School of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering

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The Sooner Racing Team Competition Results are in!

The Sooner Racing Team had a successful competition at Formula SAE Lincoln, an engineering design competition for undergraduate and graduate students. The team traveled to Lincoln, Nebraska from June 19-22 and exceeded their goals for the competition.

The Sooner Racing Team received 14th in the cost event, 14th in fuel efficiency, 22nd in endurance, 26th in acceleration, 29th in design, and a 10th place award for the quality of their engineering drawings. They finished the competition 33rd overall out of the 80 teams. Additionally, the team got through technical inspections in the first two days with only minor adjustments needed, completed all of the static and dynamic events, and finished the endurance race. Overall, the team is very happy with the results and the way the car came out this year.

Congratulations Sooner Racing Team! Click here to learn more information about the team.

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Student Research Spotlight: BBDL Member Sam Jett

The AME Student Research Spotlight this month is Sam Jett, a member of the Biomechanics and Biomaterials Design Lab (BBDL). Jett is a graduate student at the University of Oklahoma, working on his master’s degrees in mechanical engineering. Sam started out in the BBDL working on the biaxial testing project for heart valve leaflet tissue and is currently working to design a collagen imaging system that will integrate with the biaxial tester to study how dynamic loading affects collagen fiber orientation and alignment in biological tissues. In the lab, he enjoys exploring the biological imaging field, writing code to gain valuable insights from data, collaborating with other lab members, and exercising the freedom to work with teams to develop innovative solutions to research goals. Outside of school, Sam spends time walking his dog, reading, exercising, hanging out with his friends, and enjoying the occasional night out on the town. He hopes to work on biomedical device and software design and after completing his M.S. studies at OU.

Click here for more information about the BBDL.

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Student Research Spotlight: BBDL Member Colton Ross

The AME Student Research Spotlight this month is Colton Ross, a member of the Biomechanics and Biomaterials Design Lab (BBDL). Ross is a senior student studying mechanical engineering in the Accelerated BS/MS program. In the BBDL, Colton’s research involves mechanical characterizations of heart valve structures. Specifically, his research project involves analysis of the chordae tendineae of the atrioventricular heart valves. Upon completing his thesis and receiving his MS, Colton plans to pursue a Ph.D. to continue performing research in the field of biomedical engineering. In his future Ph.D. research and career (in either academia or industry), Colton wants to focus on the development and improvement of medical devices or limb prosthesis. Outside of his coursework and the BBDL, Colton enjoys playing guitar, going to concerts, and playing video games with his friends.

Click here for more information about the BBDL.

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Student Research Spotlight: BBDL Member Cortland Johns

The AME Student Research Spotlight this month is Cortland Johns, a member of the Biomechanics and Biomaterials Design Lab (BBDL). Johns is a junior pre-medicine student majoring in mechanical engineering at the University of Oklahoma. She is a national merit scholar from Bettendorf, Iowa. Cortland is currently working on the heart valve biaxial testing project, specifically assisting the data driven testing project. In the past, Cortland worked on the regional testing, layer testing, and Langendorff teams. Cortland is also a Fall 2018 MRF recipient. She is a member of the Tau Beta Pi and Pi Tau Sigma honor societies, and she is a certified pharmacy technician. Cortland plans to attend medical school and pursue a career in surgery.

Click here for more information about the BBDL.

Leave a comment Posted on by Margaret Cross Biomedical Engineering

Dr. Jay Humphrey Gives IBEST Lecture

As a part of the IBEST distinguished lecture series, Jay Humphrey, Ph.D., gave a lecture over the effects of hypertension and aging on central artery structure and function on April 29, 2019.

Abstract: Cardiovascular diseases continue to be responsible for significant morbidity and mortality, and hypertension and natural aging are key risk factors for such conditions. Hypertension and aging induce changes in the microstructure, and hence biomechanical properties and function, of the aortic wall, which in turn adversely affect the hemodynamics, leading to heart disease, renal disease, and stroke, among other sequelae. In this talk, we will quantify, compare, and model biomechanical effects of hypertension and aging in order to gain increased insight into the hemodynamic consequences. In particular, we will examine the use of diverse mouse models that permit consistent biomechanical phenotyping, including detailed comparisons of arterial stiffening in hypertension and aging, including an ultra-rare genetic cause of highly accelerated aging – Hutchinson Gilford Progeria Syndrome.

