Henrique M Reis

Henrique M Reis is a Professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Department of General Engineering at the University of Illinois' Grainger College of Engineering, where he has held appointments since March 2001. His research focuses on nondestructive testing and evaluation, structural health monitoring, materials characterization, and mechanics of composite materials.

Dr. Reis earned his Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from MIT in 1978, an S.M. in Mechanical Engineering from MIT in 1975, and a License in Mechanical Engineering from Universidade de Luanda-Angola in 1972. His academic journey reflects a strong foundation in mechanical engineering principles applied to civil infrastructure challenges.

Professor Reis' research interests span sensor development, nondestructive testing and evaluation of infrastructure, structural health monitoring, materials characterization, quality control inspection methods in manufacturing and construction, machine and process condition monitoring, mechanics of composite materials, and design for inspectability. His work has particularly focused on nondestructive evaluation of asphalt concrete pavements, decay in wooden structural components, and damage assessment in various construction materials. Recent research has centered on developing rapid and inexpensive methods for assessing existing conditions and maintenance scheduling for pavement systems.

His publication record reveals a clear trend toward the application of advanced nondestructive evaluation techniques, particularly acoustic emission and ultrasonic methods, to assess infrastructure condition. A significant portion of his recent work focuses on asphalt concrete pavements, including evaluation of thermal damage, low-temperature cracking, self-healing properties, and the effectiveness of rejuvenators for aged asphalt mixtures. His research bridges fundamental materials science with practical civil engineering applications.

• ASNT 2023 Robert C. McMaster Gold Medal (2023)
• ASNT 2020 Lester/Mehl Honor Lecture (2020)
• ASNT 2016 Research Council Award for Sustained Excellence (2016)
• ASME 2015 NDPD Founders' Award (2015)
• Fellow of multiple professional societies including ASNT and British Institute of Non-Destructive Testing

Professor Reis has made significant contributions to engineering education, establishing a field of concentration in Nondestructive Testing and Evaluation that allows students to integrate NDT&E principles into their design curricula. He has taught numerous courses including Fundamentals of Nondestructive Evaluation, Structural Mechanics, and Theory of Elasticity. His students have received multiple national and departmental awards for design projects. He serves in leadership roles including Associate Editor of the ASME Journal of Nondestructive Evaluation, Diagnosis and Prognosis of Engineering Systems, and Chair of the Awards Committee for ASME Diagnosis and Prognosis Division.

Professor Reis directs the Nondestructive Testing and Evaluation (NDT&E) Research Laboratory, which has been instrumental in developing methods for infrastructure assessment. His work has practical applications in transportation infrastructure, particularly in evaluating asphalt concrete pavements, wooden structures, and safety glass. The laboratory provides students with hands-on experience in developing and applying nondestructive evaluation techniques to real-world engineering problems.