Academic Rank: Associate Professor

Current Research Interests:

Dr. Folkman's research interests involve structural analysis using finite element methods, structural dynamics, and analysis of buried structures.  Dr. Folkman is a key member of USU’s Buried Structures Laboratory where his interests involve soil/structure interaction, finite element modeling and testing.  The buried structures laboratory is recognized as one of three laboratories in the United States for performing tests on buried pipes. Also, in the past, Dr. Folkman has been involved with USU’s Space Dynamics Laboratory (SDL) where he has contributed to projects that include BEPoP, SPAS III, SIBRS, SABER, GIFTS, RAMOS, and WISE.  A research focus for Dr. Folkman at SDL has been developing techniques for predicting distortion of mirrors in a telescope as they are cooled to cryogenic temperatures. 

Software Development:

Dr. Folkman is currently revising a program called Pipe5.  This is a finite element program for 2-dimensional analysis of buried structures.  He has developed two shareware programs. One of the programs is a calculator designed for Engineers and Scientists called ES-Calc. He has also developed a simple plotting program which is a freeware distribution called ES-Plot.

Consulting:

Valve Technology Co., P. O. Box 91121, Portland, Or. 97291, structural analysis of large water valve designs.

Willamette Valves, P. O. Box 321058, Portland OR 97223-0295, structural analysis of large water valve designs.

Space Systems Engineering, Logan, Utah 84321, structural analysis of a rocket payload.

P. T. Blotter and Associates, Logan, Utah 84321, various analyses to support expert witness testimony for litigation.

Scientific Technologies Inc., Logan, Utah  84321, structural analysis of sensor support systems.

Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc, 4640 Trueman Blvd, Hilliard , OH  43026, structural analysis of HPDE pipe designs and drainage systems.

Nyloplast, 3130 Verona Ave., Buford, GA  30518, analysis and testing of various drain basins, end caps, and grates.

North American Pipe Corp. 2801 Post Oak Blvd., Houston, TX  77056, investigation of PVC pipe failures

PW Eagle, Inc., PO Box 10049, Eugene, OR  97440-2049, testing and forensic analysis of PVC pipe failures

JM Eagle, Inc, 9 Peach Tree Hill Road, Livingston, NJ  07039, testing and forensic analysis of PVC pipe failures.

Diamond Plastics, 1212 Johnstown Rd., Grand Island, NE 68801, fatigue testing of PVC pipe and joints.

Registration: Registered Structural Engineer (Utah)

Refereed Journal Publications:

R. P. Burgon, S. L. Folkman and A. P. Moser, “A Parametric Study of the Influence of Profile Geometry on the Structural Performance of Buried Profile-Wall Pipe,” Transportation Research Record no. 1976, Design of Structures 2006, pp. 155-161. 

R. P. Burgon, S. L. Folkman and A. P. Moser, “Comparing Measured and Computed Stiffness of HDPE Pipe,” Transportation Research Record no. 1976, Design of Structures 2006, pp. 162-171. 

S. L. Folkman and A. P. Moser, “The Structural Performance of a Storm Water Detention System Utilizing Bundled HDPE Pipes,” Transportation Research Record no. 1845, Design of Structures 2003, p. 182.

R. S. McEntire, S. L. Folkman, N. R. Hansen, "Rigid Body Trajectory Reconstruction,"  AIAA Journal of Guidance, Control, and Dynamics, Vol. 25, No. 4, pp. 824-825, 2002.

B. D. Ferney, S. L. Folkman, "Force-State Characterization of Struts Using Pinned Joints," Shock and Vibration Journal, Vol. 4, No. 2, pp. 103-113, 1997.

S. L. Folkman, E. A. Rowsell, G. D. Ferney, "Influence of Pinned Joints on the Damping and Dynamic Behavior of a Truss," AIAA Journal of Guidance, Control, and Dynamics, Vol. 18, No. 6, Nov-Dec 1995, p. 1398-1403.

G. D. Ferney and S. L. Folkman, "Development of a Method for Characterizing Joint Stiffness, Deadband and Hysteresis," Shock and Vibration Journal, Vol. 2, No. 4, p. 289-295, 1995.

S. L. Folkman and F. J. Redd, "Gravity Effects on Damping of a Space Structure with Pinned Joints," AIAA Journal of Guidance, Control, and Dynamics, Vol. 13, No. 2, March-April 1990, p. 228.

Books and Book Chapters:

A. P. Moser and S. L. Folkman, “Buried Pipe Design,” 3rd Ed., McGraw-Hill, 2008.

S. L. Folkman, B. Ferney, J. Bingham, J. Dutson, "Friction and Impact Damping in a Truss using Pinned Joints," Dynamics with Friction: Modeling, Analysis and Experiments Part I, Daniel Inman and Arde Guran Editors, The World Scientific Publishing Co., 1996, pp. 137-168.

