
Michael Lepech
Associate Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Senior Fellow at the Woods Institute for the Environment
Bio
Professor Lepech's research focuses on the integration of sustainability indicators into engineering design, ranging from materials design, structural design, system design, to operations management. Such sustainability indicators include a comprehensive set of environmental, economic, and social costs. Recently his research has focused on the design of sustainable high performance fiber-reinforced cementitious composites (HPFRCCs) and fiber-reinforced polymers (FRPs), the impacts of sustainable materials on building and infrastructure design and operation, and the development of new life cycle assessment (LCA) applications for building systems, transportation systems, water systems, consumer products. Along with this he is studying the effects that slowly diffusing sustainable civil engineering innovations, and the social networks they diffuse through, can have on achieving long term sustainability goals.
Academic Appointments
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Associate Professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering
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Senior Fellow, Stanford Woods Institute for the Environment
Program Affiliations
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Science, Technology and Society
Professional Education
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MBA, University of Michigan, Finance and Strategy (2008)
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PhD, University of Michigan, Civil and Environmental Engineering (2006)
2020-21 Courses
- Accounting, Finance & Valuation for Engineers & Constructors
CEE 244 (Sum) - Damage and Failure Mechanics of Structural Systems
CEE 305 (Spr) - Engineering Economics and Sustainability
CEE 146S, ENGR 60 (Aut, Spr) - Life Cycle Assessment for Complex Systems
CEE 226 (Aut) -
Independent Studies (13)
- Advanced Engineering Problems
CEE 399 (Aut, Win, Spr, Sum) - Advanced Topics in Environmental Fluid Mechanics and Hydrology
CEE 365C (Spr) - Design and Operation of Integrated Infrastructure Systems
CEE 224A (Aut, Win) - Directed Reading in Environment and Resources
ENVRES 398 (Aut, Win, Spr, Sum) - Directed Reading or Special Studies in Civil Engineering
CEE 198 (Aut, Win, Spr, Sum) - Directed Research in Environment and Resources
ENVRES 399 (Aut, Win, Spr, Sum) - Independent Project in Civil and Environmental Engineering
CEE 199L (Aut, Win, Spr, Sum) - Independent Project in Civil and Environmental Engineering
CEE 299L (Aut, Win, Spr, Sum) - Independent Research in Civil and Environmental Engineering
CEE 199C (Aut) - Independent Study in Civil Engineering for CEE-MS Students
CEE 299 (Aut, Win, Spr, Sum) - Report on Civil Engineering Training
CEE 398 (Aut, Win, Spr, Sum) - Undergraduate Honors Thesis
CEE 199H (Aut, Win, Spr, Sum) - Undergraduate Research in Civil and Environmental Engineering
CEE 199 (Aut, Win, Spr, Sum)
- Advanced Engineering Problems
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Prior Year Courses
2019-20 Courses
- Accounting, Finance & Valuation for Engineers & Constructors
CEE 244 (Sum) - Damage and Failure Mechanics of Structural Systems
CEE 305 (Spr) - Engineering Economics and Sustainability
CEE 146S, ENGR 60 (Aut, Spr, Sum) - Introduction to PHD Studies in Civil and Environmental Engineering
CEE 379 (Aut) - Life Cycle Assessment for Complex Systems
CEE 226 (Aut)
2018-19 Courses
- Damage and Failure Mechanics of Structural Systems
CEE 305 (Spr) - Engineering Economics and Sustainability
CEE 146S, ENGR 60 (Aut, Spr, Sum) - Introduction to PHD Studies in Civil and Environmental Engineering
CEE 379 (Aut) - Life Cycle Assessment for Complex Systems
CEE 226 (Aut)
2017-18 Courses
- Damage and Failure Mechanics of Structural Systems
CEE 305 (Spr) - Engineering Economics and Sustainability
CEE 146S, ENGR 60 (Aut, Win, Spr, Sum) - Hard Earth: Stanford Graduate-Student Talks Exploring Tough Environmental Dilemmas
CEE 126X (Aut) - Hard Earth: Stanford Graduate-Student Talks Exploring Tough Environmental Dilemmas
