Capstone Engineer - Spring 2012

S p r i n g 2 0 1 2

The SouTh engineering reSearch cenTer is the first building dedicated solely

to engineering since 1960.

capSTone engineering

SocieTy1-800-333-8156

David g. couringtonChair, Board of Directors

charles L. Karr, phDDean, College of Engineering

nancy holmesManager, Capstone Engineering Society

adam JonesEditor

Katy echolsAssistant Editor

issue no. 45Capstone Engineer is published in

the spring and fall by the

Capstone Engineering Society.

Tori e. nelkoDesigner

Benita creppsProofreader

Jeff hanson, Samantha hernandez, Zach rigginsPhotography

address correspondenceto the editor: The University of Alabama

Capstone Engineering Society

College of Engineering, Box 870200

Tuscaloosa, AL 35487-0200

Visit the College of Engineering

website at www.eng.ua.edu.

The University of Alabama is an

equal-opportunity educational

institution/employer. MC8304

2 South Engineering Research Center

4 The Structure to Protect

8 Built with the Future in Mind

12 Power for Technology

17 News

20 Surveying the College

26 Construction Update

30 Construction Update Foundry

31 Alumni Notes

33 In Memory

35 Events

D e a r a lumn i a n d F r i e nd s ,Engineers have always strived to build what is needed for today by attempting to solve tomorrows problems. While todays problems are being solved, we must train tomorrows engineers and computer scientists, our students at The University of Alabama College of Engineering, for the challenges ahead. The third phase of the Science and Engineering Quad on campus is the Colleges offering not just to todays research but also to the future of our field.

Nestled across the street from Ferguson Center is the South Engineering and Research Center, offering leading-edge research into some of the biggest challenges in the fields of structural, electromechanical and engine technology. It opened in January, and our researchers and students are settling into their new space. Inside the SERC, as

we call it, faculty, staff and students will research better methods to gird the buildings and structures of past, present and future against natural disasters such as earthquakes and tornadoes. They will tackle problems of environmental-friendly power, electric motors, biofuels, engine-emission reduction and energy conversion, to name a few. Most importantly, faculty and students from the labs will work together in a building designed to encourage collaboration and interaction. The first-class labs in SERC provide the basic infrastructure for tomorrows engineering research.

More detail on the building is inside this issue of the Capstone Engineer. The SERC, along with the entire Science and Engineering Quad, is a feather in the Universitys cap because the most important asset will be the engineers and computer scientists who walk out of the doors trained for tomorrows challenges.

Deans message

D R . C h A R L E S L . K A R R

D E A N

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C o N T E N T S

This was printed on opus 30 Sappi Paper, which is manufactured with 30 percent fiber from well-managed forests.

This paper is Green Seal certified, ensuring it contains 30 percent post-consumer fiber and that the mill processes,

including packaging, are environmentally preferable. CAPSTONE ENG INEER

Corrections:Charles S. Cornelius, BSME 60, was inducted as a UA Department of Mechanical Engineering Fellow

and a UA College of Engineering Distinguished Engineering Fellow. The fall 2011 Capstone Engineer incorrectly reported the honor. The Capstone Engineer apologizes for the error.

Photos from the MTE alumni luncheon published in the fall issue were from a previous MTE gathering and incorrectly identified. The Capstone Engineer apologizes for any confusion.

flexible-use instructional labs that can seat 36 students each. There is office space for 38 faculty and staff members and about 145 graduate students, along with numerous meeting and conference rooms. Five of the Colleges departments have office space in SERC, and faculty from the entire College use the classroom and instructional labs.

The instructional and office space is needed for the growing College, but for all the traditional academic uses of the building, SERC is not traditional, said Dr. John Wiest, associate dean for research and graduate studies. A lot of academic research is done in retrofitted buildings, he said. This one was designed for it.

The Large Scale Structures, Electromechanical Systems and the

Engines and Combustion laboratories SERCs three largest research labs are situated among not just graduate student offices but also undergraduate labs and classrooms. They will be visible as well with windows on the second floor meant

to encourage peeking in on research. Besides seeing, undergraduate students will learn and contribute in the research labs. For UA, a student-centered research university, SERCs research labs serve the role of preparing students for the ever-changing field of engineering.

We are trying to train students to take jobs that dont even exist today, Wiest said. We are training students to invent tomorrow and solve problems that dont yet exist. In order to do that, we have to train on the leading edge, and for that we

need faculty defining that leading edge.

SERC and its labs have already attracted professors and students and should continue to entice potential faculty and students, Wiest said. Indeed, the windows into the research labs

two panes of ballistic glass will be used in tours of the College to potential students. Were trying to let the rest of the world see what we do, Wiest said. In that way, its a very nontraditional academic building.

SouTh engineering reSearch cenTer

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From the vantage of Seventh Avenue, the home of The University of Alabama College of Engineering for more than 80 years, the newest engineering building appears as a big row house, its narrow three stories resting on top a single set of double doors flanked by lamps. of course, peek round the corner either way, and the South Engineering Research Center is revealed as a massive academic facility befitting its surroundings.

The SERC, as it is abbreviated, opened in January and is the first building dedicated solely to the College of Engineering since h.M. Comer hall was completed in 1960. The SERC sits across the new Science and Engineering Quad from Shelby hall and the Science and Engineering Complex home to numerous engineering and computer science faculty, students and labs as part of UAs new suite of research hubs designed

to encourage collaboration across scientific disciplines. The fourth and last phase is being built behind h.M. Comer hall.

I am extremely pleased that the South Engineering Research Center has been a tangible step in achieving the architectural vision for the science and engineering commons, said Tim Leopard, assistant vice president for construction at UA. It is consistent in material and form to the Science and Engineering Complex, yet is understated with respect to Shelby hall. The sense of the Science and Engineering commons space can now be perceived, and I believe the commons space will be a wonderful addition to the campus community.

If Shelby halls broad focus is chemicals and the SECs focus is biological, then the SERCs focus is on engineered systems, or putting stuff together to make

it do something. Inside are some of the most advanced labs in the region and nation in the fields of structural, engine, energy and electromechanical engineering, all of it situated a basketball pass away from the Ferguson Center.

The program for this building recognized the collaborative nature of much of the work and putting them on an island away from the heart of campus would have certainly hampered the synergies that the University hopes are achieved by the project, Leopard said.

Designed by Davis Architects in Birmingham and constructed by Gary C. Wyatt General Contractor in Birmingham, the SERC has 175,000 square feet. There are seven large multimedia classrooms: two with 40 seats, three with 50 seats and two lecture halls with 90 seats. There are more than 40 research and instructional labs, including nine

A lot of academic research is done in retrofitted buildings.

