Michael C. H. Yam
BSc, MSc, PhD, MASCE, MIEAust, CPEng, MIPENZ, PEng, MHKICM, MHKIE, RPE

Associate Professor 
Award Coordinator
BSc (Hons) in Building Engineering and Management
Tel.: (852) 2766 4380
E-mail address: bsmyam@polyu.edu.hk
Michael obtained his BSc. in Civil Engineering with Distinction and MSc. at the University of Alberta, Canada and completed his PhD degree at the same University in 1994. He subsequently was appointed as a research engineer at the University before returning to Asia in 1995. Prior to joining the Department of Building and Real Estate in early 2002, Michael has spent several years with the University of Macau as Assistant Professor of Civil Engineering, as well as the Hong Kong Technical College as Lecturer. He has also obtained consultancy experience in the areas of the design and construction of both reinforced concrete buildings and structural steelworks in Hong Kong. Michael is a member of the Hong Kong Institution of Engineers, Institution of Professional Engineers New Zealand, Institution of Engineers, Australia and the American Society of Civil Engineers.
Teaching
Main areas Construction technology
Geotechnical and foundation engineering
Structural analysis and design
Research and Scholarly Activities
Research
Interests

Construction Safety, Construction Management

Structural steel design, Connections
Structural rehabilitation, Full scale testing of structural members.
Current
Research
Projects
Safety Considerations in Facade Design for Residential Building Repair and Maintenance in Hong Kong

The investigation of the local web buckling strength of stiffened coped steel beams

Shear lag effects on welded steel members in tension
Block Shear of Coped Beams with Welded End Connections
Study of the Behavior of Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymer (CFRP) Plate Bonded to Steel Structures
Administration
Award Coordinator, BSc (Hons) in Building Engineering and Management
Year Tutor of BSc (Hons) in Building Engineering and Management
Chair, Departmental Health, Safety and Environmental Committee
Member, Departmental Executive Committee
Member, Departmental Learning & Teaching Committee
Member, Departmental Promotion Committee
Member, Departmental China Mainland Development Committee
Professional Service
Professional
Service

Member, Structural Engineers Registration Committee, Buildings Department (2004-06)

Member, Structural Engineers Registration Committee Panel, Buildings Department (2004-06)
External Member, Civil & Structural Engineering Course Board, Construction Discipline (Tsing Yi), The Hong Kong Institute of Vocational Education
Council Member, The Chinese Research Institute of Construction Management
Editorial Broad Member, The International Journal of Construction Management
Selected Publication List
Externally
Refereed
Journal
Papers

Huang Ting, Shen Liyin, Zhao Zhenyu and Yam C.H. Michael (2005) "An analysis to the existing practice of managing government-invested projects in China". Construction Economy, Jan 2005, pp. 16-20 (in Chinese).

Yam, C.H. Michael, Lam, C.C. Angus, Iu, V.P. and Cheng, J.J. Roger. (2003) "The Local Web Buckling Strength of Coped Steel I-Beam". Journal of Structural Engineering, ASCE, 129(1), pp. 3-11.

Sheng, N., Yam, C.H. Michael and Iu, V.P. (2002) "Analytical Investigation and the Design of the Compressive Strength of Gusset Plate Connections" Journal of Constructional Steel Research, 58/11, pp 1473-1493.

Yam, C.H. Michael and Cheng, J.J. Roger. (2002) "Behavior and Design of Gusset Plate Connections in Compression" Journal of Constructional Steel Research, 58/5-8, pp 1143-1159.

Lam, C.C., Yam, C.H. Michael, Iu, V.P. and Cheng, J.J. Roger. (2000) "Design for Lateral Torsional Buckling of Coped I-Beams", Journal of Constructional Steel Research, 54/3, pp 423-443.

Conference
Paper

Wong K. W., Chan, P. C., Yam C. H., Wong, Y. S., Tse, T. C. and Yip, K. C. (2005) "Fall-related accidents in the Hong Kong construction industry – perceptions of the site supervisory staff" Proceedings of the 3rd International Structural Engineering and Construction Conference (ISEEC-03), Shunan, Japan, 20-23 September 2005, pp.1001-1006.

Wong K. W., Chan, P. C., Yam C. H., Wong, Y. S., Tse, T. C. and Yip, K. C. (2005) "Analysis of Fall Injuries for the Hong Kong Construction Industry" CIB W99, Port Elizabeth, South Africa, 10-13 May 2005.

