Faculty
Ossama Abdelkhalik
Assistant Professor, Mechanical Engineering–Engineering Mechanics
Links of Interest
Research Interests
- Optimal N-Impulse Orbit Transfers Using Genetic algorithms
- Optimal Orbit Design for Remote Sensing Missions Using Genetic Algorithms
- Spacecraft Formation Flying navigation and control
- Spacecraft Orbit Maintenance
- Satellite Constellation Design for Earth Observation Missions
- Two-Way Orbits
Areas of Expertise
- Space Mechanics
- Spacecraft Dynamics
Jeffrey S. Allen
John & Joan Calder Associate Professor, Mechanical Engineering–Engineering Mechanics
Energy Thermo-Fluids (ETF) Area Director
SAE Aero Faculty Advisor, Tau Beta Pi Faculty Advisor
Links of Interest
Research Interests
- Stability of evaporating and condensing liquid films
- Microfluidic systems such as lab-on-a-chip
- Microfluid diagnostic development
- Design and optimization of micro-fuel reformers
- Low-gravity fluid dynamics
Areas of Expertise
- Capillary Flow
- Interfacial Transport Phenomena
- Fuel Cells
- Phase-Change Heat Transfer
- Microgravity Fluid Physics
Carl L. Anderson
Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Studies, College of Engineering
Professor, Mechanical Engineering–Engineering Mechanics
Links of Interest
Research Interests
- Spray Impingement Signatures in a High Speed Direct Injection Diesel
- Microwave Telemetry Technique for Measurements in Reciprocating and Rotating Machinery
- Piston Heat Transfer in a Direct-Injection, Two-Stroke Engine
Areas of Expertise
- Heat Transfer
- I. C. Engines
- Torque Converter
- Infrared Radiometry
- Infrared & Microwave Telemetry
Ezra Bar-Ziv
Professor, Mechanical Engineering–Engineering Mechanics
Areas of Expertise
- Combustion and dynamics of single particles
- Combustion and pyrolysis
John E. Beard
Associate Professor, Mechanical Engineering–Engineering Mechanics
Faculty Advisor, Hybrid Electric Vehicle Enterprise
Research Interests
- Manufacturing variation on the response of planar and three-dimensional mechanisms
- Influence of design parameters on the wear rates of gerotor types
Areas of Expertise
- Design of Mechanical Systems
- Bioengineering
- Manufacturing
Jason R. Blough
Associate Professor, Mechanical Engineering–Engineering Mechanics
Director, Design Dynamic Systems Area
Clean Snowmobile Team Faculty Advisor, SAE Faculty Advisor
Links of Interest
Research Interests
- Dynamic Measurement Problems
- Developing new digital signal processing algorithms to understand NVH type problems
- Ways to improve the NVH characteristics of virtually any machine
Areas of Expertise
- Vibrations
- Unique Instrumentation/Data Acquisition
- Digital Signal Processing
- Noise Control
Bo Chen
Assistant Professor, Mechanical Engineering–Engineering Mechanics
Assistant Professor, Electrical and Computer Engineering
Links of Interest
Areas of Interest
- Artificial immune systems and pattern recognition
- Mobile-agent and multi-agent systems
- Sensor networks and networked embedded systems
- Structural health monitoring
- Vehicle electronics and control networks
Chang Kyoung Choi
Assistant Professor, Mechanical Engineering–Engineering Mechanics
Faculty Advisor, Korean Student Association
Links of Interest
Research Interests
- Opto-electric Cellular Sensing
- Microfluidics and Microscale Heat Transfer
- Droplet Impingement on Patterned Metal Surfaces
- Evaporation of Thin Films and Droplets
- Multiscale Interface Phenomena
- Chemotaxis
- Fluid Flow-induced Shear Effect on Chondrons
Areas of Expertise
- Microscopic Imaging Techniques
- Micro-/nano-fabrications
- Cellular Sensing & Singe Protein Tracking
William J. Endres
Associate Professor, Mechanical Engineering–Engineering Mechanics
Senior Capstone Design Program Director
Links of Interest
Areas of Expertise
- Machining Dynamics
- Cutting Mechanics
- Manufacturing Processes
Craig Friedrich
Richard & Bonnie Robbins Chair, Professor, Associate Chair and
Director of Graduate Studies, Mechanical Engineering–Engineering Mechanics
Director, Multi-Scale Technologies Institute (MuSTI)
Director, Multi-Scale Systems & Sensors Group
Faculty Co-Advisor, Integrated Microsystems Enterprise
Links of Interest
Research interests
- Micromechanical machining processes
- Microsystem design
- Nanosensing
Areas of Expertise
- Micromechanical Systems
- Nanotechnology
John K. Gershenson
Professor, Mechanical Engineering–Engineering Mechanics
Peace Corps Master's International Coordinator
Faculty Advisor, Velovations Bicycle Design Enterprise
Links of Interest
Research Interests
- Life-cycle design
- Modular product and process architectures
- Sustainable product/process design
- Lean manufacturing
