James P. Wacker
Research General Engineer
Engineering Properties of Wood, Wood Based Materials and Structures
One Gifford Pinchot Drive
Madison, WI 53726-2398
United States
Madison, WI 53726-2398
United States
Phone
608-231-9224
Research Interest
- Investigating innovative inspection tools and techniques
- Smart bridge technologies to support long-term performance monitoring
- Design approaches for timber bridge structures
Education
- University of Wisconsin-Madison, Bachelor Of Science, Civil and Environmental Engineering,
Professional Organizations
- Friends Of The Committee, Transportation Research Board, 2010 - Current
-
Member,
Forest Products Society (FPS),
2005 -
Current
Served as Past Chair for FPS Midwest Section, Served on FPS Awards Committee
- Registered Professional Engineer, State of Wisconsin, 2004 - Current
-
Member,
American Society of Civil Engineers - Structural Engineering Institute,
2003 -
Current
Served as Past Chair for Timber Bridge Technical Committee, Served as Past Chair of Bridges Technical Advisory Committee
-
Member,
American Indian Science and Engineering Society,
1992 -
Current
Served as Judge for Student Science Fair Competition
Featured Publications
- Senalik, Adam; Wacker, James P.; Hosteng, Travis K.; Hermanson, John. 2017. Smart timber bridge on geosynthetic reinforced soil (GRS) abutments
- Seo, Junwon; Hosteng, Travis K.; Phares, Brent M.; Wacker, James P. 2015. Live-load performance evaluation of historic covered timber bridges in the United States
- Wacker, James P.; Brashaw, Brian K.; Williamson, Thomas G.; Jones, P. David; Smith, Matthew S.; Hosteng, Travis K.; Strahl, David L.; Coombe, Lola E.; Gopu, V.J. 2014. Service life assessment of timber highway bridges in USA climate zones
- Wacker, James P.; Wang, Xiping; Rammer, Douglas R.; Woodward, Bessie M. 2011. NDE investigation of the timber foundation in the historic Kennecott Mine Concentration Mill Building
- Schorer, Alyssa E.; Bank, Lawrence C.; Oliva, Michael G.; Wacker, James P.; Rammer, Douglas R. 2008. Feasibility of rehabilitating timber bridges with mechanically fastened FRP strips
Other Publications
- Jeong, Euiseok ; Seo, Junwon ; Wacker, James. 2022. UAV-aided bridge inspection protocol through machine learning with improved visibility images
- Wacker, James. 2021. Use of wood in buildings and bridges
- Rodrigues, Brunela Pollastrelli; Senalik, Christopher Adam; Wu, Xi ; Wacker, James. 2021. Use of Ground Penetrating Radar in the Evaluation of Wood Structures: A Review
- Dahlberg, Justin; Wacker, James. 2021. Field evaluation of stress-laminated hardwood timber bridges with extended service life
- Jeong, Euiseok ; Seo, Junwon ; Wacker, James. 2021. Grayscale Drone Inspection Image Enhancement Framework for Advanced Bridge Defect Measurement
- Wacker, James; Campos, Joana A.A.; Dias, Alfredo M.P.G. 2021. Development of a reusable timber-concrete-composite system for bridge decks
- Brashaw, Brian ; Wacker, James ; Fosnacht, Don ; Aro, Matt ; Young, Matthew ; Vatalaro, Robert. 2020. Development of cost-competitive timber bridge designs for long-term performance
- Wacker, James P.; Dias, Alfredo M. P. G.; Hosteng, Travis K. 2020. 100-year performance of timber–concrete composite bridges in the United States
- Wu, Xi ; Senalik, Christopher Adam; Wacker, James ; Wang, Xiping ; Li, Guanghui. 2020. Object detection of ground-penetrating radar signals using empirical mode decomposition and dynamic time warping
- Wu, Xi ; Senalik, Christopher Adam; Wacker, James P.; Wang, Xiping ; Li, Guanghui. 2020. Ground-Penetrating Radar Investigation of Salvaged Timber Girders from Bridges Along Route 66 in California
- Phares, Brent M.; Pence, Trevor L.; Wacker, James P.; Hosteng, Travis K. 2019. Development of a smart timber bridge (phase III): moisture and strain sensor investigation for historic covered bridges
- Wu, Xi; Senalik, Christopher Adam; Wacker, James ; Wang, Xiping ; Li, Guanghui. 2019. Using ground penetrating radar to classify features within structural timbers
