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Civil Engineering

Christopher A. Jones | Interim Department Head and Professor

Photo of Christopher Jones

Civil Engineering Alumni Professorship Honoring Dr. Robert Snell

Wallis-Lage Family Cornerstone Teaching Scholar

Ph.D. - 2011, Texas A&M University
Civil Engineering
M.S. - 2009, Texas A&M University
Civil Engineering
B.S. - 2006, Texas A&M University
Civil Engineering
B.A. - 2006, Southwestern University
Physical Science

Contact Information

2118 Fiedler Hall
785-532-1578
jonesca@k-state.edu

Professional Experience

Jones received his doctorate in civil engineering from Texas A&M University in 2011, where he measured and modeled fundamental material properties of calcium silicate hydrate — the major component of hardened Portland cement. After graduation, he accepted a technical staff position at Sandia National Laboratories within Sandia’s Nuclear Energy and Fuel Cycle Programs Center studying reactor containment behavior under severe accident conditions. Jones achieved several project leadership roles while working at Sandia on Department of Energy and Nuclear Regulatory Commission funded R&D efforts. He also worked at the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s Office of Research for one year under an Intergovernmental Agency Personnel Agreement. In 2022, Jones was promoted to his current position as a professor in the department of civil engineering at K-State. 

Research

Jones has research interests in the area of mechanics and materials, computational structural mechanics, and uncertainty quantification. Portland cement concrete is a particular area of interest. Jones has developed and implemented novel experimental techniques for nano-scale material characterization via indentation and novel permeability measurement techniques for very tight porous materials. Research applications include traditional reinforced concrete civil structures, concrete pavement, stabilized soil/base materials, nuclear reactor containment vessels, and nuclear waste dry storage systems. Jones has experience and interest in developing experimentally validated computational predictive capabilities for engineering applications. He has a strong preference for complementary experimental campaigns and predictive simulation development.  

Jones currently seeks motivated students interested in further studies at the master’s and doctoral levels and such students are encouraged to reach out to him directly.

Academic Highlights

Jones has co-authored one book chapter, several peer reviewed journal articles and conference papers, as well as numerous research reports while at Texas A&M and Sandia. Additionally, he has a strong passion for teaching at the undergraduate and graduate levels, and constantly seeks to incorporate novel and engaging teaching and assessment techniques into the classroom. Jones is an active member of professional committees in both the American Concrete Institute and the American Society of Mechanical Engineers relating to the design of nuclear concrete structures and the materials science of concrete.

