Event Date
Abstract
The presentation will include an introduction of the topic, the theory behind it, connections with real-world problems and/or engineering practice, and gives one or more application examples.
Bio
Ayumi Manawadu is a Scholarly Assistant Professor in civil engineering at Washington State University (WSU). She obtained her Ph.D. and M.S. in Civil Engineering from WSU in 2022 and 2019, respectively, and earned a B.S. in Civil Engineering from the University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka, in 2015. Her current work focuses on the development of carbon-neutral concrete using nano-surface-modified biochar. For her Ph.D., she developed a novel Mode II fracture test to analyze the quality of shotcrete-concrete interface bonds. For her master’s study, she has developed a contact mechanics-based testing technique to detect low-velocity collisions on concrete using smart piezoelectric sensors. She has received a few research and teaching-related awards and grants, including the WSU John Osborne Outstanding Dissertation Award, AAAS/Science Program for Excellence in Science Award, WSU Voiland College of Engineering Outstanding Teaching Assistant Award, and has been named a CEE Rising Star by MIT. In addition, she has received the ASCE/SEI Futures Fund Tier 1 Young Professional Scholarship, the Society of Women Engineers’ Outstanding Collegiate Member Award, and was named an ACI Emerging Young Professional Leader.