CEE 126Y (Win) - Hard Earth: Stanford Graduate-Student Talks Exploring Tough Environmental Dilemmas
CEE 126Z (Spr) - Hard Earth: Stanford Graduate-Student Talks Exploring Tough Environmental Dilemmas
EARTH 126X (Aut) - Hard Earth: Stanford Graduate-Student Talks Exploring Tough Environmental Dilemmas
EARTH 126Y (Win) - Hard Earth: Stanford Graduate-Student Talks Exploring Tough Environmental Dilemmas
EARTH 126Z (Spr) - Introduction to PHD Studies in Civil and Environmental Engineering
CEE 379 (Aut) - Life Cycle Assessment for Complex Systems
CEE 226 (Aut)
- Accounting, Finance & Valuation for Engineers & Constructors
Stanford Advisees
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Lauren Esaki-Kua -
Doctoral Dissertation Reader (AC)
Hesam Hamledari -
Postdoctoral Faculty Sponsor
Zhiye Li -
Doctoral Dissertation Advisor (AC)
Adrian Biggerstaff, Weixuan Gao, Pouya Rezazadeh Kalehbasti -
Master's Program Advisor
Salah Adenkhalif, Kevin Adington, Enzo Alfonsi, Zhiren Bao, Brandon Byers, Andrea Coto, Coco Coyle, Srecko Curkovic, Xingyu Li, Samantha Liu, Sanjana Paraz, Hannah Shabb, Chun-Liang Wu, pengyu chen -
Doctoral (Program)
Tess Hegarty, Jason Hernandez, Ben Luce, Dehan Yu, Melissa Zirps
All Publications
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Cradle-to-gate sustainable target value design: integrating life cycle assessment and construction management for buildings
JOURNAL OF CLEANER PRODUCTION
2015; 100: 107-115
View details for DOI 10.1016/j.jclepro.2015.03.044
View details for Web of Science ID 000356191400009
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Integrating durability-based service-life predictions with environmental impact assessments of natural fiber-reinforced composite materials
RESOURCES CONSERVATION AND RECYCLING
2015; 99: 72-83
View details for DOI 10.1016/j.resconrec.2015.04.004
View details for Web of Science ID 000356735500008
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Static versus Time-Dependent Material Selection Charts and Application in Wood Flour Composites
JOURNAL OF BIOBASED MATERIALS AND BIOENERGY
2015; 9 (2): 273-283
View details for DOI 10.1166/jbmb.2015.1517
View details for Web of Science ID 000358624400021
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Techno-Ecological Synergy: A Framework for Sustainable Engineering
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
2015; 49 (3): 1752-1760
Abstract
Even though the importance of ecosystems in sustaining all human activities is well-known, methods for sustainable engineering fail to fully account for this role of nature. Most methods account for the demand for ecosystem services, but almost none account for the supply. Incomplete accounting of the very foundation of human well-being can result in perverse outcomes from decisions meant to enhance sustainability and lost opportunities for benefiting from the ability of nature to satisfy human needs in an economically and environmentally superior manner. This paper develops a framework for understanding and designing synergies between technological and ecological systems to encourage greater harmony between human activities and nature. This framework considers technological systems ranging from individual processes to supply chains and life cycles, along with corresponding ecological systems at multiple spatial scales ranging from local to global. The demand for specific ecosystem services is determined from information about emissions and resource use, while the supply is obtained from information about the capacity of relevant ecosystems. Metrics calculate the sustainability of individual ecosystem services at multiple spatial scales and help define necessary but not sufficient conditions for local and global sustainability. Efforts to reduce ecological overshoot encourage enhancement of life cycle efficiency, development of industrial symbiosis, innovative designs and policies, and ecological restoration, thus combining the best features of many existing methods. Opportunities for theoretical and applied research to make this framework practical are also discussed.