J. C. Batty and S. L. Folkman, Food Engineering Fundamentals, John Wiley and Sons, 1983. A Spanish translation was also produced.

J. C. Batty and S. L. Folkman, Solution Manual for Food Engineering Fundamentals, John Wiley and Sons, 1983.

Conference Papers: 

S. L. Folkman, “Comparing Compaction and Stiffness Measurements in a Native Soil,” a presentation to the Committee on Subsurface Soil-Structure Interaction (ASF40), 2007 Transportation Research Board Annual Meeting, Jan. 23, 2007.

R. P. Burgon, S. L. Folkman and A. P. Moser, “A Parametric Study of the Influence of Profile Geometry on the Structural Performance of Buried Profile-Wall Pipe,” in Transportation Research Board Annual Meeting Compendium of Papers. CD-ROM. Washington D. C., 2006.

R. P. Burgon, S. L. Folkman and A. P. Moser, “The Influence of Profile Geometry on the Structural Performance of Buried Profile-Wall Pipe,” in Transportation Research Board Annual Meeting Compendium of Papers. CD-ROM. Washington D. C., 2006.

R. P. Burgon, S. L. Folkman and A. P. Moser, “Comparing Measured and Computed Stiffness of HDPE Pipe,” in Transportation Research Board Annual Meeting Compendium of Papers. CD-ROM. Washington D. C., 2006.

J. D. Jeffrey, A. P. Moser, S. L. Folkman, “Guidelines for Fatigue Failure in PVC Pipe,” Plastics Pipes XII, Milan, Italy, April 20, 2004.

J. D. Jeffrey, A. P. Moser, S. L. Folkman, “New Design Guidelines for Fatigue Failure in PVC Pipe,” American Water Works Association Annual Meeting, Anaheim, California, June 18, 2003. Download PDF

Steven Folkman and Michael Stevens, “Characterization of Electroless Nickel Plating on Aluminum Mirrors,” Proceedings of SPIE, Optomechanical Design and Engineering 2002, Volume 4771, p. 254, July 7-9, 2002. Download PDF

R. C. Robinson, R. J. Huppi, and S. L. Folkman, “Optimization of a cryogenic mirror stage,” International Symposium on Optical Science and Technology (SPIE’s Annual Meeting), Seattle, Washington, July 7-11, 2002, paper no. 4822-09.  Download PDF

Steven Folkman, “Simulation of Distortion in Optical Elements,” 2002 PLM World Conference, Orlando, Florida, April 28-May 3, 2002.

K. Kobayashi, and S. L. Folkman, "Stiffness of and Vibration Transmission Through Foil Thermal Links," 39^th AIAA Structures, Structural Dynamics, and Materials Conference, Long Beach, CA, April 20-23, 1998, paper no. AIAA-98-2079, pp. 1495-1504. Download PDF

Steven L. Folkman, Jeff G. Bingham, Jess R. Crookston, Joseph D. Dutson, Brook D. Ferney, Greg D. Ferney and Edwin A. Rowsell, The Joint Damping Experiment (JDX), NASA CR-4781, June 1997, pp. 126. Final report available at http://techreports.larc.nasa.gov/ltrs/1997-cit.html paper number 121.

J. R. Crookston, and S. L. Folkman, "An Approach for Modeling a Truss Using Clearance Fit Pinned Joints," 38^th AIAA Structures, Structural Dynamics, and Materials Conference, Kissimmee, FL, April 7-10, 1997, paper no. AIAA-97-1170, pp. 586-596. Download PDF

J. R. Crookston, J. D. Dutson, and S. L. Folkman, "Modeling Friction and Impacting in a Truss Using Pinned Joints Using LS-DYNA3D," Fourth International LS-DYNA3D Conference, Minneapolis, Minnesota, Sep. 5-6, 1996, pp. 141-165. Download PDF

J. G. Bingham, S. L. Folkman, "Measured Influence of Gravity on the Dynamic Behavior of a Truss using Pinned Joints," 37^th AIAA Structures, Structural Dynamics, and Materials Conference, Salt Lake City, Utah, April 15-17, 1996, paper no. AIAA-96-1437, pp. 1043-1053. This paper was selected as one of 12 finalists in ASME’s Best Paper Competition sponsored by McDonnell Douglas for this conference. Download PDF

J. D. Dutson, and S. L. Folkman, "A Nonlinear Finite Element Model of a Truss Using Pinned Joints," 37^th AIAA Structures, Structural Dynamics, and Materials Conference, Salt Lake City, Utah, April 15-17, 1996, paper no. AIAA-96-1408, pp. 793-803. Download PDF

J. G. Bingham, S. L. Folkman, "Description of and Preliminary Results for the Joint Damping Experiment (JDX)," 1995 Shuttle Small Payloads Symposium, Baltimore, Maryland, Sep. 25-28, 1995, NASA CP-3310, pp. 139-150.

