JosephYura

Bio
Throughout his more than 40-year career, Joe Yura had an enormous impact on the structural engineering profession through dedicated teaching and research in the areas of steel design, stability, structural connections and offshore structures. A National Academy of Engineering member, his research contributions are wide-reaching and have impacted design specifications for buildings, bridges and offshore oil platforms.

He was born in Hazleton, Pennsylvania, and he received his engineering education at Duke University (B.S. in civil engineering), Cornell University (M.S. in structural engineering) and Lehigh University (Ph.D. in civil engineering). Yura joined the faculty at The University of Texas at Austin in 1966. Before retiring in 2005, he held the Cockrell Family Regents Chair in Engineering.

Through his teaching both at the University and through professional continuing education programs, he has educated thousands of students and has been given numerous awards for his teaching and research related to steel structures. Yura has lectured internationally on a variety of topics related to structural steel and is considered the leading authority on bracing for stability.

Additionally, Yura has made numerous major research contributions that have advanced the state-of-the-art and practice in structural steel design. His research has also left an indelible impact on the American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC) Specification. He has also made substantial research contributions in the areas of plastic design, bolted connections, beam behavior, coped beams, tubular joints and structural stability and bracing.

In 2000, he was inducted into the National Academy of Engineering for his work on bracing and stability. He has also been elected to the Offshore Technology Hall of Fame for tubular joint design and recently received the rare Gerhard Haaijar Award for Excellence in Education from the AISC.

Educational Qualifications
Ph.D., Civil Engineering, Lehigh University, 1965
M.S., Structural Engineering, Cornell University, 1961
B.S., Civil Engineering, Duke University, 1959

Select Awards & Honors

• Moseiff Award – Structural Engineering Institute (2010)
• Lynn S. Beedle Award (2006)
• National Academy of Engineering member (2000) 
• Texas Exes Teaching Award – The University of Texas at Austin (1986) 
• Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company Award – The University of Texas at Austin (1972-73)
• Gerhard Haaijar Award for Excellence in Education – American Institute of Steel Construction
• Offshore Technology Hall of Fame inductee 

Related Websites
Ferguson Structural Engineering Laboratory

Select Publications