Short Span Steel Bridges 
Jennifer McConnell Wins T.R. Higgins Lectureship Award
The American Institute of Steel Construction announced Jennifer McConnell, PhD, of the University of Delaware as the recipient of the 2023 T.R. Higgins Lectureship Award.
Dr. McConnell has conducted groundbreaking research into the performance of uncoated weathering steel (UWS) in bridges. Her work incorporates long-term field data on the performance of steel structures and corrosion protection methods in various environments and includes an analysis of practical design strategies that improve corrosion resistance.
Research Essential to Weathering Steel Guidelines
“Dr. McConnell’s research is essential to ongoing work to update Federal Highway Administration guidelines for the application and maintenance of uncoated weathering steel–which date all the way back to 1989,” said AISC Vice President of Engineering and Research Christopher H. Raebel, SE, PE, PhD. “Research like this ensures that departments of transportation throughout the country will be able to take full advantage of this uniquely sustainable, economical, and durable structural material.”
In the following video from the June 2021 Steel Bridge Essentials webinar series, Dr. McConnell provides a presentation on modern corrosion protection systems.
Over 20 Years Experience in Bridge Research and Development
McConnell is the Bentley Systems Career Development Professor at the University of Delaware, where she also directs the Center for Innovative Bridge Engineering.
She has over 20 years of research experience in bridge behavior, laboratory testing, field evaluation, inspection, long-term performance, design, and analytical modeling of bridges.
She is a member of the National Steel Bridge Alliance Oversight Committee, the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) Steel Bridge Task Force, the AISI Corrosion Advisory Group, and the Transportation Research Board Committee on Steel Bridges.
McConnell will present “Steel Structures to Withstand the Elements: What Structural Engineers Need to Know About Corrosion” as the final keynote of NASCC: The Steel Conference in Charlotte, N.C., in April 2023. She will repeat the presentation at other events throughout the year.
About the T.R. Higgins Lectureship Award
Each year, AISC’s T.R. Higgins Lectureship Award recognizes an outstanding lecturer and author whose technical paper or papers, published during the eligibility period, are considered an outstanding contribution to the engineering literature on fabricated structural steel.
The award is named for Theodore R. Higgins, former AISC Director of Engineering and Research, who was widely acclaimed for his many contributions to the advancement of engineering technology related to fabricated structural steel. The award honors Higgins for his innovative engineering, timely technical papers, and distinguished lectures.
Winners receive a $15,000 honorarium and will present their lecture, upon request, at professional association events.
Robert J. Dexter Memorial Lecture
Dr. Jennifer McConnell was the recipient of the Robert J. Dexter Memorial Award Lecture. Photo left to right – Ed Wasserman (former Chair AASHTO T14), Jennifer McConnell, Alex Wilson (former Chair Bridge Task Force).
In 2007, Dr. Jennifer McConnell was the recipient of the Steel Bridge Task Force Robert J. Dexter Memorial Award Lecture.
The program was instituted in 2005 in memory of Robert J. Dexter, an associate professor of civil engineering at the University of Minnesota, who was an internationally recognized expert on steel fracture and fatigue problems in bridges.
McConnell’s provided a presentation on “Rotation Compatibility Approach to Moment Redistribution for Design and Rating of Steel I-Girder Bridges.”
Does the SSSBA offer educational opportunities?
Yes! The SSSBA offers educational opportunities to students and professionals:
Professionals: The SSSBA provides complimentary half-day or full-day workshops on short span steel bridge design to states, counties, and design firms. Topics covered include practical and cost-effective steel bridge design and fabrication with eSPAN140, press-brake-formed steel tub girders, steel buried bridge design, galvanized coating solutions, and economical design with case studies, and more. The workshops can take place virtually or in-person, compliments of the steel industry. Learn more.
Students: The University of Wyoming and the Short Span Steel Bridge Alliance created a free 6-part live-lecture educational series to cover the many aspects of designing, fabricating, and constructing steel bridges. All students who successfully complete the education series will receive a Certificate of Completion from the University of Wyoming. Learn more.
Speakers: The SSSBA provides expert speakers to present topics of interest on the cost-effective design and construction of short span steel bridges. If you need a speaker for your next event, contact the SSSBA.
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