View details for DOI 10.1021/es5041442
View details for Web of Science ID 000349060300063
View details for PubMedID 25560912
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Impact of progressive sustainable target value assessment on building design decisions
BUILDING AND ENVIRONMENT
2015; 85: 52-60
View details for DOI 10.1016/j.buildenv.2014.11.011
View details for Web of Science ID 000350184900006
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Sustainable target value design: integrating life cycle assessment and target value design to improve building energy and environmental performance
JOURNAL OF CLEANER PRODUCTION
2015; 88: 43-51
View details for DOI 10.1016/j.jclepro.2014.03.025
View details for Web of Science ID 000347771100005
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Incorporating spatiotemporal effects and moisture diffusivity into a multi-criteria materials selection methodology for wood-polymer composites
CONSTRUCTION AND BUILDING MATERIALS
2014; 71: 589-601
View details for DOI 10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2014.08.049
View details for Web of Science ID 000345475300063
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A multi-objective feedback approach for evaluating sequential conceptual building design decisions
AUTOMATION IN CONSTRUCTION
2014; 45: 136-150
View details for DOI 10.1016/j.autcon.2014.04.015
View details for Web of Science ID 000347745800014
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Firm-level ecosystem service valuation using mechanistic biogeochemical modeling and functional substitutability
ECOLOGICAL ECONOMICS
2014; 100: 63-73
View details for DOI 10.1016/j.ecolecon.2014.01.014
View details for Web of Science ID 000334132600006
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Probabilistic design and management of environmentally sustainable repair and rehabilitation of reinforced concrete structures
CEMENT & CONCRETE COMPOSITES
2014; 47: 19-31
View details for DOI 10.1016/j.cemconcomp.2013.10.009
View details for Web of Science ID 000331686900004
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Application of multi-criteria material selection techniques to constituent refinement in biobased composites
MATERIALS & DESIGN
2013; 52: 1043-1051
View details for DOI 10.1016/j.matdes.2013.06.046
View details for Web of Science ID 000323832200122
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Behavior of Concrete and ECC Structures under Simulated Earthquake Motion
JOURNAL OF STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING-ASCE
2013; 139 (3): 389-399
View details for DOI 10.1061/(ASCE)ST.1943-541X.0000667
View details for Web of Science ID 000316701000008
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Network-Level Pavement Asset Management System Integrated with Life-Cycle Analysis and Life-Cycle Optimization
JOURNAL OF INFRASTRUCTURE SYSTEMS
2013; 19 (1): 99-107
View details for DOI 10.1061/(ASCE)IS.1943-555X.0000093
View details for Web of Science ID 000316563500010
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Improvement in environmental performance of poly(beta-hydroxybutyrate)-co-(beta-hydroxyvalerate) composites through process modifications
JOURNAL OF CLEANER PRODUCTION
2013; 40: 190-198
View details for DOI 10.1016/j.jclepro.2012.08.033
View details for Web of Science ID 000312173200022
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Application of life-cycle assessment to early stage building design for reduced embodied environmental impacts
BUILDING AND ENVIRONMENT
2013; 60: 81-92
View details for DOI 10.1016/j.buildenv.2012.11.009
View details for Web of Science ID 000314734800008
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Durability of strain-hardening cement-based composites (SHCC)
MATERIALS AND STRUCTURES
2012; 45 (10): 1447-1463
View details for DOI 10.1617/s11527-012-9845-y
View details for Web of Science ID 000307539400002
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Cradle-to-Gate Life Cycle Assessment for a Cradle-to-Cradle Cycle: Biogas-to-Bioplastic (and Back)
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
2012; 46 (18): 9822-9829
Abstract
At present, most synthetic organic materials are produced from fossil carbon feedstock that is regenerated over time scales of millions of years. Biobased alternatives can be rapidly renewed in cradle-to-cradle cycles (1-10 years). Such materials extend landfill life and decrease undesirable impacts due to material persistence. This work develops a LCA for synthesis of polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) from methane with subsequent biodegradation of PHB back to biogas (40-70% methane, 30-60% carbon dioxide). The parameters for this cradle-to-cradle cycle for PHB production are developed and used as the basis for a cradle-to-gate LCA. PHB production from biogas methane is shown to be preferable to its production from cultivated feedstock due to the energy and land required for the feedstock cultivation and fermentation. For the PHB-methane cycle, the major challenges are PHB recovery and demands for energy. Some or all of the energy requirements can be satisfied using renewable energy, such as a portion of the collected biogas methane. Oxidation of 18-26% of the methane in a biogas stream can meet the energy demands for aeration and agitation, and recovery of PHB synthesized from the remaining 74-82%. Effective coupling of waste-to-energy technologies could thus conceivably enable PHB production without imported carbon and energy.