Biography: J.D. Humphrey received the Ph.D. in Engineering Science and Mechanics from The Georgia Institute of Technology and completed a post-doctoral fellowship in Medicine – Cardiovascular at the Johns Hopkins University. He is currently John C. Malone Professor and Chair of Biomedical Engineering at Yale University. His primary technical expertise is in vascular mechanics and mechanobiology, with particular interests in vascular aging, hypertension, aneurysms, and tissue engineering. He authored a graduate textbook (Cardiovascular Solid Mechanics) and co-authored both an undergraduate textbook (An Introduction to Biomechanics) and a short handbook (Style and Ethics of Communication in Science and Engineering). He also co-edited a research text (Cardiovascular Soft Tissue Mechanics), published chapters in 30+ other books or encyclopedias, and published over 285 archival journal papers. He served for a decade as founding co-editor-in-chief for the international journal Biomechanics and Modeling in Mechanobiology, which continues to have the highest impact factor in the field of biomechanics. He served for 12 years as a US representative to the World Council for Biomechanics and served previously as Chair of the US National Committee on Biomechanics. He is a Fellow of the American Institute of Medical and Biological Engineering and the American Society of Mechanical Engineers and is an elected member of the Connecticut Academy of Science and Engineering.

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AME Students Receive Awards at Undergraduate Research Day

Colton Ross, Daniel Tsai, and Cortland Johns won awards for their presentations at the Undergraduate Research Day on April 6, 2019.

They each spoke about their current research in biomedical engineering. Colton Ross won an Honors College Award for Most Outstanding Project Grand Prize, Daniel Tsai won an Honors College Award for Distinction in Undergraduate Research, and Cortland Johns received an Honorable Mention.

Congratulations to these outstanding students!

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AME Represented at Sooner Saturday

Graduate student Cortland Johns represented AME at Sooner Saturday on April 27, 2019. She spoke to future OU students about the School of Aerospace and Mechanical engineering.

Sooner Saturday is a recruiting event for juniors in high school and their parents. Cortland talked to students about her classes, her research in Dr. Lee’s lab, and her internship with MITRE this summer. She also answered questions about the differences between Mechanical and Aerospace engineering, the different competition teams, and how to apply for internships. Additionally, Cortland answered questions for students and parents about college in general, such as ways to be involved and how to manage your time.

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2019 Capstone Fair Results are in!

The school of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering held the annual capstone fair on May 2, 2019. Forty one mechanical engineering teams and eight aerospace projects participated in the fair.

Overall 1st Place (tie)

“Sooner Off-Road”: Matt Muhlinghause, Haley Ricks, Devin Prochniak

Overall 1st Place (tie)

“B-52 Spoiler Fixture Redesign”: Morgan Wolfe, Tyler Thibodeaux, Alexandra Arment, Roshan Mathews, Alex Mudd

Overall 2nd Place

“Setup to Evaluate Debris-Scrapper Ring Designs”: Courtney Holloway, Nicholas Son, Alexander Nagy, Abel Rivera, Haydn Kirkpatrick

Overall 3rd Place

“Vehicle Mast: Raising/Lowering Methods”: Michael Evans, Armahn Roozbeh, Austin Petit, Sarah Mailot, Luke Starks

Aerospace Winners Overall:

Overall 1st Place Aerospace

“Boomer Rocket Team Analysis Team”: Abby Roper, Ryan Gannon, Tanner Mann, Nick Cobb, Evelyn Webb, Shaik Zehad, Ben Shwaiko, Jordan Masterson

Overall 2nd Place Aerospace

“Boomer Rocket Team Manufacturing Team”: Nathan Cook, David Brown, Trevor Trevino, Joshua Hughes, Jalen Johnson, Levi Lunsford

