Amanda Bao Headshot

Amanda Bao

Associate Professor

Department of Civil Engineering Technology, Environmental Management and Safety
College of Engineering Technology

585-475-4956
Office Hours
3:00-4:00pm, Monday; 12:00-1:00pm, Wednesday; 2:00-3:00pm, Thursday
Office Location
Office Mailing Address
78 Lomb Memorial Drive ENT-3154 Rochester, NY 14623

Amanda Bao

Associate Professor

Department of Civil Engineering Technology, Environmental Management and Safety
College of Engineering Technology

Education

BS, MS, Tianjin University (China); Ph.D., University of Colorado at Boulder

Bio

Amanda Bao is an Associate Professor and Program Director in Civil Engineering Technology at Rochester Institute of Technology. She got her Ph.D. degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Colorado at Boulder, USA, in 2006. Dr. Bao started teaching at Rochester Institute of Technology in 2010 and she regularly teaches structural engineering courses. Prior to RIT, she worked as a bridge structural engineer at Jacobs Engineering Group, Inc. and Michael Baker International, Inc. in Denver, Colorado, and she is a licensed professional engineer in Colorado and New York, USA. Dr. Amanda Bao won the 2021 Eisenhart Award for Outstanding Teaching at RIT.  Dr. Bao has been actively involved in engineering education research since 2011, including digital learning, active learning and intensive collaboration with industry. Dr. Bao develops a teaching website: http://baoteachingcet.com/ and opens a YouTube Structural Design Teaching channel to post screencasts to supplement traditional lecture-type classes, and she also created hands-on active learning modules to improve teaching and learning effectiveness. In addition to education research, Dr. Bao conducts research in the areas of bridge resiliency and sustainability, innovative construction materials and evaluation of aging infrastructure. She has extensive research experience in finite element modeling and lab testing of structures and published more than 20 research papers.

