Contact Information

2266 Engineering Hall 1415 Engineering Drive Madison, WI 53706

Tel: 608/262-7711 Fax: 608/262-5199 E-mail: cramer@engr.wisc.edu

Program Affiliations

• Civil and Environmental Engineering

• Construction Engineering and Management Program
• Materials Science Program
• Wisconsin Structures and Materials Testing Laboratory

Courses

• CEE 340: Structural Analysis I
• CEE 440: Structural Analysis II
• CEE 442: Wood Structures I
• CEE 740: Matrix Methods of Structural Analysis

Education

• BS, University of Wisconsin-Madison
• MS, Colorado State University
• PhD., Colorado State University

Fields of Interest

• structural engineering
• wood structures
• timber structures
• concrete materials

Selected Awards, Honors and Societies

• L.J. Markwardt Wood Engineering Award-Forest Products Research Society, 1992 & 1997
• Fellow, University of Wisconsin-Madison Teaching Academy, 2001
• Chancellor's Distinguished Teaching Award, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 2002
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• American Society of Testing and Materials
• Forest Products Research Society
• Society of Wood Science and Technology
• American Society for Engineering Education
• American Concrete Institute

Summary

Construction materials and structures form the basis of our infrastructure. These interrelated topics are the focus of my research. The scope of our activity includes study of the mechanical behavior of wood and wood-based materials, the design and analysis of wood structures, and the performance of concrete construction materials.

Our research includes developing linkages between properties of wood microstructure and macrolevel mechanical performance of wood construction products. We have on-going activities to develop new structural analysis methods for wood trusses. These methods have been applied to advanced design specifications. Part of this research involves the study of the performance of wood assemblies subject to fire.

Our extensive laboratory research on the performance of concrete materials for infrastructure applications such as pavements continues to grow. Studies include examinations of suitability of new concrete aggregates in relation to the freeze-thaw performance of concrete. We also are continuing a study, which began at UW-Madison in 1910, examining the long-term properties of concrete.

Our research is a blend of experimental and numerical work. My graduate students and I are part of a research team directed at solving real problems related to structures and materials used in construction.