This one was designed for it. Dr. John Wiest

Serc Serc

By Adam Jones

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Continued on page 6Dr. John W. van de Lindt, in green shirt, helped design parts of the new laboratory. Others, from left, are doctoral students Giraj Kumar Kandukuri and Pouria Bahmanii and assistant professor Dr. Thang Nguyen Dao.

In the classic fairy tale of the Three Little Pigs, the third pig the one who used bricks to build his house was surely an engineer. After seeing the handiwork of the Big Bad Wolf, he succeeded in constructing a house that withstood the disaster after careful study of the practices of his brothers who, in critical miscalculations, used straw and sticks to build their houses.

of course, natural disasters arent fairy tales, and neither is the science of girding structures to hold up under the big, bad stress of an earthquake, a hurricane, a tornado or strong winds. But engineers, like the third pig, learn from past failures, and in the wake of a catastrophic natural disaster, they review whether human and economic losses can be reduced. Through structural-engineering research and

experimentation, building codes and retrofitting techniques are improving, better protecting inhabitants and property. Within The University of Alabamas South Engineering Research Center, College of Engineering professors are leading just such international research efforts. Much of their work will be conducted within the new Large Scale Structures Laboratory.

A team of UA civil engineering faculty, students and fellow researchers throughout the country will lead numerous research projects within this lab.

The lab features an innovative, hybrid testing system working in sync with the new 17-feet-by-17-feet uniaxial seismic simulator, or shake table. It will test up to two-story buildings with a full capacity of approximately 50,000 pounds.

With a set of twin actuators having 55,000-pound-force capabilities, the hybrid system will simulate a multistory building through the computer, and then the actuators will physically place the load demand on the two-story structure while its positioned on the table. This is the only kind of seismic hybrid system in the Southeast and one of only several in the country.

This lab is going to have a huge impact, said Dr. Ken Fridley, professor and department head of civil, construction and environmental engineering. Few labs with this capacity are right on a campus.

Installed on a 32-inch-thick concrete slab, which exceeds one million pounds in order to prevent other vibrations during data collection, the shake table will move in one direction to replicate many of the worlds largest recorded earthquakes.

The hybrid testing system is unique in providing real-time theoretical modeling coupled with physical seismic-lab simulation as it is operating, and the feedback adjusts the simulation immediately. With the largest shake table in the Southeast, Fridley and others are excited to debut this distinctive system that will dramatically improve earthquake-simulation research for buildings and structural engineering as a whole.

STrucTureS LaBoraTory STrucTureS LaBoraTory

The STrucTure To proTecT

By Mary Wymer and Adam Jones

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EquipmEnt highlights: Mechanical testing system with dynamic and static actuators and 720 gallons-per-minute flow, a 32-inch-thick strong floor, new 17-feet-by-17-feet uniaxial seismic simulator, hybrid testing system with twin actuators capable of 55,000 pounds of force, 18 reconfigurable reaction blocks, 10-feet-by-10-feet-by-10-feet soil pit and hard lines for high and low flow drops.


UA is part of an interdisciplinary team of researchers from five universities on the NEESsoft project, titled Seismic Risk Reduction for Soft-Story Wood-Frame Buildings. It is a $1.4 million project funded by the National Science Foundation and investigates older multistory buildings susceptible to collapse at the first story during earthquakes.

Soft story buildings are commonly three or four stories, designed with first floor parking. The need for this

research was identified in the San Francisco Community Action Plan for Seismic Safety project, which categorized possible action plans for reducing earthquake risks in existing buildings. According to the San Francisco-based study, 43 to 80 percent of the multistory wood-frame buildings are unsafe after a magnitude 7.2 earthquake, and a quarter of these buildings are expected to collapse.

The study, which involves three major types of experiments, will provide

a fundamental understanding of the way wood-frame buildings collapse. Following the experiments, conducted at UA, the University of California at San Diego and the State University of New York at Buffalo, the team will recommend seismic retrofit techniques.

The Colleges research is not just focused on earthquakes. A research team, consisting of academic researchers from multiple universities and professional engineers, received a National Science Foundation RAPID Response Grant for Exploratory Research to investigate and gather data about the damage to, and performance of, wood-frame structures in the affected areas due to strong winds. The team primarily looked at residential and multifamily apartments, but it also reviewed some steel and masonry buildings.

Through this multi-university and industry collaboration, College faculty and students can provide valuable

research to help design safer homes. It is very difficult to investigate the load characteristics of buildings within a tornado path. Developing something called a dual, objective-based design method to better mitigate the effect of tornadoes should reduce damage and save lives.

Besides the impressive shake table, the laboratory includes a 10-feet-by-10-feet-by-10-feet soil pit to test structures on the ground, a 15-ton crane, a large suite of hydraulic actuators for testing force and reconfigurable reaction blocks that tie into the million-pound-strong floor for the actuators to react against.

In fact, the floor is an engineering feat in its own right. Birdwell & Associates of Lakeland, Fla., was one

of the few contractors willing to take on the task of pouring and smoothing a level slab 3 feet thick and elevated. With virtually no room for error, Birdwells crews used precision equipment and a hand-held laser to finish a floor flatter than most ground-level slabs. Birdwell won a 2011 Golden Trowel Award from FACE Companies for the flattest and most level shored elevated slab.

That flat surface means research testing doesnt have to compensate for the floor, Fridley said. The floor is part of the test, so with the floor it is easier to set up tests at the precision we want, he said. Were not starting out with a problem.

The lab is designed for multiple experiments to operate at the same

time while new situations are being set up. Setup of seismic simulations requires weeks and even months, whereas each simulation lasts only 30 to 60 seconds.

As a result of the structural engineering laboratory development, The University of Alabama is poised to pioneer new methods of structural seismic testing, revolutionizing design codes. one such effort is a paradigm known as performance-based seismic design, which enables an engineering design team to explicitly consider performance during the design process. For light-frame wood buildings, this is spearheaded at UA, and the new laboratory will provide the experimental support to further this national effort.

STrucTureS LaBoraTory STrucTureS LaBoraTory

A 15-ton crane will help set up tests in the new Large Scale Structures Laboratory. UA civil, construction and environmental engineering professors, from left, are Dr. Michael Triche, Dr. Jialai Wang, Dr. Ken Fridley, Dr. Andrew Graettinger and Dr. Jim Richardson.

Focus: Natural hazards loading on structures, including earthquakes, hurricanes, waves/surge and wind, with a focus on mitigation of losses by improvement in performance during these events. Structural reliability and code calibration including transportation structures.

Primary faculty users: Dr. Michael Triche, Dr. Jialai Wang, Dr. Ken Fridley, Dr. Andrew Graettinger, Dr. Jim Richardson and Dr. Than Nguyen

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Continued on page 10

When deciding how to design the new Engines and Combustion Laboratory to make it a leading academic research lab, the discussion kept returning to Ford Motor Co.s Scientific Research Laboratory, a leading industry lab that works on cleaner, safer and more fuel-efficient vehicles.

