Professor, Director, Civil and Environmental Engineering
| kay.wille@uconn.edu | |
| Phone | 860-486-2074 |
| Mailing Address | Civil and Environmental Engineering 261 Glenbrook Road, Unit 3037 Storrs, CT 06269-3037 |
| Campus | Storrs |
| Link | Lab Website |
| Google Scholar Link | |
Brief Bio
Dr. Kay Wille is a prominent figure in civil and environmental engineering, serving as the newly appointed Director of the School of Civil and Environmental Engineering (SoCEE) at the University of Connecticut (UConn), effective August 2025. This appointment follows a year of his service as director.
Wille earned both his diploma and Ph.D. in Civil Engineering from the University of Leipzig, Germany, in 2002 and 2008, respectively. He also held a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Michigan before joining UConn. He has also developed advanced, minimally invasive techniques for quantifying pyrrhotite concentrations in concrete, which have supported homeowners, engineers, and policymakers in addressing the region's foundation crisis.
In addition, he is particularly renowned for his work with fiber-reinforced composites and for addressing concrete deterioration caused by pyrrhotite-containing aggregates. He founded and directs the Advanced Cementitious Materials and Composites (ACMC) Laboratory at UConn. His research group focuses on developing UHPC and UHPC structures to enhance the sustainability and resilience of US infrastructure.
- Ultra high performance fiber reinforced concrete (UHP-FRC)
- High strain rate and impact resistance of cementitious materials
- Concrete exposed to high temperature
- Sustainable concrete pavement systems
- Santos, L., Chrysochoou, M., & Wille, K. (2025). “Development of a risk assessment framework for pyrrhotite induced deterioration of concrete foundations in CT and MA.” Cement and Concrete Research.
- Rai, B., & Wille, K. (2025). “Durability, Service Life, and Techno-Economic Analysis of Non-Proprietary UHPC.” Fibers.
- Zhong, R., Vandenberg, A., Yao, Y., Shang, X., Zhou, Y., Wille, K. (2025). “Effect of Polycarboxylate-based Superplasticizer on the Performance of Ultra-high Performance Concrete and Potential Interaction with Cement and Pozzolans.” ASCE Journal Materials in Civil Engineering.
- Dahal, M., Wille, K. (2024). “Slip hardening behavior of bundled steel fibers in ultra-high performance concrete.” Cement and Concrete Composites.
- Tao, Z., Qiu, M., Wille, K., Zhu, Y., Shao, X. (2024). “Effects of specimen thickness and fiber length on tensile and cracking behavior of UHPFRC: uniaxial tensile test and micromechanical modeling.” Cement and Concrete Composites.
- Qiu, M., Shao, X., Wille, K., Zhang, Y., Hu, Y., Tao, Z., Liu, B. (2024). “Effect of rebar ratio, rebar diameter, cover thickness, and fiber shape on flexural and cracking behavior of rebar-reinforced UHPC beams.” Engineering Structures.
- Ojo, M., Kim, D., Frame, L., Wille, K. (2024). “Electrochemical Investigation of Accelerated Deterioration of Concrete with Iron-Sulfide Containing Aggregates”. Cement and Concrete Research. 2024
- Rai, B., Boisvert-Cotulio, C., Wille, K. (2024). “Resource-efficient design of ultra-high-performance concretes”. Journal of Building Engineering.
- Santos, L., Wille, K., Chrysochoou, M. (2024). “Application of X-Ray Principles to Quantify Sulfur Oxidation States in Concrete”. Spectroscopy Letters.
- Rai, B., Wille, K. (2024). “Recycled glass powder as an alternative to fly ash in non-proprietary UHPC: A comparative study”, Journal of Cleaner Production.
- Hendrix, D., Huey, B.D., Wille, K. (2024). “Nanosilica Enhanced Ultra-High Performance Concrete through Hydrochloride Acid or Polyethylene Glycol Stabilization”. Construction and Building Materials.
