Education

*Ph.D.*	Cornell University (1995–1997) Structural Engineering Minor: Theoretical and Applied Mechanics Cold-Formed Steel Behavior and Design: Analytical and Numerical Modeling of Elements and Members with Longitudinal Stiffeners Advisor: Teoman Peköz
*M.S.*	Cornell University (1993–1994) Structural Engineering Behavior and Design of Cold-Formed Steel Members with Intermediate Stiffeners Advisor: Teoman Peköz
*B.S.E.*	University of Iowa (1989–1993) B.S.E. with Honors and Distinction, Civil Engineering Dean’s List, President’s List, Midwest Transportation Scholar
*E.I.T.*	FE/EIT, State of Iowa (1993)

Professional

Assistant Professor

The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD

Department of Civil Engineering. (July 2000 – Present)

Senior Engineer

Simpson Gumpertz & Heger Inc., Arlington, MA

Engineering Mechanics and Infrastructure Division. (August 1998 – June 2000)

Failure Investigations and Litigation Consulting

· Deposed as expert witness on the role of stress triaxiality in the fracture of steel moment connections during the Northridge Earthquake.

· Investigated 124 ft high tubular scaffolding collapse.

· Analyzed cracked architectural pre-cast concrete panels.

· Performed soil-structure interaction analysis of spalled reinforced concrete pipe culvert.

Buried Structures

· Assessed and optimized profile wall polyethylene pipe. Performed nonlinear finite element analysis of parallel plate and joint test.

· Developed monitoring provisions for creep buckling of ring stiffened FRP tanks exposed to oxygenated fuels.

· Conducted risk assessment for blast loads near the Hultman Aqueduct.

· Designed emergency repair for manhole riser at a nuclear power plant.

· Wrote section on liner buckling for WERF report on the design of sewer pipe.

Seismic Consulting

· Generated seismic response spectra and performed peer review of finite element model and component loads for the design of a base isolated radar in Alaska.

· Developed seismic monitoring system and performed review for 3 California buildings.

Intern

Bechtel Co., San Francisco, CA

Seismic retrofit of California highway bridges. (Summer 1992)

Midwest Gas Co., Des Moines, IA

Field work on cathodically protected steel pipes. (Summer 1991)

Research

Assistant Professor

The Johns Hopkins University (2000 – Present)

Current Projects:

· Distortional Buckling of Cold-Formed Steel Columns

· Test Verification of the Effect of Stress Gradient on Webs of Cee and Zee Sections

Postdoctoral Research Associate

Cornell University (1997–1998)

Advisor for graduate student research on torsional behavior of cold-formed steel members. Investigation of elastic post-buckling frame stability via bar/spring modeling. Computational examination of cold-formed steel members undergoing distortional buckling in compression or bending. Generation of design procedures for distortional buckling.

Research Assistant

Cornell University (1993–1997)

Computational modeling of cold-formed steel members with longitudinal stiffeners in the flanges or webs. Determination of reliable implementation of nonlinear analysis methods for cold-formed steel members. New design procedures for multiple longitudinal stiffeners in the compression flange, longitudinal web stiffeners and longitudinal edge stiffeners.

Research Assistant

University of Iowa (1992–1993)

Midwest Transportation Center research to analyze the impact of allowing new vehicle configurations on the interstate.

Teaching

Assistant Professor

The Johns Hopkins University (2000-Present)

What is Engineering?: (Fall 2000)

Instructor

Cornell University (1997-1998)

Structural Behavior: Undergraduate behavior and design of structures course. Covering fundamental structural concepts: equilibrium analysis, material behavior, structural forms, loads, reliability, typical limit states in design and their analysis. Concepts are taught through case studies and students complete all work in teams. (Spring 1998)

Modern Structures: Undergraduate introduction to structural engineering. Emphasizes basic structural principles and forms. Extensive use of case studies and hands on laboratory work to aid the students understanding and generate enthusiasm about structural engineering. (Fall 1997)

Guest

Lecturer

Cornell University (1995-1998)

Advanced Design of Metal Structures:

Probabilistic design, yielding criteria, tension members and connections – six lectures. (Fall 1998).

