Sooner Racing Team Begins Thousands Strong Campaign!

Sooner Racing Team has kicked off their Thousands Strong Campaign to raise money for the competition this year in Las Vegas! Help them reach their goal of $7,500 before their campaign ends on June 18.

The Sooner Racing Team is an OU student organization that designs, builds, tests, and races an open-wheel, formula-style race car. Each year, they compete against teams from around the world. SRT wants to take their 2021 car to the Formula SAE (Society of Automotive Engineers) competition in Las Vegas, Nevada, but we need your help getting there!

Formula SAE competitions provide an invaluable professional experience for our team members. We learn hands-on skills and have the opportunity to network with businesses in the automotive field as well as with students from over 600 other universities around the world. During this past school year, and during the COVID-19 pandemic, our team has been hard at work designing and manufacturing our 2021 car, but we need your financial support to get it to the competition. Your donations will help cover travel costs to get us on the road, and if we exceed our goal of $7,500, extra funds will be put towards purchasing new sets of racing tires and carbon fiber.

“Please help spread the word about our campaign by sharing the link with your friends and family via social media! We cannot compete to the highest of our ability without the support of our amazing OU friends and family!”

Donate Here: https://thousandsstrong.ou.edu/project/26136

Aerospace Seniors Achieve Perfect 4.0

Join us in honoring David Dowdell and Thomas Nilles, two Aerospace Engineering students who are graduating with an overall 4.0 grade-point average. These outstanding students have never received less than an “A” in any of their courses. On May 4th, they were honored by President Harroz at a ceremony for their accomplishments.

David Dowdell’s favorite part of AME at OU is the small class sizes; being able to get to know his classmates. Dowdell majored in Aerospace engineering because he wanted to study engineering and believed aerospace to be the most exciting option.

“As far as strategies for success go,” Dowdell said, “I think what helped me the most was trying to get every assignment done early if possible. Even it wasn’t possible, the extra time I’d spend thinking about it usually helped me understand it.”

His plans after graduation are to start working for Northrop Grumman in Palmdale, CA in August.

The first piece of advice he’d give to any student is, “to avoid procrastinating.” Dowdell says, “The second is to be willing to learn more than just what the classes teach. Engineering requires it.”

Thomas Nilles says, “the engineering projects are [his] favorite part of AME here at OU. Almost every engineering course [he’s] taken has had a project associated with it. They are stressful, but they are also fun and rewarding.”

As a kid, Nilles loved to play with Legos. He thinks that is what fostered his development as both a creative person and a builder. Flight was always mysterious and magical to Nilles. His desire to understand what makes aircraft fly really cemented his desire to be an aerospace engineer.

Nilles said, his, “calculator and 5-hour energy helped [him].” Far more important than those things, he says, are the people who helped him. He has had, “so many great professors here at OU that have been as invested in [his] success as [he’s] been.” Nilles appreciates that they go above and beyond for their students. He says his “dad has also been a huge part of [his] success.” He is not only his dad but also his friend and mentor. He has been there for Nilles in the toughest times. Nilles says he, “could not have succeeded here at OU without him.” Finally, he says he owes a great deal to his daughter who has been a constant source of joy in his life. She keeps him grounded and he loves her so much.

Nilles says for him, “it’s time to start building.” He’s had a lot of fun here at OU, but he looks forward to getting back to work. He said he’s, “keeping [his] fingers crossed for the right job to come along soon.”

“[His] advice for other students is to get into the right mindset. You are not here to get A’s. You are not here to get a degree. You are not here to get paid the big bucks someday. You are here to get an education. Education is a team sport so be a team player. Work with your professors, not against them. Help your classmates when you can. Get involved in the competition teams and take some friends with you to the meetings.”

AME Honors Student Award Recipients

The recipients of the Outstanding Student Awards and Graduate Student Awards were honored at the annual award ceremony on April 20th for their hard work and dedication during the 2020-2021 school year. Congratulations to these outstanding students for their achievements!

Top row left to right: Javad Asadi, Md Tanvir Ahad, Joshua Overcash, Benjamin Basden, Christopher Billings, Brenden Chenoweth, and Simon Dempsey.  Bottom row left to right: Roshan Sameer Annam, Anirban Mondal, Emmanuel Hakizimana, Christian Newkirk, Avinash Singh Nayal, Megan Fox, and Lydia England.

