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2000 ASC 15th Technical Conference Recap – College Station, TX

By Navid Zobeiry, Communications Editor, American Society for Composites, Last updated: May 12, 2025

The 15th Annual Technical Conference of the American Society for Composites was held from September 24–27, 2000, at the George Bush Presidential Library and Conference Center on the campus of Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas. The event was organized in cooperation with ASTM Committee D-30 on Composite Materials. The conference was chaired by Dr. Ozden O. Ochoa and drew participants from a wide array of industries and institutions.

This year's theme focused on emerging applications of reinforced composites in aerospace, offshore, automotive, infrastructure, electronics, and biomedical sectors. The conference served as an interdisciplinary forum to explore developments in polymeric, ceramic, and metal matrix composites. The ASTM D-30 committee meetings followed the conference on September 28–29.

Dr. Donald F. Adams delivered the 1999 ASTM Wayne W. Stinchcomb Memorial Lecture, recognizing his excellence in composites research and mentorship. The event also included a special reception at the George Bush Presidential Library Rotunda and a formal banquet at the Messina Hof Winery.

The program featured 136 technical papers and several symposia and workshops, including:

  • International Symposium on Affordable Composites Manufacturing
  • Symposium on Automotive Applications
  • Workshop on Bonded Joints and Assemblies in Aircraft

For more details, you can access the list of papers below:

Highlighted Sessions

  • Multi-Scale Constitutive Behavior
  • Micromechanics
  • Active Materials and Smart Structures
  • Multi-Functional Material Systems
  • Environmental Degradation Response
  • Impact and Energy Absorption
  • Durability and Damage Tolerance
  • Process Modeling
  • Adhesion and Interface Problems
  • Bonded Joints
  • Testing and NDE
  • Design for Manufacturing

In Memoriam: Don Oplinger

The Workshop on Bonded Joints and Assemblies was dedicated in memory of Don Oplinger, a pioneer in structural joint analysis in composite systems. His legacy with the FAA and dedication to advancing composite safety continue to influence engineering practices today.

Acknowledgments

Special thanks were extended to the Polymer Technology Center, Offshore Technology Research Center, and the Center for Mechanics of Composites at Texas A&M University. The organizing team also recognized the vital support of Karen Anderson, Devon Lee, Nina Moody, and Lona Houston in coordinating logistics and program administration.

Organizing Committee

  • Conference Chair: Dr. Ozden O. Ochoa (Texas A&M University)

Technical Committee

  • Dr. Ozden O. Ochoa – ASC Technical Co-Chair
  • Dr. T. Kevin O’Brien – ASTM Technical Co-Chair
  • Dr. Dimitris C. Lagoudas – TEES Center for Mechanics of Composites
  • Dr. H. J. Sue – TEES Polymer Technology Center

Conference Events

  • Opening Reception: George Bush Presidential Library Rotunda & Museum (Sunday)
  • Banquet: Messina Hof Winery (Tuesday night)
  • ASTM Committee Meetings: September 28–29, following the ASC Conference

References

  1. Ochoa, O. O. (Ed.). (2000). Proceedings of the 15th Technical Conference of the American Society for Composites. College Station, TX: American Society for Composites.