What if steel could be preheated to a lower temperature for welding, creating a safer working environment, cutting costs and emissions, and improving efficiency?

The University of California, San Diego’s Machel Morrison, PhD aims to find out--and the American Institute of Steel Construction is helping him do so with a four-year, $300,000 Milek Fellowship.

“This research may lead to lower preheat requirements for some of the most common steel shapes and plate--which would have huge benefits,” said AISC Director of Research Devin Huber, PE, PhD. “This is precisely the kind of forward-thinking research that keeps structural steel at the forefront of efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and sustainability.”