Structural Engineer | Ph.D. Structural Engineering | FE Civil

Vaishali Dagade

I am a structural engineer with 10+ years of design experience across reinforced concrete, steel, aluminum and wood formwork, industrial supports, infrastructure systems, and finite element research.

View selected work Download resume

Greater Minneapolis-St. Paul Area Available for structural engineering roles and consulting conversations.

10+ years Structural design practice

Ph.D. Finite element shell research

FE Civil NCEES certified

5+ years Teaching and mentoring

Selected work

Practical structural design backed by research-level analysis.

Formwork + high-rise systems

Aluminum and wood formwork for high-rise concrete construction.

Complete formwork design packages, load calculations, connection detailing, shop drawings, and site coordination for residential and commercial systems.

Read case study

Architectural shell work

Curved shell formwork and facade systems.

Custom parabolic and hyperbolic formwork, SolidWorks modeling, stability validation, and architecture-led coordination.

Read case study

Industrial steel

Silo supports, steel connections, and fabrication-ready models.

AISC/LRFD and BS 5950 steel design, Tekla modeling, Descon checks, and heavy industrial detailing.

Read case study

Buildings

Commercial and residential structural systems.

PT slabs, flat slabs, villas, foundations, framing systems, drawings, RFIs, and construction documentation.

Read case study

Finite element result contour on a plate

FEA research

Flat shell finite elements for composite shell panels.

Static and free-vibration analysis of composite, sandwich, and functionally graded cylindrical, spherical, and conical panels.

Read case study

Experience

Consulting, design practice, teaching, and research in one engineering path.

2015 - 2022

Chartered Engineer and Proprietor

Vardhaman Engineers and Consultants | Pune, India

I founded and operated an independent consultancy for aluminum formwork, RCC, steel structures, audits, municipal work, and structural documentation.

Consultant and design partner for Knest, Sharp Formwork, Vihaan, and major developers.
Delivered formwork packages, load calculations, connection details, RFIs, and site clarifications.
Key projects include TWG Garden Towers, Pristine Tower, Prudentia Tower, and municipal infrastructure work.

Formwork installation around reinforcement

2009 - 2011

Structural Design Engineer

Sharp Engineers / Sharp Formwork | Pune, India

I designed RCC wall and slab systems, aluminum and wood formwork, facade railings, and architecturally complex formwork.

Modeled curved shell formwork for Dusit Devarana Luxury Hotel, New Delhi.
Supported IREO Housing Project and high-rise residential formwork coordination.
Prepared shop drawings, fabrication inputs, material estimates, and site support.

2007 - 2009

Design Engineer

Clancy Global Consultancy | Mumbai, India

I designed PT slabs, foundations, flat slabs, columns, and framing systems for commercial, residential, and mixed-use developments.

Coordinated Empire Mall Prozone, Meghmayur Mall, Amby Valley Villas, and residential tower work.
Reviewed PT drawings, reinforcement detailing, proof-checking comments, and GFC drawing packages.
Built strong site coordination and constructability review experience.

2007

Structural Designer

Bharti Engineering | Mumbai, India

I worked on heavy industrial steel structures and large-capacity silo support systems for Reliance Industries work in Jamnagar.

Designed support structures carrying approximately 640 tons per silo.
Used STAAD Pro, Tekla Structures, Descon Win, and Descon Brace.
Prepared steel member, anchorage, weld, bolt, and plate connection documentation.

2014 - 2025

Ph.D. Researcher

COEP / Savitribai Phule Pune University

I developed and validated flat shell finite element formulations for composite, sandwich, and functionally graded shell panels.

Published peer-reviewed work in De Gruyter, Materials Today: Proceedings, IOP, and Springer venues.
Earned Best Paper Awards at ICAMEN 2022 and NIT Kurukshetra 2021.
Connected analytical mechanics, simulation validation, and structural engineering practice.

2011 - 2015

Assistant Professor

RMD Sinhgad School of Engineering and Dr. D.Y. Patil Institute

I taught strength of materials, theory of structures, concrete and steel design, applied mechanics, and structural analysis.

Mentored students and served as examiner for university structural engineering subjects.
Coordinated seminars, workshops, and hands-on learning modules.
Built teaching clarity that now strengthens my design communication.

Research

Finite element modeling for complex shell behavior.

My doctoral work focused on four-node flat shell finite elements for static and free-vibration analysis of cylindrical, spherical, and conical shell panels made from composite, sandwich, and functionally graded materials. The research bridges formulation, meshing strategy, boundary conditions, validation, and interpretation of structural response.

A quadrilateral flat-shell element for composite and sandwich shell panels Static and free vibration analysis of sandwich shell panels Free vibration response of cylindrical and spherical FGM shell panels Four-node shell element for FGM spherical shell panels

Composite laminate coordinate diagram — Research themes: flat shell elements, zigzag theory, transformation matrices, composite laminates, FGM shells, static analysis, and vibration response.

Technical range

Tools and judgment across design, analysis, and delivery.

Structural design

RCC, steel, PT slabs, flat slabs, foundations, retaining walls, shell structures, facade and railing systems.

Formwork systems

Aluminum and wood formwork, constructability review, load paths, shop drawings, fabrication and installation support.

FEA and simulation

ANSYS, ABAQUS, STAAD Pro, ETABS, SAP2000, SAFE, RAM basics, NISA, simulation validation, structural optimization.

Codes and delivery

IBC, ASCE 7, ACI 318, AISC 360, IS codes, BS 5950, LRFD, RFIs, technical reports, and construction documentation.

Resume

Professional and research resumes.

Download my main structural engineering resume or a research-focused version for FEA, simulation, academic, and advanced analysis roles.

Professional PDF Research PDF Open resume

Contact

Reach me for structural engineering opportunities and project conversations.

Email me@vaishalidagade.com LinkedIn linkedin.com/in/vaishalidagade Website vaishalidagade.com