We got in a plane and went to Detroit to look at it, said Dr. John Wiest, associate dean for research and graduate studies. We dont have as large a facility, but its modeled after the lab at Ford Research.

Given one chance to re-create the lab from scratch in the new South Engineering Research Complex, designers felt the lab needed to be attractive for industry needs, not only to advance the research into practical uses, but also to ensure students were trained in a lab built with their future employers in mind.

This will make us more competitive in writing grant proposals, said Dr.

Clark Midkiff, professor and interim department head of mechanical engineering and director of The University of Alabamas Center for Advanced Vehicle Technologies. It brings the capability to do larger, more industry-sought research.

The lab brings together at least five faculty and eight other collaborators from the College of Engineering. It combines and expands previous lab space, mostly in hardaway hall, and greatly updates research space while encouraging collaboration. The lab is in the south end of SERC, almost a building within a building with its own ventilation, environmental control system and buffers to minimize vibrations from engine testing to the rest of SERC. A fuel-storage area sits outside SERC, detached, but near the doors of the Engines and Combustion Lab.

Inside the lab, a long two-story corridor is lined with six text cells and accompanying instrument rooms between each. on one end of the

corridor are large, forklift-accessible doors to the loading area between houser hall and SERC. opposite those doors are clean and rough assembly areas, project space and storage racks.

The lab has a 660 horsepower, 2,300-pound-foot torque, 6,000 rpm diesel-rated AC dynamometer capable of handling all but the largest over-the-road truck engines. There is also a dual-roller, 350-horsepower chassis dynamometer that can hold up to 14,000 pounds, bringing the lab capability to test most any front-wheel-drive, rear-wheel-drive or four-wheel-drive vehicle. An emissions-dilution tunnel and gas-analysis system are also inside. The chassis dynamometer and dilution tunnel means the College can perform certification-standards emission testing that nearly mimics testing required by the Environmental Protection Agency.

The new lab means faculty will not have to include the cost of

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eng ineS anD comBuST ion LaBoraTory eng ineS anD comBuST ion LaBoraTory

Primary faculty users: Dr. Ajay Agrawal, Dr. Marcus Ashford, Dr. Brian Fisher, Dr. Clark Midkiff and Dr. Paul Puzinauskas

BuiLT wiTh TheFuTure in minD

By Adam Jones and Katy Echols


eng ineS anD comBuST ion LaBoraTory eng ineS anD comBuST ion LaBoraTory

equipment purchase in grant proposals, a roadblock to several grants in the past, Midkiff said. We will have capabilities that are as good as any lab in the region, he said.

With equipment and infrastructure a reason to win grants and contracts,

instead of a possible challenge to an award, the Colleges crucial work in renewable energy and cleaner combustion can accelerate.

Dr. Ajay Agrawal, the Robert F. Barfield Endowed Chair in Mechanical Engineering, is

moving into the new lab. Currently working on several sustainable energy projects with funding from the Department of Energy and the U.S. Navy, Agrawal is exploring how to develop and use domestic energy sources. his primary goal is to improve fuel utilization and sustainability as it pertains to the efficiency and cleanliness of fuel combustion.

Finding sustainable energy sources is a major issue for the United States because we depend on foreign sources for our fuel, which not only creates environmental concerns, but also the fear that the source will run out, Agrawal said.

The lab also includes Dr. Brian Fisher, who recently joined the department of mechanical engineering as an assistant professor, whose research includes the use of lasers to measure the distribution of gasses in the combustion process, revealing the rate of combustion and how much a desirable, or less desirable, gas is being produced.

EquipmEnt highlights: 660 horsepower, 2,300-pound-foot torque, 6,000 rpm diesel-rated AC dynamometer; dual-roller, 350-horsepower chassis dynamometers that can hold up to 14,000 pounds; emissions-dilution tunnel and gas-analysis system and combustion-air and exhaust-handling equipment

Fisher joins established faculty, including Dr. Marcus Ashford, associate professor and former powertrain engineer at Ford, and Dr. Paul Puzinauskas, associate professor, who worked for General Motors. Fisher researches advanced combustion-engine concepts, alternative fuels and hydrogen engines, engine control and combustion and fire science. Puzinauskas is researching how to improve optical-combustion-diagnostic capabilities and apply them to internal-combustion-engine analysis; optimizing internal-combustion engines used for hybrid-electric-vehicle applications; and improving the understanding of the combustion kinetics controlling emission formation in diesel- spray combustion.

Focus: Engine-emissions reduction; alternative engine and combustion fields; hybrid-electric powertrains and controls; biofuels; utility engines; combustion of difficult-to-burn waste fuels; development of combustion-diagnostic methods and combustions simulation

The new 660-horsepower AC dynamometer sits in one test cell.

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The assumption of progress comes from the idea that, surely, the scientists and engineers will figure everything out. But progress isnt a given, and the machines, gadgets and equipment we use daily have gotten smaller, faster and more efficient from research done in the belly of academic and industry buildings.

Some of the bigger challenges to the systems we use, or want to use, are electromechanical, whether from electric motors, energy storage limits or renewable energy. With new lab space devoted to electromechanical systems in the South Engineering Research Center, faculty and students will be better equipped to add their solutions to the challenges.

Before, we were just kind of shoehorned into a space. This space is custom-built, said Tim

haskew, professor and interim head of the electrical and computer engineering department. It gives us a better platform for bringing in the type of work we want to do.

The Electromechanical Systems Laboratory moved into its new larger and more powerful home in SERC this spring, and, in a way, is plugged back in after about two years of being stowed away. Now, the new lab should power research not possible before in The University of Alabama College of Engineering.

The lab began with a NASA and National Science Foundation grant in the 1990s secured by haskew and others. Researchers with the Electromechanical Systems Lab have worked on thrust-vector control, hybrid-electric vehicles, electric-motor control, power-source integration, power electronics and renewable energy. The space in the

SERC, along with new equipment, will allow expansion of the existing research and provide capability into new areas.

It provides the physical infrastructure to test large-scale, high-powered, motion-controlled and energy-`conversion devices, haskew said.

The lab was in the East Engineering Building, which was razed in December 2009. Then it was partially in the back of h.M. Comer hall before that space, too, was demolished. For the last half of 2010, its parts were in storage before the SERC opened this spring. Its absolutely better. I would have made this trade any day, haskew said. Every aspect is a step up.

