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2014 ASC 29th Technical Conference Recap – San Diego, CA

By Navid Zobeiry, Communications Editor, American Society for Composites, Last updated: May 3, 2025

The 29th Annual Technical Conference of the American Society for Composites (ASC) was held from September 8–10, 2014, at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD), in La Jolla, California. The conference was organized jointly with the Japan Society for Composite Materials (JSCM) and ASTM Committee D30, bringing together international experts from academia, industry, and government.

Chaired by Prof. Hyonny Kim (UCSD) with co-chairs Prof. Chiara Bisagni (UCSD), Prof. Masamichi Kawai (University of Tsukuba), and Dr. Ronald Krueger (National Institute of Aerospace), the conference offered a vibrant platform for exchanging cutting-edge research and developments in composite materials.

Over 270 technical papers were presented, covering topics such as impact and damage tolerance, nanocomposites, sustainability, computational modeling, manufacturing advances, and structural health monitoring. The conference hosted more than 300 participants from 18 countries, with 95% of attendees from the USA, Japan, Canada, Germany, England, and Mexico—underscoring its international significance.

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

Plenary and Invited Highlights

  • T. Kevin O’Brien (Senior Research Scientist, NASA Langley Research Center) – "Composite Rotorcraft Structures Durability and Damage Tolerance Research" (ASC Plenary)
  • Kenichi Yoshioka (Executive at Toray Composites America) – "Carbon Fiber: Development, Commercialization and Application" (JSCM Plenary)
  • Anoush Poursartip (Director, Composites Research Network, University of British Columbia) – "Process Simulation: A Case Study in Research, Practice, and Standardization" (ASTM D30 Plenary and Wayne W. Stinchcomb Memorial Lecture)
ASC 2014 conference speakers

Keynote and invited speakers at the 2014 ASC/JSCM/ASTM Joint Conference.

Special Sessions and Activities

  • Special Symposium: In honor of Prof. Keith T. Kedward
  • Workshop: FIBERS Consortium Workshop on Composites Manufacturing in the United States
  • Training: Progressive Composite Damage Modeling in LS-DYNA Workshop
  • Banquet: Held at the Birch Aquarium at Scripps Institution of Oceanography
  • ASC Membership and Technical Division Meetings

Student Simulation Challenge

The conference featured a Student Simulation Challenge where student teams modeled progressive damage in a [0/±45/90]₂ₛ composite laminate. Entries were evaluated based on their peak load prediction and matrix crack visualization accuracy, showcasing both analytical precision and damage prediction skills.

Student Simulation Challenge 2014 problem statement

Simulation Challenge problem statement assigned to student teams.

Winners:

  • 1st Prize: Christopher Cater (Michigan State University) – Score: 95/100
  • 2nd Prize: Raja Ganesh and Subramani Sockalingam (University of Delaware) – Score: 83/100
Student Simulation Challenge 1st prize result

Simulation Challenge winning result by Christopher Cater (Michigan State University).

Awards and Recognition

  • ASC Outstanding Researcher Award: Prof. Scott R. White (University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign) – For pioneering self-healing composite materials research.
  • ASC/DEStech Award: Prof. Tsu-Wei Chou (University of Delaware) – For distinguished work in fiber and nanocomposites research.
  • Best Paper Award: Andrew Makeev, Susan McGuire, and Raphael Mathew (University of Texas at Arlington) – "Methods for Assessing Interlaminar Tensile Properties in Composite Materials".
  • CYTEC Student Paper Award: Shariful Islam (University of Texas El Paso) – Recognized for excellence in student paper contribution to composites research.
  • Ph.D. Research Scholarships: Kevin Hart (University of Illinois) and Subramani Sockalingam (University of Delaware).
  • ASC Fellow: Prof. Harry H. Hilton (University of Illinois) – For lifetime contributions to aerospace structures and composites research.

Special Recognition: University of Delaware CCM Medal of Excellence

During the banquet, the University of Delaware Center for Composite Materials (CCM) presented its Medal of Excellence to three pioneers in the composites field:

  • Dr. Isaac Daniel (Northwestern University) – Walter P. Murphy Professor, known for pioneering research on structural health monitoring and composite behavior under multi-axial loading.
  • Dr. Karl Schulte (Hamburg University of Technology) – Former Director of the Institute of Composite Materials at TUHH, recognized for work on damage mechanisms in carbon fiber composites and structural health monitoring techniques.
  • Dr. Ignaas Verpoest (KU Leuven) – Professor Emeritus, internationally recognized for mesomechanics of textile composites, nanocomposites, and sustainable fiber-reinforced materials.
CCM Medal of Excellence winner 2014

Dr. Ignaas Verpoest receiving the CCM Medal of Excellence Award.

By the Numbers

  • Over 300 participants
  • 270+ technical papers presented
  • Delegates from 18 countries
  • 95% of participants from USA, Japan, Canada, Germany, England, and Mexico
  • 3 plenary lectures
  • 1 special symposium and multiple technical tracks
  • 2 workshops and training sessions
  • Student simulation competition and awards ceremony
  • Banquet and networking at Birch Aquarium

Organizing Committee

  • Conference Chair: Prof. Hyonny Kim (University of California, San Diego)
  • Conference Co-Chairs: Prof. Chiara Bisagni (University of California, San Diego), Prof. Masamichi Kawai (University of Tsukuba), Dr. Ronald Krueger (National Institute of Aerospace)