Some New Developments in Mechanics and Structures

Monday, March 31, 2014 - 11:00 a.m. to Tuesday, April 1, 2014 - 11:55 a.m.
Engineering Gateway 3161

 

Civil Engineering Seminar

Some New Developments in Mechanics and Structures

 
Presented By: Ken P. Chong,
Ph.D., PE, F.ASME, Hon.M.ASCE, NIST Associate
Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
George Washington University
 

Abstract:

Nanotechnology is a very efficient way in the creation of new materials, devices, sensors and systems at the molecular level. Led by NSF over the past decade, converging interdisciplinary areas of nanotechnology, biotechnology, information technology, and cognitive science offer the potential of improving human lives as well as society well-being and productivity. Smart materials on the other hand have also seen new advances in terms of sensing, robustness, miniaturization, actuating, control, disaster mitigation, and other areas. Mechanics and multi-scale modeling are essential to scale up from nano to macro system levels. The father of biomolecular mechanics simulation, Prof. Martin Karplus of Harvard, got the Nobel Prize in 2013 citing contributions in multi-scale modeling mechanics. Simulation and computational mechanics have become mainstream research areas. An example of the Simulation-based Engineering Science is the Materials Genome Initiative for Global Competitiveness announced by the President in 2011, indicating that "Fundamental databases and (computational) tools enabling reduction of the 10-20 year materials creation and deployment cycle by 50% or more." Finally, cloaks consisting of metamaterials placed in front of critical infrastructures are able to redirect the seismic or other waves away from the structure, mitigating any disturbance or damages. Mechanics is the common thread among these interdisciplinary areas. Research and challenges in emerging frontiers, non-linear mechanics, smart materials, intelligent structures and related areas are to be presented. The models are calibrated on industrial data. Minimum volume requirements and capacities for ports and landside channels are considered. The results are analyzed, and are used to describe the mix of supply-chain strategies utilized by various types of importers and the consequent trends in import flows by port and landside channel. Policy recommendations for governments, transportation and logistics service providers, and importers are also provided. (Joint work with Rob Leachman at U.C. Berkeley)

 
Bio:

Ken P. ChongP.E. was the Engineering Advisor and Director of Mechanics and Materials for the past 21 years at the National Science Foundation (NSF). Currently he is associated with NIST and the George Washington University as a Research Professor, finishing an Elasticity text book, editing a Taylor & Francis journal, a Spon book series, doing lectures and research, serving on university advisory boards, mentoring young professors and graduate students, etc. He earned his Ph.D. in Mechanics from Princeton University. He specializes in solid-mechanics/materials, nano-mechanics, and structural mechanics. At NSF he has been involved in the development of civil infrastructure systems, model-based simulation, durability, life-cycle engineering, nano science and engineering, and other initiatives. Prior to joining NSF, he was a professor for 15 years during which he pioneered the R&D of sandwich-panels in buildingsystems; developed new semi-circular fracture specimens for brittle materials; worked on sweet spots of tennis rackets, mechanics of oil shale, computational mechanics and other projects. He has published 200 technical papers and  authored several books. He has given more than 50 keynote lectures, received awards including the fellow of AAM, ASME, SEM, USACM and ASCE; Edmund Friedman Professional-Recognition Award; Honorary Doctorate, Shanghai University; Distinguished Member, ASCE; NCKU Distinguished Alumnus Award; ASME Ted Belytschko Mechanics Award, and the NSF highest Distinguished Service Award. He has been a visiting professor at MIT, U. of Washington – Seattle, Tsinghua U.; honorary professor at HKU, HK PolyU, SHU and others. Currently he is assisting the Hong Kong Research Grants Council and University Grants Council as a panelist. He delivered the Mindlin Lecture at Columbia University in 2005, the Sadowsky Lecture at RPI in 2006 and the Raouf Lecture at the US Naval Academy in 2012.