Guillermo Ramirez, Ph.D., P.E.

Dr. Ramirez is an expert in structural engineering design with more than 15 years of academic and consulting experience, including considerable experience in the planning and execution of Full Scale and Large Scale testing programs for structural components and systems. Key areas of consulting expertise include retrofitting of existing structures using either traditional methods or advanced fiber composites, and field instrumentation and testing of bridges and building structures. Dr. Ramirez also is experienced in the use of health monitoring protocols, and in the evaluation of structures with nondestructive inspection methods. He has in-depth knowledge and practice in the design of reinforced and pre–stressed concrete bridges and buildings, and in the design and evaluation of wood, steel, and masonry structures.

Areas of specialized expertise include design and analysis of concrete structures for building and bridge applications; use of fiber reinforced plastic composites in offshore applications; finite element modeling and simulation of structures and components; standardization of design and fabrication of civil structures using composite materials; use of nondestructive inspection methods such as Acoustic Emission, Ultrasonic, Thermal, and Vibration techniques; and development of wireless networked sensor systems for structural monitoring.

Ramirez G, Engelhardt MD. Experimental investigation of a large–scale composite riser tube under external pressure. Journal of Pressure Vessel Technology 2009 Oct; 131(5):051205. doi:10.1115/1.3122773.

Ramirez G, Ziehl P, Fowler TJ. Influence of elevated temperature on the acoustic emission evaluation of FRP vessels through internal fluid pressure tests. Journal of Pressure Vessel Technology 2009 Oct; 131(5):051401. doi:10.1115/1.3122771.

Ramirez G, Ziehl P, Fowler TJ. Acoustic emission testing of FRP composite bridge beams in Refugio County Texas. Research in Non-Destructive Evaluation, ASNT 2009; 20(1).

Ramirez G. Use of acoustic emission to evaluate residual strength in FRP pipes after impact damage. Research in Non-Destructive Evaluation, ASNT 2009, in press.

Chen Y, Ramirez G, Ziehl P. Effect of temperature on acoustic emission evaluation of FRP vessels (tensile specimens). Journal of Pressure Vessel Technology 2007; 129:516.

Ramirez G, Engelhardt MD. On the endurance limit of fiberglass pipes using acoustic emission. Journal of Pressure Vessel Technology 2006 Aug; 128(3):454–461.

ACI 437. 1R–07. Load tests of concrete structures: Methods, magnitude, protocols, and acceptance criteria. ACI Manual of Concrete Practice, The American Concrete Institute, 2007.

Kalny O, Peterman RJ, Ramirez G. Performance evaluation of a repair technique for damaged FRP Honeycomb Bridge deck panels. ASCE Journal of Bridge Engineering 2004 Jan/Feb 2004; 9(1):75–86.

Gostautas RS, Ramirez G, Peterman RJ, Meggers D. Acoustic emission monitoring and analysis of glass fiber–reinforced composites bridge decks. Journal of Bridge Engineering 2005; 10:713.

Ramirez G, Ziehl P, Fowler TJ. Nondestructive evaluation of FRP design criteria with primary consideration to fatigue loading. Journal of Pressure Vessel Technology 2004; 126:216.

ACI 437R–03. Strength evaluation of existing concrete buildings. ACI Manual of Concrete Practice, The American Concrete Institute, 2003.

Parsons RL, Gae H, Ramirez G, Loehr JE. Slope stabilization with rows of small piles. Technical Note, Canadian Geotechnical Journal, 2003.

Ramirez G. Development of a nondestructive testing methods course for engineers. Materials Evaluation, ASNT, pp. 512–514, April 2001.

Ramirez G, Engelhardt MD, Fowler TJ. Results from cyclic internal pressure tests on fiberglass pipes. International Society of Offshore and Polar Engineering (ISOPE), 10th International Offshore and Polar Engineering Conference (ISOPE–2000 Seattle WA), Vol. IV, pg 59–65, Seattle, WA, May 2000.

Ramirez G, Engelhardt MD. External pressure testing of large scale composite pipe. ICCM–12, 12th International Conference for Composite Materials, Paris France, 1999. (Peer reviewed).

Ramirez G. Methodology for evaluating impact damage on fiber reinforced composite tubes. ICCM–12, 12th International Conference for Composite Materials, Paris, France, 1999. (Peer reviewed).

Ramirez G, Engelhardt MD. External pressure testing of large scale composite pipe. ICCM–12, 12th International Conference for Composite Materials, Paris, France, 1999. (Peer reviewed).

Ramirez G, Engelhardt MD. Experimental methods for large scale composite tubes. 2nd International Conference on Composite Materials for Offshore Applications (CMOO–2), Vol. 1, Houston, TX, November 6–12, 1997.

Presentations

Dalmiya V, Devarajan V, Ramirez G. Mass-spring model and determination of its spring constants to simulate a bent tissue undergoing further bending. The 15th Annual Medicine Meets Virtual Reality Conference, Long Beach, CA, February 6–9, 2007.

Ramirez G. Modeling isotropic organs using beam models for the haptic simulation of blunt dissections. The 15th Annual Medicine Meets Virtual Reality Conference, Long Beach, CA, February 6–9, 2007.

