Research Interest
Dr. Avent has had a consistently funded research program over the years from state, federal and private sources. He has published over 100 technical articles on his research. The early thrust of Dr. Avent's research was related to the analysis and design of long span structural systems. He con–tributed to the development of and utilized the techniques of discrete field mechanics to develop analysis procedures for stiffened plates and shells, cable networks, and planar and space truss systems. This work led into the area of structural stability with both analytical and experimental research related to column and truss stability. In the mid 70's, Dr. Avent initiated research on repair and rehabilitation of structures. Recognizing that structural repairs have often lacked a rational analysis and design basis, he began to provide this basis through analytical and experimental research. His innovative development and quantifica–tion of epoxy repair methods for timber structures has received national recognition and is included in ASCE’s manual on Repair and Upgrading of Timber Structures and the Wood Engineering and Construction Handbook published by McGraw Hill. ASCE recognized Dr. Avent’s development of the epoxy repair method for timber structures by presenting him the 1995 Innovation in Civil Engineering Award. This work with epoxies was also extended to the repair of concrete structures. As the national awareness of America's aging infrastructure grew, so did Dr. Avent's research. Major research projects on the repair of bridges have been con–ducted. Of particular significance is his work on the use of heat straightening to repair damaged steel structures. His research in this area led to him being the recipient of the 1991 Arthur Wellington Prize awarded by ASCE and the incorporation of heat straightening as standard repair procedure. The problems of underwater damage to bridge structures have led Dr. Avent into research in this vital area. He has received training as a commercial diver and has supervised and conducted over 2000 under–water bridge inspections. As a result of such inspections, he has designed innova–tive repairs for critically damaged girders. The database of 2000 bridges has led to studies on types and rates of underwater bridge damage for various materials. He also wrote the chapter of Underwater Bridge Inspections for FHWA Bridge Inspections Training Manual 90.
Education
B.S. Civil Engineering, North Carolina State Univer–sity, Raleigh, North Carolina, May l965.
M.S. Civil Engineering, North Carolina State Univer–sity, Raleigh, North Carolina, May l968.
Ph.D. Civil Engineering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina, January l970.
Courses
CE 3415: Structural Analysis I
CE 4400: Principles of Steel Design
CE 4425: Principles of Wood Mechanics and Timber Design
CE 4430: Structural Engineering
CE 4435: Indeterminate Structural Analysis
CE 7405: Statically Indetermined Structures
CE 7420: Limit Analysis and Design
CE 7470: Theory of Elasticity and Plastic Stability
List of Recent Publications
Avent, R. R., Mukai, D. J., Robinson, P. F., and Boudreaux, R. J., Heat Straightening Damaged Steel Plate Elements, Journal of Structural Engineering, ASCE, Vol. 126, No. 7, pp. 747-754, July, 2000.
Avent, R. R., Mukai, D. J., and Robinson, P. F. Heat Straightening Rolled Shapes, Journal of Structural Engineering, ASCE, Vol. 126, No. 7, pp. 755-763, July, 2000.
Avent, R. R., Structural Repair of Timber Using Epoxies, Structure, National Council of Structural Engineers Associations, pp. 39-45, Summer 2000.
McDonald, J., Heymsfield, E., and Avent, R. R., Slippage of Neoprene Bridge Bearings, Journal of Bridge Engineering, ASCE, Vol. 5, No. 3, pp. 216-223, Aug., 2000.
Avent, R. R., Mukai, D. J., and Robinson, P. F., Effect of Heat Straightening on Material Properties of Steel, Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering, ASCE, Vol. 12, No. 3, pp. 188-195, Aug. 2000.