- Wacker, James P.; Smith, Matthew S. 2019. Standard plans for glued-laminated timber bridge superstructures: longitudinal glulam decks, glulam stringer bridges; and transverse glulam decks
- Senalik, Christopher Adam; Wacker, James ; Wang, Xiping ; Wu, Xi. 2019. Identifying incipient decay in Douglas-fir bridge components using x-ray computerized tomography
- Yue, Xiaoquan ; Wang, Lihai ; Wacker, James P.; Zhu, Zhiming. 2019. Electric resistance tomography and stress wave tomography for decay detection in trees—a comparison study
- Duque, Luis ; Seo, Junwon ; Wacker, James. 2018. Timber bridge inspection using UAV
- Duque, Luis ; Seo, Junwon ; Wacker, James. 2018. Synthesis of Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Applications for Infrastructures
- Seo, Junwon ; Duque, Luis ; Wacker, James P. 2018. Field application of UAS-based bridge inspection
- Seo, Junwon ; Duque, Luis ; Wacker, Jim. 2018. Drone-enabled bridge inspection methodology and application
- Seo, Junwon ; Wacker, James P.; Duque, Luis. 2018. Evaluating the use of drones for timber bridge inspection
- Sharapov, Evgenii ; Wang, Xiping ; Smirnova, Elena ; Wacker, James P. 2018. Wear behavior of drill bits in wood drilling resistance measurements
- Wacker, James P.; Brashaw, Brian K. 2017. Comparative durability of timber bridges in the USA
- Wacker, James P.; Dias, Alfredo; Hosteng, Travis K. 2017. Investigation of early timber–concrete composite bridges in the United States
- Senalik, C. Adam; Wacker, James P.; Wang, Xiping ; Rodrigues, Brunella Pollastrelli; Jalinoos, Frank. 2017. Assessing ability of ground-penetrating radar to detect internal moisture and fungal decay in Douglas-fir beams
- Senalik, Christopher Adam; Wacker, James; Wang, Xiping; Jalinoos, F. 2016. Assessing the Ability of Ground-Penetrating Radar to Detect Fungal Decay in Douglas-Fir Beams
- Wacker, James P.; Senalik, Christopher Adam; Wang, Xiping; Jalinoos, Frank. 2016. Effectiveness of Several NDE Technologies in Detecting Moisture Pockets and: Artificial Defects in Sawn Timber and Glulam
- Rammer, Douglas; Wacker, James; Hosteng, Travis; Dahlberg, Justin; Deng, Yaohua. 2016. Field testing and structural analysis of Burr arch covered bridges in Pennsylvania
- Wacker, J.P.; Brashaw, B.K.; Jalinoos, F. 2015. A Field Assessment of Timber Highway Bridge Durability in the United States
- Clausen, Carol A.; White, Robert H.; Wacker, James P.; Lebow, Stan T.; Dietenberger, Mark A.; Zelinka, Samuel L.; Stark, Nicole M. 2014. Laboratory investigation of fire protection coatings for creosote-treated timber railroad bridges
- Wacker, James P.; Brashaw, Brian K.; Jalinoos, Frank. 2013. Overview of the National Timber Bridge Inspection Study
- Wang, Xiping; Teder, Marko; Wacker, James. 2013. Condition Assessment of the Timber Structures of a Century-Old Industrial Building Using a Nondestructive Inspection Procedure
- Hosteng, Travis; Wacker, James; Phares, Brent. 2013. Condition Assessment of Iowa Timber Bridges Using Advanced Inspection Tools
- Hosteng, Travis; Wacker, James; Phares, Brent. 2013. Live Load Testing of Historic Covered Timber Bridges
- White, Robert H.; Kukay, Brian; Wacker, James P. 2013. Options for NDE Assessment of Heat and Fire Damaged Wood
- Wacker, James; Hosteng, Travis; Phares, Brent. 2012. Field investigations of historic covered timber bridges in the USA
- Li, Minghao; Lam, Frank; Yeh, Borjen; Skaggs, Tom; Rammer, Doug; Wacker, James. 2012. Modeling Force Transfer around Openings in Wood-Frame Shear Walls
- Yeh, Borjen; Skaggs, Tom; Lam, Frank; Li, Minghao; Rammer, Douglas; Wacker, James. 2011. Evaluation of Force Transfer Around Openings - Experimental and Analytical Studies
- Skaggs, Tom; Yeh, Borjen; Lam, Frank; Li, Minghao; Rammer, Doug; Wacker, James. 2011. Modelling Force Transfer Around Openings of Full-Scale Shear Walls
- Wacker, James P.; Wang, Xiping; Rammer, Douglas R.; Nelson, William J. 2011. Evaluation of a timber column bent substructure after more than 60 years in-service
- Phares, Brent M.; Wipf, Terry J.; Deza, Ursula; Wacker, James P. 2011. Development of a smart timber bridge - a five-year plan