Ramirez G. Testing of pressure vessels at high temperatures. ASME Code Week, Pipe and Pressure Vessel Code Meeting, Section X, May 2006.

Ramirez G. Design of concrete culverts using strip and yield methods. Hanson Pipe and Products, Engineering Office, August 2006.

Ramirez G. Use of finite elements for analysis and design of concrete box culverts. Hanson Pipe and Products, Engineering Office, August 2006.

Ramirez G. Structural research needs in elevated structures. DART Construction Group, May 2005.

Ramirez G. Field investigation of structural systems. 13th BPI Course, May 2005.

Gostautas R, Ramirez G. Identification of failure prediction criteria using acoustic emission for GFRP Bridge Deck Panels. Proceedings, American Society for Nondestructive Testing (ASNT), Fall 2003 Conference and Quality Testing Show, Pittsburgh PA, 2003.

Ramirez G. NDE certification and education for engineering graduates. Invited, Panel Discussion Participant, ASNT Spring Conference 2002.

Ramirez G. Changing design limits for fiberglass pressure vessels. Invited Speaker, Meeting of the Subcommittee on Fiber–Reinforced Plastic Pressure Vessels (Section X) of the ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Committee, November 13, 2002.

Ramirez G. Nondestructive evaluation education in American Universities. Invited Speaker, presentation and discussion, ASNT Spring Conference, March 2002.

Henkhaus K, Hull R, Ramirez G. Acoustic emission evaluation of crack growth in FRP rings tested in tension. Proceedings, American Society for Nondestructive Testing (ASNT), Fall 2002 Conference and Quality Testing Show, Orlando, FL, 2002.

Ramirez G. Results from cyclic internal pressure tests on fiberglass pipe. International Society of Offshore and Polar Engineering (ISOPE), 10th International Offshore and Polar Engineering Conference (ISOPE–2000), Seattle, WA, 2000.

Ramirez G. Methodology for evaluating impact damage on fiber reinforced composite tubes. ICCM–12, 12th International Conference for Composite Materials, Paris, France, 1999.

Ramirez G. Acoustic emission for cyclic damage evaluation on fiberglass pipes fabricated following RTP–1 methods and specifications. ICCM–12, 12th International Conference for Composite Materials, Paris, France, 1999.

Ramirez G. External pressure testing of large scale composite pipe. ICCM–12, 12th International Conference for Composite Materials, Paris, France, 1999.

Ramirez G. Invited visit and technical presentation to Physical Acoustics Corporation in Princeton, NJ, June 1999.

Ramirez G. Thermoelastic monitoring of impact damage progression on fiberglass pipes. Society of Experimental Mechanics, SEM Spring Conference and Exhibit, Houston, TX, June 1–3, 1998.

Ramirez G, Engelhardt MD. External pressure test of a full–scale carbon fiber composite drilling riser. International Society of Offshore and Polar Engineering (ISOPE), 8th International Offshore and Polar Engineering Conference (ISOPE–98 Montreal), Montreal, Canada, May 24–29, 1998.

Ramirez G, Engelhardt MD, Fowler TJ. Methodology for evaluating impact damage on fiber reinforced composite tubes. International Society of Offshore and Polar Engineering (ISOPE), 8th International Offshore and Polar Engineering Conference (ISOPE–98 Montreal), Montreal, Canada, May 24–29, 1998.

Ramirez G. Experimental methods for large scale composite tubes. 2nd International Conference on Composite Materials for Offshore Applications (CMOO–2), Houston, Texas, November 6–12, 1997.

Ramirez G. External pressure test of a full–scale carbon fiber composite drilling riser. Proceedings, ASCE Texas Section 1997 Fall Meeting, Arlington, Texas, October 1–4 1997.

Ramirez G. External pressure test of a full–scale carbon fiber composite drilling riser. Application of Fiber Composites in Offshore and Marine Technologies, American Society of Mechanical Engineers, 1997 International Mechanical Engineering Conference and Exposition, Dallas, TX, November 16–21, 1997.

Ramirez G. Invited Speaker, Meeting of the Subcommittee on Fiber–Reinforced Plastic Pressure Vessels (Section X) of the ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Committee, Monday, May 19th, 1997.

Ramirez G. Composite materials research in Progress as KU. Presentation at Haskell Indian Nations University as part of the Bridge program.

• Assistant Professor, University of Texas at Arlington, August 2004–March 2011
• Assistant Professor, University of Kansas, 2000–2004
• Research Assistant, the University of Texas at Austin, 1993–1999
• Project Engineer, Raymond L. Goodson Engineers Inc., 1992–1993
• Project Engineer, L.A. Fuess Partners Inc, 1988–1992
• Research Assistant, the University of Texas at Austin, 1986–1988

• American Concrete Institute (Member 335 (chair), 437, 228, 440)
• American Society of Civil Engineers (Member composite committee)
• American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE, Awards committee member (former)
• American Society of Non-Destructive Testing (ASNT, Research Council, Research Liason to Council)
• Past President student chapter of ASNT and EERI at UT Austin
• Member of Section X code Committee for ASME
• American Society of Mechanical Engineers (Executive Committee and Chairman NDE division)
• Society of Experimental Mechanics