Bhavna Sharma, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Ph.D. in Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Pittsburgh M.S. in Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Hawaii M.A. in Art History, State University of New York at Buffalo B.S. in Architecture, State University of New York at Buffalo
Dr. Sharma’s research focuses on natural materials and how they can be optimized and adopted in construction. Her research includes development of characterization techniques to improve manufacturing methods and use in structural applications. To increase the resilience of the built environment, her research focuses on the use of engineered bamboo in a variety of applications from shells to multi-story construction. She is also interested in the use of natural fiber composites and nonconventional materials in a variety of applications. Dr. Sharma’s research spans the micro to structural scale, with focus on design, engineering and testing of non-conventional materials.
Dr Sharma has a B.S. in Architecture and M.A. in Architectural History, and an M.S. and Ph.D. in Civil and Environmental Engineering with focus in Structural Engineering. She joined the University of Southern California in 2019.
- 213agBuilding Structures and Seismic DesignBuilding Structures and Seismic Design
Prerequisite(s): PHYS 125 and MATH 108
Structure defines form and space and supports gravity, lateral, and thermal loads. The course introduces the four S’s required for architectural structures: Synergy, Strength, Stiffness, and Stability. Synergy, a system greater the sum of its parts, reinforces architectural objectives; strength resists breaking; stiffness resists deformation; and stability resists collapse. Structures must also resist bending, shear, tension, compression, thermal stress and strain. Learn the historic evolution, material, and system of structures, as well as the basic design and analysis tools for conceptual design.
Required text
Structure and Design: https://titles.cognella.com/structure-and-design-9781516522989
Detailed information is posted at http://uscarch.com/structures/
- 213bgBuilding Structures and Seismic DesignBuilding Structures and Seismic Design
Prerequisite(s): ARCH 213a or equivalent course
Learn the design of basic structural systems: arch, vault, dome, truss, space truss, Vierendeel, suspended and stayed structures, moment frame, braced frame, shear wall, framed tube, bundled tube, and suspended high-rise. Structure selection and optimization is based on environmental conditions, available resources and technology. Explore how the design of these systems accounts for gravity, lateral wind, seismic load, and thermal stress and strain. Learn about seismic design and failure, as well as schematic design based on the global bending and shear concept. Students will design structures and build a structural model including small, medium, and large spaces.
Required text
Structure and Design: https://titles.cognella.com/structure-and-design-9781516522989
Detailed information is posted at http://uscarch.com/structures/
- 511LBuilding Systems: Materials and ConstructionBuilding Systems: Materials and Construction
Studies of construction system development within the architectural design context; processes and issues of selection, evaluation, optimization, integration, design control, and innovation, Departmental approval required.
- 573Seismic DesignSeismic DesignDevelop informed intuition for structural lateral systems strategies and layout required for seismic design. Understand the characteristics of earthquakes and the systems that resist them. Integrate seismic design into the overall architectural design of buildings including the detailing requirements for structural and nonstructural components. (From 2012 Syllabus) "Earthquakes and how they influence building design will be the subject of this course. Students will learn about the earth science behind earthquakes and the fundamentals of the physics and behavior of structural systems designed to resist earthquake motions. System and material selection for seismic design considering the structure, façade, and nonstructural components will be explored to help the student make informed decisions about seismic design."