View details for DOI 10.1021/es204541w
View details for Web of Science ID 000308787800002
View details for PubMedID 22775327
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Human Health Impact as a Boundary Selection Criterion in the Life Cycle Assessment of Pultruded Fiber Reinforced Polymer Composite Materials
JOURNAL OF INDUSTRIAL ECOLOGY
2012; 16 (2): 266-275
View details for DOI 10.1111/j.1530-9290.2011.00416.x
View details for Web of Science ID 000302534800010
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Project-Level Assessment of Environmental Impact: Ecosystem Services Approach to Sustainable Management and Development
JOURNAL OF MANAGEMENT IN ENGINEERING
2012; 28 (1): 5-12
View details for DOI 10.1061/(ASCE)ME.1943-5479.0000093
View details for Web of Science ID 000300439100003
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Multi-objective building envelope optimization for life-cycle cost and global warming potential
9th European Conference on Product and Process Modelling
CRC PRESS-TAYLOR & FRANCIS GROUP. 2012: 193–200
View details for Web of Science ID 000337164500027
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Structural modeling of corroded reinforced concrete bridge columns
6th International Conference on Bridge Maintenance, Safety and Management (IABMAS)
CRC PRESS-TAYLOR & FRANCIS GROUP. 2012: 1008–1014
View details for Web of Science ID 000328502801053
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USING LIFE CYCLE ASSESSMENT METHODS TO GUIDE ARCHITECTURAL DECISION-MAKING FOR SUSTAINABLE PREFABRICATED MODULAR BUILDINGS
JOURNAL OF GREEN BUILDING
2012; 7 (3): 151-170
View details for Web of Science ID 000322715200010
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ECOLOGICAL PAYBACK TIME OF AN ENERGY-EFFICIENT MODULAR BUILDING
JOURNAL OF GREEN BUILDING
2012; 7 (1): 100-119
View details for Web of Science ID 000303729200008
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INTEGRATED PROBABILISTIC LIFE CYCLE ASSESSMENT AND DURABILITY DESIGN FOR SUSTAINABLE SHCC INFRASTRUCTURE
2nd International RILEM Conference on Strain Hardening Cementitious Composites (SHCC2-Rio)
R I L E M PUBLICATIONS. 2011: 157–164
View details for Web of Science ID 000309322600019
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A Framework for Multiphysics Modeling of Natural Environments for Valuation of Privately Owned Ecosystem Services
IEEE International Symposium on Sustainable Systems and Technology (ISSST)
IEEE. 2011
View details for Web of Science ID 000297353100064
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Life-Cycle Optimization of Pavement Overlay Systems
JOURNAL OF INFRASTRUCTURE SYSTEMS
2010; 16 (4): 310-322
View details for DOI 10.1061/(ASCE)IS.1943-555X.0000042
View details for Web of Science ID 000284277500010
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Dynamic Life-Cycle Modeling of Pavement Overlay Systems: Capturing the Impacts of Users, Construction, and Roadway Deterioration
JOURNAL OF INFRASTRUCTURE SYSTEMS
2010; 16 (4): 299-309
View details for DOI 10.1061/(ASCE)IS.1943-555X.0000017
View details for Web of Science ID 000284277500009
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Design of Sustainable Pavements Using Probabilistic LCA/Durability Design
Proceedings of International Workshop on Energy and Environment in the Development of Sustainable Asphalt Pavements
XIAN JIAOTUNG UNIV PRESS. 2010: 16–21
View details for Web of Science ID 000283200900006
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Improving infrastructure sustainability using nanoparticle engineered cementitious composites
International Conference on Advanced Concrete Materials (ACM)
CRC PRESS-TAYLOR & FRANCIS GROUP. 2010: 153–161
View details for Web of Science ID 000353964900020
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Time varying risk modeling of deteriorating bridge infrastructure for sustainable infrastructure design
5th International Conference on Bridge Maintenance, Safety and Management (IABMAS)
CRC PRESS-TAYLOR & FRANCIS GROUP. 2010: 2501–2508
View details for Web of Science ID 000320615004038
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Water permeability of engineered cementitious composites
CEMENT & CONCRETE COMPOSITES
2009; 31 (10): 744-753
View details for DOI 10.1016/j.cemconcomp.2009.07.002
View details for Web of Science ID 000271850300007
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Application of ECC for bridge deck link slabs
MATERIALS AND STRUCTURES
2009; 42 (9): 1185-1195
View details for DOI 10.1617/s11527-009-9544-5
View details for Web of Science ID 000270841100003
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Introduction of Transition Zone Design for Bridge Deck Link Slabs Using Ductile Concrete
ACI STRUCTURAL JOURNAL
