Michael Hayes

Michael D. Hayes, Ph.D., P.E. is a licensed Mechanical Engineer specializing in the durability and failure of polymers (plastics) & composite materials. Dr. Hayes earned his B.S. and M.S. in Engineering Science & Mechanics and his Ph.D. in Engineering Mechanics from Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, VA. His undergraduate research focused on the performance of biopolymers for orthopedic applications, and his graduate research addressed the durability and failure modes of fiber-reinforced polymeric composites for civil infrastructure applications. Prior to entering the consulting business, Dr. Hayes worked in Materials Research at Michelin Americas Research and Development Corporation, where he obtained practical experience with textile reinforcements and rubber compounds in tire applications. Dr. Hayes then transitioned into consulting, providing engineering services in failure analysis, product development, and general mechanical & structural analysis to manufacturers, insurance companies, and law firms. Dr. Hayes was a founding member of the Atlanta, GA, USA office of Engineering Systems Inc.(ESi), where he worked for over 10 years. He then joined a start-up company, ESE Carbon, that developed and sold the first one-piece carbon fiber composite wheel in North America, where he worked for over 6 years. Dr. Hayes was the VP, Head of Engineering and co-inventor of the "E2" wheel. He notably served on the SAE taskforce to develop SAE J3204 "Aftermarket Composite Wheels Made of Matrix Material and Fiber Reinforcement Intended for Normal Highway Use - Test Procedures and Performance Requirements". Dr. Hayes is now an independent consultant at Hayes Engineering.