Professor emeritus Karl Frank receiving the John A. Roebling Medal at the International Bridge Conference
Karl Frank will receive the John A. Roebling Medal, which recognizes lifetime achievement in bridge engineering.
Frank is widely recognized as one of the top experts in the world on the design and behavior of steel bridges. His contributions have led to numerous provisions throughout the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) design specification and he is the first individual often called upon on structural failures or when complex problems arise in the steel bridge industry. His contributions to AASHTO have been so significant that they have literally influenced the design of every single steel bridge constructed today.
After retiring from the University in 2010, Frank took on the role of chief bridge engineer for Hirschfeld Industries – one of the largest fabricators in North America. Frank retired from Hirschfeld in 2017 and has since served as a consultant for the National Steel Bridge Alliance. He holds the title of Emeritus Professor at the University and was inducted as an Honorary Member into the Department of Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering – Academy of Distinguished Alumni in 2018.
Frank will be awarded this well-deserved distinction during the International Bridge Conference in National Harbor, Maryland, this June.
About the IBC
Presented by the Engineers’ Society of Western Pennsylvania, the International Bridge Conference (IBC) is the premier arena for the bridge industry in North America, South America, Europe, Australia, Asia and Africa. The IBC annually attracts over 1,000 bridge owners, engineers, senior policymakers, government officials, bridge designers, construction executives and suppliers from throughout the United States and abroad.
Now in its 36th year as an annual conference, the 2018 event drew participants from 41 states and 15 countries. The IBC is planned by an all-volunteer group and provides continuing education and networking opportunities to members of all facets of the bridge industry.