- Zhong, R., Ai, X., Yao, Y., Wang, J., Wille, K. (2024). “Effects of the expansion mechanisms on the pyrrhotite-induced deterioration of concrete foundations”. Case Studies in Construction Materials.
- Rai, B., Wille, K., “Time-dependent Properties of Steam Cured Non-Proprietary Ultra High-Performance Concretes”. Case Studies in Construction Materials. 2023.
- Hendrix, D., Wille, K., “Stabilizing Dispersed Colloidal Nanosilica Exposed to an Ultra-High Performance Concrete Environment”. Construction and Building Materials. 2023.
- Hassan, M., Wille, K., “Direct tensile behavior of steel fiber reinforced ultra-high performance concrete at high strain rates using modified split Hopkinson tension bar”. Composites Part B: Engineering. 2022.
- Xu, M., Wille, K., “Material based dynamic increase factor models for UHP-FRC under compression and tension”. Construction and Building Materials. 2021.
- Abdollahnejad, Z., Mastali, M., Wille, K., Maguire, M., Rahim, F., Kinnunen, P., & Illikainen, M., “Effects of Using Different Co-binders and Fibers on Mechanical and Durability Performances of Alkali-Activated Soapstone Binders (AAS)”. Waste and Biomass Valorization. 2021.
- Vandenberg, A., Bessaies-Bey, H., Wille, K., Roussel, N., “Influence of mixing on the generation of nanoparticles in cement systems”. Cement and Concrete Research. 2021.
- Hernandez, Y. C., Chrysochoou, M., Wille, K., “Wavelength Dispersive X-ray Fluorescence Method to Estimate the Oxidation Reaction Progress of Sulfide Minerals in Concrete”. Spectrochimica Acta part B. 2020.
- Qiu, M., Shao, X., Wille, K., Yan, B., Wu, J., “Experimental Investigation on Flexural Behavior of Reinforced Ultra High Performance Concrete Low-Profile T-Beams”. International Journal of Concrete Structures and Materials, 2020, 14, 5.
- Hendrix, D., Bassim, N., Wille, K., “Investigation Methods for Characterizing Nano-particles in Concrete”. American Concrete Institute Special Publication, Vol. 335, 2019, pp 37-48.
- Roy, M., Hollmann, C., Wille, K., “Influence of Fiber Volume Fraction and Fiber Orientation on the Uniaxial Tensile Behavior of Rebar-Reinforced Ultra-High Performance Concrete”. Fibers, 2019, 7, 67.
- Hendrix, D., McKeon, J., Wille, K., “Behavior of Colloidal Nanosilica in an Ultrahigh Performance Concrete Environment Using Dynamic Light Scattering”. Materials, 2019, 12, 1976.
- Kruszewski, D., Zaghi, A.E., Wille, K., “Finite element study of headed shear studs embedded in ultra-high performance concrete”, Engineering Structures, 188 (2019) 538-552.
- Kruszewski, D., Zaghi, A.E., Wille, K., “Durability Evaluation of Headed Shear Studs Embedded in Ultrahigh-Performance Concrete via Electrochemical Corrosion”, Journal of Bridge Engineering, Vol. 24, Issue 5 (May 2019).
- Hassan, M., Wille, K., “Comparative experimental investigations on the compressive impact behavior of fiber-reinforced ultra high-performance concretes using split Hopkinson pressure bar”, Construction and Building Materials, Vol. 191, 2018, pp. 398 – 410.
- Zhong, R., Wille, K., “Deterioration of residential concrete foundations: The role of pyrrhotite-bearing aggregate”, Cement and Concrete Composites, Vol. 94, 2018, pp. 53 – 61.
- Kruszewski, D., Wille, K., Zaghi, A.E., “Push-Out Behavior of Headed Shear Studs Welded on Thin Plates and Embedded in UHPC”, Engineering Structures, Vol. 173, 2018, pp. 429 – 441.
