Dr. W. Samuel Easterling, Montague-Betts Professor of Structural Steel Design and Department Head of the Charles E. Via, Jr. Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, was awarded the 2017 Shortridge Hardesty Award by the American Society of Civil Engineers. He was selected for his leadership and service to the profession, particularly as past chair of the Structural Stability Research Council and his contributions in the field of steel-concrete composite systems. He also was noted for his leadership in the ASCE/SEI Technical Committee on Composite Construction and the American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC) Task Committee 5 on Composite Construction.
The award is presented to recognize a member of the Society who has contributed substantially in applying fundamental results of research to the solution of practical engineering problems in the field of structural stability. Easterling’s areas of research include steel-concrete composite structures, steel structures, cold-formed steel structures, partially restrained connections, and experimental research.
This is not the first ASCE award that he has been honored with. He has also earned the ASCE Award for Outstanding Service, ASCE State-of-the-Art Award in Civil Engineering, and the Walter L. Huber Prize. He became an ASCE Fellow in 2006.
The Shortridge Hardesty Award was instituted in 1987 by the firm of Hardesty & Hanover to honor the contributions of Shortridge Hardesty as first chair of the Column Research Council (Structural Stability Research Council since 1976).
Easterling will be awarded during the Structures Congress in Denver, Colorado in April.