Dhanushka K. Palipana received her B.Sc. in Engineering in 2017 from the University Peradeniya, Sri Lanka, and her Ph.D. in Civil Engineering in 2023 from North Carolina State University. Her doctoral work contributed to developing a more reliable mechanics-based assessment tool for reinforced concrete structures. Currently, she is a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Kansas (KU), where she is working on improving the performance of concrete dam infrastructure through the use of fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) materials. In this project, she is primarily leading an experimental program investigating the flexural behavior of concrete members with FRP applied to them. Overall, her research vision is to use structural testing and numerical modeling for the development of structural design and assessment tools as well as for the investigation of the structural use of new materials, ensuring that structural engineering has a place on the stage with other industries implementing emerging technologies. Palipana is a voting member on two American Concrete Institute committees and an associate member of three others. As a faculty member, she will strive to create an environment where all voices can be heard, and she will design teaching to expose students to most recent knowledge while encouraging the discovery of new solutions to engineering problems.

Research Interests

Structural behavior of reinforced/prestressed concrete structures