Michael Pluimer, President / Owner
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.
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.
Sara Stone, Sustainable Materials Engineer
Sara Stone received her Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from the University of Minnesota Duluth in 2022. Shortly thereafter, she began her Master's in Applied Materials Science at UMD, where she worked under Dr. Michael Pluimer on developing an accelerated test method to determine the stress crack resistance of recycled polyethylene blends. She is expected to graduate from her Master's program in the Spring of 2024. Sara is currently the secretary of the ASTM F17.60-Gas subcommittee, housed within the F17 Committee on Plastic Piping Systems, and secretary of E60.01 which is housed within Committee E60 on Sustainability. Sara has already established a good reputation in ASTM in her young career and was the first student voting member of the organization. Sara presented her research on developing a new accelerated test method for the stress crack resistance of recycled polyethylene blends at the international Plastics Pipes XXI Conference in Orlando, FL in the Fall of 2023, where she was honored with the iPad Best Paper Award for this groundbreaking work. In her free time, Sara enjoys spending time outdoors taking in the beautiful surroundings of Duluth, Minnesota. |
Brian Chestnut, Consultant
Brian studied Mechanical Engineering at West Virginia University from 1996-2001. He has over 20 years of experience in the corrugated HDPE pipe industry and was plant manager for a large corrugated HDPE pipe company. Among many other assignments, his responsibilities included standards development, quality control, safety, testing, and audits. During this time he networked with other industry leading members gaining invaluable experience, knowledge, and an interest in consulting. In 2017, he was presented with opportunity to establish his own consulting firm and works as a subcontractor for Crossroads Engineering Services for AASHTO NTPEP pipe audits.
Brian attributes much of his success to his supportive family. His wife runs an e-commerce business she started in 2004. She also assists him in many aspects of the firm. They have three boys. The oldest is currently pursuing a dual major. Upon completion he will have earned both a Physics degree and an Engineering degree. Their middle son will graduate next year and pursue a technical degree. The youngest is a freshman in high school and still deciding his future path.
Brian studied Mechanical Engineering at West Virginia University from 1996-2001. He has over 20 years of experience in the corrugated HDPE pipe industry and was plant manager for a large corrugated HDPE pipe company. Among many other assignments, his responsibilities included standards development, quality control, safety, testing, and audits. During this time he networked with other industry leading members gaining invaluable experience, knowledge, and an interest in consulting. In 2017, he was presented with opportunity to establish his own consulting firm and works as a subcontractor for Crossroads Engineering Services for AASHTO NTPEP pipe audits.
Brian attributes much of his success to his supportive family. His wife runs an e-commerce business she started in 2004. She also assists him in many aspects of the firm. They have three boys. The oldest is currently pursuing a dual major. Upon completion he will have earned both a Physics degree and an Engineering degree. Their middle son will graduate next year and pursue a technical degree. The youngest is a freshman in high school and still deciding his future path.