Connection of Precast Concrete Panels and Walls using Near surface Mounted Bars (2025) US12,305,381,B1, AB Mehrabi, IZ Vivas, SSK Dolati

 This patent describes an innovative connection system for assembling precast concrete deck/slab panels and wall-type elements (walls, retaining walls, abutments) using near-surface mounted bars (NSMB) placed in preformed grooves. It introduces two joint geometries: a straight/butt joint for panels and walls using complementary male–female butt-ends with aligned grooves, and a staggered/lap joint for panels using an overhang sized for NSMB splice length. During erection, epoxy grout is applied at the interface, NSM bars are inserted into the grooves on opposing faces, and the grooves are sealed with adhesive/grout and cured to transfer loads, creating alternative to conventional precast joints onsite.

A new book to boast about! Cambridge Scholars just published our book on “Non-destructive Testing for Inspection of Bridges and Buildings.”
Not only it has all there is on NDT methods for steel, concrete, FRP, and Timber structures, it guides the users for selection of the most effective methods and their application. I had the privilege of coauthoring it with my best former students and affiliates. We will use this book along others in the course I am offering at FIU in the Spring of 2026 on Inspection and Maintenance Decision Making for Bridges.
Check it out.

We had a fantastic ASCE SEI conference in Phoenix (9-11 April). Michael, Dariya, Saman, and Pranit presented our work in packed sessions. I moderated Life Cycle and Damage Detection session seen in pictures here. It was overall one of the best conferences I have attended, met old and new friends, and started conversations for new collaborations.

Dr. Mehrabi was selected as a Senior Member of the National Academy of Inventors (NAI). I feel proud and excited for joining a distinguished network of Senior Members affiliated with NAI Member Institutions worldwide. This is a result of collaboration with his research team members, students, and co-inventors that motivated innovations for betterment of built environment and public safety. Many thanks to Dr. Arvind Agarwal for nominating Dr. Mehrabi.

Drs. Mehrabi and Dolati edited a new book on Structural Health Monitoring and Performance Evaluation of Bridges and Structural Elements. The good news is that the online version is free. Check it out. The book is the reprint of an Special Issue with the same name for MDPI Infrastructures.

Election to ASCE Fellow, an honor only one percent of ASCE members enjoy, is a testament to Dr. Mehrabi’s decades of service to profession and his reputation as researcher and educator..

A new book titled “Available Accelerated Bridge Construction Options for Short Span Bridges” was published authored by Mehrabi, Torrealba, Abedin, Dolati, and Malla. This is the first of many books to be published by NDT-Lab at FIU and is evidence of high-caliber applied research work being carried out in Dr. Mehrabi’s research group.

A paper published by Dr. Mehrabi’s research group won the 2023 Best Paper Award by Elsevier Engineering Structures Journal. The paper is titled Identifying NDT Methods for Damage Detection in Concrete Elements Reinforced or Strengthened by FRP. This is a great honor and the result of quality and pioneering research on non-destructive testing for concrete members reinforced or strengthened by Fiber Reinforced Polymers (FRP).