Tomorrow
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the Wyoming Department of Transportation<br />
(WYDOT) with bridge quality<br />
issues. He is developing predictive models<br />
for bridge deterioration in order to<br />
give WYDOT a planning tool to direct<br />
resources properly.<br />
Dr. Maguire’s expertise also includes<br />
building better roof systems for<br />
commercial scale, one-story buildings.<br />
Working with Vulcraft, a division of<br />
NUCOR in Brigham City, Dr. Maguire<br />
is helping to create a stronger system<br />
that prevents buckling of the top cord<br />
of prefabricated steel trusses. The new<br />
design has the potential to increase the<br />
span Vulcraft roof systems, helping<br />
them compete with other roof systems,<br />
nationally.<br />
A fifth project for Dr. Maguire<br />
moves away from roads and bridges<br />
and roofs to precast concrete panels. In<br />
partnership with the Precast/Prestressed<br />
Concrete Institute, he is helping to<br />
develop a methodology for engineers to<br />
predict cracking and horizontal deflections<br />
in precast panels used for commercial<br />
scale projects. His technique looks<br />
at small component level tests and uses<br />
the observed behavior to simulate a full<br />
scale component.<br />
Dr. Maguire is elated to be<br />
A dump truck produces real-life<br />
conditions for structural strength<br />
assessment.<br />
Dr. Maguire oversees concrete<br />
preparation for a future stress<br />
experiment.<br />
involved in so many different<br />
aspects of structural<br />
engineering in his first year<br />
at Utah State and plans<br />
to stay and enjoy life in<br />
Cache Valley for years to<br />
come.<br />
“The area is awesome,”<br />
he said. “I have<br />
great relationships with<br />
my peers and feel great<br />
about what I have to offer<br />
as a faculty member.”<br />
Along with the organizations<br />
he works with,<br />
Dr. Maguire is also having<br />
a positive impact on the<br />
students at USU. He has<br />
already hired five graduate<br />
and three undergraduate<br />
students to work for him<br />
as well as recruited a cadre<br />
of volunteers looking for<br />
new experiences. He looks forward to<br />
what his work might accomplish on<br />
campus and around the state.<br />
“I really like applied research<br />
mainly because it has immediate impact<br />
once implemented,” said Dr. Maguire.<br />
“The real benefit is the satisfaction of<br />
knowing that my research is providing<br />
a better and sometimes cost saving<br />
solution to a multitude of engineering<br />
problems.”<br />
UTAH STATE UNIVERSITY I COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING 7
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