CCEE students win Big Beam competition

A team of CCEE students placed first in the Precast/Prestressed Concrete Institute’s (PCI) 2024 Engineering Design Competition. Also called the Big Beam competition, it requires a group of students and a faculty member to design, build, and test a 20-foot, precast, prestressed concrete beam. The national competition is in its 24th year and helps to teach students valuable and real-life skills surrounding structural engineering. The competition simulates real-life conditions and demonstrates the importance of structural engineering.

“Big Beam provided a platform for us to bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge acquired in school and its practical application in the precast industry,” said Sam Valmassoi, a member of the NC State team. “I was particularly excited about our use of ultra-high-performance concrete (UHPC) in our design, and the unique challenges and opportunities that arose from using this material.”

The CCEE team included Taylor Brodbeck, Allison Ebbert, Mohammad Qambar, Sam Valmassoi, and they were advised by Dr. Gregory Lucier. Congrats to the winning team!