REU Site: Collaborative research: International REU Program in Smart Structures

这个为期十周的国际REU站点合作项目将建立智能结构本科生研究合作实验室，在这里，阿克伦大学、南卡罗来纳州大学和康涅狄格州大学的学生将与韩国先进科学技术研究所(KAIST)合作，获得智能结构领域的世界级设施，这样做将扩大本科生的研究范围。智能结构社区面临的一个挑战是，由于当地的建筑实践、材料的可用性和该地区可能经历的动态负载，不同地理区域的结构有所不同。理想的智能结构解决方案应该是通用的，以便为环境中的各种结构实现所需的性能。减少因自然和人为灾害造成的结构破坏对社会的安全和经济生存至关重要。智能结构是指能够感知环境并做出相应反应的结构，可以提供更具弹性的设计、更有效的施工，并全面延长已建成基础设施的安全寿命。这一合作项目将进一步推进智能结构通用解决方案的研究。该项目将在十周内吸引六名本科生参与以下研究活动：1)结构动力学、健康监测和控制方面的正式培训；2)进行智能结构实验室实验的经验；3)前往韩国KAIST体验国际合作并获得智能结构世界一流设施的机会；以及4)参与现场访问和文化活动。PIS将把招生工作的重点放在少数族裔院校代表性不足的学生身上。本科生将直接与美国和韩国的研究生合作，获得关于研究和研究生院的宝贵见解。

This ten-week collaborative international REU site program will establish a Smart Structures Undergraduate Research Collaboratory where students at the Universities of Akron, South Carolina, and Connecticut will partner with the Korean Advance Institute for Science and Technology (KAIST) to gain access to world class facilities in Smart Structures and by doing so this will enhance the scope of the undergraduate research. A challenge faced by the Smart Structures community is the fact that structures vary in different geographical regions due to local building practices, availability of materials and dynamic loads likely to be experienced in the region. Ideal Smart Structure solutions should be universal in order to achieve the desired performance for various structures in the environment. Reducing structural damage due to natural and made-made hazards in is vital to the safety and economic viability of society. Smart Structures which are those structures that can sense their environment and react accordingly, can provide more resilient designs, more effective construction, and extend overall the safe life of our built infrastructure. This collaborative project will further advance research on universal solutions in Smart Structures. This program will engage six undergraduate students over ten weeks in these research activities: 1) formal training in structural dynamics, health monitoring and control; 2) experience conducting laboratory experiments in Smart Structures; 3) travel to KAIST in South Korea to experience international collaboration and gain access to world class facilities in Smart Structures; and 4) participate in site visits and cultural events. The PIs will focus recruitment efforts on students from underrepresented groups at minority institutions. Undergraduate students will work directly with U.S. and Korean graduate students gaining valuable insight about research and graduate school.