Recent Faculty Publications
Refereed Journal Publications
  • Patil, P. and Jones, C. (2022). Identifying Uncertainties in Nanoindentation Experiments for Cementitious Materials. Accepted for publication in Transportation Research Record.
  • Athe, P., Jones, C., and Dinh, N. (2021). Assessment of the Predictive Capability of VERA - CS for CASL Challenge Problems. Journal of Verification, Validation and Uncertainty Quantification, 6 (2).
  • Islam, S., Bose, A., Jones, C., Hossain, M., and Vahl, C. (2020). Developing an Automated Technique to Calibrate the AASHTOWare Pavement ME Design Software. Transportation Research Record, 2674 (9), 867-877.
  • Tavakol, M., Kulesza, S., Jones, C., and Hossain, M. (2020). Effect of Low-Quality Recycled Concrete Aggregate on Stabilized Clay Properties. Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering, 32 (8), 04020196.
  • Qadri, F. Jones, C. (2020). Durable High Early Strength Concrete via Internal Curing Approach Using Saturated Lightweight and Recycled Concrete Aggregates. Transportation Research Record, 2674 (7), 67-76.
  • Porras, Y., Jones, C., and Schmiedeke, N. (2020). Freezing and Thawing Durability of High Early Strength Portland Cement Concrete. Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering, 32 (5), 04020077.
  • Kramer, S.L., Jones, A., Mostafa, A., Ravaji, B., Tancogne-Dejean, T., Roth, C.C., Bandpay, M.G., Pack, K., Foster, J.T., Behzadinasab, M. and Sobotka, J.C., McFarland, J.M., Stein, J, Spear, A.D., Newel, P., Czbaj, M.W., Williams, B., Simha, H., Gesing, M., Gilkey, L.N., Jones, C.A., Dingreville, R., Sanborn, S.E., Bignell, J.L., Cerrone, A.R., Keim, V., Nonn, A., Cooreman, S., Thibaux, P., Ames, N., Connor, D.O., Parno, M., Davis, B., Tucker, J., Coudrillier, B., Karlson, K.N., Ostien, J.T., Foulk, J.W., Hammetter, C.I., Grange, S., Emery, J.M., Brown, J.A., Bishop, J.A., Bishop, J.E., Johnson, K.L., Ford, K.R., Brinckmann, S., Neilsen, M.K., Jackiewicz, J., Ravi-Chandar, K., Ivanoff, T., Salzbrenner, B.C., and Boyce, B. (2019). The third Sandia Fracture Challenge: predictions of ductile fracture in additively manufactured metal. International Journal of Fracture, 218(1-2), pp.5-61.
  • Islam, S., Hossain, M., Jones, C. A., Bose, A., Barrett, R., & Velasquez Jr, N. (2019). Implementation of AASHTOWare Pavement ME Design Software for Asphalt Pavements in Kansas. Transportation Research Record, 0361198119835540.
  • Gordon, N., Gilkey, L., Smith, R. C., Michaud, I., Williams, B., Mousseau, V., & Jones, C. (2019). A Mutual Information–Based Experimental Design Framework to Use High-Fidelity Nuclear Reactor Codes to Calibrate Low-Fidelity Codes. Nuclear Technology, 1-12.
  • Boyce, B.L., S.L.B. Kramer, et al. (2016). The second Sandia Fracture Challenge: predictions of ductile failure under quasi-static and moderate-rate dynamic loading. International Journal of Fracture. 198 (1): p. 5-100.
  • Jones, C.A., R.A. Dameron, M. Sircar. (2015). Improving the state of the art in FEM analysis of PCCVs with bonded and unbonded prestress tendons. Nuclear Engineering and Design. 295: p. 782-788.
  • Jones, C.A., Z.C. Grasley, and J.A. Ohlhausen. (2011). Measurement of elastic properties of calcium silicate hydrate with atomic force microscopy. Cement and Concrete Composites. 34 (4): p. 468-477.
  • Jones, C.A. and Z.C. Grasley (2010). Short term creep of cement paste during nanoindentation. Cement and Concrete Composites.33(1): p. 12-18.
  • Jones, C.A. and Z.C. Grasley (2009). Correlation of radial flow-through and hollow cylinder dynamic pressurization test for measuring permeability. Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering. 21(10): p. 594-600.
  • Jones, C.A. and Z.C. Grasley (2009). Correlation of hollow and solid cylinder dynamic pressurization tests for measuring permeability. Cement and Concrete Research. 39(4): p. 345-352.
  • Jones, C.A. and Z.C. Grasley (2009). Novel and flexible dual permeability measurement device for cementitious materials. ACI Materials Journal. 106(2): p. 192-197.
Book Chapters

  • Eberhardt, A.C., Smith, C.T., Hessheimer, M.F., Jovall, O., Jones, C.A., 2018. "Code for Concrete Containments," Companion Guide to the ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Codes, Volume 1, Fifth Edition, K.R. Rao, ASME, New York, 26 pp.

