Draft:Gilbert Hegemier

Gilbert Arthur Hegemier is an American structural engineer, aerospace engineer, inventor, and academic. Hegemier is Professor Emeritus at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD)'s Jacobs School of Engineering. He is known for his contributions to earthquake engineering, particularly in the development of retrofitting techniques for bridges, roadways, and buildings to enhance public safety and structural performance. He is a member of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, a Member of the Earthquake Engineering Research Institute (M.EERI), and has been a fellow of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers since 1997.

Biography
Hegemier holds an M.S. (1960) and a Ph.D. (1964) in Solid Mechanics and Structures from the California Institute of Technology. Early before his career in academia, Hegemier worked as a mechanical engineer for TRW Systems Space Technology Lab, the National Engineering Science Company, and the Naval Ordinance Laboratory.

After the devastating 1971 San Fernando Valley and 1972 Nicaragua earthquakes, Hegemier shifted his focus from aerospace engineering to earthquake safety. He played a pivotal role at UCSD, leading a team that developed and tested full-scale bridge column retrofit systems. These innovations were crucial during the 1994 Los Angeles earthquake, proving effective as they significantly reduced damage to retrofitted bridges. Hegemier's work extends to using lightweight fiber-reinforced composites for infrastructure repair and blast mitigation to protect critical structures from terrorist attacks. He holds patents,  is the recipient of numerous awards, including the 2022 Revelle Medal. Hegemier has been a fellow of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers since 1997, and a Member of the Earthquake Engineering Research Institute (M.EERI). He was elected to the Golden Key International Honour Society in 1995. Hegemier is director of the Charles Lee Powell Laboratories at UCSD.

Hegemier was the Principal Investigator for an NSF-funded project to equip the new Structural Systems Laboratory at UCSD, starting in 1986. This project, which had a budget of $1,205,700, focused on establishing a facility capable of full-scale experimental testing of buildings up to five stories. The lab aimed to serve as a hub for the Structural Engineering Program at UCSD, support international collaborations, and foster interactions between academia and the industry​.

Hegemier is the Chairman of Composite Solutions Inc.

Hegemier was tenured to full Professor of applied mechanics at UCSD. In 2007, He became the Chair of the Department of Structural Engineering.

Review literature articles

 * Hegemier, G. A., & Prager, W. (1969). On michell trusses. International Journal of Mechanical Sciences, 11(2), 209-215.
 * Hegemier, G. A., Gurtman, G. A., & Nayfeh, A. H. (1973). A continuum mixture theory of wave propagation in laminated and fiber reinforced composites. International Journal of Solids and Structures, 9(3), 395-414.
 * Hegemier, G. A., & Nair, S. (1977). A nonlinear dynamical theory for heterogeneous, anisotropic, elasticrods. AIAA Journal, 15(1), 8-15.
 * Read, H., & Hegemier, G. A. (1984). Strain softening of rock, soil and concrete—a review article. Mechanics of materials, 3(4), 271-294.
 * Hegemier, G. A., Murakami, H., & Hageman, L. J. (1985). On tension stiffening in reinforced concrete. Mechanics of Materials, 4(2), 161-179.
 * Hegemier, G. A., & Read, H. E. (1985). On deformation and failure of brittle solids: Some outstanding issues. Mechanics of Materials, 4(3-4), 215-259.
 * Seible, F., Priestley, M. N., Hegemier, G. A., & Innamorato, D. (1997). Seismic retrofit of RC columns with continuous carbon fiber jackets. Journal of composites for construction, 1(2), 52-62.
 * Cheng, L., Zhao, L., Karbhari, V. M., Hegemier, G. A., & Seible, F. (2005). Assessment of a steel-free fiber reinforced polymer-composite modular bridge system. Journal of Structural Engineering, 131(3), 498-506.
 * Lee, C. S., & Hegemier, G. A. (2009). Model of FRP-confined concrete cylinders in axial compression. Journal of Composites for Construction, 13(5), 442-454.
 * Lee, C. S., & Hegemier, G. A. (2009). Model of FRP-confined concrete cylinders in axial compression. Journal of Composites for Construction, 13(5), 442-454.
 * Rodriguez-Nikl, T., Lee, C. S., Hegemier, G. A., & Seible, F. (2012). Experimental performance of concrete columns with composite jackets under blast loading. Journal of Structural Engineering, 138(1), 81-89.

Awards

 * The Revelle Medal (2022).