The Precast/Prestressed Concrete Institute (PCI) is seeking a request for proposals for the Daniel P. Jenny Research Fellowships.

PCI will offer several $20,000 fellowship awards for the 2011–2012 academic year.

The fellowships are designed to introduce graduate students to the precast and prestressed concrete industry through participation in meaningful research. The program is intended primarily for the support of candidates for master’s-degree-level research. PhD candidates will also be considered.

Proposals should clearly describe the application of the proposed research to precast/prestressed concrete, potential contribution to the state of the art, timeliness of the proposed research, and possible impact on the industry market. Support from a PCI Producer Member (or members) is an essential part of the program and ensures that the research results or implementation plan has possible benefits to PCI and its members. Fellowships generally conclude with a master’s degree thesis and a summary paper published in the PCI Journal.

Fellowship proposals should include the following information:

1. Title page with names of the university and research team
2. Description of the proposed research program (maximum of three pages)
3. Time and cost schedule, including additional support, if any
4. Brief resume of the faculty supervisor (maximum of two pages)
5. Brief statement by student candidate describing personal objectives and interest in the subject of the proposed research (maximum of one page)

Proposals must be received at PCI headquarters no later than Feb. 21, 2011. Notification of the awards is expected to be made by April 29, 2011. Proposals should be submitted electronically to PCI’s Managing Director, Research and Development, Roger Becker, P.E., S.E., at rbecker@pci.org ^[1].

A list of research topics of interest to the industry is shown below. This list is provided only for guidance on topics and proposals need not be limited to these topics. Current research programs in development are also listed. These are potential programs under development by the PCI Research and Development Council and are most likely too large for a fellowship topic. However, smaller projects within the larger topic might be considered.

www.pci.org ^[2]. Click on Technical Resources, and then click on Research and Development.

For questions or for assistance locating a potential industry research partner, contact Roger Becker at 312-360-3213 or rbecker@pci.org ^[1].

PCI Research Topics of Interest

• Performance of double-tee flange connections and joint leakage
• Durability enhancement in precast concrete parking structures
• Improved detailing of double-tee bearing plates
• Diaphragm connection performance when subject to earthquake loading
• Simplified seismic connections for precast concrete shear walls
• Effects of reinforcement in anchorage concrete breakout zones
• Simplification of anchorage calculations
• Effects of early-age concrete on capacity of adhesive anchors
• Lightweight concrete modification factor for shear friction
• Effective shear friction coefficient for smooth surfaces
• Minimum shear reinforcement in double-tee stems
• Shear strength in end regions of pretensioned members
• Effects of partial debonding of prestressing strands
• Partially prestressed structural members
• Release stresses in pretensioned members
• Effect of multiple insulation layers on composite behavior of precast concrete sandwich panels
• Precast concrete disaster resistant shelters satisfying FEMA and ICC requirements
• P-delta effects for load-bearing panels subject to blast
• Performance-based fire loading and design
• Use of fiber reinforcement and FRP composites in precast concrete structural members
• Cement replacement in concrete mixes
• Camber prediction in bridge girders with high-strength concrete
• Best practice for connection detailing in precast concrete adjacent box-beam bridges
• Postcracking shear strength of bridge girders using self-consolidating concrete
• Minimum spacing requirements for large prestressing strands
• Simplified connections of prestressed bridge girders to deck.

Current Research Programs in Development

• Dapped ends in thin stem members
• Punching shear in load-bearing spandrel ledges
• Disproportionate collapse
• Standard test for strand bond.