funded by the NCMA Education & Research Foundation. The team presented two papers from this project at the 15th CMS, which was held in Ottawa, Canada, June 2–5.
The award was presented to lead author KC and Erdogmus at the symposium’s awards banquet.
“I’m truly honored that our work was recognized at an international level,” said KC, lead author and M.S. student in Civil Engineering. “This achievement is the result of the support, guidance, and collaborative spirit we’ve been fortunate to experience at Clemson. I’m grateful to be part of a team contributing to research that helps move the masonry industry forward.”
“This award is a powerful recognition of our team’s commitment to advancing the knowledge of masonry design and construction on a global stage and a testament to the quality of Clemson students,” said Erdogmus. “It also demonstrates the strength of collaboration between CAAC and the College of Engineering, Computing and Applied Sciences (CECAS) as we continue to tackle complex, real-world challenges in the built environment.”
Redmond and Erdogmus co-advise KC and Basu, both pursuing their Master of Science degrees in Civil Engineering.
“I’m thrilled for our students and our team to be recognized in this way. This cross-disciplinary team has worked in concert with industry partners to impact engineering practice through improvements to the masonry code. I am looking forward to building momentum for masonry research at Clemson because of collaborative efforts with Dr. Ece Erdogmus and CAAC,” said Redmond.
Jennifer Ogle, Chair of the Glenn Department of Civil Engineering in the School of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Earth Sciences, commented, “This achievement underscores the power of collaboration between the two Clemson University colleges working together to shape the future of the built environment and address real-world challenges in masonry design. At Clemson, we are deeply committed to research that not only advances academic knowledge but also delivers impactful results for the masonry industry. I’m incredibly proud of Shreedhar and Aakash and applaud Dr. Redmond and Dr. Erdogmus for their shared vision that drives our partnership with CAAC.”
The Canadian Masonry Symposium is part of a rotating series of international masonry conferences. Erdogmus, a fellow of The Masonry Society, served as chair of the most recent North American Masonry Conference in 2023.
The project reflects collaborative research efforts between CAAC and CECAS, providing students with applied research experience and opportunities to engage in interdisciplinary work related to international masonry and construction science, enhancing both research and the student experience.
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