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Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty at the University of Delaware

Michael Chajes

Professor and Dean of Honors College

Newark, Delaware 19716
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EDUCATION

1984 | Bachelors, University of Massachusetts
1987 | Masters, University of California, Davis
1990 | Ph.D., University of California, Davis

SHORT BIO

Michael J Chajes, PhD., P.E., is currently Dean of the Honors College at the University of Delaware (UD) and Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering.

Chajes joined the UD faculty in 1990, and during his nearly 30 years at the university has served as chair of Civil and Environmental Engineering and dean of the College of Engineering. Dr. Chajes teaches classes and conducts research in the areas of structural engineering, structural health monitoring of bridges, and applications of sustainability.

Chajes received his bachelor’s degree in civil engineering at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst and graduated with honors in 1984.  He attended the University of California at Davis (UCD) and received his M.S. in 1987 and his Ph.D. in 1990. While at Davis, Chajes was twice awarded that university’s Outstanding Graduate Student Teaching Award. Chajes is a registered Professional Engineer in Delaware and served on the state’s Professional Engineering Registration Board from 1995–2000.

Chajes has supervised 46 master’s students and eight Ph.D. students while at UD, as well as more than 60 undergraduate research students. He has served as PI or co-PI on more than $5M of research grants, has published more than 100 papers and presented his work through more than 70 talks in the U.S. and abroad. Some of his current research activities include the structural health monitoring of the Indian River Inlet bridge, turning food waste into energy, harvesting energy from long-span bridges, and investigating the potential of distributed rooftop solar power plants.

In 2010, Chajes was named Delaware’s Engineer of the Year and also was awarded a UC Davis College of Engineering Distinguished Engineering Alumni Medal. In 2012 he was a member of UD’s NSF Advance team that was awarded UD’s E. A. Trabant Award for Women’s Equity. In 2016 he was inducted into the Academy of Distinguished Civil and Environmental Engineering Alumni at the University of Massachusetts.

Chajes is a member of the University’s Faculty Athletic Board and also serves on UD’s Sustainability Council. He also serves on the State of Delaware’s Sustainable Energy Utility Board. Chajes is a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) and the American Society of Engineering Education (ASEE).  Within ASCE, he was a member of the Department Heads Council Executive Committee from 2002–2007, serving as the chair of the council from 2005–2007.  He also served as a member of the committee that planned a major national summit on the “Future of the Civil Engineering Profession in 2025” held in 2006 and on the Government Affairs and Educational Activities Committees.  Within ASEE, he was a member of the Dean’s Council and the Public Policy Committee.

