Research Interests

Last updated 09/30/2010 at 6:10 PM

My research interests lie in the intersection of computational mechanics and materials science. My efforts are focused on the analysis and simulation of materials with the aim of creating new tools for the investigation of material behavior spanning the atomic and microscopic scales. A specific area of my interest is in coupling tools, including molecular dynamics, ab initio methods, and finite element analysis to analyze materials in a multiscale framework.

Multiscale polymer analysis

I am currently exploring coarse-graining and homogenization techniques to study the energy absorption and dynamic performance of polyurea.


Multiscale models of polyurea spanning molecular dynamics simulations, coarse-grained molecular dynamics, and micromechanics of polyurea composites (fibers and inclusions).

Modeling dislocations in complex systems

My PhD thesis is based on modeling dislocations in complex nanostructures and layered materials with the eXtended Finite Element Method (XFEM).


Examples of dislocation simulations: (clockwise from top right) stress contours around a dislocation loop, stress magnitude in a quantum dot, quantum dot geometry, energy density of a quantum dot.

This research was selected for inclusion in the 22nd Annual Robert J. Melosh Competition for the Best Student Paper in Finite Element Analysis.

Multiscale methods and simulation

I am working on extending the multiscale aggregating discontinuities method (MAD) from a multiscale continuum method to a multiscale atomistic-to-continuum method.


Coupled atomistic-to-continuum simulation of a crack in a graphene sheet.

Atomic slip in a sheared sample containing nano-sized void.
Click on image for movie (4.7 MB).

Sandia National Laboratories

intern

I am working with researchers at Sandia to develop finite temperature constitutive models based on atomistic potentials using a modified quasi-harmonic Cauchy-Born approximation for a thermoelastic coupled atomistic-to-continuum simulation.

J&J Technical Solutions, Inc
National Aeronautics and Space Administration

consultant, research engineer, intern

I have been working with the structral seals and thermal barriers group at NASA Glenn Research Center for 11 years under internships, graduate research, and consulting. During this time I have worked to develop new docking and berthing seals for NASA's next generation fleet of space vehicles, including Orion, as well as research high temperature seal preload devices for hypersonic engines and re-entry vehicles, and have created several data acquisition and control systems for turbine and compressor seal test rigs for jet engine applications.

Link to my NASA Technical Memoranda

Previous Research

Case Western Reserve University

Research assistant (master's degree)

My master's research topic was the analysis of high temperature structural seal preload devices for re-entry and hypersonic vehicles.
read my Master's thesis (9.7 MB)

Finite element model of the unit cell of a knitted spring tube
used to preload the main landing gear door in the space shuttle.