Lu, W.S., Yam C. H., and Shen, L.Y. (2004) Investigation to Contractors Key Competitiveness Indicators (KCIs) in Bidding for Project: A China Study, Proceedings of CRIOCM2004 International Research Symposium on "Advancement of Construction Management and Real Estate", 6-7, December, 2004, Hong Kong, China, 103-114.

Shen, L.Y., Tan Y.T. and Yam C. H., (2004) Application of Goal Programming Technique in Forming Bidding Strategy, Proceedings of CRIOCM2004 International Research Symposium on "Advancement of Construction Management and Real Estate", 6-7, December, 2004, Hong Kong, China, 130-138.

Yao, H., Peng, Z.M., Yam C. H., and Hao. J.J.L. (2004) A Framework for Improving Environment Performance Construction, Proceedings of CRIOCM2004 International Research Symposium on "Advancement of Construction Management and Real Estate", 6-7, December, 2004, Hong Kong, China, 225-232.

Wong, K.W., Chan, A.P.C, Yam, M.C.H., Wong, E.Y.S., Tse, K.T.C. and Yip, K.K.C. (2004) "Construction Safety in Hong Kong: Accidents Related to Fall of Person from Height", Proceedings of the 20th Annual Conference of Asia Pacific Occupational Safety & Health Organization, 31 Aug -1, Sept, 2004, Beijing, China, 189-200.

Chan, P.C., Wong, K.W., Yam, M.C.H., Chan, W.M., Ng, Y.C. and Tam, C.M. (2004a) An Overview for the Assessment of Safety Performance, Conference for the Development of Construction and Real Estate Professional Services, Ministry of Construction, Dalian, China, August, pp. II(405)-II(410).

Chan, A., Wong, F., Yam, M.C.H., Chan, D., Ng, J. and Tam, C.M. (2004b) "Measuring Safety Climate-identifying the Significant Determinants", Proceedings of the 20th Annual Conference of Asia Pacific Occupational Safety & Health Organization, 31 Aug -1, Sept, 2004, Beijing, China, 412-421.

Yam, C.H. Michael, Zhu H. T., Lam, C.C., Lam, C.C. Angus, and Iu, V. P., (2004) "Analytical Study of the Shear Lag Effects on Welded Steel Tension Members" The 3rd International Conference on Advances in Structural Engineering & Mechanics (ASEM ’04), 2-4 September , Seoul, Korea.

Lam, C.C.A., Cheng, J.J.R., Yam, M.C.H. (2004) "Study of the Tensile Strength of CFRP/Steel Double Lap Joints". 4th International Conference on Advanced Composite Materials in Bridges and Structures, ACMBS-IV, Calgary, Canada.

Zhong, John Y.C. Yam, M.C.H., Michael, Lam, C.C. Angus and Iu V.P. (2004) "Experimental Investigation Block Shear of Coped Beams with Welded Clip Angles Connection" Proceedings of the 5th CSCE Structural Specialty Conference, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada.

Chan, P.C. Albert, Wong, K.W. Francis, Yam, M.C.H., Chan, W.M. Daniel and Tam, C.M. (2003) "Study of Safety Culture in the Construction Industry", CRICM2003 International Research Symposium, Macau, China.

Yam, M.C.H., Lam, C.C. Angus and Cheng, J.J. Roger. "The Local Web Buckling Strength of Stiffened Coped Steel I-Beam" 2001 Annual SSRC Technical Session and AISC North American Steel Construction Conference.

Yam, C.H. Michael, Wong, H.P. Edmond and Lam, C.C. Angus. "Shear Lag Effects on the Tensile Strength of Bolted Cold-Formed Steel Channels Connected Back-to-Back". 2001 EPMESC VIIII, Shanghai Jiao Tong University.

Cheng, J.J. Roger, Grondin, Y. Gilbert and Yam, C.H. Michael. (2000) "Design and Behavior of Gusset Plate Connections". Steel Connection IV Workshop, Roanoke, Virginia, USA.

Yam, C.H. Michael, Lam, C.C. Angus, Iu V.P. and Cheng, J.J. Roger. (2000) "Experimental Investigation of the Local Web Buckling Strength of Coped Steel-I-Beam" Proceedings of the 3rd CSCE Structural Specialty Conference, London, Ontario, Canada.

Doctoral and MSc theses

Michael C.H. Yam (1994). Compressive Behaviour and Strength of Steel Gusset Plate Connections. Unpublished PhD thesis, University Alberta, Canada.

Michael C.H. Yam (1988). Fatigue Strength of Coped Steel Beams. Unpublished MSc thesis, University Alberta, Canada.