- Lebow, Stan; Wacker, James. 2011. Common questions and concerns from government users of industrial treated wood products
- Wacker, James; Deza, Ursula; Phares, Brent M.; Wipf, Terry J. 2010. Development of a smart timber bridge girder with fiber optic sensors
- Skaggs, Tom; Yeh, Borjen; Lam, Frank; Rammer, Douglas; Wacker, James. 2010. Full-scale shear wall tests for force transfer around openings
- Wacker, James; Groenier, James (Scott). 2010. Comparative analysis of design codes for timber bridges in Canada, the United States, and Europe
- Wacker, James P.; Duwadi, Sheila Rimal. 2010. Overview of the national historic covered bridge preservation (NHCBP) program
- Wacker, James P.; Wang, Xiping; Kretschmann, David E.; Rammer, Douglas R. 2010. Nondestructive evaluation of timber highway guardrail posts
- Wacker, James; Wang, Xiping; Rammer, Douglas R. 2010. Field investigation of a 100-year-old timber crib foundation at a historic copper mine
- Wacker, James P. 2010. Use of wood in buildings and bridges
- Wacker, James P. 2009. Performance of stress-laminated timber highway bridges in cold climates
- Wang, Xiping; Wacker, James; Ross, Robert; Brashaw, Brian. 2008. Condition assessment of main structural members of steam schooner WAPAMA
- Wacker, James P.; Wang, Xiping; Ross, Robert J.; Brashaw, Brian K. 2008. <p>Condition assessment of historic wood vessels</p>
- Schorer, Alyssa E.; Bank, Lawrence C.; Oliva, Michael G.; Wacker, James P.; Rammer, Douglas R. 2008. Feasibility of rehabilitating timber bridges using mechanically fastened FRP strips
- Duwadi, Sheila Rimal; Wacker, James P. 2008. Covered bridges in the United States and the preservation program
- Brashaw, Brian K.; Vatalaro, Robert; Wang, Xiping; Sarvela, Kevin; Wacker, James P. 2008. Development of flexural vibration inspection techniques to rapidly assess the structural health of rural bridge systems
- Alampalli, Sreenivas; Duwadi, Sheila Rimal; Herman, Reagan Sentelle; Kleinhans, Danielle D.; Mahmoud, Khaled; Ray, James C.; Wacker, James P.; Yazdani, Nur. 2008. Bridge Workshop : Enhancing Bridge Performance, February 21-22, 2008, Reston, Virginia : workshop report
- Groenier, James Scott; Wacker, James P. 2008. Designing timber bridge superstructures : a comparison of U.S. and Canadian bridge codes.
- Wacker, James P.; Joyal, Marc R.; Murphy, Joseph F.; Wang, Xiping. 2007. Monitoring the performance of timber bridges over the long term
- Gentry, T. Russell; Wacker, James P.; Brohammer, Karl N.; Wells, John. 2007. In situ materials and structural assessment of stress-laminated deck bridge treated with chromate copper arsenate
- Zelinka, Samuel L.; Rammer, Douglas R.; Wacker, James P. 2007. Minimizing corrosive action in timber bridges treated with waterborne preservatives
- Wacker, James P.; Groenier, James S. 2007. Designing timber highway bridge superstructures using AASHTO?LRFD specifications
- Wacker, James P.; Wang, Xiping; Brashaw, Brian; Ross, Robert J. 2006. Estimating bridge stiffness using a forced-vibration technique for timber bridge health monitoring
- Gentry, T. Russell; Brohammer, Karl N.; Wells, John; Wacker, James P. 2006. Assessment and maintenance of a 15 year old stress-laminated timber bridge
- Wang, Xiping; Wacker, James P. 2006. Using NIR spectroscopy to predict weathered wood exposure times
- Wang, Xiping; Wacker, James P.; Ross, Robert J.; Brashaw, Brian K. 2005. Nondestructive assessment of timber bridges using a vibration-based method
- Wacker, James P.; Cesa, Ed T. 2005. Chapter 10:Hardwoods for timber bridges
- Wang, Xiping; Wacker, James P.; Ross, Robert J.; Brashaw, Brian K.; Vatalaro, Robert. 2005. Development of flexural vibration inspection techniques to rapidly assess the structural health of timber bridge systems
- Collins, William J.; Fischetti, David C.; Graton, Arnold M. Jr.; Lichvar, Len; Diehl, Branden; Wacker, James P.; Cesa, Ed; Stoltz, Ed; Kemp, Emory L.; Petro, Samer H.; Buckwalter, Leon; McNamara, John. 2005. Kings Covered Bridge rehabilitation, Somerset County, PA
