On behalf of The Masonry Society’s
(TMS) Research Committee, David I. McLean presented the 2006
John B. Scalzi Research Award at TMS's Awards Luncheon on
October 14, 2006 to Dr. Max L. Porter, of Iowa State
University for his outstanding contributions to masonry
research. McLean noted that Dr. Porter’s, has
dedicated a substantial portion of his career to advancing the
science and practice of structural engineering. Porter conducts
and presents engineering research and professional activities
that have substantially changed workplace practices and advanced
the teaching of structural engineering. He has chaired several
national committees charged with revising structural engineering
codes and standards in masonry and composite floor slabs. Under
his leadership, 12 national standards for building codes have
been produced.
Porter has served as PI or Co-PI on
120 research projects with funding of $10 million. He has
authored or co-authored 113 refereed publications, including 26
standards books or book chapters, and 218 non-refereed
publications. In addition, he has taught 203 formal courses,
mostly about reinforced concrete design, masonry and timber
design, capstone engineering, and structural engineering. Areas
of noteworthy masonry research contributions include the
performance of joint reinforcement, the design of masonry
connectors and ties, and the seismic response of masonry
structures.
Porter is an Honorary Member of the
American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), he served two years
as the President of the Structural Engineering Institute,
including during the “9/11” events, for which he was involved in
appointing the investigation teams and the report approval
process for the World Trade Center and Pentagon structural
damage investigations. Porter is a Fellow of The Masonry Society
and recent past President. long
history of consistent and productive research on a variety of
topics related to masonry and has written many books and
hundreds of papers on its behavior.
He joins a distinguished list of
past Scalzi award winners that includes Miha Tomazevic (2005),
Ahmad Hamid (2004), John Dawe (2003), Luigia Binda (2002),
Adrian Page (2001), Nigel Shrive (2000), Richard E. Klingner
(1999), Nigel M.J. Priestley (1998), Daniel P. Abrams (1997),
Richard H. Atkinson (1996), Russell H. Brown (1995), Arnold
Hendry (1994), Clarence B. Monk (1993), Robert G. Drysdale
(1992), James L. Noland (1991) and John B. Scalzi (1990), whom
the award is named after.
For additional information on the
John B. Scalzi Research Award, or to nominate someone for the
award, click here.