The new lab is bigger, more functional than the often-cramped quarters in East Engineering. Also, in the new space, each lab test

power For TechnoLogy

By Adam Jones

Primary faculty users: Dr. Tim Haskew, Dr. Jaber Abu-Qahouq, Dr. Shuhui Li, Dr. Clark Midkiff, Dr. Paul Puzinauskas and Dr. Keith Williams


eLecTromechanicaL LaBoraTory

Continued on page 14


station is more powerful than in the old lab. The lab is home to six large test fixtures and four smaller ones. Each fixture is adjustable and configurable to fit the needs of a variety of electromechanical experiments over a wide range of power levels. Each station has access to compressed air and three-phase power at either 208 or 480 volts from a controlled source with programmable protection. With that much power flowing, gone are the days of patching the entire lab into

one station to run a 50-horsepower motor. Projects can be run independently without disrupting the rest of the lab.

Besides power, an overhead crane in the lab can assemble and disassemble experimental equipment as research needs change. In addition, the Electromechanical Actuation Test Facility will also be housed in the Electromechanical Systems Laboratory. This apparatus is capable of dynamically loading

electromechanical actuators with loads up to 100,000 pounds and at frequencies up to 10 hertz, or cycles, per second. With the new space, the lab has some new equipment, including a four-quadrant, dynamic, 28-horsepower, 6000 rpm dynamometer that will allow for testing larger, higher-powered motors.

Though started by haskew, the Electromechanical Systems Laboratory is used by other faculty and their students, and haskew said the lab should encourage more users and collaboration between researchers, especially across engineering disciplines.

Professors from the Electromechanical Systems Lab have worked closely with counterparts at the Engines and Combustion Lab, and both labs are under the banner of the Center for Advanced Vehicle Technology. Currently, faculty from both labs are working through an ongoing grant from the Consumer

EquipmEnt highlights: linear actuation fixture; rapid-control prototyping; PCB fabrication, four-quadrant, dynamic, 28-horsepower, 6,000 rpm dynamometer; solar-array simulator

Product Safety Commission for research on emissions from portable gas generators, which can cause a lethal buildup of carbon monoxide when operated in confined spaces. Using fuel-injection technology, Dr. Paul Puzinauskas, an associate professor of mechanical engineering, worked to significantly reduce emissions from a prototype generator without hurting performance, and haskew is developing a prototype that uses programmed logic to electronically detect and shut off the generator when operation in a confined space is detected.

In SERC, the Electromechanical Systems Lab and the Engines and Combustion Lab are across the hall from each other, much closer than when electromechanical was in East Engineering and the engines lab was in hardaway hall. Then, haskew said research would be rolled through the parking lot between the two buildings.

Besides bringing mechanical and electromechanical closer, the SERC adjoins two related labs to the Electromechanical Systems Lab: the Energy Systems Power Electronics and Control Lab, guided by Dr. Jaber Abu-Qahouq, associate professor of

electrical and computer engineering, and the Renewable Energy Systems Lab, led by Dr. Shuhui Li.

The new lab space will make faculty more competitive for grants and contracts. While research will be the focus of the lab, haskew said the greatest outcomes will continue to be exposing undergraduate students through senior-design teams to advanced technology and training graduate students. There is no question this will help recruit grad students, he said.

Focus: advanced motion control; power sources and electronics; system control and system integration, including vehicle systems and renewable energy

Test fixtures in the Electromechanical Systems Lab are more powerful than in the old lab. UA engineering professors, from left, Dr. Paul Puzinauskas, Dr. Jaber Abu-Qahouq, Dr. Tim Haskew and Dr. Shuhui Li stand in the new laboratory.

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Col. James M. Kelly dreamt of flight as a child. Whether he was an instructor pilot, evaluator pilot, mission commander or an astronaut, Kellys dreams became a reality. he has a proven track record, logging more than 3,800 hours in more than 35 different aircraft.

Kelly received a bachelors degree in astronautical engineering from the U.S. Air

Force Academy in 1986. In 1994, Kelly graduated from Air Force Test Pilot School at Edwards Air Force Base. In 1996, he received a masters degree in aerospace engineering from The University of Alabama.

In 1987, Kelly was designated an Air Force pilot, reporting to Luke Air Force Base to begin initial F-15 Eagle training. After completing training, he was assigned to the 67th Fighter Squadron at Kadena Air Base in Japan. During his tour in Japan, he was designated an instructor pilot, evaluator pilot and mission commander. In 1992, Kelly was reassigned to otis Air National Guard Base, where he continued flying the F-15 as an instructor and mission commander.

Later, Kelly was selected for Air Force Test Pilot School at Edwards Air Force Base. After graduation, he was assigned to the Air Force Flight Test Center detachment at Nellis Air Force Base, where he was a project test pilot and assistant operations officer. During his time at Nellis, Kelly was selected for the astronaut program. More than 2,400 people applied for NASAs 1996 astronaut class, and he was one of 35 members and one of 10 pilots selected.

In 2001, Kelly piloted the space shuttle Discovery on the eighth mission to the International Space Station, making him The University of Alabamas first astronaut. Kelly then piloted the improved Discovery on NASAs Return to Flight Mission in 2005.

Kelly has received NASAs Exceptional Service Medal, two Space Flight Medals, the U.S. Air Force Legion of Merit, the Meritorious Service Medal, two Commendation medals, two outstanding Unit Awards, two Combat Readiness Medals, the Liethen-Title Award for the outstanding Graduate of the Air Force Test Pilot School and The University of Alabama Distinguished Engineering Fellow Award.

Garry M. Lyles has more than 35 years of technical experience in space propulsion and system engineering, and The University of Alabama Distinguished Engineering Fellow is considered a top expert in his field. Lyles was recently named the chief engineer for the new Space Launch System that will carry humans and cargo on future exploration missions.

An Alabama native, Lyles graduated from The University of Alabama with a bachelors degree in mechanical engineering in 1975, making him the first in his family to graduate from college. After graduation, Lyles joined the Marshall Space Flight Center in huntsville, Ala., and spent the first nine years of his career as a propulsion-systems analyst. Following the Space Shuttle Challenger accident, Lyles served as part of the investigation team. Lyles then moved to Utah to work directly with the contractor-design engineers as the NASA lead engineer for the thermal redesign of the internal motor, for which he was awarded the NASA Medal for Exceptional Engineering Achievement.

In 1989, Lyles returned to Marshall as branch chief of engine systems and then accepted positions as deputy division chief and division. he received the NASA Medal for Exceptional Service in 1991.

Lyles was named the NASA resident manager of the Canoga Park, Calif., facility in 1993. Two years later, he was named the acting chief engineer of the main engine project for the space shuttle. From 1996 to 2002, he led the program team that developed the strategy for future launch systems for which he was awarded the Rank of Meritorious Executive.