2009; 106 (1): 96-105
View details for Web of Science ID 000262291800011
- Transition Zone Analysis and Design for Bridge Deck Link Slabs using Ductile Concrete ACI Structural Journal 2009; 1 (106): 96-105
- Sustainable Infrastructure Systems using Engineered Cementitious Composites 2009
- Treatment of Uncertainties in Life Cycle Assessment 2009
- Improving Infrastructure Sustainability using Nanoparticle Engineered Cementitious Composites 2009
- Autogenous Healing of Engineered Cementitious Composites Under Wet-Dry Cycles Journal of Cement and Concrete Research 2009; 39: 382-390
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Design of Green Engineered Cementitious Composites for Improved Sustainability
ACI MATERIALS JOURNAL
2008; 105 (6): 567-575
View details for Web of Science ID 000261585200004
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Materials design for sustainability through life cycle modeling of engineered cementitious composites
MATERIALS AND STRUCTURES
2008; 41 (6): 1117-1131
View details for DOI 10.1617/s11527-007-9310-5
View details for Web of Science ID 000256434800010
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Design of green engineered cementitious composites for pavement overlay applications
1st International Symposium on Life-Cycle Civil Engineering
CRC PRESS-TAYLOR & FRANCIS GROUP. 2008: 837–842
View details for Web of Science ID 000267796500130
- Large Scale Processing of Engineered Cementitious Composites ACI Materials Journal 2008; 4 (105): 358-366
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An integrated life cycle assessment and life cycle analysis model for pavement overlay systems
1st International Symposium on Life-Cycle Civil Engineering
CRC PRESS-TAYLOR & FRANCIS GROUP. 2008: 907–912
View details for Web of Science ID 000267796500141
- Integrated Structure and Materials Design for Sustainable Concrete Transportation Infrastructure 2007
- Incorporating Life Cycle Analysis into Early Stage Office Furniture Product Development International Life Cycle Assessment and Management 2007. 2007
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Guiding the design and application of new materials for enhancing sustainability performance: Framework and infrastructure application
Symposium on Life-Cycle Analysis Tools for Green Materials and Process Selection held at the 2005 MRS Fall Meeting
MATERIALS RESEARCH SOCIETY. 2006: 123–134
View details for Web of Science ID 000237226800013
- Sustainable Infrastructure Engineering: Integrating Material and Structural Design with Life Cycle Analysis Advances in Cement and Concrete X: Sustainability edited by Schrivener, K., Monteiro, P., Hanehara, S. ECI. 2006: 55–60
- Long Term Durability Performance of Engineered Cementitious Composites International Journal for Restoration of Buildings and Monuments 2006; 2 (12): 119-132
- Durability ang Long Term Performance of Engineered Cementitious Composites 2006
- General Design Assumptions for Engineered Cementitious Composites 2006
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Life Cycle Modeling of Concrete Bridge Design: Comparison of Engineered Cementitious Composite Link Slabs and Conventional Steel Expansion Joints
JOURNAL OF INFRASTRUCTURE SYSTEMS
2005; 11 (1): 51-60
View details for DOI 10.1061/(ASCE)1076-0342(2005)11:1(51)
View details for Web of Science ID 000208358700006
- Design and Field Demonstration of ECC Link Slabs for Jointless Bridge Decks 2005
- Life-Cycle Cost Model for Evaluating the Sustainability of Bridge Decks 2005
- Life Cycle Model for Evaluating the Sustainability of Concrete Infrastructure Systems 2005
- Sustainable Infrastructure Material Design 2005
- Self -healing of ECC under cyclic wetting and drying 2005
- Self-healing in Cementitious Compounds Self-healing Materials Workshop edited by aan Zee, N. Delft, Netherlands. 2005: 1
- Life Cycle Modeling of Concrete Bridge Design: Comparison of ECC Link Slabs and Conventional Steel Expansion Joints Journal of Infrastructure Systems 2005: 51-60
- Water Permeability of Cracked Cementitious Composites 2005
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Development of green engineered cementitious composites for sustainable infrastructure systems
International Workshop on Sustainable Development and Concrete Technology
CENTER TRANSPORTATION RESEARCH & EDUCATION. 2004: 181–191
View details for Web of Science ID 000223336500017
- Development of Green ECC for Sustainable Infrastructure Systems. edited by Wang, K. 2004
- Size Effect in ECC Structural Members in Flexure 2004
- Crack Resistant Concrete Material for Transportation Construction Transportation Research Board 83rd Annual Meeting Compendium of Papers, Paper No. 04-4680. 2004
- Preliminary Findings on Size Effect in ECC Structural Members in Flexural 2003