W.O. Carter Scholarship
The W.O. Carter Scholarship was established by Dr. Barry Santana in honor of Dr. W.O. Carter, PE. Dr. Carter taught structural engineering at USU for more than 20 years, where he pioneered numerical analysis techniques and computer-aided structural analysis and design. His organizational skills, attention to detail, commitment to teaching, and flawless ethics made him an outstanding major professor and doctoral advisor.
The Scholarship is awarded to graduate students (MS and PhD) in Civil Engineering or Mechanical Engineering with preference given to students who are/will be doing research using numerical analysis techniques to solve problems related to 1) structural analysis and design; 2) geotechnical engineering focused on buried pipe or other solid structures integrating soil-structure interaction; or 3) engineering mechanics, including composite materials. Up to $20,000 available. Incoming and current graduate students are eligible to apply; applications are open January 1 - 31 each year.
2020 W.O. Carter Scholarship Winners:
Pilaiwan Vaikasi
Pilaiwan Vaikasi is a PhD student working with Dr. Marv Halling. Pilaiwan’s research focuses on constructability and durability of embedding wireless charging in near-full-scale precast concrete pavement panels for Electric Vehicles. The inductive coils from the charging system generate high heat and thermal stress in the concrete. She is combining 3-D FEA modeling using ANSYS with testing of physical specimens at the USU SMASH Lab.
Ashesh Pokhrel
Ashesh Pokhrel is a PhD student working with Dr. Andrew Sorensen. Ashesh’s research interest is in finite element modelling and numerical evaluation of civil engineering structures with the goal to make them safer. Currently, he is working on a project to evaluate the safety performance of 42-inch and 54-inch single slope, cast in place concrete barriers. He is performing non-destructive evaluation using experimental modal analysis and numerical models developed using finite element modelling (LS-DYNA).