[2] He was a frequent seminar speaker at his alma mater on topics ranging from structural failure investigations to professional licensure.
In 1970, he shared the American Concrete Institute's Wason Medal for Materials Research with Neil M. Hawkins for their article, "Shearhead Reinforcement Slabs.
[5] They found that the Murrah Building could have performed much better, if it had been constructed to standards used in earthquake-prone areas, with special reinforcing of key columns.
Corley served as the lead investigator on the FEMA World Trade Center Building Performance Study, following the September 11, 2001 attacks.
The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) followed up with a multi-year investigation into the collapse of the World Trade Center and 7 World Trade Center, as mandated by the 2002 National Construction Safety Team Act, which resulted recommendations for improving structural fire protection, life safety, and engineering practice.
[12] Corley also investigated the collapse of a ten story parking garage under construction at the Tropicana Casino Resort in Atlantic City, which occurred on October 30, 2003.