W. Samuel Easterling, the Montague-Betts Professor of Structural Steel Design and Department Head in the Charles E. Via, Jr. Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering in Virginia Tech’s College of Engineering, received the Beedle Award from the Structural Stability Research Council (SSRC). The award is the highest award bestowed by the council and is given to leaders that foster cooperation between professionals worldwide and have significant contributions to national and international design code development.
Easterling specializes in steel-concrete composite structures, steel structures and cold-formed steel structures. His work on composite slabs and shear studs has had a tremendous impact on building floor construction in the United States over the last two decades.
“He has had a profound impact on codes related to steel deck construction,” said Roberto Leon, the David H. Burrows Professor in the Via Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. “The American codes have a worldwide effect and thus Sam’s research has impacted how countries around the world design steel structures.”
Easterling has been a member of SSRC since 1991 and served on its Executive Committee for many years, including serving as chair from 2006-2009.
The Beedle Award was established in honor of the late Lynn S. Beedle. He was an international authority on stability and the development of code criteria for steel and composite structures. He was a leader and member of the Structural Stability Research Council for more than 50 years helping to establish the council as the preeminent organization worldwide in the area of structural stability.
Easterling was recognized with the award at the SSRC Annual Stability Conference in St. Louis in on April 2, 2019.