OUR PEOPLE
Academic Credentials
- Ph.D., Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of California, Berkeley, 2014
- M.S., Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of California, Berkeley, 2009
- B.S., Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Cincinnati, 2008
Licenses & Certifications
- Professional Engineer Civil, California, #85186
- Professional Engineer Civil, Nevada, #028162
- Professional Engineer Civil, Washington, #22028506
- Certified Wildfire Mitigation Specialist (CWMS)
Professional Affiliations
- Structural Engineer's Association of Northern California—SEAONC (member)
Dr. Trono specializes in evaluating the design and performance of buildings and other structures in many different contexts. He has assessed structural damage associated with earthquakes, extreme winds, fire (including wildland fires), ground movement (including landslides), vehicle impact, moisture exposure (including water intrusion, plumbing failures, and ventilation issues), corrosion (including prestressing cables, structural steel, and reinforcing bars), metal fatigue, and wood decay.
Dr. Trono has evaluated the performance of electrical transmission and distribution structures (including analysis of conductors, hardware, and structures under extreme wind conditions; failure analysis of support structures and hardware; and evaluation of code requirements for such structures). He has investigated the collapse of temporary structures during construction (including cranes and shoring systems) and has investigated damage associated with adjacent construction projects. He has also made preconstruction condition surveys and implemented measures to monitor buildings during adjacent construction projects.
Dr. Trono has broad expertise evaluating and interpreting building codes and standards. He uses sophisticated nonlinear finite element analyses to support his investigations and has been involved with large-scale testing of structures. He has specific expertise in performance-based seismic assessments of existing buildings. He also has expertise in wildland fire hazard assessments for structures and in mitigation strategies to reduce structure ignition hazards.
Dr. Trono's Ph.D. research involved nonlinear finite element modeling, design, and shake table testing of novel reinforced concrete bridge columns designed to minimize damage during earthquakes. He conducted research for the Pacific Earthquake Engineering Research Center (PEER) and has special expertise in the field of high performance self-consolidating concrete. He was a student instructor for graduate-level courses in reinforced concrete design, steel design, and civil engineering materials at UC Berkeley. He also worked as a structural design engineer on industrial and commercial development projects at Jacobs Engineering Group and Arup.