 

Outstanding Student Awards

The Outstanding Student Awards include seniors Benjamin Basden and Simon Dempsey, juniors Megan Fox and Joshua Overcash, and sophomores Lydia England and Christian Newkirk.

      Outstanding Senior in Mechanical Engineering: Benjamin Basden

“I’m studying mechanical engineering because I enjoy problem-solving. I started as a little kid working on mechanical components, and getting to OU and working on the Sooner Off-Road team, I have confirmed my love for engineering. After graduation, I will be working at John Zink Hamworthy Combustion in Tulsa, OK.”

         Outstanding Senior in Aerospace Engineering: Simon Dempsey

“I am studying aerospace engineering because I have been fascinated by flight since a very young age. I am excited to join the ranks of a new generation of aerospace engineers seeking to pursue new forms of cleaner air travel, expand humanity’s reach into space, and tackle a whole host of challenging issues. In order to better prepare myself, I will be pursuing a master’s in aerospace engineering after graduation at either Purdue or the University of Illinois.”

     Outstanding Junior in Aerospace Engineering: Megan Fox
“I’m studying Aerospace Engineering because of its wide range of applications. From drones that help in reforestation to helicopters that fly on Mars, there is always something new to build and discover in this field. Studying all of the different mechanisms that contribute to flight has been one of the most humbling and rewarding experiences.”
   Outstanding Junior in Mechanical Engineering: Joshua Overcash
Joshua Overcash is studying mechanical engineering because he enjoys problem-solving and learning about the laws and principles that govern the world around him. He appreciates the challenging coursework and looks forward to using his degree to make a difference.
Outstanding Sophomore in Aerospace Engineering: Lydia England
“Space has always fascinated me. I love the excitement of discovery and creativity that is ever-present in the STEM field and the experimental and analytical aspects of engineering. Several times, I have set my alarm for the middle of the night to wake up and watch live streams of the critical moments of NASA or SpaceX missions, like spacecraft launches and the final moments of the Cassini mission. I am thrilled to be pursuing a career in Aerospace Engineering. In recent history, we looked to the heavens and found that they were within our reach. I hope to be a part of reviving our excitement to explore beyond this world, to pursue personal and scientific growth to the limits of my imagination and capability, and to inspire and educate others to do the same.”
Outstanding Sophomore in Mechanical Engineering: Christian Newkirk

“I’m studying mechanical engineering because of my interest in math and physics. One day I hope to work in the space industry and design space flight systems.”

 

Graduate Student Awards

Marathon Oil Scholarship:

Christopher Billings

 

John E. Francis Scholarship:

Avinash Singh Nayal

Md Tanvir Ahad

 

Jim and Bee Close Scholarship:

Emmanuel Hakizimana

Anirban Mondal

Mohammad Naghashnejad

Fatema Tarannum

Javad Asadi

Parisa Marashizadeh

Roshan Sameer Annam

Avinash Singh Nayal

 

Frank Chuck Mechanical Engineering Scholarship:

Mohammad Abshirini

 

AME Alumni Highlights: Alex Bryant and Dr. Levent Aktas

AME is delighted to have such talented Alumni who continue to make us proud after graduation. This month, we’re highlighting Dr. Levent Aktas, who received his Masters and Ph.D. from AME in 2002 and 2008 respectively, and Alex Bryant, who received his undergraduate aerospace degree in 2019 and master’s degree in 2020.

Levent Aktas, PhD

Current Position: Materials and Processes Lead Engineer at Boeing

Undergraduate and Graduate Experience:
BS, Middle East Technical University, 2001
MS, University of Oklahoma, 2002
Ph.D., University of Oklahoma, 2008

As a Technical Lead Engineer at Boeing, I am responsible for maintaining materials and process specs, making sure appropriate processes are followed during the fabrication of composites, and qualification of all metal bond and composite aircraft components used in a multitude of platforms.

My graduate degree equipped me with a deeper knowledge of composites that separates me from other engineers in my company. In addition to specific technical skills, graduate studies equipped me with technical writing skills and communication skills that help me every day.

aktas@ou.edu

Alex Bryant

Current Position: Aeronautical Engineer, Lockheed Martin Aeronautics

I have been working as an aircraft performance engineer during most of my time here at Lockheed. I have also had the opportunity to travel with the Stability & Control team for wind tunnel testing for several programs. In the next six months, I will be transitioning into a role on the conceptual design team within Lockheed’s Advanced Development Programs.