In 2002, Lyles was chosen to manage the propulsion office of the second generation of reusable launch vehicles. Later, he accepted the position of chief engineer of the Exploration Systems Mission Directorate in Washington, D.C., in 2005. he received the Rank of Meritorious Executive again in 2005. In 2007, he returned to Marshall as the engineering associate director for technical management.

Lyles received NASAs Distinguished Service Medal in 2009 for his key role in advancing NASAs space exploration mission, developing the new space transportation architecture that led to the Ares I rocket.

Boeing contributes to college scholarshipsSheila Sharp, senior manager of design integration at Boeing Co., visited campus and presented Dean Chuck Karr with scholarship money for the Boeing Corporation Scholarship and the Boeing Corporation Multicultural Engineering Scholarship.

ua aLumni inDucTeD inTo aLaBama engineering haLL oF FameThe State of Alabama Engineering hall of Fame held its induction ceremony on Feb. 18, 2012.

The following UA alumni received the prestigious honor.

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We appreciate our recent partners in UAs College of Engineering family for their support of our students and programs.

Big ThanksBIG ThanKS


Show your pride in the College of Engineering with top-quality apparel and gifts.

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almon associates inc. for continuing support of the Robert N. and Marion S. Almon Civil Engineering Support Fund

Association for Computing Machinery inc. for support of the Computer Science Gift Fund

Mr. and Mrs. James A. Blackwell Jr. for continuing support of the James A. Blackwell Jr. and Billie F. Blackwell Endowed Scholarship

Mr. and Mrs. W. Paul Bowers for continuing support of the Double A Endowed Scholarship

Bulheller Consulting Inc. for support of the Computer Science Gift Fund

Ms. Tammie Jean Butts for continuing support of the Tommie Ray Courington Memorial Endowed Scholarship

Chevron for continuing support of the Chemical Engineering Fund, the Chevron Chemical Engineering Scholarship, the Chevron Mechanical Engineering Scholarship, the Mechanical Engineering Gift Fund, the Multicultural Engineering Gift Fund and the Society of Women Engineers Gift Fund

Miss Elizabeth Burford Crump for establishing the James Noble Crump Endowed Electrical Engineering Scholarship

Drummond Co. Inc. for continuing support of the Drummond Company Annual Scholarship in Engineering and the Drummond Company Inc. Endowed Scholarship

Eastman Chemical Co. for continuing support of the Chemical Engineering Fund and the Multicultural Engineering Gift Fund

Mr. and Mrs. Ernest A. Fite for continuing support of the Ernest A. and Carol S. Fite Endowed Scholarship in Engineering

Mr. and Mrs. Ronald W. Gray for continuing support of the Mr. and Mrs. Clifford S. Gray Endowed Scholarship

Halliburton Foundation Inc. for continuing support of the halliburton Scholarship Fund

Joy Mining Machinery for support of the Electrical Engineering Gift Fund

Mr. and Mrs. Tom D. Kilgore for continuing support of the Myra Blevins Kilgore Endowed Scholarship

Mr. and Mrs. Richard M. MacKay for continuing support of the Rick and Barrett Brock MacKay Chemical Engineering Discretionary Fund

Ms. Catherine E. Massey for continuing support of the James Bennett Massey Scholarship

McAbee Construction Inc. for continuing support of the McAbee Construction Inc. Endowed Scholarship

McAbee Foundation for continuing support of the McAbee Foundation Scholarship

National Space Grant Foundation for support of the Electrical Engineering Gift Fund

Mr. and Mrs. Terry Neeley for continuing support of the Terry L. Neeley Endowed Scholarship

Ms. Jacqueline D. Pirkle for continuing support of the Laura Spence Davis Endowed Support Fund

Mr. and Mrs. Hobert E. Plunkett for establishing the hobert Plunkett Endowed Engineering Scholarship

Mr. and Mrs. George W. Prigge for establishing the George h. and Bobbie T. Prigge Memorial Annual Scholarship

Robins & Morton for continuing support of the Robins & Morton Scholarship

Mr. Robert S. Ryan for continuing support of the Engineering Scholarship Fund

Saiia Construction LLC for continuing support of the Saiia Construction LLC Endowed Support Fund

Walter Schoel Engineering Co. Inc. for continuing support of the Walter Schoel Company Endowed Scholarship

Mr. Dennis Schroeder for continuing support of the Dennis A. Schroeder Endowed Scholarship

Mr. and Mrs. Charles A. Sipe Jr. for continuing support of the Charles A. Sipe Jr. and Nelle Sipe Endowed Scholarship

Dr. Angela E. Summers and Mr. Sanjeev m. Lahoti for continuing support of the Irvin A. Jefcoat Endowed Scholarship

Mr. Wallace A. Swanson Jr. for continuing support of the Wallace A. and Thelma C. Swanson Endowed Scholarship

3M Foundation Decatur for continuing support of the Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Minority Scholarship and the Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company Scholarship

Unitronics Inc. for support of the Electrical Engineering Gift Fund

Mr. and Mrs. Paul R. Wildes for continuing support of the Dorothy V. and Paul R. Wildes Endowed Engineering Scholarship

merceDeS-BenZ DocToraL FeLLowShip aT ua In collaboration with The University of Alabama, Mercedes-Benz U.S. International Inc. recently established a doctoral fellowship to be awarded to a UA doctoral student. The recipient will be assigned a specific project that may be used to enhance the Alabama automotive plants operations.

Andrew Faulkner, a graduate student in electrical and computer engineering, was named the first recipient of the fellowship. Faulkner will be provided research funding and have the opportunity to work at the MBUSI plant and at research facilities in Germany.

$2.5 miLLion air Force granT FunDS pLaSma anaLySeS Researchers at the Georgia Institute of Technology and The University of Alabama received a $2.5 million grant from the U.S. Air Force office of Scientific Research to conduct fundamental research into the ways plasmas interact with the walls of the structures containing them. This five-year research program will also examine potential improvements to materials used for the walls.

This program could lead to improvements in a broad range of areas, including higher-performing satellite thrusters, improved tubes for the Department of Defense radar and communications systems, more efficient high-intensity lamps and new plasma deposition and spray-coating processes.


S u r v e y i n g T h e c o L L e g e



Graduate student Andrew Faulkner, right, talks during a reception on campus in October with Dr. Kenneth Ricks, associate professor, and Joerg Burzer, vice president of purchasing and logistics at Mercedes-Benz U.S. International Inc.

STem paTh To mBa oFFerS Top STuDenTS ShorTer Degree paThA new program at The University of Alabama saw 46 of the countrys brightest students enroll in a course of study that will allow them to combine their strengths in science, technology, engineering or math with their interests in business to complete their undergraduate studies and earn a masters degree in business administration in five years.

The STEM path to the MBA targets incoming UA undergraduates and offers them the opportunity to take part in a 1.5-credit-hour honors course in business during each semester of their undergraduate studies. It also makes the path to an MBA more affordable to students and their families because of the shorter time required for completion.

