Click HERE for details (venue, time, cost, PDH) or to register.

Engineering the Future with Multifunctional Materials 

Multifunctional materials are poised to transform the engineering landscape by integrating advanced capabilities—such as energy harvesting, self-sensing, and self-healing—into single material systems, while maintaining or enhancing mechanical performance across multiple scales. Functioning from nanoscale interactions to macroscopic responses, these materials offer exciting opportunities for developing smarter, more resilient, and adaptive systems.

 This presentation explores the multiscale mechanics of multifunctional materials, emphasizing how phenomena at the molecular level influence structural behavior at larger scales. Examples such as polymer nanocomposites, shape memory alloys, and bio-based materials will be used to highlight current advancements and the practical challenges of translating these technologies from lab-scale research to real-world applications in both civil and mechanical engineering contexts.

Bridging the gap between conventional and multifunctional systems opens new pathways for innovation in the design, monitoring, and long-term performance of engineered structures and components.

About the Speaker

Hessam Yazdani, Ph.D., P.E., Associate Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Missouri, Columbia

Dr. Hessam Yazdani is an associate professor of civil and environmental engineering and the director of the Sustainable Infrastructure, Geotechnics, and Materials (Yazdani-SIGMa) lab at the University of Missouri. With a career that blends advanced material science with traditional civil engineering, Dr. Yazdani specializes in multifunctional composites, geotechnical engineering, machine learning-assisted materials discovery, and reliability-based optimization. His interdisciplinary research is dedicated to enhancing the sustainability and climate resilience of civil infrastructure through innovative approaches that integrate the mechanics of multifunctional materials across various length scales, from molecular interactions to large-scale structural behaviors.

Dr. Yazdani has authored and co-authored over 70 publications in books, peer-reviewed journals, and conference proceedings. His expertise and leadership in the field have earned him invitations to present at conferences and meetings across the US, Europe, and China, as well as roles on grant review committees and technical panels. His contributions to civil engineering have been recognized with several prestigious awards, including the CAREER Award from the National Science Foundation and the DURIP Award from the Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR).

 

The National Capital Section encourages you to browse through content on this site to get a feel for how we can be of value to you through our educational, networking, and leadership development opportunities for civil engineers in our region.

Here are some resources to get you started:

  • Click the links for our Recent Section Meetings listed below. These are educational events allowing you to earn a Professional Development Hour that counts toward your PE license renewal requirement. We hold eight Section Meetings each year. Our Reston Branch holds eight Branch Meetings each year. Both Section and Branch meetings have returned to in-person over catered dinner (Section) and lunch (Branch). These had been conducted online since March 2020 but have reverted to in-person meetings. Our technical committees, such as architecture, transportation, construction, among others, host additional meetings.
  • Read our monthly newsletter, issued eight times a year. Locate them in the NCS Newsletters module located toward the middle, on the right sidebar of this page. These serve as a window to our world and the people behind the activities we undertake.

If you're ready to engage with us and wish to learn more, to volunteer your time, or to run for office as a technical committee leader or a Section/Branch board member, reach out to our President by selecting Board of Directors under Contact Us, then click the President's name, open the Contact Form to email your message.

Thanks for visiting.

Recent Section Meetings

What is ASCE-NCS?

Welcome to the website of the National Capital Section of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), a professional society for civil engineers.  ASCE was founded in 1852, represents 130,000 members of the civil engineering professional worldwide, and is America's oldest national engineering society.

The National Capital Section was founded in 1916 and currently has more than 3,100 members.  The section is located in Region 2 (link to region 2: http://region2.asce.org/). The National Capital Section serves the District of Columbia; the counties of Montgomery and Prince Georges in Maryland, except College Park in Prince Georges County; the counties of Fairfax and Arlington, and City of Alexandria in Virginia. The National Capital Section's mission includes:

  • To advance the professional knowledge and improve the practice of civil engineering for our members and those we serve.
  • To advocate for our profession with those whose actions affect us, and to educate those whose actions and responsibilities could benefit from a better understanding of the contributions of civil engineers.
  • To improve our community through effective community outreach programs, local involvement and educational efforts.

Upcoming Events

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Own a Copy of Inspiring Stories and Images of Infrastructure in the D.C. Area!

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Civil Engineering News

Outstanding Website Award

ASCE Recognizes NCS Website as Outstanding