Overall 3rd Place Aerospace

“Design Build Fly Aerodynamics Team”: Vann Wilkerson, Jake Ewing, Alex Bryant, Jen-On Fung

 

Category – Vehicle Design:

Vehicle Design 1stPlace

“Sooner Off-Road”: Matt Muhlinghause, Haley Ricks, Devin Prochniak

 Vehicle Design 2nd Place

“Sooner Racing Team”: Adam Flenniken, Ryan Cowdrey, Justin Porter, Jack Sartin

 

Category – Experimental and Testing:

Experimental and Testing 1st Place

“Setup to Evaluate Debris-Scrapper Ring Design”: Courtney Holloway, Nicholas Son, Alexander Nagy, Abel Rivera, Haydn Kirkpatrick

Experimental and Testing 2nd Place

 “Test Bench for ESP Seal Section Permeability”: Logan Vitello, Travis Wilbanks, Ifeanyi Ijioma, Marshall Thorpe, Logan Roys

Experimental and Testing 3rd Place

“Recording System for Animal Ocular Movement”: Spencer Gallucci, Shangru Wu, Venus Luong, Joshua McCraw

 

Category – Studies:

Studies 1st Place

 “B-52 Spoiler Fixture Design”:  Morgan Wolfe, Tyler Thibodeaux, Alexandra Arment, Roshan Mathews, Alex Mudd

Studies 2nd Place

 “Vehicle Mast: Raising/Lowering Methods”: Michael Evans, Armahn Roozbeh, Austin Petit, Sarah Mailot, Luke Starks

Studies 3rd Place

“Piezoelectric Sensors for HVAC Applications”: Joseph Nostrand, Ryan Perkins, Spencer Hinkle

Studies 4th Place

“FAA OSHA Compliant Climbing Methods for Human Safety”: Wesley Dale, Lauren Tangney, Brent Fenske, Jon Ballard

 

Category – Prototype Design:

Prototype Design 1st Place

“Gaming/Electronics Assist Equipment”: Pranav Mohan, Ashley Medice, Gerald Lance, David Carris

Prototype Design 2nd Place

“Robotic Arm System for Hospital Use”: Luis Donoso, Pum Mang, Tuan Vu, Aaron Vu

The Practical Engineering Award

 “Piezoelectric Sensors for HVAC Applications”: Joseph Nostrand, Ryan Perkins, Spencer Hinkle

 

Category – Presentation:

Presentation 1st Place

“Vehicle Mast: Load Analysis and Failure Modes”: Wesley Dale, Lauren Tangney, Brent Fenske, Jon Ballard

Presentation 2nd Place

“Setup to Conduct Permeation Experiments on Barriers”: Samuel Infanti, Katherine Faux, Karim Aznag, Austin McKee

Presentation 3rd Place

“3D Printing for Shape Memory Polymers”: Colton Ross, Ryan Bodlak, Luke Whitney, Wyatt Maney, Robert Beem

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Graduate Student Receives 2019 NSF GRF

Graduate student Devin Laurence was selected on April 8, 2019 to receive a 2019 National Science Foundation (NSF) Graduate Research Fellowship (GRF). Devin Laurence is a graduate student in the BBDL at the University of Oklahoma studying mechanical engineering.

Congratulations on this outstanding achievement, Devin!

 

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Student Research Spotlight: BBDL Member Robert Kunkel

The AME Student Research Spotlight this month is Robert Kunkel, a member of the Biomechanics and Biomaterials Design Lab (BBDL). Kunkel is pursuing his master’s degree in mechanical engineering. He conducts research as a part of the BBDL under Dr. Chung-Hao Lee. His primary focus is on the development of novel treatment devices for aneurysms in the brain. Outside of the lab, he plays ultimate frisbee with the OU Apes of Wrath team and participates on the manipulation sub-team of the Sooner Rover Team. Robert plans to graduate in May of 2019 and enter into an industry position where he can continue to apply mechanical engineering principles to the field of human medicine.

Click here to learn more about the BBDL.