UA associate professor Dr. Gregory Thompson, center, along with Georgia Tech professors Mitchell Walker, left, and Jud Ready, right, examine a Hall Effect Thruster.

ua engineering STuDenT awarDeD uncF-mercK SchoLarShipAeriel Murphy, a junior from Wetumpka, Ala., majoring in metallurgical and materials engineering at The University of Alabama, recently received a 2011 United Negro College Fund and Merck Foundation Undergraduate Science Research Scholarship.

The UNCF-Merck Scholarship covered the costs of Murphys tuition and other related expenses at $25,000 per year along with a $5,000 summer internship at the Merck research facility in Rahway, N.J. During her internship this past summer, Murphy researched nanosuspended drug formulations for oral and in vitro drug delivery, specifically investigating drugs that are insoluble and have a slow dissolution rate in the body.


proFeSSor emeriTuS preSenTS KeynoTe paper, receiveS awarD in JapanDr. Richard Dick Bradt, the Alton N. Scott Professor Emeritus of Materials Engineering at UA, recently presented a keynote-invited paper titled The Crack Growth Resistance of Refractories at the Unified International Technical Conference on Refractories, or UNITECR, in Kyoto, Japan.

Bradt was honored with the organizations initial Senior Contributor Award. Bradt has been a Distinguished Life Member of UNITECR since 1989. UNITECR is an international technical group that addresses the scientific and engineering aspects of refractory materials for the metallurgical, glass, cement and ceramic industries.




uaS inDuSTriaL aSSeSSmenT cenTer nameD cenTer oF exceLLenceThe Alabama Industrial Assessment Center at The University of Alabama was recently recognized as the Center of Excellence of industrial-assessment centers by the U.S. Department of Energys Industrial Technologies Program. The distinction ranks UAs AIAC as the best of the 26 industrial assessment centers throughout the country.

The AIAC, headquartered in UAs College of Engineering, is one of 26 centers throughout the country funded by the Department of Energy and tasked with assisting manufacturing plants with energy conservation and efficiency by issuing a detailed report of energy-saving recommendations.

a proDucT oF poSiTiviTy A competitive spirit can motivate a person to go far in life, but when that spirit is coupled with a positive attitude and a goal-oriented mentality, it can also be a recipe for extraordinary success.

Caroline hensley, a junior in chemical engineering at The University of Alabama, is living proof. An exemplary student and world-champion water skier, hensley is a force to be reckoned with both on and off the water. She knows what she wants in life, sets her sights on that goal and does not stop until she achieves it. Rather than letting failures keep her down, hensley keeps an in-with-the-good and out-with-the-bad outlook on life, growing through every challenge she faces. This mentality has eliminated the bad and garnered not just the good but also the great the greatness of a world-champion title.

hensley recently won the Under 21 World Championship of water skiing in France. Throughout her challenging journey to this championship, hensley focused on keeping her life balanced, allowing adequate time to succeed in both her academic and water-skiing careers. This journey has taught her what it takes to be successful: preparation, confidence and a positive attitude.



24 CAPSTONE ENG INEER 25CAPSTONE ENG INEER


ua engineering proFeSSor receiveS granT For eco-FrienDLy conSTrucTion maTeriaLSConstruction is everywhere, from new buildings and roads to bridges and overpasses. Though construction benefits society, it can also hurt the environment. high energy consumption, gas emissions and rapid deterioration are just a few of the issues that often accompany traditional construction methods.

Concrete is the most common construction material used globally, accounting for 70 percent of all construction materials. Though concrete has advantages such as easy application and high availability, it has major disadvantages when considering sustainability.

Dr. Jialai Wang, a University of Alabama associate professor of civil, construction and environmental engineering, is working on a solution to these environmental problems by finding an alternative to cement use.

Wang received a $450,000 collaborative grant from the National Science Foundation to develop an inexpensive and eco-friendly construction material with fly ash. While the material is like cement, it eliminates many environmental issues of cement use.

Fly ash is a fine powder derived from burning coal. Use of these coal waste products conserves space in landfills, in which they would otherwise be dumped. Fly ash can be used to create a stronger and more durable form of concrete. Additionally, this material is more eco-friendly.

Two ua engineering proFeSSorS nameD FeLLowS By aSmeTwo University of Alabama mechanical engineering professors were elected as Fellows of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers. Dr. Yuebin Guo, professor of mechanical engineering, and Dr. Beth Todd, associate professor of mechanical engineering, recently received this prestigious distinction.

The election to the grade of Fellow is the highest honor awarded to ASME members. According to ASME, a Fellow has attained a membership grade of distinction and, at the time of advancement, shall have been responsible for significant engineering achievements and shall not have less than 10 years of active practice.

ua engineering STuDenT receiveS SchoLarShip anD Swe ouTSTanDing coLLegiaTe memBer awarDJill hershman, a senior from Dallas, Texas, majoring in mechanical engineering at The University of Alabama, recently received the outstanding Collegiate Member Award for the Society of Women Engineers and the United States Steel Corporation Scholarship.

The Society of Women Engineers chose hershman as one of six students from around the country to receive the outstanding Collegiate Member Award. This award was given to honor hershmans excellence in the classroom and the research laboratory, as well as in SWE leadership and community service. hershman has served SWE by organizing fundraising events for Toys for Tots and habitat for humanity; serving as treasurer, vice president and president of her chapter; and participating in SWE on a regional and national level.

hershman was also a recipient of the United States Steel Corporation Scholarship, a $5,000 merit scholarship awarded annually. Recipients are chosen on the basis of academic achievement, leadership qualities and potential to succeed.

Dr. Yuebin Guo Dr. Beth Todd

Dr. Jialai Wang,right, and Shixin Zeng work with fly ash material in the lab.

conSTrucT ion

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South Engineering Research CenterMore photos online ateng.ua.edu/buildings


conSTrucT ion

u p D a T eScience and Engineering Complex Phase IV

opening Summer 2013

More photos online ateng.ua.edu/buildings

Jobs/ Promotions/ Awards

1960charles S. cornelius Sr., BSME 60, was inducted as a UA Department of Mechanical Engineering Fellow.

1964Frank r. villafana, BSIE 64, MSIE 67, released his new book, Expansionism.

1971Don w. Thorn, BSAE 71, was appointed president of Welded Construction LP in Perrysburg, ohio.

1977 henry eugene gene cash, BS 77, was appointed vice president of Acquisitions and Reservoir Engineering at Energen Corp.

Don horsley, BSEE 77, was appointed president and CEo of SouthernLINC Wireless and was also appointed to the boards of directors for CTIA-The Wireless Association, the Enterprise Wireless Alliance and the Rural Cellular Association.

