Society for Experimental Mechanics (SEM)

Darrell R. Harting, a 37-year SEM member and one of Experimental Techniques founders, passed away in 1996. In recognition of his considerable contributions to SEM as a member, as its President in 1977-1978, as Fellow in 1983, and as an early proponent of Experimental Techniques, the SEM Honors Committee recommended, and the Executive Board approved, that the E/T Outstanding Paper Award be renamed the D.R. Harting Award.

This award was formally established in 1987 by the Executive Board. However, the award was first presented in 1981, when Experimental Techniques started publication on a regular basis. The award, consisting of a plaque, is presented at SEM's Spring Conference. Candidates are nominated by E/T reviewers who cite papers they consider worthy of "Outstanding Paper" status. In January of the year, the E/T Senior Technical Editor prepares a list of nominated papers. Subsequently, all pertinent information is submitted to the Honors Committee for the final selection.

Award Guidelines

Recipients:

2013	K. Dai	S. Chen
	W. Qi	E. Conner
	J. Erdle	C. Galloway
2012	M. Chartrand	V. Brailovski
	Y. Baril
2011	P. Wu	A. Schwartz
	B.K. Stanford	P.G. Ifju
	W.K. Bowman
2010	M. Pau	A. Baldi
	B. Leban
2009	J.P.J.G. Ferreira	F.A.B. Branco
2008	J.-Y. Drean	E. Drean
	J.-F. Osselin	F. Bauer
2007	K. Xia	A.J. Rosakis
	H. Kanamori
2006	Y. Champoux	P. Maltais
	E. Auger	B. Gauthier
	P. Vittecoq
2005	J-G. Teng	H-T. Wong
	Z-C. Wang
2004	N.L. Johnson	A.L. Browne
2003	G. Prater, Jr.	W.P. Hnat
	C.R. Ullrich
2002	H. Chen	D. Liu
	A. Lee
2001	S.M. Sargand	I.S. Khoury
2000	D.E.P. Hoy
1999	John A. Cafeo	Robert R. Thomas
1998	S.K.W. Tou
1997	J.D. Camping	S.R. Short
1996	P. Stumpf	W. Barrett
	N. Popplewell	A.H. Shah
	S. Balakrishnan
1996	R.J. Ross	R.C. De Groot
	W.J. Nelson
1995	S. Ali	R. Stark
	D.A. Hoeltzel
1994	S.M. Sargand	G.F. Mitchell
1993	R.C. Rogers
	Y. Guo	P. Ifju
1992	J.A. Lavoie
1991	H. Schorn	T. Berger-Böcker
1989	G.L. Cloud	M. Bayer
1988	G.J. Cisko	J.W. Phillips
1986	R.A. Naik	R. Prabhakaran
1985	G.W. Eggeman	H.A. Hackerott
1984	J.Cernosek
1983	E.J. Nelson	C.F. Sikorra
	J.L. Howard	B.W. Cotterman
1982	D.R. Harting
1981	M.E. Tuttle

2013 D.R. Harting Award: K. Dai, S. Chen, W. Qi, E. Conner, J. Erdle and C. Galloway

For their outstanding paper entitled “Field Testing of Directly Embedded Poles” published in Experimental Techniques in 2011.

Kaoshan Dai is an associate professor at the College of Civil Engineering, Tongji University,
China. Before joining the faculty of Tongji University in 2011, he worked with the Department
of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of North Carolina, Charlotte, where he
obtained his Ph.D. in 2009. Dr. Dai is a member of American Society of Civil Engineers,
American Institute of Steel Construction, Society for Experimental Mechanics, and Society of
Civil Engineers of Shanghai, China. His research interests include structural dynamic analysis,
energy infrastructure safety, and application of NDT/sensing techniques for health monitoring.
He has over 30 publications, among which around a dozen is associated with experimental and
numerical study of dynamic behaviors of power transmission structures.

Shen-En Chen is Associate Professor at the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. Shen-En Chen received his Bachelor of Science, Master of Science and doctoral degrees from the West Virginia University. His main research interests include modal testing of large civil structures, nondestructive evaluation using remote sensors and laser scanning technologies, stability and design of transmission power structures, geophysical testing of geological formations for mining purposes and for CO₂ geological sequestration.

Wenya Qi graduated Bachelor of Science and Master of Science in Electrical Engineering from Tianjin University, China with trainings in network communications and communication system evaluations. She received her Master of Science degree in Civil Engineering from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. During her study at UNC Charlotte, her primary focus involved developing geophysical testing methods for subsurface exploration, in particular, surface wave testing methods for deep oil field CO₂ sequestration.

Eric Conner obtained his Master’s degree from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte in 2007. During his studies, his primary focus involved working in collaboration with Southern Company to establish allowable peak-particle velocity limits on transmission structures in proximity to rock blasting activities.

Prior to graduating, Eric began working as a structural engineer with Fluor Corporation, and is currently serving as Project Manager within the Alcoa/Fluor Alliance. His responsibilities have included developing front end loading documents, controlling budgets, and on-site contractor management during project execution of SO₂ environmental compliance coal fire scrubber improvements, combined cycle gas plants, and hydroelectric generator upgrade modernization projects.

Jeff Erdle has worked 12 years for Duke Energy in Charlotte, NC. In his current role as a Senior engineer in the Transmission Line Engineering Group, Jeff’s primary functions are foundation, lattice tower and pole design for electrical transmission lines. Jeff represents Duke Energy on the National Electrical Safety Code (NESC) Overhead Lines – Strength and Loading Subcommittee.

Jeff received his BSCE and MSCE with a Structural Emphasis from Purdue University in West Lafayette, IN and is a Registered Professional Engineer in North Carolina. He is married and has one son.

Colby has a Bachelor of Science in Civil/Environmental Engineering from the University of Alabama at Birmingham and Juris Doctorate from the Birmingham School of Law. He started his career with Southern Company in 1993 in Line Design & Maintenance Support at Alabama Power and progressed in the engineering ranks by serving in several different areas including Transmission Line Survey, Projections, Research and Engineering. In 2007, Colby transitioned to Southern Company Transmission where he served as Lead Engineer overseeing Transmission Line estimating, capital work order close out and Transmission Estimating & Management Systems support. Currently, Colby is serving as lead coordinator over Sarbanes Oxley financial reporting, Antitrust, and Environmental Compliance within Alabama Power Company Transmission Compliance.

Colby serves in various leadership and civic organizations which include volunteering and serving as a member of the Board of Community Kitchens of Birmingham and is a volunteer teacher with The Literacy Council of Alabama.