585-475-4956

Areas of Expertise

Select Scholarship

Published Conference Proceedings
Bao, Amanda, Christopher Sichak, and Sam Anthony. "A Case Study on Curved Fully Integral Abutment Bridge Thermal Deformation: I-390 over I-490." Proceedings of the 2023 International Bridge Conference. Ed. Engineers' Society of Western Pennsylvania. National Harbor, Maryland: https://eswp.com/bridge/conference-archives/ibc-proceedings-2023/, 2023. Web.
Abraham, Yewande S. and Amanda Bao. "Implementing the Engineering for One Planet Framework in a Civil Engineering Technology Program." Proceedings of the 2023 ASEE Annual Conference. Ed. ASEE. Baltimore, Maryland: American Society for Engineering Education, 2023. Web.
Bao, Amanda, Zico Arachie, and Adriana Rodriguez. "Evaluating Structural Resiliency of Public Schools as Emergency Shelters in Natural Disasters." Proceedings of the 12th International Structural Engineering and Construction. Ed. International Structural Engineering and Construction Society. Chicago, IL: https://isec-society.org/ISEC_PRESS/ISEC_12/xml/STR-32.xml, 2023. Web.
Bao, Amanda. "Implementing Digital Learning to Enhance Post-Pandemic Civil Engineering Teaching." Proceedings of the 2022 American Society for Engineering Education Annual Conference. Ed. American Society for Engineering Education. Minneapolis, MN: https://peer.asee.org/implementing-digital-learning-to-enhance-post-pandemic-civil-engineering-teaching, 2022. Web.
Bao, Amanda. "An Insight into Students’ Feedback on Synchronous Distance Learning during COVID-19 Lockdown." Proceedings of the 2021 American Society of Engineering Education (ASEE) Annual Conference. Ed. ASEE. Washington, DC: ASEE, 2021. Web.
Bao, Amanda. "Active Learning in Dynamics: Hands-on Shake Table Testing." Proceedings of the 2020 ASEE St. Lawrence Section Annual Conference. Ed. Vinnie Gupta. Rochester, NY: n.p., 2020. Web.
Bao, Amanda and Caleb Guillaume, Alana Moraes. "Shear Strength of Deteriorated Steel Girders in Multi-Girder Bridges." Proceedings of the 10th International Structural Engineering and Construction Conference - Interdependence between Structural Engineering and Construction Management. Ed. Didem Ozevin. Chicago, IL: https://www.isec-society.org/ISEC_PRESS/ISEC_10/, 2019. Web.
Bao, Amanda. "Structural Capacity Analysis of Corroded Steel Girder Bridges." Proceedings of the 2019 World Steel Bridge Symposium. Ed. National Steel Bridge Alliance (NSBA). St. Louis, MO: https://www.aisc.org/education/continuingeducation/education-archives/rating-and-evaluation-of-existing-steel-bridges-b25/, 2019. Web.
Bao, Amanda, et al. "Structural Capacity Analysis of Corroded Steel Girder Bridges." Proceedings of the 3rd International Conference on Civil, Structural and Transportation Engineering, June 10-12, 2018, Niagara Falls, Canada. Ed. Lamya Amleh. Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada: n.p., 2018. Web.
Bao, Amanda (Yu), Van Hopson, and Josh Lawrence. "Soil-Structure Interaction in Bridges with Batter Piles." Proceedings of the ASCE 2017 Structures Congress. Ed. J. G. Soules. Denver, CO: ASCE Press, 2017. Web.
Bao, Amanda (Yu). "Developing Rating Metrics for Sustainable Bridges." Proceedings of the 2016 Western New York Association for Bridge Construction and Design Spring Conference. Ed. Bill Rugg. Batavia, New York: n.p., 2016. Web.
Bao, Amanda (Yu) and Joshua Lawrence, Van Hopson, Matt Puzio. "Optimization of Bridge Deep Foundation Design in Seismic and Tsunami Zone." Proceedings of the 2014 Structures Congress. Ed. Glenn R. Bell, Matt A. Card. Boston, MA: ASCE Press, 2014. Web.
Bao, Yu and Andrew Rietz. "Seismic Soil-Structure Interaction in Fully Integral Abutment Bridges with HP Driven Piles." Proceedings of the 7th International Structural Engineering and Construction Conference. Ed. Siamak Yazdani, Amarjit Singh. Honolulu, HI: Research Publishing Services, 2013. Print.
Bao, Yu and Andrew Rietz. "Numerical Modeling of Dynamic Soil-Structure Interaction in Bridges with HP Driven Piles." Proceedings of the Deep Foundation Institute 37th Annual Conference on Deep Foundations. Ed. Deep Foundation Institute. Houston, TX: n.p., 2012. Web.
Bao, Yu, Andrew Rietz, and Steven Halewski. "3D Finite Element Modeling of Seismic Soil-Structure Interaction in Bridges." Proceedings of the Earthquake Engineering Research Institute (EERI) 2012 Annual Meeting/National Earthquake Conference. Ed. EERI. Memphis, TN: n.p., 2012. Web.
Bao, Yu and Andrew Rietz. "Numerical Simulation and Centrifuge Modeling of Sand Liquefaction." Proceedings of the Earthquake Engineering Research Institute (EERI) 2012 Annual Meeting/National Earthquake Conference. Ed. EERI. Memphis, TN: n.p., 2012. Web.
Bao, Yu, et al. "An Innovative Hybrid Nano-Fibered Concrete." Proceedings of the 2011 PCI Annual Convention and National Bridge Conference. Ed. Precast/Prestress Concrete Institute. n.p., 2011. Print.
Peer Reviewed/Juried Poster Presentation or Conference Paper
Abraham, Yewande and Amanda Bao. "Implementing the Engineering for One Planet Framework in the Civil Engineering Technology Program." Proceedings of the 2023 ASEE-EOP Mini Grant Cohort I Awardees Online Symposium. Ed. American Society for Engineering Education. Online, Web: https://docs.asee.org/public/EOP/RIT_EOPPoster.pdf.
Bao, Amanda, et al. "State-of-the Art and Practices in Integral Abutment Bridges in the United States." Proceedings of the 39th International Bridge Conference. Ed. The International Bridge Conference Technical Committee. Pittsburgh, PA: https://eswp.com/bridge/bridge-home/.
Invited Keynote/Presentation
Bao, Amanda. "A Study on Horizontally Curved Integral Abutment Bridges." 2023 Association for Bridge Construction and Design - Western New York Chapter Spring Conference. Association for Bridge Construction and Design. Batavia, NY. 31 Mar. 2023. Conference Presentation.