- Wacker, James P.; Cesa, Ed. 2005. Hardwoods for timber bridges : a national program emphasis by the USDA Forest Service
- Brashaw, Brian K.; Vatalaro, Robert J.; Wacker, James P.; Ross, Robert J. 2005. Condition assessment of timber bridges. 2, Evaluation of several stress-wave tools
- Wang, Xiping; Wacker, James P.; Morison, Angus M.; Forsman, John W.; Erickson, John R.; Ross, Robert J. 2005. Nondestructive assessment of single-span timber bridges using a vibration- based method
- Brashaw, Brian K.; Vatalaro, Robert J.; Wacker, James P.; Ross, Robert J. 2005. Condition assessment of timber bridges. 1, Evaluation of a micro-drilling resistance tool
- Wacker, James P.; Calil, Carlito. 2004. Pennsylvania hardwood timber bridges : field performance after 10 years
- Wacker, James P.; Calil, Carlito, Jr..; Hislop, Lola E.; Hilbrich Lee, Paula D.; Kainz, James A. 2004. Long-term performance monitoring of hardwood timber bridges in Pennsylvania
- Wacker, James P. 2004. Recent trends in preservative treatments for timber bridges
- Wacker, James P.; Crawford, Douglas M. 2003. Extending service life of timber bridges with preservatives
- Wacker, James P.; Crawford, Douglas M.; Eriksson, Merv O. 2003. Creosote retention levels of timber highway bridge superstructures in Michigan’s Lower Peninsula.
- Wacker, James P.; Smith, Matthew S. 2001. Standard plans for timber bridge superstructures
- Wacker, James P.; Kainz, James A.; Ritter, Michael A. . Field performance of timber bridges. 17, Ciphers stress-laminated deck bridge
Research Highlights
Smart timber bridge on geo-synthetic reinforced soil abutments
Year: 2017
Forest Service researchers partnered in the construction and monitoring of an innovative bridge abutment system, developed to be lower cost and faster to construct with improved performance and durability as compared to other abutments. In addition, the next generation of smart bridge concepts for ...
Assessing the ability of ground-penetrating radar to detect internal moisture and fungal decay
Year: 2017
Internal moisture and fungal decay are detected in structural bridge members using ground penetrating radar for faster evaluation of timber bridges.
Laboratory Evaluation of Salvaged Bridge Girders from U.S. Route 66
Year: 2018
Timber bridges have been in-service for nearly nine decades along Southern California's Historic Route 66 National Trails Highway. Several untreated sawn timber stringers were recently salvaged and transported to the FPL for a laboratory investigation.
Durable, Cost-Effective Timber Bridges
Year: 2020
Timber bridge design advances support construction of cost-effective and durable timber bridges.
America's Historic Covered Timber Bridges
Year: 2011
Covered wooden bridges proliferated in the United States in the mid-nineteenth century. Today an estimated 800 covered bridge structures remain as cherished links to the technological heritage of the United States. The through-truss designs vary from the Kingpost trusses built in the craft tradition...
Keeping America's Historic Covered Bridges Safe for Vehicular Traffic
Year: 2013
The Forest Products Laboratory, in partnership with the Federal Highway Administration and the National Park Service is sponsoring a comprehensive research program on Historic Covered Timber Bridges in the United States. This national program's main purpose is to develop improved methods to preserve...
Scientists Study True Longevity of Timber Highway Bridges
Year: 2013
Do timber bridges last longer than concrete or steel bridges in similar climates� This national project aims to generate more reliable data about the true longevity of timber bridges in the U.S. and allows for more accurate life-cycle assessments in the future.
Centennial Edition, Wood Handbook—Wood as an Engineering Material
Year: 2010
The Wood Handbook—Wood as an Engineering Material serves as a primary reference document for a wide variety of users-from the general public through architects and design engineers who use wood in highly engineered structures.