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Matthew R. Eatherton

Montague-Betts Professor of Structural Steel Design
Professional Registration : California P.E., California S.E.

Areas of Interest

Steel structures, high performance seismic force resisting systems, earthquake resistance of structures, structural steel connections, modular building systems, building diaphragms, and floor systems for steel buildings

Eatherton Research Group

  • Ph.D. in Civil Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign 2010
  • M.S. in Civil Engineering, University of Missouri at Columbia, 1999
  • B.S. in Civil Engineering, University of Missouri at Columbia, 1997

  • Associate, GFDS Engineers, San Francisco, CA (2001-2006)
  • Design Engineer, Leigh and O'Kane Structural Engineers, Kansas City, MO (2000-2001)
  • Design Engineer, Constructive Engineering Design, Kansas City, MO (1999-2000)

  • Montague-Betts Professorship in Structural Steel Design 2024
  • American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC) Special Achievement Award 2024
  • Virginia Tech College of Engineering Certificate of Teaching Excellence 2024
  • Virginia Tech College of Engineering Certificate of Teaching Excellence 2021
  • Raymond G. and Madelyn Ann Curry Faculty Fellow 2018
  • Virginia Tech College of Engineering Faculty Fellow 2016
  • American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) Moissef Paper Award 2016
  • American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC) Early Faculty Award 2016
  • 2015 NSF CAREER Award (Faculty Early Career Development Program)
  • Virginia Tech CIDER Teacher of the Week, 2015
  • Virginia Tech Scholar of the Week, 2015
  • 2013 Dean’s Award for Outstanding New Assistant Professor, Virginia Tech College of Engineering – in recognition of extraordinary performance
  • American Institute of Steel Construction Milek Faculty Fellowship 2012 – given to one person per year for potential to contribute to steel research and education

  • CEE 3434: Design of Steel Structures I
  • CEE 5430: Intermediate Design of Steel Buildings
  • CEE 5470: Structural Design for Seismic Load Effects
  • CEE 5744: Topics in Structural Steel Design
  • CEE 6434: Advanced Steel Design