Refereed Conference Proceedings
  • Chen, Y., Jones, C. and Peterman, R. 2022, April. Estimating Uncertainties in Concrete Monoblock Railroad Tie Flexural Behavior Through Monte Carlo Simulation. JRC2022-78215. Joint Rail Conference. Baltimore, MD.
  • Chen, Y., Jones, C. and Peterman, R. 2022, April. Experimental Flexural Testing of Virgin and Post-Service Concrete Monoblock Tie for Computational Tool Development. JRC2022-78213. Joint Rail Conference. Baltimore, MD.
  • Chen, Y., Jones, C. and Peterman, R. 2022, April. Development And Verification of a Moment-Curvature Based Railroad Tie Analysis Program. JRC2022-79510. Joint Rail Conference. Baltimore, MD.
  • Schrag, E., Qadri, F. and Jones, C. 2021, June. Temperature Prediction for High Early Strength Concrete Pavement Repair. International Airfield and Highway Pavements Conference. Austin, TX.
  • Nikumbh, R. and Jones, C., 2021, January. Predicting Spacing Factor in Hardened Concrete. In Transportation Research Board 100th Annual Meeting.  Washington, D.C. Transportation Research Board.
  • Qadri, F., Jones, C.A., Wichtner, C. 2020, January. Durable High Early Strength Concrete via Internal Curing Approach Using Saturated Lightweight and Recycled Concrete Aggregate. In Transportation Research Board 99th Annual Meeting.  Washington, D.C. Transportation Research Board.
  • Jones, C.A., Reinot, T. and Jankowiak, R. 2020, January. Laser-Induced Fluorescence Spectroscopy to Predict Aggregate Freeze-Thaw Susceptibility. In Transportation Research Board 99th Annual Meeting.  Washington, D.C. Transportation Research Board.
  • Riding, K., Armstrong, C., Mosavi, H., and Jones, C.A., 2020, January. Accelerating and Improving the Predictive Capability of Concrete Freezing and Thawing Tests by the Inclusion of Dissolved Ionic Species. In Transportation Research Board 99th Annual Meeting.  Washington, D.C. Transportation Research Board.
  • Islam, S., Bose, A., Hossain, M., Jones, C.A., Vahl, C. 2020, January. Developing an Automated Technique to Calibrate the AASHTOWare Pavement ME Design Software. In Transportation Research Board 99th Annual Meeting.  Washington, D.C. Transportation Research Board.
  • Islam, S., Hossain, M. and Jones, C.A., 2019, July. Effect of Concrete Mixture and Strength Properties on Concrete Pavement Design. In Airfield and Highway Pavements 2019: Testing and Characterization of Pavement Materials (pp. 417-426). Reston, VA: American Society of Civil Engineers.
  • Mhamankar, S. and Jones, C.A. 2019, August. Stress-State and Time-Dependent Deformation Characteristics for Cementitious Materials. In Structural Mechanics in Reactor Technology-25. Charlotte, NC, IASMIRT.
  • Gilkey, L. N., et al. "Blind Prediction of the Response of an Additively Manufactured Tensile Test Coupon Loaded to Failure." ASME 2018 Pressure Vessels and Piping Conference. American Society of Mechanical Engineers, 2018.
Technical Reports
  • Riding, K., Armstrong, C. Mosavi, H., Vosahlik, J. and Jones, C. (2020). Kansas Sustainable Concrete Pavements Initiative Phase II: Acceleration of Aggregate Qualification Procedures. K-TRAN-KSU-15-1. Kansas Department of Transportation, Topeka, KS.
  • Jones, C.A., Hetzler, A., Dinh, N., Athe, P., Sieger, M., (2019). Final Verification and Validation Assessment for VERA, CASL-U-2018-1310-000, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN.
  • Jones, C.A., Reinot, T., Jankowiak, R. (2018). Preliminary investigation of Laser Induced Florescence Spectroscopy to Predict Limestone Aggregate Freeze Thaw Susceptibility. K-TRAN-KSU-18-4. Kansas Department of Transportation, Topeka, KS.
  • Jones, C.A., Hetzler, A., Dinh, N., Athe, P., Sieger, M., (2018). Updated Verification and Validation Assessment for VERA, CASL-U-2018-1310-000, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN.
  • Jones, C.A., Hogancamp, J., Mata, G.A., Coffin, P., (2017). IRIS-III Benchmark, Team Report, SAND2017-0031R, Sandia National Laboratories, Albuquerque, NM.
  • Jones, C.A., Hetzler, A., Dinh, N., Athe, P., Sieger, M., (2017). Initial Verification and Validation Assessment for VERA, CASL-U-2017-1310-000, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN.
Technical Presentations
  • Patil, P., Jones, C. (2020). “Reducing Uncertainties in Nanoindentation Experiments for Cementitious Materials”, The Virtual ACI’s Concrete Convention and Exposition, October 24 – 29, 2020, Farmington Hills, Michigan, United States. 
  • Qadri, F. and Jones, C., (2019). “Durable High-Early-Strength Concrete via Internal Curing Approach Using Saturated Lightweight Aggregate and Recycled Concrete,” American Concrete Institute. ACI 123, Research In Progress. Quebec City, Quebec. March.
  • Jones, C.A. and S. Mhamankar (2019). “Cementitious Creep for Multiple Stress States and Implications for Isotropic Viscoelasticity,” 10th Advances in Cement Based Materials, American Ceramics Society. Champaign, IL, June.
  •  Qadri, F. and Jones, C., (2019). “Durable High-Early-Strength Concrete via Internal Curing Approach Using Saturated Lightweight Aggregate and Recycled Concrete,” American Concrete Institute. ACI 123, Research In Progress. Quebec City, Quebec. March.
  • Patil, P. and Jones, C., (2019). “Utilization of Nanoindentation to Characterize the Aging Viscoelastic Properties of Cement Paste,” American Concrete Institute. ACI 123, Research In Progress. Quebec City, Quebec. March.
  • Mhamankar, S. and Jones, C., (2019). “A New S-Notch Cube Geometry for Testing Shear Properties of Cementitious Materials,” American Concrete Institute. ACI 123, Research In Progress. Quebec City, Quebec. March.
  • Nikumbh, R. and Jones, C., (2019). “Determining the Optimum Air Content in Fresh Concrete by Using Super Air Meter,” American Concrete Institute. ACI 123, Research In Progress. Quebec City, Quebec. March.