Bao, Amanda. "A Case Study on Curved Fully Integral Abutment Bridge Thermal Deformation: I-390 over I-490." 2023 International Bridge Conference. Engineers' Society of Western Pennsylvania. National Harbor, MD. 14 Jun. 2023. Conference Presentation.
Bao, Amanda. "Testing and Evaluation of Corroded Steel Girder Bridges." 2021 Association for Bridge Construction and Design - Western New York Fall Conference. Association for Bridge Construction and Design. Buffalo, NY. 12 Nov. 2021. Conference Presentation.
Bao, Amanda. "An Insight into Students’ Feedback on Synchronous Distance Learning during COVID-19 Lockdown." 2021 American Society of Engineering Education (ASEE) Annual Conference. American Society of Engineering Education (ASEE). Long Beach, CA. 29 Jul. 2021. Conference Presentation.
Bao, Amanda. "Digital Learning Reshaping Post-Pandemic Teaching." Innovative Learning Institute Teachers on Teaching Series. Rochester Institute of Technology. Rochester, NY. 19 Nov. 2021. Lecture.
Bao, Amanda. "Evaluation of Shear Strength in Deteriorated I-plate Steel Girder Bridges." Western New York Association for Bridge Construction and Design 30th Annual Fall Conference. Western New York Association for Bridge Construction and Design. Buffalo, NY. 16 Nov. 2018. Conference Presentation.
Bao, Amanda. "Structural Capacity Analysis of Corroded Steel Girder Bridges." 3rd International Conference on Civil, Structural and Transportation Engineering. ICCSTE 18. Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada. 10 Jun. 2018. Conference Presentation.
Bao, Amanda (Yu). "Soil-Structure Interaction in Bridges with Batter Piles." ASCE 2017 Structures Congress. American Society of Civil Engineers. Denver, CO. 8 Apr. 2017. Conference Presentation.
Bao, Amanda (Yu). "Seismic Soil-Foundation-Structure Interaction in Highway Bridges." Penn State University Department of Civil Engineering Seminar. Penn State University. State College, PA. 14 Apr. 2017. Guest Lecture.
Bao, Amanda (Yu). "Enhancing Learning Effectiveness by Implementing Screencasts into Civil Engineering Classroom." Penn State University Department of Civil Engineering Seminar. Penn State University. State College, PA. 14 Apr. 2017. Guest Lecture.
Bao, Amanda (Yu). "Optimization of Bridge Deep Foundation Design in Seismic and Tsunami Zone." 2014 Structures Congress. American Society of Civil Engineers. Boston, MA. 4 Apr. 2014. Conference Presentation.
Bao, Amanda (Yu). "Enhancing Deaf Students Learning in Engineering Disciplines by Implementing Screencast Technology." STEM in Urban Education Conference. Terra Education. Syracuse, NY. 10 Oct. 2014. Conference Presentation.
Bao, Amanda (Yu). "Seismic Soil-Structure Interaction in Bridges with HP Piles." Association for Bridge Construction and Design (ABCD) Western New York Fall Conference. Association for Bridge Construction and Design. Buffalo, NY. 15 Nov. 2013. Conference Presentation.
Bao, Yu and Andrew Rietz. "3D Finite Element Modeling of Seismic Soil-Structure Interaction in Bridges." EERI 2012 Annual Meeting/National Earthquake Conference. Earthquake Engineering Research Institute. Memphis, TN. 12 Apr. 2012. Conference Presentation.
Bao, Yu and Andrew Rietz. "Numerical Modeling of Dynamic Soil-Structure Interaction in Bridges with HP Driven Piles." DFI 37th Annual Conference on Deep Foundations. Deep Foundation Institute. Houston, TX. 18 Oct. 2012. Conference Presentation.
Bao, Yu and Chad Stevens. "An Innovative Hybrid Nano-Fibered Concrete." 2011 PCI Annual Conference and National Bridge Conference. Precast/Prestress Concrete Institute. Salt Lake City Convention Center, Salt Lake City, UT. 25 Oct. 2011. Conference Presentation.
Journal Paper
Bao, Amanda, et al. "Testing and Evaluation of Web Bearing Capacity of Corroded Steel Bridge Girders." Engineering Structures 238. July (2021): 112276. Web.
Bao, Amanda. "Enhancing Learning Effectiveness by Implementing Screencasts into Civil Engineering Classroom with Deaf Students." Advances in Engineering Education 7. 3 (2019): 1-12. Web.
Bao, Yu and Zhuonan Song, Yi Huang, Weiwei Xu, Lei Wang, Shiguang Li, Miao Yu. "Continuously Adjustable, Molecular-Sieving “Gate” on 5A Zeolite for Distinguishing Small Organic Molecules by Size." Scientific Reports/published by the Nature Publishing Group 5. Article No. 13981 (2015): Article No. 13981. Web.
Bao, Amanda (Yu). "Developing a Rating Metric for Sustainable Bridges." The Rochester Engineer. October 2014 (2014): 8-9. Web.
Li, Hang, et al. "Ultrathin, Molecular-Sieving Graphene Oxide Membranes for Selective Hydrogen Separation." Science 342. 6154 (2013): 95-98. Web.
Bao, Yu and Stein Sture. "Numerical Modeling of Cyclic Mobility Based on Fuzzy-set Concepts in Plasticity Theory." Computers and Geotechnics 38. 3 (2011): 375-382. Web.
Bao, Yu and Stein Sture. "Application of a Kinematic-cyclic Plasticity Model in Simulating Sand Liquefaction." International Journal of Advances in Engineering Sciences and Applied Mathematics 2. 3 (2011): 119-124. Web.
Book Chapter
ACI, Committee 444 and Amanda Bao. "CHAPTER 5—SENSORS FOR ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS AND LOADS." ACI PRC-444.2-21: Structural Health Monitoring Technologies for Concrete Structures - Report (ISBN: 9781641951449). Ed. American Concrete Institute. Farmington Hills, MI: ACI, 2021. 54-84. Print.
Invited Paper
Bao, Amanda. "Online Learning with a Bonus." PRISM. (2020). Web.
National/International Competition Award Winner
Bao, Amanda. American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC). Advancing Structural Steel Education Award. Dallas, TX, 2018.
Published Article
Ge, Louis, Yu Bao, Chin-Kuan Ni and Hon-Yim Ko. “Seismic Centrifuge Modeling of Earth Dams.” Geomechanics and Geoengineering, 5.4, (2010): 247-257. Print. É  *