  • Avellaneda-Ramirez, R. E., Eatherton, M. R., Easterling, W. S., Schafer, B. W., Hajjar, J. F. (2024) “Experimental Program on Behavior of Concrete-Filled Steel Deck Composite Diaphragms” Journal of Structural Engineering, Vol. 150, No. 2
  • Mercado-Celin M.A., Eatherton, M.R., Murray, T.M. (2024) “Four-Bolt Unstiffened End-Plate Moment Connections with 36 in. Deep Beams for Intermediate Moment Frame”, AISC Engineering Journal, First Quarter
  • Wei, G., Eatherton, M.R., Schafer, B.W., and Seek, M. (2024) “Evaluating the Use of Standing Seam Roof as Beam Lateral Bracing”, Journal of Constructional Steel Research, Vol. 212
  • Stevens, R., Hebdon, M., and Eatherton, M.R. (2024) “Seismic Behavior of Steel Moment Frame Connections with Repairs in the Plastic Hinge Region”, Journal of Structural Engineering, Vol. 140, No. 5. https://doi.org/10.1061/JSENDH.STENG-12970
  • Nguyen, T.N., and Eatherton, M.R. (2023) “Computational and Experimental Study of Structural Fuses Optimized to Resist Buckling” Journal of Constructional Steel Research, Vol. 201
  • Wei, G., Foroughi, H., Torabian, S., Eatherton, M.R., and Schafer, B.W. (2023) “Seismic Design of Diaphragms for Steel Buildings Considering Diaphragm Inelasticity”, Journal of Structural Engineering, Vol. 149, No. 7
  • Bompa, D.V., Elghazouli, A.Y., Bogdan, T., Eatherton, M.R., and Leon, R.T. (2023) “Inelastic Cyclic Response of RBS Connections with Large Sections” Engineering Structures, Vol. 281, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.engstruct.2023.115758
  • Nguyen, T. and Eatherton, M.R. (2023) “Development of the Tied Butterfly Shape for Structural Fuses”, Engineering Structures, Vol. 297
  • Koutromanos, I. Tola-Tola, Adrian, and Eatherton, M.R. (2022) “Phase-field description of ductile fracture in structural steel under cyclic loading” Journal of Structural Engineering, Vol. 148, No. 7.
  • Tola, A., Eatherton, M.R., and Koutromanos, I. (2022) “Experimental Program for Characterization of Low-Cycle Fatigue Fracture in Structural Steel” Journal of Engineering Fracture Mechanics, Volume 276, Part A
  • Qi, L., Leon, R.T., Eatherton, M.R., and Paquette, J.L. (2021) “Parametric Investigation on the Design of RBS Moment Connections with Jumbo Beams and Columns”, Journal of Constructional Steel Research, Vol. 177.
  • Fang, C., Wang, W., Qiu, C., MacRae, G., and Eatherton, M. (2021) “Seismic Resilient Steel Structures: A Critical Review of Research, Practice, Challenges and Opportunities”, Journal of Constructional Steel Research, Volume 191, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcsr.2022.107172.
  • Eatherton, M.R. and Maurya, A. (2020) “Experimental Investigation of a Self-Centering Beam Moment Frame”, AISC Engineering Journal, Vol. 57, pp. 221-241.
  • Eatherton, M.R., O’Brien, P.E., and Easterling, W.S. (2020) “An Examination of Ductility and Seismic Diaphragm Design Force Reduction Factors for Steel Deck and Composite Diaphragms” Journal of Structural Engineering, DOI: 10.1061/(ASCE)ST.1943-541X.0002797.
  • Huang, X., Eatherton, M.R., and Zhou, Z. (2020) “Initial Stiffness of Self-Centering Systems and Application to Self-Centering-Beam Moment-Frames” Engineering Structures, Vol. 203, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.engstruct.2019.109890
  • Farzampour, A., and Eatherton, M.R. (2019) “Parametric Study on Butterfly-Shaped Hysteretic Dampers” Frontiers of Structural and Civil Engineering, Vol. 13, pp 1214-1226, https://doi.org/10.1007/s11709-019-0550-6
  • Wood, M.T., Eatherton, M.R., and Galitz, C.L. (2019) “Pretensioning Procedures for ASTM F3043 Twist-Off Type Tension Control Bolt Assemblies” Journal of Constructional Steel Research, Vol. 155, pp. 385-394, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcsr.2019.01.003.
  • Wei, G., Koutromanos, I., Murray, T.M., and Eatherton, M.R. (2019) “Investigation of Partial Tension Field Action in Gable Frame Panel Zones”, Journal of Constructional Steel Research, Vol. 162, pp. 1-11, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcsr.2019.105746.
  • Avecillas, J.A., and Eatherton M.R. (2019) “Controlling Out-of-Plane Buckling in Shear-Acting Structural Fuses Through Topology Optimization”, Journal of Structural Engineering, Vol. 146, No. 7.