- Lean engineering
- Design for post-manufacturing issues
- Mechanisms of innovation
Areas of Expertise
- Life-Cycle Engineering
- Modular Product Architecture
- Lean Engineering
- Sustainable Product Design
Thomas R. Grimm
Associate Professor, Mechanical Engineering–Engineering Mechanics
Links of Interest
Research Interests
- Applications of the finite element method to problems in biomechanics and other areas of mechanical engineering
- Computer modeling and simulation of mechanical systems
- Development of computer aided design methodologies for optimization of mechanical designs
Areas of Expertise
- Mechanical Engineering Design
- Computer-Aided Design
- Biomechanics
Mahesh Gupta
Professor, Mechanical Engineering–Engineering Mechanics
Manufacturing/Industrial (MI) Area Director
Graduate Seminar Series Coordinator
Links of Interest
Research Interests
- Effect of elongational viscosity on polymeric flows
- Estimation of elongational viscosity for polymeric melts
- Three dimensional simulation of the flow in ceramic injection molding
- Mixing of polymers
- Optimization of die geometry for polymer extrusion
Areas of Expertise
- Polymer Processing
- Polymer Rheology
- Design with Plastics and Composites
- Finite Element Method
John D. Hill
Assistant Professor, Mechanical Engineering–Engineering Mechanics
Adjunct Assistant Professor, Cognitive and Learning Sciences
Research Interests
- Design and enhancement of transportation systems, service systems, and occupational health and safety
Areas of Expertise
- Human Factors
- Transportation Safety and Policy
- Service Systems
Links of Interest
Research Interests
- Biomechanics
- Solid Mechanics
Areas of Expertise
- Biomechanics
- Orthopaedic Mechanics
- Sports Safety
Seung-Hyun Kim
Assistant Professor, Mechanical Engineering–Engineering Mechanics
Links of Interest
Areas of Expertise
- Turbulent Combustion
- Fuel Cells
- Multiphase Reacting Flows in Porous Media
- Multiscale Modeling and Simulation
L. Brad King
Ron & Elaine Starr Professor, Mechanical Engineering-Engineering Mechanics
Director, Space Systems Research Group
Faculty Advisor, Aerospace Enterprise
Research Interests
- Design of in-situ electrostatic probes
- Ion-energy analysis and time-of-flight mass spectrometry
- Doppler laser cooling of trapped ions
- Optical flow diagnostics
- Antimatter confinement
Areas of Expertise
- Space Propulsion
- Plasma Physics
- Optical Fluid Diagnostics
Seong-Young Lee
Assistant Professor, Mechanical Engineering–Engineering Mechanics
Research Interests
- Spray combustion dynamics in combustion vessel and internal combustion engines
- Combustion instabilities, flame flashback and autoignition in premixed gas turbine engines
- Alternative fuels including biofuels, coal-based fuel, jet fuel, syngas and their applications to advanced combustion engines
- Supercritical fuel combustion characteristics
- Soot formation processes in laminar and turbulent diffusion/premixed flames
- Pulse detonation engine (PDE) for advanced propulsion
- Development and application of laser-based diagnostics for chemically reacting flows
Areas of Expertise
- Spray Combustion
- Fuel Flexibilities
- Soot Emissions
- Internal Combustion Engines
- Gas Turbine Engine
- Laser-Based Combustion Diagnostics
Edward Lumsdaine
Professor, Mechanical Engineering–Engineering Mechanics
Research Interests
- Contextual Heat Transfer
- NVH (Noise, Vibration, and Harshness)
Areas of Expertise
- Engineering Education
- High-Tech Training
- Noise and Vibrations
- Heat Transfer
- Entrepreneurship
Nina Mahmoudian
Assistant Professor, Mechanical Engineering–Engineering Mechanics
Areas of Expertise
- Nonlinear Control and Dynamics
- Cooperative Control of Multi Agent Systems
- Autonomous Vehicles with Special Interest in Underwater Gliders
Dennis DeSheng Meng
Assistant Professor, Mechanical Engineering–Engineering Mechanics
Links of Interest
Research Interests
- Self-regulating micro fuel cells for portable military/civilian electronics
- Nano-structured surfaces for energy and environmental applications
- Micro and nano fluidics for energy harvesting
- Self-healing material
Areas of Expertise
- Micro and nano technologies for energy and environmental applications
- Microfluidics
- Micro fuel cells
- Microelectromechanical Systems (MEMS)
- Micro and nano fabrication
Scott Miers
Assistant Professor, Mechanical Engineering–Engineering Mechanics
Links of Interest
Research Interests
- Internal combustion engine efficiency, emissions, and performance
- Alternative and renewable fuels research investigating how the unique chemical compositions affect both engine and vehicle operation