I was the aerodynamics lead for the aerospace capstone class Design-Build-Fly (DBF) team as a senior. Helped lead an underclassman aircraft construction project as a junior.

I specialized in aerodynamics for my Master’s Degree and took classes in advanced aerodynamics, composites, and computational fluid dynamics. My Master’s thesis topic was using a combination of experimental measurements and CFD to create a high fidelity propeller thrust model for use in US Navy UAVs.

My Master’s degree served me well in several ways. Teaching a wind tunnel lab section helped mold me into a better teacher, which, in addition to rehashing important material from undergrad, will serve me well when mentoring younger engineers someday. The advanced classes I took in aerodynamics and CFD have helped me in my current role within flight sciences. My thesis project forced me to put together my own schedule for research and testing and forced me to lean upon a broad base of knowledge from undergraduate courses. All of these experiences have helped mold me into a well-rounded engineer at Lockheed.

I would be lying if I said some of my favorite memories weren’t sports-related. I may be a nerd’s nerd, but I’m a sports junkie at heart. The countless OU football home games with Baker Mayfield, Kyler Murray, etc., watching OU softball win a national championship in person, I was spoiled as a sports fan. Some of my other favorite memories were the little things you don’t even realize you miss until much later, whether it’s getting donuts at 3AM or playing videogames until dawn with your roommates, the various projects that brought their fair share of frustration and elation, or just the general helter-skelter chaos of being on your own for the first time as a freshman. I’d do it all again (well, most of it, maybe not finals).

alexander.bryant@alumni.ou.edu

Dr. Gan Receives George Lynn Cross Research Professorship

Rong Zhu Gan

Dr. Rong Gan has received the George Lynn Cross Research Professorship, the highest research and creative activity honor given by the University to a faculty member who has demonstrated outstanding leadership over a period of years in his or her field of learning or creative activity. Join us in honoring Dr. Gan for this remarkable achievement!

Dr. Gan came to OU in 1999 after serving as the Director of Biomedical Engineering at Hough Ear Institute in Oklahoma City and has been a part of AME since. She says this is because of her strong foundation here at AME. She has a “good connection with the Health Science Center and the Norman Campus.” Dr. Gan said she also has a lot of support here from her mentors, the University, and the “excellent students.”

“No matter what kind of student, no matter their background,” Dr. Gan says, “you have to pay attention to them and guide them.” You have to, “know how to mentor them because they are so important to research.” Dr. Gan wants students to be motivated for their future because the future is, “totally in their hands.”

Dr. Gan says the George Lynn Cross Research Professorship is a huge recognition of accomplishment for her research and education, two things, Dr. Gan says, “are connected and can’t be separated.” She says researchers must-have, “100% confidence in their original area, but have to look for a new direction because there must be innovation to solve the problem.” Dr. Gan’s advice for researchers is to seek innovation, collaboration, and for them to publish their work. She says for people to, “always keep good motivation and to work hard,” for the benefit of future generations.

See the article below for more information about Dr. Gan’s research and awards:

With her strong background in biomechanics and implantable devices, Dr. Gan has developed a truly transformational, well-funded research program at OU in Biomechanics for Protection and Restoration of Hearing, including implantable hearing devices, dynamic properties of ear tissues, auditory function tests, and computational modeling of sound and blast wave transmission through the ear.

As PI for all of her funded research projects, Dr. Gan has built an exceptionally strong research group that simultaneously conducts physical experiments in animals and human cadavers as well as foundational 3D computational modeling of human and animal ears.

The ability to carry out all these research activities covering both basic and applied research, instrumentation, data acquisition, theoretical modeling, and device design and testing in one lab is Dr. Gan’s research strength. She uses biomechanics systems approaches as fundamental methods with the goal to develop innovative technologies for measuring sound or blast wave transmission through the ear and the 3D physics-based computational model of the human ear for an understanding of hearing and protection mechanisms, improving diagnosis of middle ear diseases, and serving as a tool for the design and evaluation of implantable hearing devices and hearing protection devices.