Currently Teaching

CVET-332
4 Credits
Introduction of classical and modern computational techniques to analyze statically determinate and indeterminate structures. Topics include beams, 2D trusses, 2D frames, cables and arches, moving loads and influence lines, approximate methods and moment distribution. Computer-aided structural analysis using commercial structural analysis software STAAD is involved.
CVET-431
3 Credits
This course covers the design of structural members and frames and their connections in steel structures. Topics include principles of structural design and the code of ethics in engineering practices, structural loads and systems, steel grade and shapes, steel framing and deck design, tension members, compression members, non-composite beams, beam-columns, column base plates, bolted connections, and welded connections. The use of AISC Steel Construction Manual is emphasized and a comprehensive group design project is assigned. Some computer work for structural modeling is involved.
CVET-434
3 Credits
Design concrete and steel bridges. Topics include types of bridges, design loads on bridges, live load distribution, design of prestressed concrete girders, design of I-plate steel girders, design of reinforced concrete deck, design of bridge foundations, and introduction to multi-span bridges. Emphasis is on the use of the AASHTO LRFD Bridge Design Specifications and bridge design software, and a comprehensive group design project is assigned. Some computer work is involved.

In the News

  • April 4, 2023

    team of college students standing around a long concrete canoe.

    Reviving the concrete canoe and steel bridge teams

    RIT’s concrete canoe and steel bridge teams are presenting their products in person at the regional Upstate New York-Canada ASCE Student Symposium on April 20-22 for the first time as a pair since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

  • September 27, 2022

    two students looking at a professor.

    RIT Faculty Fellows share their playbook for effective teaching

    RIT faculty are a resource not just for students, but for their colleagues as well. Now, a fellowship program will share their expertise through peer mentorship, training, and program development. The Center for Teaching and Learning Faculty Fellows Program launched this fall with eight fellowships.

  • August 18, 2021

    group of college students outside with their orientation leader.

    Dreams, hard work, and success await new students

    A record number of first-year students Wednesday made their way to the Gordon Field House and Activities Center to cheers and welcomes from faculty, staff, and members of the RIT Pep Band during the annual Tiger Walk and New Student Convocation.