1980paul gilbert, BSME 80, was appointed deputy manager of the Flight Programs and Partnerships office at NASAs Marshall Space Flight Center in huntsville, Ala.

1981Terry K. Spencer, BSPetE 81, was appointed president of oNEoK and oNEoK Partners.

1982Dennis allen ray, BSMetE 82, was appointed president of Simplyhome, which was featured on the ABC show Extreme Makeover on oct. 21, 2011.

1983David e. roberts, BSMinE 83, was named to the Flowserve Corp. board of directors.

1985David J. Ball Jr., BSE 85, was appointed a patent litigator to the Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton and Garrison LLP litigation department.

william o. hill, BSChE 85, MSChE 87, was recently promoted to brigadier general in the Air Force.

1987Tim Dunn, BSEE 87, was named launch director for NASAs Launch Services Program at the John F. Kennedy Space Center in Florida. he is responsible for campaign planning, implementation and countdown management for expendable launch vehicles for NASA.


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henry Eugene Gene Cash

Don horsley

David J. Ball Jr.

Tim Dunn

In September, The Board of Trustees of The University of Alabama approved the initial steps toward construction of the Student Projects Building to be occupied by the colleges of Engineering and Arts and Sciences. For the College of Engineering, the building will replace the foundry demolished to make way for Phase IV of the Science and Engineering

Quad currently being constructed. The building will be an addition of 5,000 gross square feet to the existing College of Arts and Sciences foundry, providing engineering, art and sculpture students with collaborative space for projects and learning. Foundry lab classes are required to maintain accredited degree programs in metallurgical and materials engineering.

c o n S T r u c T i o n u p D a T e

JoinT engineering/arTS anD ScienceS STuDenTS proJecTS BuiLDing

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Dr. Jack C. Brown, PhDDr. Jack C. Brown, professor emeritus of engineering at the Capstone, died April 26, 2011. Brown received his bachelors degree in civil engineering at UA in 1947 and later earned his masters in engineering graphics at the Illinois Institute of Technology and his doctorate in education at Texas A&M University.

Following graduation, Brown served as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army from 1952 to 1954.

Brown began his teaching career at UA in 1955 and remained here until his retirement in 1988. During that time he progressed to the position of professor and was a department head for several years. he was recognized with several awards, most notably the outstanding Commitment to Teaching Award. Brown also served as chairman for the Engineering Design-Graphic Division of the American Society of Engineering Educators for 25 years.

milton h. ward, phDMilton h. Ward died oct. 13, 2011, in San Antonio, Texas. Ward received his bachelors degree in mining engineering from the Capstone in 1955 and then completed his masters degree in 1981. he also earned a doctorate from the University of Londons Royal School of Mines while rising through the corporate ranks.

Throughout his career, Ward had his hand in the mining industry on six continents. he became president, chairman and CEo for Cypress Amax Minerals Inc. Throughout his life, Ward received many recognitions and honors, most notably, CEo of the Year, election to the American Mining hall of Fame, Copper Man of the Year and the National Mining Associations Distinguished Award.

Turner g. BatleyTurner G. Batley died July 10, 2011, in Atlanta, Ga. After serving the military in Japan, Batley earned his bachelors degree in civil engineering from the Capstone in 1957. While at UA, Batley met his soul mate of 55 years.

Following graduation, he worked with the Alabama Department of Transportation Bridge Bureau, where he remained until retirement. Batley was also a reservist in the Army Corps of Engineers, a member of Aldersgate UMC and the Professional Association of Civil Engineers and Toastmasters.

John J. CowinJohn J. Cowin died Nov. 15, 2011. After receiving his bachelors degree in engineering from Stanford University in 1950, Cowin obtained his masters degree in mineral engineering from the Capstone in 1952.

he then served in the Korean War as a first lieutenant in the Army Corps of Engineers. he had a long and successful career as president and CEo of Cowin and Co., a mining-engineering firm started by Cowins father.

Cowin was a charter member of the Bituminous Coal Contractors Association, serving as president from 1968 to 2011. he was president of CCI Insurance Co. and served on the board of directors of National Tube and Copper. In 1998, Cowin was honored as a University of Alabama Distinguished Engineer Fellow.

richard n. Dick ackerRichard N. Dick Acker died Dec. 29, 2011. Acker served in the U.S. Army Signal Corps in World War II in the South Pacific, the Philippines and Japan. Following his military service, Acker earned his bachelors degree in industrial engineering from UA in 1949.

Following graduation, Acker worked for the Packard Electric Division of General Motors Corp. for 33 years. Throughout his career, Acker was described as GMs Architect of the Southern Strategy. he was named to the Packard Electric Division of General Motors hall of Fame, as well as to the Mississippi Business hall of Fame, and became executive director of the Jackson Enterprise Center.

Acker was a member of UAs Capstone Engineering Society. In 1987 he was honored as an outstanding Fellow by UAs Department of Industrial Engineering.


1991Brian chen, BSIE 91, MSIE 94, was appointed director of project management in the Worldwide Engineering and Technical operations group at Johnson & Johnsons world headquarters in New Brunswick, N.J.

greg mays, BSAE 91, recently accepted a position as managing director of airframe, engine and component maintenance repair and overhaul for Alaska Airlines.

1992Jeff gronberg, BSAE 92, was appointed president at deciBel Research in Cummings Research Park.

1993gregory harrison Turner, PhD, BSEE 93, MSEE 96, recently accepted a position as program manager for preclinical imaging at the Barrow Neurological Institute in Phoenix, Ariz.

1996amanda Barnes, BSChE 96, was appointed executive director of the Demopolis City Schools Foundation.

2005Jeffrey paul Davidson, BSEE 05, recently accepted a position as the maintenance supervisor for the Georgia Pacific Muskogee operations Power Plant in Muskogee, okla.

2009paul gregg garner, BSConE 09, recently accepted a position as a planning specialist on the Gorgon Project for Chevron in Australia.

FranK chanDLerFrank Chandler earned a bachelors degree in mechanical engineering from UA in 1965 and a masters degree in business administration. After graduation, Chandler remained active in the Tuscaloosa community and became president of Energizers Western Division. his commitment to Tuscaloosa was evidenced on April 27 when a tragic tornado swept through the city, leaving hundreds homeless. Among the homeless was former Tuscaloosa Mayor Al DuPont. Chandler reached out to DuPont to help his friend rebuild his home. he provided his engineering exper-tise, lent his contacts, helped oversee the construction and saved DuPont considerable time and money throughout the process. Chandlers hope was for DuPonts home to be the first completely restored home in Tuscaloosa.

