Steel Structures Research Update: Adhesive Steel-to-Steel Connections

Ongoing research on adhesive steel-to-steel connections is highlighted. This study, currently underway at the University of Massachusetts–Amherst, is led by Dr. Kara Peterman, Associate Professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. Dr. Peterman’s research interests include behavior of cold-formed and hot-rolled steel structures under service loads and extreme loads due to natural hazards. Among Dr. Peterman’s accolades for her teaching and research are the University of Massachusetts–Amherst College of Engineering Outstanding Teacher Award, the McGuire Award for Junior Researchers from the Structural Stability Research Council (SSRC), the AISC Terry Peshia Early Career Faculty Award, and the AISC Milek Fellowship. The four-year Milek Fellowship is supporting this research on the holistic design and behavior of adhesive steel-to-steel connections. The research team is partway through year two of the four-year study. Selected highlights from the work to date are presented, along with a preview of future research tasks.