University Of Southern California AME-USC_Spring 2009 : Page 2
message from the chair about Aerospace and Mechanical Engineers investigate problems and design solutions in physical systems that range in size from nanoscale fibers at 10-9 weather systems with characteristic length scales of 107 m. The AME department at USC is enjoying vigorous growth in new and exciting areas that illustrate these points. Recent faculty hires Eva Kanso (bio-inspired locomotion and transport processes), Andrea Hodge (micro-film synthesis of metals), Tait Potte- baum (micro fluidic controls) and Veronica Eliasson (shock wave – solid structure inter- actions) are all exploring fields that exploit novel combinations of talents. These researchers complement and expand upon existing strong points of fundamental fluid mechanics, metal and alloy properties, dynamical systems and combustion. In 21st century engineering, the success- ful researcher is not only able to synthe- size from and contribute to each of these approaches, but he or she must also be able to see across disciplinary lines, and over the fences of departmental and national borders. We do this in a collegial and forward-looking environment here in AME, and inside this newsletter, you will find brief glimpses of selected research topics that reflect these themes. We hope you enjoy the survey and look forward to providing the next update. Prof. Larry G. Redekopp Department of Aerospace & Mechanical Engineering Chair USC Entry in the 2009 AIAA Design-Build Fly Contest m to planetary The USC Department of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering The Aerospace and Mechanical Engineer- ing Department of the USC Viterbi School of Engineering played a storied role in the aerodynamics/fluid mechanics break- throughs produced in Southern California in the 1960s and 70s. This work continues unabated, augmented by more recent research thrusts in such areas as Exotic Metals Science and Combustion. Faculty working in fluid mechanics include TonyMaxworthy, a long-standingmember of the National Academy of Engineering renowned for his discoveries in complex flows (geophysical and two-phase flows, stability of interfaces, insect flight), and more recent arrivals like Eva Kanso and Tait Pottebaum. Faculty working in the Metals area include stalwarts like the much decorated Terence Langdon, recently named the most cited author in material sciences from 2005 to 2008, and Michael Kassner, a former department chair known internationally for his research in creep, fracture and fatigue. Andrea Hodge, a more recent arrival, is doing novel work in this area. Paul Ronney and Satwindar Sadhal, who won the Viterbi School’s outstanding teaching award for 2008, work in combus- tion. Fellow combustion group member Fokion Egolfopoulos was recently named editor-in-chief of Combustion and Flame. Firdaus Udwadia, an expert in nonlinear dynamical systems, won the 2008 Richard R. Torrens Award of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) for his distin- guished work as the editor-in-chief of the Journal of Aerospace Engineering. Roger ghanem won the Computational Structural Mechanics Award for 2009 awarded by the U.S. Association for Com- putational Mechanics. Ron Blackwelder won a 2008 USC-Mellon Mentoring Award for his work with under- graduates conducting research. Blackwelder is the faculty advisor for the USC Design/ Build/Fly team that took third place at this year’s American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics competition. Sina golsh- any won first place in the AIAA student air- craft design 2007-08 competition. From left to right: AE Freshmen Fly Their Gliders, King of the Hill Competition in ME and ME Freshmen Cook Up Spaghetti Bridges
Message From The Chair
Aerospace and Mechanical Engineers investigate problems and design solutions in physical systems that range in size from nanoscale fibers at 10-9 m to planetary weather systems with characteristic length scales of 107 m. The AME department at USC is enjoying vigorous growth in new and exciting areas that illustrate these points. Recent faculty hires Eva Kanso (bio-inspired locomotion and transport processes), Andrea Hodge (micro-film synthesis of metals), Tait Pottebaum (micro fluidic controls) and Veronica Eliasson (shock wave – solid structure interactions) are all exploring fields that exploit novel combinations of talents. These researchers complement and expand upon existing strong points of fundamental fluid mechanics, metal and alloy properties, dynamical systems and combustion.
In 21st century engineering, the successful researcher is not only able to synthesize from and contribute to each of these approaches, but he or she must also be able to see across disciplinary lines, and over the fences of departmental and national borders. We do this in a collegial and forward-looking environment here in AME, and inside this newsletter, you will find brief glimpses of selected research topics that reflect these themes. We hope you enjoy the survey and look forward to providing the next update.
Prof. Larry G. Redekopp Department of Aerospace & Mechanical Engineering Chair
The USC Department of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering
The Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering Department of the USC Viterbi School of Engineering played a storied role in the aerodynamics/fluid mechanics breakthroughs produced in Southern California in the 1960s and 70s. This work continues unabated, augmented by more recent research thrusts in such areas as Exotic Metals Science and Combustion.
Faculty working in fluid mechanics include Tony Maxworthy, a long-standing member of the National Academy of Engineering renowned for his discoveries in complex flows (geophysical and two-phase flows, stability of interfaces, insect flight), and more recent arrivals like Eva Kanso and Tait Pottebaum.
Faculty working in the Metals area include stalwarts like the much decorated Terence Langdon, recently named the most cited author in material sciences from 2005 to 2008, and Michael Kassner, a former department chair known internationally for his research in creep, fracture and fatigue.
Andrea Hodge, a more recent arrival, is doing novel work in this area.
Paul Ronney and Satwindar Sadhal, who won the Viterbi School’s outstanding teaching award for 2008, work in combustion.
Fellow combustion group member Fokion Egolfopoulos was recently named editor-in-chief of Combustion and Flame.
Firdaus Udwadia, an expert in nonlinear dynamical systems, won the 2008 Richard
R. Torrens Award of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) for his distinguished work as the editor-in-chief of the Journal of Aerospace Engineering.
Roger Ghanem won the Computational Structural Mechanics Award for 2009 awarded by the U.S. Association for Computational Mechanics.
Ron Blackwelder won a 2008 USC-Mellon Mentoring Award for his work with undergraduates conducting research. Blackwelder is the faculty advisor for the USC Design/ Build/Fly team that took third place at this year’s American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics competition. Sina Golshany won first place in the AIAA student aircraft design 2007-08 competition.
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