Dr. Gan’s research work has been mainly funded by highly competitive grants from Federal and State government agencies such as the DOD, NIH, NSF, OCAST, and the Whitaker Foundation. Particularly in recent years, Dr. Gan’s research activities have been extended into new areas of biomechanical modeling and measurement of blast injury and hearing protection mechanisms for U.S. military priority research. This innovative development is based on original concepts of normal sound transmission through the ear and stimulated by Dr. Gan’s scholarship in the areas of measurements in human cadaver and animal ears and the finite element modeling of sound transmission through the ear.

Dr. Gan’s research has resulted in numerous publications and led to breakthroughs in implantable devices, computational modeling, and therapeutics for hearing restoration with 4 patents (two pending approval). She is a world-class researcher, a truly exceptional scholar, and among the very best educators we have at the University of Oklahoma. Her research has a direct impact on human health in terms of restoring hearing and improving the quality of life for the 38 million Americans with hearing impairment and providing hearing protection for military personnel. The George Lynn Cross Research Professorship award is a recognition of her superb research productivity and remarkable contributions to biomedical engineering research and education at the University of Oklahoma.

Click here to find the Norman Campus Faculty Tribute Award article written about Dr. Gan.

Parisa Marashizadeh Receives Nancy Mergler and Bullard Dissertation Completion Fellowship

AME is proud to share that Parisa Marashizadeh, a Ph.D. candidate in Mechanical Engineering, has received the Nancy Mergler and Bullard Dissertation Completion Fellowship! This fellowship is awarded to doctoral candidates who are in the final phases of dissertation writing.

Marashizadeh is originally from Iran, where she received her master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from the Polytechnic University in Tehran in 2015. She started her Ph.D. program here at OU in 2017 where she began work with Dr. Yingtao Liu in multi-scale modeling of hybrid fiber composites.

Her work as a graduate teaching assistant at AME, “helped [her] to gain teaching skills essential to [her] academic career.” Marashizadeh also enjoys, “working with the kind and supportive staff, faculty members, and students.”

During her research, she has evaluated the interfacial properties of ZnO nanowires hybrid fiber-reinforced composite structures numerically at multiple length scales. The applications of fiber-reinforced composites have increased significantly in different engineering fields due to their outstanding properties, such as lightweight and high strength. For example, 50% of the Boeing 787 Dreamliner is made of fiber composites. The strength and toughness of composites greatly depend on the fiber-matrix adhesion (interface) properties through multiple length scales.

“With the [Nancy Mergler and Bullard Dissertation Completion Fellowship],” Marashizadeh says, “she has time in the last semester to, dedicate to completing [her] dissertation.” She says, “every Ph.D. student struggles with the last semester, it’s difficult to complete your dissertation, prepare your defense plan, and look for a PostDoc position.” She’s very grateful for the award and would like to thank Dr. Liu for supporting her. Marashizadeh plans to receive her Ph.D. in the Spring of 2022,  and afterward, she hopes to find a PostDoc position.

Marashizadeh’s advice to students is to, “fall in love with what you are doing and try your best because each of us can do a lot we just need to be focused and try.”

Below is a full summary of Marashizadeh’s research importance and accomplishments. Congratulations Parisa!

The applications of fiber-reinforced composites have increased significantly in different engineering fields due to their outstanding properties, such as lightweight and high strength. For example, 50% of the Boeing 787 Dreamliner is made of fiber composites. The strength and toughness of composites greatly depend on the fiber-matrix adhesion (interface) properties through multiple length scales. One novel approach to enhance the fiber/polymer adhesion properties is growing Zinc Oxide (ZnO) nanowires on the fiber surface. It is very critical for industrial companies to evaluate the impact of hybrid composites on the performance of the structures before considering them for production. However, due to the complexity of the theoretical and experimental analysis of such a hybrid structure, especially the nanomaterials, numerical analysis is required to understand this system’s efficiency on the performance of the composite.

In this research work, a numerical approach is developed to evaluate the enhanced properties of the hybrid composite structures by breaking the complicated system into multiple levels and investigate the properties of each level separately. There are four different length scales in the hybrid composites, which can be summarized as (a) ZnO nanowires with various diameters and lengths at the nano-scale, (b) the intermediate composition in which ZnO nanowires are grown on the fiber and embedded in the matrix (micro-scale), (c) the adhesion bonding between the fiber and the matrix (meso-scale), (d) the overall properties of the hybrid composite, the related failure analysis and performance of the structure at different loading conditions (macro-scale). Each of the mentioned length scales has its specific theories and properties that should be explored to evaluate the hybrid structure’s performance. Multi-scale modeling is developed in my research to make a bridge between the analysis at different scales to estimate the general behavior of structures containing materials at different length scales. The overall goal of multi-scale modeling techniques for hybrid composites is to combine the mechanical theories at different length scales and understand their static and dynamic behaviors under various loads and environmental conditions.

