New Civil Engineering Professor Helps Structures Withstand Stress

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FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Gary Prinz investigates steel infrastructure challenges related to extreme or repeated loads, including loads generated by earthquakes, blasts and vehicle or rail traffic. In one of his research projects, he is developing ways to predict how steels perform when subjected to large repeated loads. To do this, Prinz uses computational analyses and small scale experiments to understand the fundamental fatigue and fracture behavior of different steel alloys at different length scales. Developing these damage prediction tools will eventually make it easier and cheaper for researchers to create building components that perform better under extreme loads, such as earthquakes.

Another of Prinz’s research areas is the fatigue of bridge components. Bridges often experience fatigue damage within connection regions – as a result of repeated traffic loading. Prinz is working on developing simple, cost-effective, ways to identify and retrofit these fatigue “hot-spots”.

Prinz explained that it was the people and the enjoyable work atmosphere that led him to choose the University of Arkansas. He also appreciates the university’s commitment to research, and the opportunity he sees to help develop an emerging research area. This semester, Prinz is teaching structural analysis. He explained that he enjoys interacting with students, watching them learn to analyze structures and “gain their superpowers.”

Prinz joins the University of Arkansas from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (EPFL), where he was a postdoctoral researcher. He received his bachelor’s, master and doctorate in civil engineering from Brigham Young University and is a registered professional engineer in the state of California. He and his wife, Heather, have three sons.