Engineering Research: Faculty and
Ongoing Projects
• Biomedical Engineering
• Mechanical Engineering
• Civil Engineering
• Electrical Engineering
• Computer Engineering
• Materials Joining Engineering
Biomedical Research
Faculty Directors
Roger Gonzalez, Ph.D., P.E.
(University of Texas, Austin, 1994 )
JoshWebb, Ph.D.
(Stanford University, 2010)
ACL Deficient Knee Research
 NSF Funded Project
 Measure muscle forces, ground reaction forces, and joint
angles
 Test with cadaver knees and fixtures
 Verify computational model
 Develop scientific basis for surgery or therapy
LEGS Prosthetics
 Design, create , test
 Lower extremity artificial limbs
 Use in developing world
 Inexpensive
 Maintenance –free
 Improve gait
LEGS Prosthetics
 Currently in use in Kenya, Senegal, Bangladesh, Sierra Leone
Graduate Work in
Mechanical Engineering
Greg Reynolds, Ph.D, P.E.
(Virginia Tech, 1982)
Jesse French, Ph. D.
(University of Tulsa, 2010)
Mechanical Engineering Research
 Materials
 Fluids
 Biomimetics
 Energy Generation
 Energy Storage
 Technology Transfer to Developing People Groups
Alternative
AEM is here.
Energy
Materials
Natural Fibers
Natural Polymers
Low Energy Polymers
Hybrid Composites
Quartz
Ceramics
Sustainable
Materials
Alternative
Energy
Generation and
Capture
Biomimicry
Form
Function
Materials
Critical Ratios
Wind
Solar
Hydro
Nuclear
Geothermal
Radiation
Magnetic
Vibration
Waste Energy
Energy
Harvesting
Movement
Manufacturing
Flow
Resonance
Research in ME - Fall 2011
 Continuing Research Assistantship
 Non-Rotational Fluid Energy Capture
(Materials, Energy, Fluids)
 New Sponsored Research Assistantship #1
 Sustainability in Non-Metallic Repairs
(Materials, Composites, Polymers)
 New Sponsored Research Assistantship #2
 Alternative Energy Materials
(Materials, Energy, Fluids)
Structural Composites Research
Faculty Director
Stephen R. Ayers, PhD
(University of S. Queensland, 2001)
Composite Materials for High
Performance Durable Bridge Decks

Project Aim:
 To develop a bridge deck replacement system which
effectively utilizes the enhanced durability and performance
of FRP composites while improving installed costs, standard
supply options and accessibility for regular structural
engineers
Where Are We At?
 1996
 First FRP bridge constructed
 No Name Creek, KS
 2008
 118 bridges constructed to date
 Most bridges in northeastern US
 82% from 4 suppliers
 No code based design
 Pre-approved designs – no ability of engineer to modify
properties
 On-going problems with concentrated loads
 Cost discrepancy down from 10:1 to 3:1
Why Aren’t We Doing Better?
•
•
•
•
Cost
Non-standard design practices
Specialized Manufacture
The lack of a competitive, open bidding process for projects
Targeting a Better Solution
 4 Guiding Principles for New Development
 Above anything else, a new approach to composite bridge structures is required
which better addresses the up-front cost disparity between composite designs
and traditional solutions.
 A new approach to composite bridge structures is required which places the
design role back in the hands of the DOT, county engineer and contracted
design engineers.
 A new approach to composite bridge structures is required which better
harmonizes with the existing practices and equipment of established
construction teams.
 A new approach to composite bridge structures is required where design
engineers be able to produce specifications which can be competitively bid on for
construction.
FRP Reinforced Polymer Concrete
 Polymer Concrete
 Mix based on specific gravities
 Self separating during cure to develop tensile and compression
zones
 Uses fly-ash waste products (environmental benefits)
 Improved bond between reinforcement and matrix
 Improved structural properties compared to regular concrete
 Prepared similar to regular concrete
 3-D FRP Reinforcement System
 Based on standard pultruded profiles
 Lower cost
 Improved availability
 Square hollow shapes
 Reduced structure weight
 Improved manufacturability
 Improved bonding – no ribs or physical anchorages required
Opportunities for MS Students?
 Materials development and characterization
 Component mechanics studies (short and long-term)
 Manufacturing techniques
 Technology scale-up into larger components and full-size
bridge
Electrical Engineering Research
Faculty Directors
Joonwan Kim, Ph. D., P.E.
(University of Alabama, Huntsville, 2003
Seung Kim, Ph. D.
(University of Alabama, Huntsville, 2004)
- Adaptive Noise Canceller (ANC) design using the variable step size algorithm
-Design and build military communication systems for Rockwell Collins Ins.
-Design and build an augmented positioning system capable of logging
the position of a mobile vehicle.
-Design a receiver for Digital Radio Mondiale (DRM) over shortwave bands with
diversity capability
Research in Computer Engineering
and Control Systems
Marian Iordache, Ph. D.
(University of Notre Dame, 2004)
Software Tools for Concurrent
Programming
 Software tools for converting sequential programs to
concurrent programs are available.
 However, programs can be considerably more efficient when
written from the beginning as concurrent programs.
 Concurrent programming is notoriously difficult.
 Solution: Generate automatically the concurrency code.
Software Tools for Concurrent
Programming
 An area of research at LeTourneau University is the
development of software tools that help automate concurrent
programming.
 This work involves:
 Specification languages for concurrency control.
 Formal representations of concurrency specifications (Petri nets).
 Formal synthesis methods (supervisory control).
 Much programming.
Opportunities for MS Students
 Rules and heuristics for a computationally efficient application
of supervisory control methods.
 Supervisory control algorithms for software applications.
 Specification languages and translators.
Materials Joining Engineering
Research
Faculty Director
Yoni Adonyi, PhD, PE
(The Ohio State University, 1989)
 Thermoelectric materials for solid-state power generation,
engineered semiconductor welding
 Need MJE, ME and EE candidates (2 Graduate Researcher
positions) for FEA modeling of thermal- and stress analysis,
diffusion and surface tension fundamentals, experiments,
testing.
 Career opportunities after graduation: Advanced
Manufacturing in electronics industry, PhD acceptance at EE,
Mat Science, Welding Engineering programs
 US citizens or permanent residents only
Background
 Seebeck, Peltier, and
Thomson effects
 Figure of Merit

 Power

 Anisotropy
Activity 1 – Modeling and Validation
Innovative (solid-state) welding of High
Performance Steels for Bridges
 Friction Stir, High Frequency, Thermal Stir and hybrid solid-
state processes
 Need MJE, ME and EE candidates (2 positions) for FEA
modeling of hybrid process development, tool wear studies.
 Funded by Federal Highway Administration (Research Lab), in
conjunction with NASA and Navy Surface Warfare Center
 Further career opportunities: Advanced Manufacturing, PhD
acceptance in Mat Science- , Manufacturing- and WeldingEngineering programs
Project Structure
FHWA R&D Ctr
McLean, VA
AISI (oversight)
PSI (funding)
Washington, DC
Washington, DC
Virginia Tech
LeTourneau Univ
Blackburg, VA
Longview, TX
NASA Marshall
Thermatool
Hunstville, Al
New Haven, CT
Navy Surface
Warfare Ctr
Carderock, MD
Activity 1 – Tool Wear Modeling
What is new?
 Innovative process development (Hybrid HF/FSW welding)
 Positioned to avoid rediscovering the wheel (East Texas)
 Concave shoulder FSW tool
 Base metal gap closure control for proximity effect
 High strength steel expertise up to 150 ksi UTS
 Post weld processing (PWHT)