- Kruszewski, D., Wille, K., Zaghi, A.E., “Design considerations for headed shear studs embedded in ultra-high performance concrete as part of a novel bridge repair method”, Journal of Constructional Steel Research, Vol. 149, 2018, pp. 180 – 194.
- Vandenberg, A., Wille, K., “Evaluation of resonance acoustic mixing technology using ultra high performance concrete”, Construction and Building Materials, Vol. 164, 2018, pp. 716 – 730.
- Zhong, R., Wille, K., “Influence of matrix and pore system characteristics on the durability of pervious concrete”, Construction and Building Materials, Vol. 162, 2018, pp. 132 – 141.
- Zhong, R., Wille, K., Viegas, R., “Material efficiency in the design of UHPC paste from a life cycle point of view”, Construction and Building Materials, Vol. 160, 2018, pp. 505 – 513.
- Zmetra, K., McMullen, K.F., Zaghi, A.E., Wille, K., “Experimental Study of UHPC Repair for Corrosion-Damaged Steel Girder Ends”, Journal of Bridge Engineering, Vol. 22, Issue 8, August 2017, pp. 04017037-1 – 04017037-14.
- Roy, M., Hollmann, C., Wille, K., “Influence of volume fraction and orientation of fibers on the pullout behavior of reinforcement bar embedded in ultra high performance concrete”, Construction and Building Materials, Vol. 146, 2017, pp. 582 – 593.
- Hassan, M., Wille, K., “Experimental impact analysis on ultra-high performance concrete (UHPC) for achieving stress equilibrium (SE) and constant strain rate (CSR) in Split Hopkinson pressure bar (SHPB) using pulse shaping technique”, Construction and Building Materials, Vol. 144, 2017, pp. 747 – 757.
- Way, R., Wille, K., “Effect of Heat-Induced Chemical Degradation on the Residual Mechanical Properties of Ultrahigh-Performance Fiber-Reinforced Concrete”, J. Mater. Civ. Eng., 2016, 28(4): 04015164.
- Zhong, R., Xu, M., Netto, R.V., Wille, K., “Influence of pore tortuosity on hydraulic conductivity of pervious concrete: Characterization and modeling”, Construction and Building Materials, Vol. 125, 2016, pp. 1158 – 1168.
- Xu, M., Wille, K., “Numerical Investigation of the Effects of Pulse Shaper, Lateral Inertia, and Friction on the Calculated Strain-Rate Sensitivity of UHP-FRC Using a Split Hopkinson Pressure Bar”, Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering. 10.1061/(ASCE)MT.1943-5533.0001580.
- Xu, M., Hallinan, B., Wille, K., “Effect of loading rates on pullout behavior of high strength steel fibers embedded in ultra-high performance concrete”, Cement and Concrete Composites. Vol. 70. 2016. pp. 98 – 109.
- Zhong, R., Wille, K., “Linking pore system characteristics to the compressive behavior of pervious concrete”, Cement and Concrete Composites. Vol. 70. (2016). pp. 130 – 138.
- Zhong, R., Wille, K., “Compression response of normal and high strength pervious concrete”, Construction and Building Materials, Vol. 109, 2016, pp. 177 – 187.
- Zhong, R., Wille, K., “Material design and characterization of high performance pervious concrete”, Construction and Building Materials, Vol. 98, 2015, pp. 51 – 60.
- Xu, M., Wille, K., “Fracture Energy of UHP-FRC under Direct Tensile Loading Applied at Low Strain Rates”, Elsevier – Composites Part B: Engineering Journal. Vol. 80. 2015. pp. 116 – 125.
- Zhong, R., Wille, K., “Equal Arc Segment Method for Averaging Data Plots Exemplified for Averaging Stress versus Strain Curves of Pervious Concrete”, ASCE Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering, published online May 2015.