Plate stability and ultimate strength – four lectures. (Fall 1996)

Column stability and design – three lectures. (Fall 1995)

Advanced Behavior of Metal Structures:

Finite strip method, behavior of thin-walled members – four lectures. (Spring 1997)

Teaching Assistant

Cornell University (1993-1994)

Design of Steel Structures, Structural Behavior:
Led recitations, graded homework and exams.

Service & Activities

Member

American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) (1991–Present)

American Society of Engineering Education (1997-Present)

United States Association for Computational Mechanics (USACM) (1998-Present)

International Association of Bridge and Structural Engineers (IABSE) (1998-Present)

Earthquake Engineering Research Institute (EERI) (1996–Present)

Committee Work

American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI)

Member of the main AISI Committee on Specifications for the Design of Cold-Formed Steel Structural Members and the following subcommittees: Sub 10 – Element Behavior, Sub 22 – Compression Members, Sub 24 – Flexural Members, Sub 26 – Design Manual, Sub 30 – Education, Sub 31 – General Provisions. (1995–Present)

Currently working with subcommittees on new design methods for

· bracing of singly symmetric beams and columns

· distortional buckling provisions for beams and columns

· stiffened elements under a stress gradient

· integration of numerical methods into the design of cold-formed steel members.

Led the following workshops for AISI Committee on Specifications

· Finite Strip Analysis and the Beginnings of Direct Strength (1 day July 2000)

· integrating numerical methods in design (½ day July 1998),

· design of members with longitudinal stiffeners (1 day February 1998), and

· numerical analysis and design of cold-formed steel (2 days for Sub 10 April 1997).

American Society of Civil Engineers – Structural Engineering Institute (ASCE-SEI)

Member of ASCE-SEI committee on cold-formed members. (1997–Present)

American Association of State Highway and Tranportation Officials (AASHTO)

Presentation of “design method for flexible pipe” to Flexible Culvert Liaison Committee (1998)

Graduate Student Service

Head – Graduate Student Committee (on curriculum and faculty search, Spring 1997)

President – Structural Engineering Club (organized multidisciplinary lectures, 1995–1997)

Librarian – Intradepartmental Library (1995–1997)

Vice President – Student Chapter of Earthquake Eng, Research Institute (EERI) (1996–1997)

Publications:

Journal Articles

Schafer, B.W. (2000). “Local, Distortional, and Euler Buckling in Thin-Walled Columns.” submitted to Journal of Structural Engineering for publication.

Schafer, B.W., Ojdrovic, R.P., Zarghamee, M.S. (2000). “The Role of Triaxiality in Steel Moment Connections.” To be published in October Journal of Structural Engineering.

Gotluru, B.P., Schafer, B.W., Peköz, T. (2000). “Torsion in Thin-Walled Steel Beams.” Thin-Walled Structures Journal. 37 (2) pp. 127-145.

Schafer, B.W., Peköz, T. (1999). “Laterally Braced Cold-Formed Steel Flexural Members with Edge Stiffened Flanges.” Journal of Structural Engineering. 125(2).

Schafer, B.W., Peköz, T. (1998). “Cold-Formed Steel Members with Multiple Longitudinal Intermediate Stiffeners in the Compression Flange.” Journal of Structural Engineering. 124(10).

Schafer, B.W., Peköz, T. (1998). “Computational Modeling of Cold-Formed Steel: Characterizing Geometric Imperfections and Residual Stresses.” Journal of Constructional Steel Research. 47(3).

Schafer, B.W., Grigoriu, M., Peköz, T. (1998). “A Probabilistic Examination of the Ultimate Strength of Cold-Formed Steel Elements.” Thin-Walled Structures Journal. 31(4).

Schafer, B.W., Peköz, T. (1997). “The Behavior and Design of Longitudinally Stiffened Thin-Walled Compression Elements.” Thin-Walled Structures Journal, 27(1).