- IC engine data acquisition techniques such as piston-mounted wireless microwave telemetry and minimally invasive combustion visualization
- Alternative and renewable transportation fuels
Areas of Expertise
- Alternative and renewable transportation fuels
- Internal combustion engine efficiency
- Performance and emissions
- Wireless data acquisition techniques
- Combustion visualization
Michele H. Miller
Associate Professor, Associate Chair and Director of
Undergraduate Studies, Mechanical Engineering–Engineering Mechanics
Adjunct Associate Professor, Materials Science and Engineering
Peace Corps Master's International Coordinator
Links of Interest
Research Interests
- Vibration assisted grinding and water-jet assisted grinding
- Wheel wear and wheel loading mechanisms
- Machining of ceramics
- Machine tool dynamics
- Optical micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS)
- Human factors in design
Areas of Expertise
- Grinding
- Precision Engineering
- MEMS
- Human Factors
Ibrahim Miskioglu
Associate Professor, Mechanical Engineering–Engineering Mechanics
Faculty Advisor, BoardSport Technologies Enterprise
Faculty Advisor, SEM
Links of Interest
Research Interests
- Use of severe plastic deformation to alter properties of materials
- Failure studies of random fiber composites with applications to structural problems
- Failure of sandwich panels with applications to structural problems
- Nanoscale properties of interphase in polymer matrix composites
- Photomechanics integrated with digital image processing for thermomechanical stress analysis
Areas of Expertise
- Engineering Mechanics
- Experimental Stress Analysis
- Composite Materials
Jeffrey D. Naber
Ron & Elaine Starr Professor in Energy Systems, Mechanical Engineering–Engineering Mechanics
Director, Advanced Power Systems Research Center
SAE Formula Car Enterprise Co-Faculty Advisor, Pi Tau Sigma Faculty Advisor
Research Interests
- Combustion processes and combustion control of hydrogen and hydrogen dual fuelled engines
- Biofuels including ethanol with production from forest products and application in advanced combustion engines
- Gasoline IC engine research and the development of physical based correlations and models
- Development of combustion measurement techniques for diesel, gasoline, and HCCI and PPCI engines
Areas of Expertise
- Internal Combustion Engines
- Hydrogen and Biofuels
- After-Treatment
Amitabh Narain
Professor, Mechanical Engineering–Engineering Mechanics
Links of Interest
Research Interests
- Phase-change flows, especially internal condensing and boiling flows
- Cavitation signatures in an automobile’s torque-converter
- Melting and solidification processes associated with use of phase-change materials (PCM) for energy storage applications (such as solar power plants)
- Computational simulations of forced and natural convection turbulent flows (inside heat exchangers, displacement pumps, etc.)
Areas of Expertise
- Condensing/Phase-change flows
- Computational and Experimental Fluid Mechanics/Heat Transfer
Gregory M. Odegard
Associate Professor, Mechanical Engineering–Engineering Mechanics
Adjunct Assistant Professor, Materials Science and Engineering
Solid Mechanics (SM) Area Director
Links of Interest
Research Interests
- Computational Mechanics
- Computational Materials Science
- Biomechanics
Areas of Expertise
- Mechanics of Materials
- Materials Science
Gordon G. Parker
John & Cathi Drake Professor, Mechanical Engineering–Engineering Mechanics
Links of Interest
Research Interests
- Control system design
- Methods for correlating nonlinear dynamic models to experimental data
- Nonlinear control
- System simulation
- Nonlinear system parameter identification and optimization
Areas of Expertise
- Nonlinear Controls
- Mechatronics
- Dynamics
Chris E. Passerello
Professor, Mechanical Engineering–Engineering Mechanics
Links of Interest
Research Interests
- Estimating rigid body properties from force and acceleration measurements
- Dynamics of cable systems
Areas of Expertise
- Dynamics
- Vibrations
- Finite Elements
Fernando Ponta
Associate Professor, Mechanical Engineering–Engineering Mechanics
Research Interests
- Theoretical and Computational Fluid Mechanics
- Vortex Dynamics
- Fluid-Structure Interaction
- Wind-Turbine Aerodynamics
- Renewable-Energy Sources
- Energy Systems
Areas of Expertise
- Theoretical and Computational Fluid Mechanics
- Vortex Dynamics
- Fluid-Structure Interaction
- Wind-Turbine Aerodynamics
- Renewable-Energy Sources
- Energy Systems
William W. Predebon
Department Chair, Mechanical Engineering–Engineering Mechanics
Professor, Mechanical Engineering–Engineering Mechanics
