Senior Mechanical Engineer

My entire career has been dedicated to the analysis and understanding of micromechanics problems with the aid of finite element modeling. From my college studies until my post doc studies (Fulbright Visiting Scholar at University of Illinois at Chicago <2003>, Research Associate at the University of Manitoba in Canada < 2006-to date> and Postdoc Fellow at University of South Carolina <2009-2010>), my research had been related to predict thermal-fracture behavior in metals. I work on problems in solid mechanics related with engineering materials and structures. Heat transfer, fluid mechanics, elasticity, plasticity, viscoplasticity, strain gradient plasticity, fracture and micromechanics are all relevant in my research. Two examples of ongoing research activities are efforts to extend plasticity theory to small scales and the development of a mechanics framework for assessing functionally graded thermal barrier coatings (FG-TBCs). My previous experience in finite element modeling of welding processes, Cohesive Zone Modeling to predict failure processes, and mechanical properties and local deformation of high strength multi-phase steels, anticipates pinpointing not only to predict the influence of the size effect but also to understand how failure evolves in solid bodies with an initial crack (or notch) subject to some external forces. Efforts are underway to analyze new experimental data, to make contact (comparisons) with dislocation modeling, and to apply the theory to problems of technological significance. As a current professor my duties are: undergraduate and postgraduate lecturing with a focus on mechanics and materials processing; advice students who are writing theses and dissertations; contribute to proposal writing and publish in peer-reviewed journals of high international rank; participate in curriculum development, contribute to the design & development of new courses and provide service to the department (includes administration duties), university and profession. To build and lead a team of graduate students in Ph.D research to predict thermal-fracture behavior is one of my main goals. I can teach courses at the Graduate and Undergraduate levels such as: Materials Engineering, Introductory Programming, Fluid Mechanics, Heat Transfer, Numerical Analysis using MATLAB and FORTRAN, Modeling of Materials Processing and Metallurgy of Welding. My research objectives are related with Finite element modeling (ABAQUS, COSMOS, SYSWELD and MICRESS codes) of materials processing and fracture mechanics. I have experience performing ABAQUS-FEM calculations using a strain gradient-dependent continuum plasticity model based on the storage of geometrically necessary Dislocations (GND) and an appropriate constitutive equation of the Voce type. During 1998-2000, I collaborated in an ECSC Steel RTD CECA 7210-PR-044 project under the supervision of Prof. Javier Gil Sevillano of CEIT-Spain. This project had the participation of IRSID (France), IEHK (Germany), Hoogovens (The Netherlands) and CEIT (Spain). From 2006 to date under the supervision of Prof. Norman Richards, I continue collaborating in the project “Repair of Gas Turbine Components” sponsored by the Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering Department at University of Manitoba, Bristol Aerospace Ltd. and Standard Aero Ltd. located in Winnipeg-Canada. From June 2009 to February 2010 under the supervision of Dr. Xiaomin Deng professor of the Mechanical Engineering Department at the University of South Carolina (U.S.A), I collaborated in the project Cohesive Zone Modeling (CZM) to predict failure processes. My interest is in line with the strategies for repair components and nuclear safety research. To analyze by integrated modeling and verify by materials characterization the microstructure evolution, the distribution and evolution of residual stresses, plastic strains, and dislocations during weld pool crystallization is one of my main goals. With access to the complete source code, new special purpose modules, i.e., for modeling silicon casting may easily be implemented. This applies, for instance, to modules computing dislocation density development and impurity tracking. I want to take advantage of the new Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) capability of ABAQUS v. 6.10 (June 2010) that allows performing virtual tests that more accurately predict real-world behavior of materials and product designs. Sub-goals are: •To initiate the development of coupled fluid flow-thermal–metallurgical–mechanical strategy that could be used to identify gas tungsten arc welding (GTAW) parameters that preserve the underlying substrate microstructure of gas turbine components during repair procedures. •The development of a 3-D FE fluid flow-thermal-metallurgical-mechanical model to generate weld profiles, and to analyze transient heat flow, thermal gradients, thermal cycles, microstructure evolution, residual stresses, plastic strains and dislocation evolution in Single Gas Tungsten Arc Welds. •To find relevant input to the modeling by quantifying the local dislocation density throughout a real welding specimen and its effect on the local mechanical properties of the material. •To find relevant input to the modeling by quantifying the distribution of impurities calculated with the ABAQUS Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) new capability. •To obtain statistical correlations between dimensions of solidification structures and dislocations related to the strain/temperature history for the material through the welding process. •To investigate the effect of grain size (dendrite arm spacing) on plastic strain and plastic strain gradient created during the welding process. •To develop a model capable of predicting the density and evolution of dislocations in the GTAW process using UMAT subroutine in ABAQUS® commercial finite element code. •To predict solidification structures via the Microstructure Evolution Simulation Software (MICRESS) not only to compare with those calculated in previous work but also to study the physical mechanism between dendrite secondary arm spacing and total dislocation density. •To clarify the link between solidification structures (micron-scale) and plastic strain gradients (meso-scale).

Scientist

North Bergen, NJ