Other Publications

Schafer, B.W. (1998). "Elastic Buckling Stress and Cold-Formed Steel Design.” CCFSS Technical Bulletin. 7(1). Center for Cold-Formed Steel Structures, University of Missouri-Rolla.

Schafer, B.W. (1998) "CUFSM Users Manual" currently available at www.cee.cornell.edu/schafer

Conference Papers

Ojdrovic, R.P., Schafer, B.W., Zarghamee, M.S. (2000). “Fracture and the Role of Triaxiality for Steel Structures.” ASCE-SEI 2000 Structures Congress. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania..

Peköz, T.P., Schafer, B.W., Kim, Y. (1999). “CUFSM and a Fresh Look at the AA (Aluminum Association) Specification.” Workshop on Research and Design for Aluminum Structures, Ithaca, New York.

Schafer, B.W., Peköz, T. (1999). “Local and Distortional Buckling of Cold-Formed Steel Members with Edge Stiffened Flanges.” Fourth International Conference on Steel and Aluminum Structures. Finland.

Schafer, B.W., Peköz, T. (1998). “Direct Strength Prediction of Cold-Formed Steel Members using Numerical Elastic Buckling Solutions.” Second International Conference on Thin-Walled Structures. Singapore.

†Schafer, B.W., Peköz, T. (1998). “Direct Strength Prediction of Cold-Formed Steel Members using Numerical Elastic Buckling Solutions.” Fourteenth International Specialty Conference on Cold-Formed Steel Structures. St. Louis, Missouri.

†Schafer, B.W., Peköz, T. (1998). “Laterally Braced Cold-Formed Steel Flexural Members with Edge Stiffened Flanges.” Fourteenth International Specialty Conference on Cold-Formed Steel Structures. St. Louis, Missouri.

†Schafer, B.W., Peköz, T. (1997). “Characterizing Imperfections for Computational Models.” Aluminum Association Workshop on Research and Design for Aluminum Structures, Ithaca, New York.

†Schafer, B.W., Peköz, T. (1996). “Design of Cold-Formed Steel Elements with Multiple Longitudinal Intermediate Stiffeners.” Thirteenth International Specialty Conference on Cold-Formed Steel Structures. St. Louis, Missouri.

†Schafer, B.W., Grigoriu, M., Peköz, T. (1996). “A Probabilistic Examination of the Ultimate Strength of Cold-Formed Steel Elements.” Thirteenth International Specialty Conference on Cold-Formed Steel Structures. St. Louis, Missouri.

†Schafer, B.W., Peköz, T. (1996). “Geometric Imperfections and Residual Stresses for Use in the Analytical Modeling of Cold-Formed Steel Members.” Thirteenth International Specialty Conference on Cold-Formed Steel Structures. St. Louis, Missouri.

Schafer, B.W., Peköz, T. (1997). “Geometric Imperfections and Residual Stresses for Use in the Analytical Modeling of Cold-Formed Steel Members.” International Conference on Experimental Model Research and Testing of Thin-Walled Structures. Prague, Czech Republic.

†Schafer, B.W., Peköz, T. (1995). “The Behavior and Design of Longitudinally Stiffened Thin-Walled Compression Elements.” Third International Conference on Steel and Aluminum Structures. Bogaziçi University, Istanbul, Turkey.

†Presented by Schafer at conference.

Research Interests

Thin-walled structures consist of a wide and growing field of engineering applications which seek efficiency in strength and cost by minimizing material. The result is a structure in which the stability of the components, i.e. the “thin walls,” is often the primary aspect of the behavior and design. Thin-walled structures include industrial and residential buildings, box girder bridges, ship hulls, aircraft skins, as well as buried structures such as tanks, pipes, and culverts and many others.

Current practice of maximum strength at minimum cost drives classic engineering materials such as steel, concrete, or even aluminum, as well as newer materials such as FRP or HDPE to be used as thin-walled structures. My research on cold-formed steel members and work on buried FRP tanks and HDPE profile-wall pipe has led me to conclude that the behavior, prediction, design, and optimization of thin-walled structures is an increasingly important problem in structural engineering research.

