Physics Seminar by Jean Batista Abreu

Jean C. Batista Abreu, PhD
Associate Professor of Engineering
School of Engineering & Computer Science
Elizabethtown College

“Burning Questions: How Elevated Temperatures Challenge Structural Safety and What We Can Do About It”
Over the past decade, residential building fires in the United States have led to an average of 2,700 fatalities per year. At elevated temperatures, building materials and systems experience complex behaviors due to degradation, thermal deformations, and the interactions between structural and non-structural components. These factors present significant challenges to current design codes, which lack robust, analysis-based methods for assessing passive fire protection systems and developing effective mitigation strategies. Dr. Batista's research addresses these gaps by examining the thermo-mechanical behavior of structural members and systems under fire conditions. His work integrates computational modeling and experimental analysis to characterize structural performance at elevated temperatures, providing essential insights for improving design practices. This presentation will highlight key research findings and explore opportunities for further investigation in fire structural engineering.

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 8 | 12:00 P.M.
MARA AUDITORIUM | MASTERS HALL ROOM 110

A pizza lunch will be provided prior to the talk
Sponsored by: The Department of Physics and EPACC

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