Next Meeting  _______________________________________________________
Monday, January 22, 12:00 noon
Cellar Restaurant at Union Square
Downtown, Chattanooga

 

Topic: 2-D Displacement Measurements Used to Improving Orthopedic Construction

 

Dr. Ron Goulet, director of UTC's Biomechanics and Materials Testing Lab, will describe the lab's new vision-based 2-D Displacement Measurement System that uses white light, CCD camera imaging and PC-based digital image correlation. The lab performs measurements of motion and deformation of orthopedic constructs. Their experimental evaluations allow them to model the deformation and failure of materials and structures and to develop better orthopedic designs. Dr. Goulet will discuss recent graduate and undergraduate research projects of the new lab's displacement measurement system. He will also compare the lab's system with traditional extensometry techniques.

 

Dr. Goulet is Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering at UTC's College of Engineering and Computer Science. He is also Adjunct Professor of Biomechanical Engineering at the University of Tennessee College of Medicine, Unit of Orthopedic Surgery in Chattanooga.

 

Past Meetings_________________________________________
January 8
The presentation by Mr. Ken Hays, CEO of the RiverCity Company, was well attended. For those of you who were unable to come to the meeting, Lulu Copeland took good notes and prepared this summary for you.

 

The RiverCity Partnership was formed in 1985 to promote the renaissance of downtown Chattanooga. Many of the community leaders joined together to form the not-for-profit economic development company, using private money. The thinking was that the prosperity of downtown would lead to prosperity of the area. Using the Aquarium as catalyst, the organization concentrated on projects related to Ross' Landing and the River Walk. At one time during its evolution RiverCity Partnership's responsibility for economic development was shifted to the Hamilton County Chamber of Commerce. That responsibility has now returned to the Chamber. RiverCity Company has recently reorganized its plans. After four months of planning, three strategies were chosen: * Ross's Landing and North Shores, * Central Business District, and * Downtown Housing. For Ross's Landing plan, ideas and proposals are being formulated to make the area more pedestrian and user friendly. Various city planning groups are looking at changes to 3rd and 4th street, River Front Parkway and completion of the Riverwalk. Regarding the business district, RiverCity has acquired the 700 block of Market Street, which consist of six buildings. Design plans are in the works. There are activities to add 60 parking spaces to Market Street, relocating the United Way headquarter, extending CARTA shuttle service to Hunter Museum, and a park space for Jack's Alley. Many thoughts are being dedicated to promote housing projects. Downtown magnet schools have been approved, and housing plans are being developed. RiverCity works with the city, state, private organization to promote the Chattanooga downtown area.
 
Future Meetings___________________________________________

 

January 29 - A tour of AVS -  (Advanced Vehicle Systems), manufacturing facility of electric and hybrid gas/electric transit buses. AVS has just relocated to their new facility on Lee Highway, near the first exit past Hamilton Place Mall.

 

Miscellaneous  ______________________________________________
Just a reminder: it may not yet be too late to get in on UTC's offering of PE review courses in Civil, Electrical, and Mechanical Engineering. These courses are held on Tuesday and Thursday nights from 5:30 to 7:30 and begin Jan. 9. Call the Continuing Education office (755 4344) for more details.