Chris Williams
About Chris
Dr. R. Chris Williams has served as the principal investigator (PI) or Co-PI on numerous pavements and materials related research projects totaling more than $50M. Dr. Williams has more than 22 years of research experience managing and directing research funded by governmental agencies and major corporations. He has 25+ years of research experience in asphalt materials and pavement design. This experience includes the development and use of new materials in asphalt materials, design and evaluation of hot mix asphalt, design and construction specification development for hot mix asphalt, fundamental characterization of asphalt materials and hot mix asphalt, recycled asphalt shingles and reclaimed asphalt pavement, ground tire rubber in asphalt applications, and mechanistic-empirical pavement design.
His accomplishments include a substantial amount of work in sustainability, including the development of new biopolymers, bio-rejuvenators, and compaction aids/warm mix asphalt technologies from a bio-derived material, use of ground tire rubber and recycled asphalt shingles in asphalt mixtures, mixtures containing high amounts of recycled asphalt pavement, and evaluation of warm mix asphalt technologies.
Resume
Education
- PhD, Civil Engineering, Purdue University, 1996
- MS, Civil Engineering, Purdue University, 1993
- BS, Civil Engineering, University of Vermont, 1991
Professional Experience
- Gerald & Audrey Professor, Department of Civil, Construction and Environmental Engineering, Iowa State University, 2011–Present
- Associate Professor, Department of Civil, Construction and Environmental Engineering, Iowa State University, August 2005–2011
- Assistant/Associate Professor, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Michigan Technological University, 1999–2005
Selected Publications
- Elkashef, M., R. C. Williams, and E. Cochran. 2018. Effect of Asphalt Binder Grade and Source on the Extent of Rheological Changes in Rejuvenated Binders. Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering, Vol. 30, No. 12.
- Chen, C., J. H. Podolsky, N. Hernandez, A. Hohmann, R. C. Williams, and E. W. Cochran. 2018. Rheological Properties and Effects of Aging on Acrylated Epoxidized Soybean Oil (AESO) Monomer Modified Asphalt Binder. Int’l Journal of Road Materials and Pavement Design, pp. 1–27.
- Podolsky, J. H., A. F. Buss, R. C. Williams, and E. W. Cochran. 2017. Effect of Bio-Derived/Chemical Additives on Warm Mix Asphalt Compaction and Mix Performance at Low Temperature. International Journal of Cold Regions Science and Technology.
- Lin, S., J. A. Ashlock, and R. C. Williams. 2016. Nondestructive Quality Assessment of Asphalt Pavements Based on Dynamic Modulus. Journal of Construction and Building Materials, Vol. 112, pp. 836–847.
- Chen, C., R. C. Williams, M. G. Marasinghe, J. C. Ashlock, S. Schram, and A. Buss. 2015. Assessment of Composite Pavement Performance by Survival Analysis. ASCE Journal of Transportation Engineering, Vol. 141, No. 9.
Honors, Recognitions, and Outstanding Achievements
- The American Cleaning Institute/National Biodiesel Board (ACI/NBB) Glycerine Innovation Award, 2019
- ISU Award for Achievement in Intellectual Property, 2018
- Named the Gerald and Audrey Olson Professor in Civil Engineering, 2014
- Research Partnership Award, Center for Transportation Studies, University of Minnesota, 2013
- Best Paper Award, 8th International Conference on Road and Airfield Pavement Technology, Taiwan, China, 2013
- Best Paper Award, 2nd International Conference WASTES: Solutions, Treatments and Opportunities, Braga, Portugal, 2013
- Best Paper Award, MAIREPAV7 Conference, Auckland, New Zealand, 2012
- Adjunct Faculty Member, Michigan Technological University, 2005–2009
- Howard E. Hill Chi Epsilon Outstanding Faculty of the Year for the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Michigan Tech (based upon student voting), 2003–2004
Professional Affiliations
- American Society of Civil Engineers, 1989–present
- American Society for Testing & Materials, 1996–present
- Association of Asphalt Paving Technologists, 2000–present
- National Stone, Sand & Gravel Association Research Advisory Board, 1999–present
- Transportation Research Board, 1992–present
- Member of AFK40: Characteristics of Bituminous-Aggregate Combinations To Meet Surface Requirements, 2005–present