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Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty

Dr. Christopher Motter

Associate Professor

Office:

PACCAR 146

Phone:

509-335-5732

Fax:

(509) 335-7632

Email:

c.motter@wsu.edu

 

Education

  • Ph.D., Civil Engineering, University of California, Los Angeles, 2014
  • M.S., Civil Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, 2009
  • B.S., Civil Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, 2009

Professional Experience

  • Associate Professor, Washington State University, 2024-Present
  • Assistant Professor, Washington State University, 2017-2024
  • Research Fellow, University of Auckland (New Zealand), 2015-2017
  • Graduate Student Researcher, University of California, Los Angeles, 2009-2014
  • Research Assistant, Pennsylvania State University, 2008

Awards

  • Outstanding Teaching Award, Junior Faculty, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Washington State University, 2023
  • Leon Luck Outstanding Faculty Award, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Washington State University, 2021
  • Best paper, New Zealand Society for Earthquake Engineering Annual Technical Conference, Auckland, New Zealand (2018)
  • Best paper, New Zealand Concrete Industry Conference, Auckland, New Zealand (2016)
  • Best presentation by a young researcher, 10th International Conference on Urban Earthquake Engineering, Tokyo, Japan (2013)

Research Interests

  • Behavior and design of reinforced concrete structures
  • Structural dynamics and earthquake engineering
  • Large-scale laboratory testing
  • Performance-based seismic design
  • Repair, retrofit, and assessment of earthquake-damaged structures

Teaching

  • Reinforced concrete design
  • Masonry design
  • Prestressed concrete and bridge design