The dissertation elements and the completion plan is based on the steps in the multi-scale approach. According to the research plan, the dissertation is categorized into two main parts. The first part, which covers around 60% of the total dissertation, consists of the micro-scale, meso-scale, and macro-scale analysis. These three parts are completed, and the results are published in three journal articles and two conference papers.

The second part weighing around 40% of the dissertation, is based on the atomistic modeling and analysis of the hybrid composite materials. According to Marashizadeh’s research plan, the nano-scale analysis itself is divided into two sections. In the first part, the atomic structure of a single ZnO nanowire, polymer matrix chain, and Carbon fiber is simulated. The materials are assembled, and Molecular Dynamics (MD) simulation is employed to evaluate the adhesion strength between graphene and the matrix. This analysis part is completed, and a journal article has been prepared based on the obtained results. The article has been submitted and is under review. In the second part of the nano-scale section, the effect of multiple ZnO nanowires’ diameters and lengths on improving the interfacial adhesion between fiber and enhancement layer are being explored. She plans to complete this section by July 2021 and prepare another journal paper based on the outcome. Then, Marashizadeh will combine all the numerical analyses performed at different levels and develop a multi-scale framework to report the impact of grown ZnO nanowires on the properties of the hybrid composites.

 

Dr. Aman Satija Gives Seminar Over Development and Application of Laser Spectroscopy for Gas-Phase Diagnostics

Last Friday, Dr. Aman Satija gave a seminar over, “Development and Application of Laser Spectroscopy for Gas-Phase Diagnostics.” Dr. Satija is a Research Engineer at the Applied Laser Spectroscopy Lab at Purdue University.

Abstract: Laser diagnostics are employed in combustion and propulsion research due to their non-intrusiveness to the flow field, high-accuracy, and fast response time. Laser based techniques are used for measuring important flow parameters such as temperature, pressure, velocity and species concentration. Some laser methods, based on linear optical processes, such as absorption spectroscopy and particle image velocimetry have matured to an extent that they are commercially available and are being actively used in the industry. In this seminar, Dr. Satija will provide a survey of his research in quantitative non-linear spectroscopic methods and high-repetition rate diagnostics. He will: a) discuss the similarities and differences between various types of nanosecond coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering (CARS) methods along with some applications b) present recent developments in chirped-probe-pulse femtosecond CARS for 5 kHz thermometry c) describe the principle of polarization spectroscopy and present its application towards measurement of minor species in reacting flows d) discuss progress of high-average power high-repetition lasers and present examples of high-repetition rate diagnostics in turbulent atmospheric and high- pressure combustion and e) comment on the challenges and opportunities of quantum modeling of nonlinear light-matter interaction in context of atoms and small molecules.

Bio: Aman Satija is currently a research engineer at the Applied Laser Spectroscopy Lab at Purdue University. His research interests include spectroscopy, photonics, combustion and fluid mechanics. His expertise is in the development of laser-based techniques and tools and their application to gas-phase environments. He has applied linear and non-linear spectroscopic techniques in a variety of applications including laminar flames, turbulent flames and plasmas. Aman received B.E in Mechanical Engineering from the Army Institute of Technology, Pune University in 2002, M. Sc. in Aerospace Engineering from Auburn University in 2007 and Ph. D. in Mechanical Engineering from Purdue University in 2013.

Dr. Zhengwei Li Gives Seminar Over Advanced Manufacturing of Emerging Bioinspired Systems: From 3D Curvy Electronics to Living Machines

On Wednesday, we heard from Dr. Zhengwei Li, a Postdoctoral Fellow for Bio-Integrated Electronics at Northwestern University. He gave a seminar over, “Advanced Manufacturing of Emerging Bioinspired Systems: From 3D Curvy Electronics to Living Machines.”

