Ben Dymond

Focus

Structural Engineering

Education

• Ph.D. Structural Engineering, University of Minnesota Twin Cities (2015)
• M.S. Structural Engineering, Virginia Tech (2007)
• B.S. Civil Engineering, Virginia Tech (2006)

Academic & Professional Experience (CV)

• Associate Professor, University of Minnesota Duluth (2021-present)
• Director, UMD Resilient Precast in the Engineering Curriculum Program (2018-present)
• Assistant Professor, University of Minnesota Duluth (2016-2021)
• Part-Time Faculty, California State University Sacramento (2015)
• Project Engineer, KPFF Consulting Engineers (2015-2016)
• LTBP Research Associate, Virginia Tech (2008-2010)
• Structural Engineer II, AECOM (2008)

Courses Previously Taught

• CE 3115 - Structural Analysis
• CE 4100 - Applications of Management in Precast Concrete
• CE 4126 - Design of Concrete Structures
• CE 4136/5136 - Structural Systems (ASCE 7)
• CE 4128/5128 - Prestressed Concrete Structures
• CE 5127 - Bridge Analysis and Design

Research and Teaching Interests

My research and teaching agenda focuses on the resiliency of reinforced and prestressed concrete infrastructure and structural systems. This agenda emerges from my early work on the Federal Highway Administration’s Long-Term Bridge Performance Program and from my experience as a consulting structural engineer at AECOM and KPFF. I pursue this interest in a number of directions, including destructive experimental laboratory research, short- and long-term field monitoring experiments, and non-destructive numerical analyses. I have conducted a variety of internally and externally funded projects investigating anchorage and bond of GFRP and epoxy-coated reinforcement, deterioration of mixed reinforcement bridge decks, shear capacity of hollow-core slabs with partially filled cores, load rating of slab-span or culvert bridge structures, and flexural strength of nail-laminated timber crane mats. In addition, I participate in numerous professional and university related service endeavors to further the field of structural engineering and mentor the next generation of engineers.

Videos of Dr. Dymond's Students

• Tom DeMars - Energy Dissipation of Structural Panels Subjected to Impact Loading
• Sai Wu and Alex Thelemann - Load Distribution and Serviceability Extension of the John A. Blatnik Bridge
• Matt McDermott - Shear in Hollow-Core Slabs

Select Publications (Google Scholar Page)

• Bajwa, M. S., Dymond, B. Z., Al-Hammoud, R. (2022). "Performance of Postinstalled GFRP Bars in Structural Connections." ASCE J. of Composites for Construction, 26(2).
• Asperheim, S.A., Dymond, B. Z. (2021). "Factors affecting the web-shear capacity of hollow-core slabs with filled cores." PCI Journal, 66(4), 43-65
• Treat, C., Dymond, B. Z. (2021). "Deterioration of Concrete Bridge Decks Containing Epoxy-coated and Uncoated Reinforcement." ASCE J. of Bridge Engineering, 26(4).
• Mills, C., Dymond, B. Z. (2021). "Tensile Bond Strength of Post-Installed Epoxy-Coated Reinforcing Bars." ASCE Journal of Bridge Engineering, 26(3).
• Dymond, B. Z., French, C. E. W., & Shield, C. K. (2020). "Inelastic Shear Distribution in Prestressed Concrete Girder Bridges." ACI SP 342-1: Advanced Analysis and Testing Methods for Concrete Bridge Evaluation and Design, 01.1-01.19.
• McDermott, M. D., Dymond, B. Z. (2020). "Shear Capacity of Hollow-core Slabs with Concrete-filled Cores." PCI Journal, 65(2), 59-74.
• Dymond, B. Z., Swenty, M. K., Carroll, J. C. (2020). "Comparing Exam Performance in a Reinforced Concrete Design Course with Bloom's Taxonomy Levels." ASCE J. of Civil Engineering Education, 146(1), pp. 10.
• Dymond, B. Z., French, C. E. W., & Shield, C. K. (2019). “Recommendations for More Accurate Shear Rating of Prestressed Concrete Girder Bridges." ASCE J. of Bridge Engineering, 24(12), 1-11.
• Christiansen, M. U., Dymond, B. Z. (2019). "Effect of Composition on the Performance of Ground Glass Pozzolan." ACI Materials Journal, 116(4), 89-98.
• Dymond, B. Z., Swenty, M. K., Ojard, S. (2019). “Longitudinal Integration of the Same Design Project in Multiple Structural Engineering Courses.” ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition, June 15, Tampa, FL.
• Bajwa, M. S., Dymond, B. Z., & Al-Hammoud, R. (2018). “Bond Strength of Post-Installed GFRP Bars in Beam-Column Connections.” 9^th International Conference on Fibre-Reinforced Polymer (FRP) Composites in Civil Engineering (CICE 2018), July 17-19, Paris.
• Dymond, B. Z., French, C. E. W., & Shield, C. K. (2018). “Torsional effects on load tests to quantify shear distribution in prestressed concrete girder bridges." ACI SP 323-10: Evaluation of Concrete Bridge Behavior through Load Testing - International Perspectives, 10.1-10.18.
• Dymond, B. Z., Swenty, M. K., Carroll, J. C. (2018). "The Influence of Grading Bias on Reinforced Concrete Exam Scores at Three Different Universities." ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition, June 24-27, Salt Lake City, UT.
• Dymond, B. Z., Swenty, M. K. (2017). “Horizontal Integration of the Same Design Project in Multiple Structural Engineering Courses.” ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition, June 25-28, Columbus, OH.
• Swenty, M. K., Dymond, B. Z., D’Alessandro, K. C. (2016). “A Scavenger Hunt to Connect the As-Built World to Structural Engineering Theory.” ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition, June 26-29, New Orleans, LA.
• Dymond, B. Z., Roberts-Wollmann, C. L., Wright, W. J., Cousins, T. E., Bapat, A. V. (2013). “Pedestrian Bridge Collapse and Failure Analysis in Giles County, Virginia.” ASCE J. of Per. of Constructed Facilities, 28(4), 04014006.
• Dymond, B. Z., Roberts-Wollmann, C. L., and Cousins, T. E. (2010). “Shear Strength of a Lightweight Self-Consolidating Concrete Bridge Girder.” ASCE J. of Bridge Engineering, 15(5), 615-618.
• Dymond, B. Z., Bowers, S. E., Roberts-Wollmann, C. L., Cousins, T. E., and Schokker, A. J. (2009). “Inspecting the Lightweight Precast Concrete Panels in the Woodrow Wilson Bridge Deck of 1982.” ASCE J. of Per. of Constructed Facilities, 23(6), 382-390.