Links of Interest
Research Interests
- Mechanical behavior
- Characterization and processing of ceramics
- Shock deformation including microstructural effects and dynamic fracture of metals and ceramics
- Impact phenomena
- Computer simulation of wave phenomena
- Explosive-metal interaction and fragmentation
Areas of Expertise
- Ceramics
- Impact Phenomena
- Wave Propagation
- Computer Simulation of Explosive - Metal Systems
Mohan D. Rao
Professor, Mechanical Engineering–Engineering Mechanics
Design/Dynamic Systems (DDS) Area Director
Links of Interest
Research Interests
- Automotive noise, vibration, and harshness (NVH)
- Damping of materials and joints
- Development of innovative concepts of damping enhancements for vibration control using viscoelastic damping materials
- Noise control
Areas of Expertise
- Acoustics
- Vibrations
- Noise Control
- Damping
- Auditory Science
Mo Rastgaar
Assistant Professor, Mechanical Engineering–Engineering Mechanics
Links of Interest
Areas of Expertise
- Dynamic Systems and Controls
- Human-Robot Interactions
- Assistive Robotics
- Smart Structures
Rush D. Robinett III
The Richard and Elizabeth Henes Chair Professor in Mechanical Engineering
Director of Research
Areas of Expertise
- Renewable Energy Grid Integration
- Collective Systems Control
- Nonlinear Controls
- Optimization
- Dynamics
- Aeroelasticity
Research Interests
- Energy storage system design for renewable energy grid integration
- High penetration renewable energy microgrids
- Collective control of networked microgrids and teams of robots
- Exergy control for buildings
- Flutter suppression for wind turbines
- Nonlinear control system design
Mahdi Shahbakhti
Assistant Professor, Mechanical Engineering–Engineering Mechanics
Links of Interest
Research Interests
- Modeling and Control of Energy Systems
- Hybrid Electric Vehicles
- Fuel Flex Powertrains
- Energy Control of Buildings in a Smart Grid
Areas of Expertise
- Dynamic Systems Modeling and Control
- Powertrain/Vehicle Control
- Internal Combustion Engines
- Alternative/Renewable Fuels
- Vehicular Emissions and Aftertreatment Systems
Reza Shahbazian-Yassar
Associate Professor, Mechanical Engineering–Engineering Mechanics
Adjunct Associate Professor, Materials Science and Engineering
Links of Interest
Research Interests
- Nanotechnology for Electrochemical Energy Storage (Batteries and Supercapacitors)
- Nanogenerators and Piezotronic Sciences
- Nanoscale Degradation of Fuel Cell Materials
- Nanoscale Properties of Low Dimensional Materials for Thermoelectrics and Nanoelectronics
- Mechanics of Bio and Nano Materials and Composites
- In-Situ Transmission Electron Microscopy
Tolou Shokuhfar
Assistant Professor, Mechanical Engineering–Engineering Mechanics
Links of Interest
Research Interests
- Nanotechnology
- Nanomedicine
- Orthopedic implants
Kazuya Tajiri
Assistant Professor, Mechanical Engineering–Engineering Mechanics
Links of Interest
Research Interests
- Transport phenomena in multiscale/multiphase systems
- Thermo-fluid system diagnostics, modeling, and optimization
- Polymer electrolyte fuel cells for automotive application
- Renewable energy
- Combustion dynamics modeling
Areas of Expertise
- Fuel cell modeling and diagnostics
- Fuel cell vehicle system modeling
- Combustion modeling
- CFD
Madhukar Vable
Associate Professor, Mechanical Engineering–Engineering Mechanics
Links of Interest
Research Interests
- Developing and using computational tools for stress analysis and design
- Pedagogy of teaching mechanics of materials
Areas of Expertise
- Computational Mechanics
Charles D. Van Karsen
Associate Professor, Mechanical Engineering–Engineering Mechanics
Links of Interest
Research Interests
- Experimental Vibro-Acoustics
- NVH (Noise, Vibration, and Harshness)
- Structural Dynamics
Areas of Expertise
- Vibration
- Modal Analysis
- Acoustics
Carl R. Vilmann
Associate Professor, Mechanical Engineering–Engineering Mechanics
Research Interests
- Plow blade shape optimization
- Magnetoelastic deformation and buckling
Areas of Expertise
- Fracture Mechanics
- Stress Analysis
- Finite Element Methods
- Magnetoelasticity
Song Lin (Jason) Yang
Professor, Mechanical Engineering–Engineering Mechanics
Links of Interest
Research Interests
- Computational fluid dynamics (CFD)
- Modeling and numerical simulation of diesel particulate trap (DPF) performance during loading and regeneration
- Diesel oxidation catalyst (DOC) converter code development
Areas of Expertise
- Applied Computational Fluid Dynamics and Heat Transfer
- Engine Flow Simulation
- DPF and DOC Modeling and Simulation
- Computational Aerodynamics