February 2025
Recent Updates on Plient and SEAHIVE® -CREATE Sponsored Transferable Concrete Products
Abstract
Steel reinforcement in concrete structures significantly impacts cost and construction time, necessitating alternatives like Plient fibers—a novel technology developed at Texas A&M and Texas State Universities. Composed of recycled steel fibers from an abundant source, Plient fibers offer 20-50% cost savings, reduced labor, and increased safety compared to traditional rebar, with proven performance in applications like precast pipes, flooring, and pavements. Similarly, coastal communities face threats from extreme weather, where eco-engineering innovations like SEAHIVE® provide sustainable solutions. SEAHIVE®, developed at the University of Miami, combines structural morphogenesis with ecological restoration, enhancing coastal ecosystems while mitigating hazards. This webinar will explore the development, performance, and future potential of these transformative technologies.
Webinar 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM CST, February 07th, 2025
Meet our Speakers
Charles Donnelly
Charles Donnelly, a postdoctoral researcher at Texas A&M under Dr. Zachary Grasley, specializes in concrete materials, including recycled steel fibers and 3D printing applications. He earned his PhD from the University of Pittsburgh, where he studied concrete pavement performance. As VP of Engineering at Circle Concrete Tech, Charles leads the development and scaling of Plient fibers, a recycled steel fiber technology designed to replace or supplement rebar. He has published extensively and presented at major international conferences.
Landolf Rhode-Barbarigos
Landolf Rhode-Barbarigos, Associate Professor of Civil & Architectural Engineering at the University of Miami, specializes in structural morphology and sustainable designs like tensegrity and hexagonal lattices. With a PhD from EPFL and postdoctoral research at Princeton, his work supports resilient structures for coastal areas like South Florida. An NSF CAREER and ASEMFL Rising Stars awardee, his research is funded by NSF, NIST, DARPA, and others. Rhode-Barbarigos also serves on ASCE committees and promotes interdisciplinary collaborations in engineering and the arts.