RESEARCH AREAS/SUSTAINABILITY

  • Bridges for the Future
  • Infrastructure
  • Structural
  • Sustainability

SELECTED PUBLICATIONS

  1. Buckley, J.M., Trauth-Nare, A.E., Chajes, M.J., Pollock, L.L., Guidry, K.R., Vaughan, M.L., and Stephens, J.S. (2016). “An FYE Course Structure for Collaborative Learning in Large Lecture Format.” Proceedings of the 2016 ASEE Annual Meeting, New Orleans, Louisiana.
  2. McConnell, J., Chajes, M., and Michaud, K. (2015).  “Destructive Testing of a Decommissioned Skewed Steel I-Girder Bridge: Analysis of System Effects,” ASCE Journal of Bridge Engineering, 141(1).
  3. Shenton III, H.W., Chajes, M.J., Wenczel, G., Ramanna, N., Al-Khateeb, H., Davidson, K., and Marquez, P. (2014). “Structural Health Monitoring of Delaware’s Indian River Inlet Bridge: Year One Update.” Proceedings of the 2014 Structures Congress, Boston, Massachusetts.
  4. Marquez, P., Chajes, M.J., Shenton III, H.W., Al-Khateeb, H., Wenczel, and Cardinal, J. (2013). “Structural Health Monitoring: Establishing the Baseline Performance of Delaware’s Indian River Inlet Bridge.” Proceedings of the 6th International Conference on Structural Health Monitoring of Intelligent Infrastructure, Hong Kong.
  5. Shenton III, H.W., Chajes, M.J., Wenczel, and Davidson, K. (2013). “Lessons Learned in the Construction and Early Experiences with the Indian River Inlet Bridge SHM System.” Proceedings of the 6th International Conference on Structural Health Monitoring of Intelligent Infrastructure, Hong Kong.
  6. Bechtel, A., McConnell, J., and Chajes, M. (2011).  “Ultimate Capacity Destructive Testing and Finite Element Analysis of Steel I-Girder Bridges,” ASCE Journal of Bridge Engineering, 16(2), 197-208.
  7. Shenton III, H.W., Carson, P.D., Chajes, M.J., O’Shea, D., Kursinsky, C., (2010). “Delaware’s Indian River Inlet Bridge: a comprehensive plan for long-term structural monitoring,” Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board, No. 2201, 148-153.
  8. Bechtel, A., McConnell, J., and Chajes, M. (2009). “Destructive Testing and Finite Element Analysis to Determine the Ultimate Capacity of Skewed Steel I-Girder Bridges,” Transportation Research Record, Vol. 2131, 49-56.
  9. Bhattacharya, B., Li. D., and Chajes, M. J. (2008), “Bridge Rating Using In-Service Data in the Presence of Strength Deterioration and Correlation in Load Process,” Structure&Infrastructure Engineering, 4(3), 237-249.
  10. Liu, J., and Chajes, M.J. (2008). “Lateral-Torsional Buckling Study of a Continuous, Skewed, Steel Bridge During Deck Placement,” Journal of Bridge Structures, 4(1), 15-22.
  11. Huang, H., Chajes, M. J., Mertz, D.R., Shenton III, H. W., and Kaliakin, V. (2007). “Strength Behavior of Filled Grid Decks for Bridges,” Journal of Bridge Structures, 3(2), 105-118.
  12. Huang, H., Kaliakin, V., Chajes, M. J., Mertz, D.R., and Shenton III, H. W. (2007), “Application of Orthotropic Thin Plate Theory to Filled Grid Decks for Bridges,” Journal of Bridge Engineering, ASCE, 12(6), pp. 807-810.
  13. Chajes, M.J., and Shenton, H.W. (2006), “Using Diagnostic Load Tests for Accurate Load Rating of Typical Bridges,” Journal of Bridge Structures, 2(1), 13-23.
  14. Hirachan, J., and Chajes, M.J. (2005), “Experimental Influence Lines for Bridge Evaluation,” Journal of Bridge Structures, 1(4), 405-412.
  15. Bhattacharya, B., Li, D., Chajes, M. and Hastings, J. (2005). “Reliability-Based Load and Resistance Factor Rating Using In-Service Data,” Journal of Bridge Engineering, ASCE, 10(5), 530-543.
  16. Bhattacharya, B., Li., D. and Chajes, M. J. (2005). “Load and resistance factor rating using site specific data. Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board, CD 11-S, Transportation Research Board of the National Academies, Washington, D. C., pp. 143-151.
  17. Huang, H., Shenton III, H.W., and Chajes, M.J. (2004). “Load Distribution for a Highly Skewed Bridge: Testing and Analysis,” Journal of Bridge Engineering, ASCE, 9(6), 558-562.
  18. Chajes, M.J., Hunsperger, R.G., Liu, W., Li, J., and Kunz, E. (2003). “Time Domain Reflectometry for Void Detection in Grouted Post-Tensioned Bridges,” Journal of the Transportation Research Board, TRB, 1845, 148-152.
  19. Shenton III, H.W., Chajes, M.J., Sivakumar, B., and Finch, W.W. (2003). “Field Tests and In-Service Monitoring of the Newburgh-Beacon Bridge,” Journal of the Transportation Research Board, TRB, 1845, 153-162.
  20. Liu, W., Hunsperger, R.G., Chajes, M.J., Folliard, K., and Kunz, E. (2002). “Corrosion Detection of Steel Cables Using Time Domain Reflectometry,” Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering, ASCE, 14(3), 217-223.
  21. Huang, H., Chajes, M.J., Mertz, D.R., Shenton III, H.W., and Kaliakin, V.N. (2002). “Behavior of Open Steel Grid Decks,” Journal of Constructional Steel Research, 58(5-8), 819-842.
  22. Chajes, M.J., Shenton III, H.W., and Finch, W.W. (2001). “Performance of a GFRP Deck on Steel Girder Bridge,” Journal of the Transportation Research Board, TRB, 1770, 105-112.
  23. Chajes, M.J., Shenton III, H.W., and Finch, W.W. (2001). “Diagnostic and In-Service Testing of a Transit Railway Bridge,” Journal of the Transportation Research Board, TRB, 1770, 51-57.
  24. Miller, T.C., Chajes, M.J., Mertz, D.R., and Hastings, J. (2001). “Strengthening of a Steel Bridge Girder Using CFRP Plates,” Journal of Bridge Engineering, ASCE, 6(6), 514-522.
  25. Gillespie, J. W., Eckel, D.A., Edberg, W.M., Sabol, S.A., Mertz, D.R., Chajes, M.J., Shenton III, H.W., Hu, C., Chaudhri, M., Faqiri, A., Soneji, J. (2000). “Bridge 1-351 Over Muddy Run: Design, Testing and Erection of an All-Composite Bridge,” Journal of the Transportation Research Record, TRB, 1696(2), 118-123.
  26. Chajes, M.J., Shenton III, H.W., and O’Shea, D. (2000). “Bridge Condition Assessment and Load Rating Using Nondestructive Evaluation Methods,” Journal of the Transportation Research Record, TRB, 1696(2), 83-91.
  27. Geng, Z.-J., Chajes, M.J., Chou, T.-W., and Pan, D. Y.-C. (1998). “The Retrofitting of Reinforced Concrete Column-to-Beam Connections,” Composites Science and Technology, 58(8), 1297-1305.
  28. Zureick A.-H., and Chajes, M.J. (1998). “Guest Editorial,” Composites Science and Technology, 58(8), 1257-1258.