Predicting the behavior of thin-walled structures necessitates advanced computational modeling and careful experimentation. For cold-formed steel members my work begins with the analytical and experimental characterization of imperfections and residual stresses. For HDPE profile-wall pipe the work begins at a more basic level with material experiments to characterize the nonlinear visco-elastic behavior of polyethylene. With a reliable characterization of the material and initial conditions, nonlinear finite element analysis is then used to perform sensitivity studies and parametric analysis to assess the behavior and strength of members. Finally, to provide tools for design, analytical expressions for elastic stability and simplified computational applications (e.g. finite strip) are developed.

Though often ignored, experiments and computation show that the strength of thin-walled members is sensitive to initial variations in material and geometry. Geometric imperfections, residual stresses and other initial variations may be treated as random variables (random processes, or random fields) and combined with computational modeling via simulation. For example, my analysis of an isolated cold-formed steel plate, treating imperfections, residual stresses and thickness as random variables yields a more complete understanding of structural performance. This research has fostered an interest in computational applications of stochastic mechanics and reliability.

Production methods for thin-walled members generally have great flexibility in formation of the cross-section shape. For example, roll-forming of cold-formed steel, or extrusion of aluminum or plastic members is used to generate intricate cross-sections with a variety of stiffeners in order to minimize material and maximize strength. As I have learned in my research, these cross-sections have several competing buckling modes. Optimization is complicated by the interaction of these modes as well as the more basic fact that elastic stability and ultimate strength do not yield the same optimum configuration. These complications and the continued need for strong members of maximum efficiency has lead to my general research interest in structural optimization.

Stability obviously plays a central role in my research. I have an active interest in a variety of stability issues, for example: post-buckling stability of frames in local and overall buckling; interaction and coupled instabilities for members in local, distortional and long-wavelength modes; and stability of members under dynamic loads. Examination of the behavior of thin-walled structures provides interesting research problems both in computational modeling and experimental research as well as a unique starting point for investigating a variety of materials, loading conditions, and structural applications.

Teaching Interests

Teaching first semester freshmen has fostered my interest in undergraduate education. Courses which provide a link between early pure science education and later engineering education are particularly important. I also look forward to teaching a variety of more traditional undergraduate courses including, but not limited to, solid mechanics, structural analysis and steel design.

I have a strong interest in teaching traditional graduate courses in stability, advanced steel design & behavior, and numerical analysis. I hope to become involved in the graduate curriculum in other ways. For instance, I would like to develop short courses based on current research topics, and would be happy to facilitate an informal graduate student seminar series. I welcome the opportunity to become involved in interdisciplinary undergraduate and graduate courses.

The flexibility of modern presentation technology affords new methods for teaching. I am interested in new presentation techniques in order to adapt to the varying learning styles of the students. I recently taught a large class of first semester freshmen covering historical lessons from suspension bridge design. In addition to traditional board-work, I took advantage of 35mm slides, VHS movies, Powerpoint presentation, and physical models. Students had a varied response to the different presentation techniques. The use of highly visual techniques worked particularly well for providing historical context and generating enthusiasm.

Though I am interested in modern presentation methods, often there is no substitute for traditional presentation styles. For example, I employed traditional board-work exclusively in a lecture on the development of the finite strip method for the stability analysis of thin-walled structures. I feel that even with the advantages of modern presentation technology, traditional board-work was the best approach. Regardless of alternative presentation methods, the actual details of an involved derivation are often essential for understanding. While I have used interactive course web pages to improve the “out of class experience” many situations still demand classical student-teacher interaction in the form of derivations and note-taking.

In order to better meet the needs of the modern engineer, I believe in the use of team-based projects encompassing analysis and hands-on work. In addition, the extensive use of written reports and oral presentations are needed in engineering courses to improve communication skills. Further, I believe in the importance of historical and modern case studies for teaching engineering design. Historical case studies blend well with a personal interest in the history of structural engineering – particularly suspension bridges. I look forward to developing and teaching a variety of courses for aspiring structural engineers.