Publications

  • Faley, C., Motter, C.J., and Phillips, A.P. (2025). Behavior of Steel Plate Reinforced Cross-Laminated Timber Panels under Out-of-Plane Loading. ASCE Journal of Structural Engineering, 151(4): 04025029. DOI: 10.1061/JSENDH.STENG-13593.
  • Al-Khateeb, B., and Motter, C.J. (2025). Reinforced Concrete Coupling Beams with Axial Restraint. ACI Structural Journal, 122(1): 35-49. DOI: 10.14359/51742135.
  • Motter, C.J. (2024). Influence of Earthquake Duration on Response of Steel Jacket Retrofitted Reinforced Concrete Bridge Columns. ACI Special Publication, SP-364: Serviceability and Performance Evaluation of Concrete Bridges and Structures: Analysis, Design, and Construction, SP-364-7: 100-120. DOI: 10.14359/51745459.
  • Lambie, C., Phillips, A.R., and Motter, C.J. (2022). Cyclic Testing of Replaceable Steel Coupling Beams with Reduced Beam Sections and Moment End-Plate Connections. ASCE Journal of Structural Engineering, 148(10): 04022164. DOI: 10.1061/(ASCE)ST.1943-541X.0003485.
  • Hassan, W., Rodgers, J., Motter, C., and Thornley, J. (2022). Structural Performance of Buildings during the November 30, 2018 M7.1 Anchorage, Alaska Earthquake. Earthquake Spectra, 38(1):200-234. DOI: 10.1177/87552930211043539.
  • Wilson, A.W., Phillips, A.R., Motter, C.J., Lee, J.Y., and Dolan, J.D. (2021). Seismic Loss Analysis of Buildings with Post-Tensioned Cross-Laminated Timber Walls. Earthquake Spectra, 37(1): 324–345.  DOI: 10.1177/8755293020944188.
  • Rodgers, J., Hassan, W., Motter, C., and Thornley, J. (2021). Impacts of the M7.1 2018 Anchorage Earthquake on Schools. Earthquake Spectra, 37(3): 1849–1874. DOI: 10.1177/8755293020988022.
  • Wilson, A.W., Motter, C.J., Phillips, A.R., and Dolan, J.D. (2020). Seismic Response of Post-Tensioned Cross-Laminated Timber Rocking Wall Buildings. ASCE Journal of Structural Engineering, 146(7): 04020123.  DOI: 10.1061/(ASCE)ST.1943-541X.0002673.
  • Marder, K.J., Elwood, K.J., Motter, C.J., and Clifton, G.C.  (2020).  Quantifying the Effects of Epoxy Repair of Reinforced Concrete Plastic Hinges.  Bulletin of the New Zealand Society for Earthquake Engineering, 53(1): 37-51.
  • Marder, K., Elwood, K.J., Motter, C.J., and Clifton, G.C.  (2020).  Post-Earthquake Assessment of Moderately-Damaged Reinforced Concrete Plastic Hinges. Earthquake Spectra, 36(1): 299–321.  DOI: 10.1177/8755293019878192.
  • Motter, C.J., Opabola, E., Elwood, K.J., and Henry, R.S.  (2019).  Seismic Behavior of Nominally Identical Non-Ductile Reinforced Concrete Beam-Column Subassemblies.  ASCE Journal of Structural Engineering, 145(12): 04019157.  DOI: 10.1061/(ASCE)ST.1943-541X.0002438.
  • Wilson, A.W., Motter, C.J., Phillips, A.R., and Dolan, J.D.  (2019).  Modeling Techniques for Post-Tensioned Cross-Laminated Timber Rocking Walls.  Engineering Structures, 195: 299-308.  DOI: 10.1016/j.engstruct.2019.06.011.
  • Shegay, A.V., Motter, C.J., Elwood, K.J., and Henry, R.S.  (2019).  Deformation Capacity Limits for Reinforced Concrete Walls.  Earthquake Spectra, 35(3): 1189-1212.  DOI: 10.1193/080118EQS193M.
  • Marder, K., Motter, C.J., Elwood, K.J., and Clifton, G.C.  (2018).  Effects of Variation in Loading Protocol on the Strength and Deformation Capacity of Ductile Reinforced Concrete Beams.  Earthquake Engineering and Structural Dynamics, 47:2195–2213.  DOI: 10.1002/eqe.3064.
  • Marder, K., Motter, C., Elwood, K., and Clifton, C.  (2018).  Testing of Seventeen Identical Ductile Reinforced Concrete Beams with Various Loading Protocols and Boundary Conditions.  Earthquake Spectra. 34(3): 1025-1049.  DOI:  10.1193/101717EQS215DP.
  • Shegay, A.V., Motter, C.J., Elwood, K.J., Henry, R.S., Lehman, D.E., and Lowes, L.N.  (2018).  Impact of Axial Load on the Seismic Response of Rectangular Walls.  ASCE Journal of Structural Engineering.  144(8): 04018124.  DOI:  10.1061/%28ASCE%29ST.1943-541X.0002122.
  • Motter, C.J., Abdullah, S.A., and Wallace, J.W.  (2018).  Reinforced Concrete Structural Walls without Special Boundary Elements.  ACI Structural Journal, 115(3): 723-733.  DOI:  10.14359/51702043.
  • Motter, C.J., and Scanlon, A.  (2018).  Modeling of Reinforced Concrete Two-Way Floor Slab Deflections due to Construction Loading.  ASCE Journal of Structural Engineering. 144(6): 04018060.  DOI:  10.1061/%28ASCE%29ST.1943-541X.0002052.
  • Motter, C.J., Clauson, A., Petch, J., Hube, M., Henry, R.S., and Elwood, K.J.  (2017).  Seismic Performance of Repaired Lightly-Reinforced Concrete Walls.  Bulletin of the New Zealand Society for Earthquake Engineering, 50(4): 574-585.
  • Motter, C.J., Fields, D.C., Hooper, J.D., Klemencic, R., and Wallace, J.W.  (2017).  Steel Reinforced Concrete (SRC) Coupling Beams – Part II:  Modeling.  ASCE Journal of Structural Engineering, 143(3): 04016192.  DOI:  10.1061/%28ASCE%29ST.1943-541X.0001671.
  • Motter, C.J., Fields, D.C., Hooper, J.D., Klemencic, R., and Wallace, J.W.  (2017).  Steel Reinforced Concrete (SRC) Coupling Beams – Part I:  Testing.  ASCE Journal of Structural Engineering, 143(3): 04016191.  DOI:  10.1061/%28ASCE%29ST.1943-541X.0001670.