B. D. Ferney and S. L. Folkman, "Results of Force-State Mapping Tests to Characterize Struts using Pinned Joints," 36th AIAA Structures, Structural Dynamics, and Materials Conference Proceedings, New Orleans, LA, April 10-13, 1995, paper no. AIAA-95-1150, pp. 2217-2225.

S. L. Folkman and E. Rowsell, "Gravity Effects on Damping of a Truss Using Pinned Joints," AIAA Dynamics Specialists Conference, Hilton Head S.C., April 21, 1994.

S. L. Folkman, "Description of the Joint Damping Experiment (JDX)," NASA Flight Experiment Technical Interchange Meeting, Monterey California, Oct. 5, 1992.

S. L. Folkman and F. J. Redd, "Measurement and Modeling of Joint Damping in Space Structures," an invited workshop presentation at the NASA IN-Space Technology Experiments Program 1988 Workshop, Atlanta, Georgia, Dec. 6-9, 1988. A summary was published in the proceedings of the conference.

S. L. Folkman and F. J. Redd, "Measurement and Modeling of Joint Damping in Space Structures," a paper presented at the AIAA SDM Issues of the International Space Station Conference in Williamsburg Virginia, April 21, 1988. The paper was published in the proceedings of that conference.

S. L. Folkman, J. C. Batty, and C. A. Ernstrom, "Energy Savings with an Alternate Milk Homogenization Technique," a paper presented at the American Society of Agricultural Engineers Meeting in Madison, Wisconsin, June 1982.

S. L. Folkman and K. J. Wanlass, "Investigation of Three Velocity Coupled T-burner Designs," 16 JANNAF Combustion Meeting, Vol. II, Chemical Propulsion Information Agency, Laurel, Md., Dec. 1979 (CPIA Pub. #308, publication UNCLASSIFIED).

D. R. Mason, S. L. Folkman, and M. A. Behring, "Thrust Oscillations of the Space Shuttle Rocket Booster Motor During Static Tests," AIAA/SAE 15th Joint Propulsion Conference, Paper No. 79-1138, June 1979.

C. W. Boilieu, J. Baker, and S. L. Folkman, "Space Shuttle SRM Ignition System," AIAA/SAE 14th Joint Propulsion Conference, Paper No. 78-987, July 1978.

Extension Publications:

S. L. Folkman, "How to Compare Fuel and Electricity Costs for Home Heating," Cooperative Extension Service Utah State University, Logan, Utah, EL-210, 1985.

Scientific and Professional Societies:

Member, American Water Works Association (AWWA).

Member, American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) F17 Plastic Piping Systems

Service

Currently a member of the Committee on Culverts and Hydraulic Structures, AFF70, of the Transportation Research Board of the National Academies of Science, effective Jan. 23, 2004.

Panel Member of NCHRP Project 15-28, “Modernize and Upgrade CANDE for Analysis and LRFD Design of Buried Structures,” National Cooperative Highway Research Program, Transportation Research Board of the National Academies, appointed July 2004.

Honors and Awards:

• Advisor of the Year Award, Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering Department, Utah State University, 2007.
• Nominated for the K.B. Woods Award for the best paper in the area of design and construction by the Transportation Research Board Annual Meeting, Washington D. C., 2006.
• Advisor of the Year, Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering Department, Utah State University, 2002.
• One of 12 finalists in ASME’s Best Paper Competition sponsored by McDonnell Douglas for the AIAA/ASME/ASCE/AHS/ASC Structures, Structural Dynamics and Materials Conference (37th annual) held in Salt Lake City, Utah in April 1996.
• Outstanding Researcher of the Year Award, College of Engineering, Utah State University, 1996.
• Outstanding Researcher of the Year Award, Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering Department, Utah State University, 1996.
• Finalist in the Annual Design Engineering Software Competition Awards, 1986 Fall National ASME Design Engineering Conference.
• Utah State University Mortar Board, "Top Prof", Feb. 6, 1991.
• Outstanding Advisor Award, Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering Department, Utah State University.
• Research Initiation Award, Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering Department, Utah State University, 1993.

Contact Information:
Steven L. Folkman
Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
Utah State University
Logan, UT 84322-4130
Office: EL-233 Phone: (435)797-2879
E-mail: steven.folkman@usu.edu