- Wille, K., Boisvert-Cotulio, C. “Material Efficiency in the Design of Ultra-High Performance Concrete”, Elsevier – Construction and Building Material, Vol. 86, 2015, pp. 33 – 43.
- Wille, K., Xu, M., El-Tawil, S., Naaman, A.E. “Dynamic Impact Factors of Strain Hardening UHP-FRC under Direct Tensile Loading at Low Strain Rates,” Materials and Structures, Volume 49, Issue 4, pp 1351-1365.
- Pyo, S., Wille, K., El-Tawil, S., Naaman, A.E. “Strain rate dependent properties of ultra high performance fiber reinforced concrete (UHP-FRC) under tension.” Cement & Concrete Composites. Vol. 56. 2015. pp. 15– 24.
- Wille, K., El-Tawil, S., Naaman, A.E. “Properties of strain hardening ultra high performance fiber reinforced concrete (UHP-FRC) under direct tensile loading.” Cement & Concrete Composites. Vol. 48. 2014. pp. 53– 66.
- Wille, K., Tue, V.T., “Tensile load capacity analysis of perforated reinforcement sheet,” Materials and Structures, published online Sept. 5th 2013, DOI 10.1617/s11527-013-0169-3.
- Wille, K., Tue, V.T., Parra-Montesinos, G.J. “Fiber distribution and orientation in UHP-FRC beams and their effect on backward analysis,” Materials and Structures, Volume 47, Issue 11 (2014), Page 1825-1838.
- Wille, K., Naaman, A.E., “Effect of Ultra-High-Performance Concrete on Pullout Behavior of High-Strength Brass-Coated Straight Steel Fibers”, ACI Materials Journal, Vol. 110, No. 4, pp. 451 – 462, July-August 2013.
- Wille, K., Naaman, A.E., “Pullout Behavior of High-Strength Steel Fibers Embedded in Ultra-High-Performance Concrete,” ACI Materials Journal, Vol. 109, No. 4, July – August 2012, pp. 479 – 488.
- Wille, K., Parra-Montesinos, G., “Effect of Beam Size, Casting Method, and Support Conditions on Flexural Behavior of Ultra-High-Performance Fiber-Reinforced Concrete,” ACI Materials Journal, Vol. 109, No. 3, May – June 2012, pp. 379 – 388.
- Wille, K., Naaman, A.E., El-Tawil, S., Parra-Montesinos, G.J. “Ultra-high performance concrete and fiber reinforced concrete: achieving strength and ductility without heat treatment,” Materials and Structures, published online Aug. 27th 2011, in Journal Vol. 45, No. 3, 2012, pp. 309 – 324.
- Wille, K., Naaman, A.E., El-Tawil, S., “Ultra High Performance Fiber Reinforced Concrete (UHP-FRC) Record Performance under Tensile Loading,” Concrete International, Vol. 33, No. 9, Sept. 2011, pp. 35 – 41.
- Kim, D., Wille, K., El-Tawil, S., Naaman, A.E., “Testing of Cementitious Materials Under High-Strain-Rate Tensile Loading Using Elastic Strain Energy,” ASCE Journal of Engineering Mechanics, Vol. 137, No. 4, April 1st 2011, pp. 268 – 275.
- Wille, K., Naaman, A.E., Parra-Montesinos, G., “Ultra High Performance Concrete with Compressive Strength Exceeding 150 MPa (22 ksi): A Simpler Way,” ACI Materials Journal, Vol. 108, No. 1, January – February 2011, pp. 46 – 54.
- Wille, K., Kim, D., Naaman, A. E., “Strain-Hardening UHP-FRC with Low Fiber Contents”, Materials and Structures, published online Aug. 4th 2010, in Journal Vol. 44, No. 3, 2011, pp. 583 – 598.
- Wille, K., Loh, K. J., “Nano-Engineering Ultra-High Performance Concrete with Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes”, Journal of the Transportation Research Board, No. 2142, May, 2010, pp. 119 – 126.