Michael Pluimer holds a PhD in Civil Engineering (2016) from Villanova University and a Master’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering (2002) from the University of Minnesota. His PhD research was on the performance of corrugated HDPE pipe manufactured with post-consumer recycled content in commuter railroad applications. Dr. Pluimer developed and validated a service life model for pipes in these applications relative to both the fatigue- and creep-related slow crack growth failure mechanisms. The service life model utilized ASTM F3181, the Un-notched Constant Ligament Stress (UCLS) test, a new test method developed for corrugated HDPE pipe materials containing recycled content.

Dr. Pluimer has worked in technical and management engineering positions in several industries, including power equipment design and development, bioenergy research and development, and most recently the plastics and plastic piping industries, where he has 16 years of experience. He was the Director of Engineering of the Plastics Pipe Institute CPPA Division from 2005 – 2013 and the Director of Texas Research International’s Pipe Division from 2013 – 2014. In addition to his current work as a consultant, Dr. Pluimer also serves as an Associate Professor at the University of Minnesota – Duluth in both their Civil Engineering and Mechanical and Industrial Engineering Departments.

Dr. Pluimer has lectured at dozens of universities and conferences, and his work on the service life of corrugated HDPE pipe has been published with the American Society of Civil Engineers and the Journal of ASTM International. He was the Co-Principal Investigator of NCHRP Project 4-39: Field Performance of Corrugated HDPE Pipe Manufactured with Recycled Content, published in NCHRP Report 870 in early 2018. The research resulted in the development of an AASHTO Standard Practice for service life determination of corrugated HDPE pipes manufactured with recycled content as well as the incorporation of post-consumer and post-industrial materials into AASHTO M 294, Standard Specification for Corrugated Polyethylene Pipe.  Dr. Pluimer currently serves as Membership Secretary of ASTM F17 on Plastic Piping Systems, Chair of ASTM Subcommittee F17.40 (Plastic Piping Systems – Test Methods) and Secretary of ASTM Committee F17.62 (Plastic Piping Systems – Sewer). He is also active on several committees within the Transportation Research Board.

In his free time, Michael enjoys spending time with his wife and two children in northern Minnesota and competing in marathons and triathlons. He has competed in 21 full Ironman distance triathlons, including the World Championship in Kona, Hawaii.