  • Phillips, A.R., and Eatherton, M.R. (2018) “Large-Scale Experimental Study of Ring Shaped-Steel Plate Shear Walls” Journal of Structural Engineering, Vol. 144, No. 8, pp. 1-13.
  • Farzampour, A., and Eatherton, M.R. (2018) “Yielding and Lateral Torsional Buckling Limit States for Butterfly-Shaped Shear Links”, Engineering Structures, Vol. 180, pp. 442-251.
  • Phillips, A.R. and Eatherton, M.R. (2018) “Computational Study of Elastic and Inelastic Ring Shaped – Steel Plate Shear Wall Behavior”, Engineering Structures, Vol. 177, pp. 655-667, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.engstruct.2018.10.008
  • Plaut, R. and Eatherton, M. (2017) “Lateral-Torsional Buckling of Butterfly-Shaped Beams with Rectangular Cross Section” Engineering Structures, Vol. 136, pp. 210-218.
  • Maurya, A., and Eatherton, M.R. (2016) “Experimental Study of the Restoring Force Mechanism in the Self-Centering Beam (SCB)” Frontiers of Structural and Civil Engineering, Vol. 10, No. 3, pp. 272-282.
  • Judd, J.P., Marinovic, I., Eatherton, M.R., Hyder, S., Phillips, A.R., and Charney, F.A. (2016) “Cyclic tests of all-steel web-restrained buckling-restrained brace subassemblages” Journal of Constructional Steel Research, Vol. 125, pp. 164-172.
  • Bruce, T., Eatherton, M. (2016) “Behavior of Post-Tensioning Strand Systems Subjected to Inelastic Cyclic Loading” Journal of Structural Engineering, Vol. 142, No 10.
  • Adekristi, A., and Eatherton, M.R. (2016) “Spectral Matching Algorithm using Wavelets and Broyden Nonlinear Solution Scheme” Journal of Earthquake Engineering, Vol. 20, No. 5, pp. 679-698, DOI: 10.1080/13632469.2015.1104753.
  • Padilla-Llano, D.A., Moen, C.D., Eatherton, M.R. (2016) “Cyclic Flexural Response and Energy Dissipation of Cold-Formed Steel Framing Members” Thin-Walled Structures, Vol. 98, pp. 518-532, doi:10.1016/j.tws.2015.10.021.
  • Maurya, A., Eatherton, M.R., Matsui, R., and Florig, S.H. (2016) “Experimental Investigation of Miniature Buckling Restrained Braces for Use as Structural Fuses” Journal of Constructional Steel Research, Vol. 127, pp. 54-65.
  • Phillips, A.R., Renard, H., and Eatherton, M.R. (2016) “Integrating Exposed Structural Steel Plate Shear Walls into the Architectural Design Process” Journal of Architectural Engineering Technology, Vol. 5, No. 3, pp. 1-7, DOI: 10.4172/2168-9717.100017
  • Toellner, B.W., Watkins, C.E., Abbas, E., and Eatherton, M.R. (2015) "Effect of Powder Actuated Fasteners on the Seismic Performance of Steel Moment Frame Connections" Journal of Constructional Steel Research, Vol. 105, pp. 174-185
  • Naga, P., and Eatherton, M.R. (2014) "Analyzing the Effect of Moving Resonance on Seismic Response of Structures using Wavelet Transforms" Earthquake Engineering and Structural Dynamics, Vol. 43, No. 5, pp. 759-768.
  • Padilla-Llano, D., Moen, C.D., and Eatherton, M.R. (2014) "Experimental Investigation of the Cyclic Axial Behavior of Cold-Formed Steel Framing Members" Thin-Walled Structures, Vol. 78, pp 95-107
  • Eatherton, M.R., and Hajjar J.F. (2014) "Hybrid Simulation Testing of a Self-Centering Rocking Steel Braced Frame System" Earthquake Engineering and Structural Dynamics, Vol. 43, No. 11, pp. 1725-1742.
  • Chancellor, B., Eatherton, M.R., Roke, D., Akbaş, T. (2014) "Self-Centering Seismic Lateral Force Resisting Systems: High Performance Structures for the City of Tomorrow" Buildings, Vol. 4, No. 3, pp. 520-548.
  • Egorova, N., Eatherton, M.R., and Maurya, A. (2014) "Testing of Ring-Shaped Steel Plate Shear Walls that Resist Buckling for Improved Seismic Performance" Journal of Constructional Steel Research, Vol. 103, pp. 179-189.
  • Eatherton, M.R., Fahnestock, L.A., and Miller, D. (2014) "Computational Study on the Behavior of Self-Centering Buckling Restrained Braces" Earthquake Engineering and Structural Dynamics, Vol. 43, No. 13, pp. 1897-1914.
  • Eatherton, M.R., Ma, X., Krawinkler, H., Deierlein, G.G., and Hajjar, J.F. (2014) "Quasi-Static Cyclic Behavior of Controlled Rocking Steel Frames" Journal of Structural Engineering, Vol. 140, No. 11.
  • Eatherton, M.R., Ma, X., Krawinkler, H., Mar, D., Billington, S., Hajjar, J.F., and Deierlein, G.G. (2014) "Design Concepts for Controlled Rocking of Self-Centering Steel Braced Frames" Journal of Structural Engineering, Vol. 140, No. 11.
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