Abstract: Grand challenges facing human society in the 21st century mostly emerge at the interface between human and machines. To efficiently tackle these challenges, the development of future real-world technologies will depend strongly on our understanding of the principles underlying living systems and utilizing these capabilities in forward design of synthetic systems. In this talk, I will present our recent experimental and theoretical studies on emerging bioinspired systems including, Design and Manufacturing of, 1) Artificial Compound Eye Camera, 2) Arbitrary 3D Curvy Electronics, 3) Biohybrid Valveless Pump-bots and 4) Pump-bots with Flow Loop Feedback powered by engineered skeletal muscle. Underlying mechanics theories, design and fabrication approaches, potential biomedical applications, and the future of biohybrid designs will be discussed. The successful investigation of these systems will not only boost our capability in developing new materials, devices and robotics that possess unprecedented functions and capabilities, but also inspire new technology development for applications toward solving real world problems in health, medicine and robotics.

Bio: Dr. Zhengwei Li is currently a postdoctoral fellow, working with Prof. John A. Rogers in the Center for Bio-Integrated Electronics at Northwestern University, where he works on the wireless electronics manufacturing for healthcare applications. He also had previous postdoctoral research experience in biomanufacturing, working with Prof. Taher Saif in the Department of Mechanical Science and Engineering at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Dr. Li received his Ph.D. degree in Mechanical Engineering in May 2017 from University of Colorado Boulder, where he won the Outstanding Dissertation Award (one recipient each year across all different engineering disciplines). His primary research interests includes design and fabrication of biohybrid robotics (“Bio-bots”), 3D curvy electronics and soft functional materials.

AME Alumni Highlights: Dr. Ozgur Pulat and Victor Tran

AME is delighted to have such talented Alumni who continue to make us proud after graduation. This month, we’re highlighting Dr. Ozgur Pulat, who graduated with his Ph.D. from OU in 2007, and Victor Tran, who received his undergraduate and graduate degree from OU.

Ozgur Pulat, PhD

Current Position:  Engineering Manager, Projects
Business Line:  Subsea Production Systems
Group:  Control Systems
Company:  Schlumberger
Location:  Celle, Germany

I manage a team of Lead Engineers who deliver subsea production control systems to oil companies like BP, Chevron, Total, etc.  My career began in February of 2007 after I graduated from OU with my Ph.D.  I started as a design engineer in new product development, then led an emerging technology project to develop a production reservoir power generation device for completion systems.  I earned two US patents from this work and moved on to become a team leader, then a project manager, and now an engineering manager.  During my career, I have always emphasized proficiency in both technical skills and maintaining strong people skills.  I believe this is what has allowed me to grow in my career and find success in the various positions I have held. During my undergraduate years at OU, I became very fond of learning and research.  I spent 2 years as an undergraduate research assistant for Dr. Sutton working on the OU supergas product researching alternative fuels.  My love for Fluid Mechanics was found during my first course with Dr. Parthasarathy and grew into my research focus for my Ph.D.  Along the way, I made many friends with whom I still speak today.  I was also involved in the Engineering Club and the Formula Team.

During graduate school, I graciously accepted a GAANN fellowship working on research topics in the area of energy.  My fellowship led me to teach multiple courses like Engineering Dynamics, Fluid Thermal Lab, Fluid Mechanics Lab, and Solid Mechanics Lab.  I believe this is where my passion for teaching and leading first began.  This experience gave me the confidence to know that I could lead and teach people.  This confidence has brought me to where I am today.

One of my favorite memories as an OU student was attending the football games and the Engineers weeks that we used to celebrate.  All the fun culminated in the “Fluid Mechanics Lab” where we would celebrate with our fellow students and teachers.  It really was a great experience.

My graduate degree has really helped me in my career progression.  Working on a graduate research topic required me to learn how to take a complex problem, break it down into smaller problems, and educate myself on the topic.  Additionally, it taught me how to regularly communicate progress to my stakeholders, and communicate confidence in my progress and results.  All of these key lessons have served me very well in my career where I am constantly challenged with new topics that I may not know anything about technology.  Additionally, my graduate degree has given me a profile within my company where people know that I have these skills as I have been able to conduct independent research during my graduate education.  This gives people the confidence in knowing I have the right profile to be trusted with complex problems that are of high priority to my organization.

obbypulat@gmail.com

Victor Tran
Current Position: ISS Flight Controller

Undergraduate and Graduate Experience: BS and MS in Aerospace Engineering.