HONORS/AWARDS

Academy of Distinguished CEE Alumni: University of Massachusetts (2016)
E. A. Trabant Award for Women’s Equity: Advance Team, University of Delaware (2012)
Delaware Engineer of the Year: Delaware Engineering Society (2010)
UC Davis College of Engineering Distinguished Engineering Alumni Medal: (2010)
Nominated for University Outstanding Teaching Award: University of Delaware (1993, 1997, 2004, and 2007).
Nominated for Outstanding Academic Advising Award: University of Delaware (1994, 2009).
Nominated for College of Engineering Outstanding Advising Award: University of Delaware (2003).
Nominated for College of Engineering Outstanding Teaching Award: University of Delaware (2001)
ASCE Delaware Section Project of the Year Award: Bridge 1–351 Over Muddy Run, University of Delaware and DelDOT Team (1999)
Member of NSF’s U.S. Delegation: Structural Faults & Repair Conference, Edinburgh, Scotland (1997).
Member of NSF’s U.S. Delegation: Second International Symposium on Non–Metallic (FRP) Reinforcement of Concrete Structures, Ghent, Belgium (1995)
Feature Story on CNN’s Science & Technology Week: February 4 (1995)
Feature Story on Delaware’s First State News: October 24 (1994)
National Science Foundation Research Initiation Award: (1993 – 1997)
Outstanding Graduate Student Teaching Award: University of California, Davis (1986 and 1988)
Graduate Student Fellowship: University of California, Davis (1984 – 1986)
Distinguished Scholar Research Award: University of California, Davis (1984 – 1985)
President, American Society of Civil Engineers Student Chapter: University of Massachusetts, Amherst (1983 – 1984)
NSF REU Summer Student Fellowship: Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute, Woods Hole, Massachusetts (1983)
Outstanding Student Award: University of Massachusetts, Amherst (1983)
Member, Chi Epsilon: Civil Engineering Honor Society
Member, Tau Beta Pi: Engineering Honor Society

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