Brian Chen

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Friends we will missFr ienDS we w iLL m iSS

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go l f e r s ra i s e Fund s f o r ceS The Capstone Engineering Society held its 11th annual golf tournament on Sept. 19, 2011, at the Riverchase Country Club in Birmingham, Ala. About 132 alumni and friends enjoyed a beautiful day and raised more than $30,000 that will benefit CES initiatives.

Alabama Guardrail Inc.

Apache Construction Corp.

B.L. harbert International

Barnett Jones Wilson LLC

Black and Veatch

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama

Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP

Brent Paugh

C&B Piping Inc.

C.S. Beatty Construction Inc.

Charles Finch Valve Co.

David and Jackie Courington

David G. Courington Consulting LLC

Dynetics

Energen Resources Corp.

Energy Systems Southeast LLC

Geocent LLC

hargrove Engineers & Constructors

hhB Engineers PC

hunt Refining Co.

KBR

Mark Roberts

McAbee Construction Inc.

Nucor Steel

Process Automation & Simulation Services Inc.

Southland Pipe & Supply

Thompson Tractor Co. Inc.

Vulcan Pipe & Steel Coatings Inc.

Wade Sand & Gravel Co. Inc.

Walter Schoel Engineering Co. Inc.

Vulcan Materials Co.

Whitaker & Rawson Inc.

Ferguson Waterworks

Putting-Contest SponsorCarter & VerPlanck Inc.

hole Sponsors

Tournament SponsorsAlabama Power Co.

Brasfield & Gorrie LLC

American

Alabama Power Co.

Thanks to the 2011 sponsors!Sherman ackerman BSME 82, died July 20, 2011.

charles e. anderson BSCE 38, died Dec. 3, 2011.

william w. avant BSAE 47, died oct. 28, 2011.

george c. axtell BSAE 42, died Aug. 20, 2011.

w. russell Beals Jr. BSEE 68, died Jan. 22, 2012.

James A. Brown BSIE 49, died oct. 31, 2011.

Maxwell M. Cain BSChE 52, died Aug. 6, 2011.

Beryl e. clements BSIE 59, died Nov. 16, 2011.

gilbert S. couch BSCE 37, died Aug. 17, 2011.

romie D. Dansby Jr. BSCE 52, died Dec. 7, 2011.

Edward Y. Davidson BSAE 44, died Nov. 21, 2011.

michael r. Farris BSME 84, died Dec. 31, 2011.

charles L. gay iii BSEE 49, died July 29, 2011.

roy g. graham BSIE 50, died July 24, 2011.

richard i. harris MSMinE 82, MSEE 90, died

Dec. 18, 2011.

Donald alan hinkley BSCE 83, died Jan. 19, 2012.

e. paul hjorth BSIE 51, died Aug. 4, 2011.

william c. hobson BSMtE 68, died oct. 21, 2011.

James c. holesapple BSCoE 46, died oct. 2, 2011.

m. henry Jamison BSChBE 46, MSChBE 47, died

Nov. 28, 2011.

Donald K. Jorden BSME 55, died Nov. 6, 2011.

Stephen Kevorkian BSME 43, died Aug. 30, 2011.

James e. Levie BSChBE 51, died Aug. 22, 2011.

Taylor B. Lewis Jr. BSMinE 47, died July 28, 2011.

John m. maples BSCE 49, died Nov. 6, 2011.

eduin F. martinez BSCE 08, died Dec. 30, 2011.

Floyd h. mason BSAE 41, died June 13, 2011.

ronald a. mccormack BSME 76, died June 29, 2011.

Margaret McGowin BSME 58, died Jan. 19, 2012.

Jack modica Jr. BSAE 49, died July 4, 2011.

Joseph K. naftel BSCE 50, died July 24, 2011.

Andrew J. Pickett BSME 49, died Nov. 4, 2011.

o. alfred reed Jr. BSAE 50, died Nov. 25, 2011.

John m. reynolds Jr. BSChBE 66, died oct. 2, 2011.

gordon L. roberts BSMinE 49, died Nov. 9, 2011.

Stanley o. Schoel BSCE 47, died Sept. 20, 2011.

James D. Shiver BSME 50, died oct. 13, 2011.

James a. Spencer BSMTE 56, died oct. 29, 2011.

herman e. Thomason PhD 69, died Aug. 18, 2011.

John D. Thomson BSIE 50, died Jan. 23, 2012.

John T. wrenn BSCE 61, died Aug. 11, 2011.

Bobby S. woodruff BSCE 57, died Dec. 12, 2011.

robert e. morris Robert E. Morris died Dec. 29, 2011. Morris earned his bachelors degree in metallurgical and materials engineering from UA in 1962.

Morris began his career at ACIPCo in Birmingham, Ala., and worked for other various foundries in the Southeast through 1970. In 1971, Morris became executive vice president of Columbus Foundries and grew the business to an international company. he was highly involved in many professional societies, serving as the director for the Foundry Education Society and as the director and president of the Ductile Iron Society.

Morris received several awards and honors throughout his career, including The University of Alabama Department of Metallurgical Engineering outstanding Fellow

Award in 1988. In 2006 he was inducted into UAs Distinguished Engineering Fellows.


homecoming Tai lgate partyMore than 250 people enjoyed the Capstone Engineering Society tailgate party on the Science and Engineering Quad before the game on oct. 8, 2011. Engineering alumni and friends relished good food while discussing old times and awaiting victory over the Vanderbilt Commodores.

coe Does art presents The complete works of wil l iam Shakespeare (abridged) The College of Engineering Does Amateur Radical Theater, or CoE Does ART, staged The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged) the weekend of Nov. 11, 2011. The play is a fast-paced, irreverent parody of the plays written by William Shakespeare. Each of the 37 plays is performed in a shortened form by only three actors. It is a collection of characters and a maze of plots that keeps the audience laughing and, often, confused.

CoE Does ART, a student-led organization established in January 2007 at The University of Alabama, aims at disproving the stereotype that engineers are not capable of producing creative works of art.

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eng i n e e r i n g Da yon oct. 6, 2011, the College of Engineering hosted Engineering Day, or E-Day, an open house for high school students and their families. More than 500 visitors wanting to gain a realistic view of the College toured the facilities and enjoyed a lunch provided by the McAbee Pigfitters.

monDay, ocT. 8, 2012 rivErChASE CoUntry ClUb

hTTp://goLF.eng.ua.eDu

The 12Th annuaL

Capstone engineering soCietyCollege of EngineeringBox 870200 Tuscaloosa, AL 35487-0200

Nonprofit Organization

U.S. Postage PAID

Tuscaloosa, AL

Permit 16

Roll Tide!

thrilling Alabama fans across the country and abroad, the Crimson tide won its 14th national title after defeating the lSU tigers, 21-0, in the 2011 bCS national Championship

Game on Jan. 9, 2012.

Congratulations!

Capstone Engineer - Spring 2012

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