I started out as an engineer in Flight Test for Boeing. After a couple of years, I transitioned to my current job here at NASA at the Johnson Space Center, where I’ve been for the last six years. In my current role, I support real-time operations in the Mission Control Center (MCC) and mission planning for the International Space Station (ISS) program.

There are a lot of people that can be an expert in something, but not many can clearly and efficiently communicate their thoughts and ideas. My experiences in obtaining my master’s degree allowed me to further develop my critical thinking and communication skills. This has helped me throughout my career, as I’ve built upon these skills, to ensure mission success for any projects I’ve worked on or lead. This has provided me with more opportunities for growth professionally and personally.

One of my favorite memories at OU is getting Sam Bradford’s autograph my freshman year in the South Oval.

Learning doesn’t end when you are done with school. Always be driven to continue to learn and apply that knowledge to the improvement of your team and yourself. And no matter what task you’re given, give it your best effort and be open to feedback.

victor.h.tran@nasa.gov

Dr. Bin Xu Gives Seminar Over Physics-based/ Data-driven Diesel Engine Waste Heat Recovery and Hybrid Vehicle Propulsion System Energy Management for Fuel Efficiency Improvement

Dr. Bin Xu, a Research Assistant Professor for the Department of Automotive Engineering at Clemson University, gave a seminar on Monday, March 8 over “Physics-based/ Data-driven Diesel Engine Waste Heat Recovery and Hybrid Vehicle Propulsion System Energy Management for Fuel Efficiency Improvement.”

Abstract: For internal combustion engines, the engine efficiency is generally below 40% for gasoline engines and 50% for diesel engines. For a heavy-duty diesel engine, around 40-60% of energy is wasted as heat via exhaust gas, EGR cooler, and coolant. Waste heat recovery (WHR) techniques have the potential to achieve the fuel economy and emission reduction goals for its mature technology and high efficiency. Conventional modeling and power analysis in WHR system focus on static engine operating conditions, whereas engine experiences torque variation even at highway conditions. To overcome the research gaps in dynamic modeling, control and optimization over highly transient engine operating conditions, a series of systematic modeling, control, optimization and experimental validation work are conducted to understand the characteristics of the WHR system and maximize the waste energy recovery. According to dyno test result, 3% absolute break thermal efficiency improvement is achieved in a 13L diesel engine with the developed WHR system.

The automotive industry is in the pace of reforming from petroleum-dependent to renewable energy-dependent for better sustainability and environmental friendly goals. Hybrid Electric Vehicle (HEV) is the first step towards the propulsion system electrification. With a given vehicle hardware, one key factor affecting the fuel consumption is the energy management of the engine and the electric motor, which could lead to 20% fuel consumption variation. Conventional energy management strategies (EMS) are either rule-based or model-based. Rule-based EMS lacks optimization and leaves large room for fuel saving. Model-based EMS like model predictive control depends on reduced order models, which require long time to build for the complex vehicle propulsion system and sacrifice model accuracy for short computation time. Model- free reinforcement learning (RL) based EMS is proposed to address the optimization concern of rule-based methods and reduced order model development concern of model-based methods. Parametric study is conducted to interpret the RL state/ action/ reward selection and their impact on fuel economy, which is supported by value functions and policy maps. An ensemble RL framework is proposed to integrate RL with conventional EMS methods for better fuel economy. Moreover, two warm start methods are proposed to reduce the learning time of RL as much as 68%.

Bio: Bin Xu joined the Department of Automotive Engineering, Clemson University in March 2020 as a Research Assistant Professor. Prior to coming to Clemson, Dr. Xu was a Research Scientist at the Stanford University. Dr. Xu received his B.S. degree from Hunan University China in 2013, Ph.D. from Clemson University in 2017, both in Automotive Engineering. Dr. Xu’s research focus on propulsion system modeling and control, particularly in the areas of physics-based and data-driven modeling, control, and fuel efficiency optimization. Over the past 4 years, Dr. Xu has published 31 peer-reviewed articles including 13 first-authored journal articles and his research have been cited 337 times in Google Scholar. Dr. Xu is the Guest Editor of SAE International Journal of Electrified Vehicles and a Review Editor of Frontiers in Energy Research. Additionally, Dr. Xu serves as the reviewer for 10+ journals in energy and transportation fields, such as Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Applied Energy, and IEEE Transactions on Intelligent Transportation Systems.