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ME-EM
Alumni NewsBrief
June 2007
ME-EM NewsBrief, Vol. 3, No. 2,
For more news and information about our faculty, students,and staff - please visit our web site news pages:: Department News -- Research News -- Alumni News -- Student News
Greetings from William (Bill) W. Predebon, Chair, Department of Mechanical Engineering-Engineering Mechanics. For the latest news and information about our faculty, students, and staff please visit our web site at http://www.me.mtu.edu.
Upcoming Events
The ME-EM Department will again host a boat cruise on the Portage Canal during the 2007 MTU Alumni Reunion. If you are making plans to attend the Reunion, August 2-4, 2007, please set aside Thursday, August 2nd from 1 - 4 p.m. for this fun event. We promise to have you back in time for the Pasty Picnic. This complimentary cruise is reserved for ME-EM alumni and their families. Refreshments will be served. Please contact us at (906) 487-2551 or kagoulet@mtu.edu to reserve room on the cruise.
The following events are also planned during the 2007 Alumni Reunion:
The ME-EM Department will be announcing an initiative and dedicating the plaque honoring Emeriti and Distinguished Faculty on Friday, August 3, 2007 at 1:00 p.m. in room 203, the Engineering Learning Center. The plaque was donated by the Gordon A. Hellman family in his memory.
The ME-EM Department will be conducting lab tours in the ME-EM building including the research and teaching labs on Friday, August 3rd. Two tours are scheduled, one at 1:30 p.m. and the other at 2:35 p.m. No reservations are needed. Please gather in the lobby of the ME-EM building prior to the tour.
Alumni and Friends Accomplishments & Awards
Brent Burns (BSME '03) has accepted the position of assistant director of alumni relations at MTU, effective July 2nd. Burns was a systems integration engineer with General Dynamics Land Systems in Sterling Heights. He will work extensively with the new online alumni community, promoting membership in it and developing its capabilities as well as plan, execute and staff alumni events.
Timothy J. Hinds (MSME '83) an academic specialist in mechanical engineering at MSU, received a MSU Distinguished Academic Staff Award at the MSU annual university - wide Awards Convocation held on February 8, 2007.
Brigadier General Mitchell R. LeClaire (BSME '70) was a keynote speaker at a "Freedom Rally" in the Houghton Waterfront Park Saturday, May 19, following the 2007 Parade of Thanks.
John Leinonen (ME-EM External Advisory Board member) was inducted as a fellow of SAE International on Tuesday, March 17, 2007 at the SAE World Congress in Detroit.
Richard (BSME '56) and Bonnie Robbins, of Seattle, have created the Robbins Chairs of Sustainability, including a Chair in Sustainable Manufacturing and Design, a Chair in Sustainable Use of Materials, and a Chair in Sustainable Management of the Environment at MTU. A total of $6 million, the primary endowment for the chairs, has been committed through a charitable trust. In the interim, they have directed that the three chairs each be supported through a charitable trust. In the interim, they have directed that the three chairs each be supported through a $20,000 annual payment.
Adil Shafi (ME-EM External Advisory Board member) was elected to a two year term on the Automated Imaging Association Board of Directors at its annual Business Conference held Jan. 31st - Feb 2nd in Orlando, Florida.
Dr. Terry Woychowski (BSME '78), General Motor's Chief Engineer for Full-Size Trucks, spoke at the 2007 Noise and Vibration Conference and Exhibition May 16, in St. Charles, IL.
University News/Awards
Members of the Michigan Legislature held a hearing on higher education at Michigan Tech in May 2007. President Glenn Mroz testified before the Higher Education Subcommittee of the Michigan Senate Appropriations Committee telling them that "economic development is what has to happen in Michigan, and higher education is the essential ingredient." He informed the legislators that Michigan Tech is in the top 20 universities nationwide for the proportion of research supported by industry. "Involvement with industry keeps Michigan Tech in touch with what is going on in the real world of research and development," Mroz explained. Read more <http://www.huskylink.mtu.edu/redirect.aspx?linkID=385&eid=175633> on the President's speech at http://www.admin.mtu.edu/urel/news/media_relations/571/. Legislators toured a number of labs on campus including theMEEM Senior Design Labs with Dr. Donna Michalek, MEEM Associate Chair and Director of Undergraduate Studies and the Multi-Scale Technologies Institute with Dr. Craig Friedrich, Professor of Mechanical Engineering. They heard about the Wood-to-Wheels project from Dr. John Sutherland (Richard and Elizabeth Henes Chair and Professor of Mechanical Engineering).
Michigan Tech has named Lesley M. Lovett-Doust as its new Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs. She comes to Michigan Tech from Lakehead University in Thunder Bay, Ontario, where she has been Dean of Science and Environmental Studies and a professor of biology.
PC Magazine teamed up with The Princeton Review to find the most connected, plugged-in, and high-tech campuses in the country earlier this year. Michigan Tech was ranked #7 in their list of the Top 20 Wired Colleges in the Country. Some of the recent technology upgrades that helped net this honor include enhanced classrooms with smart whiteboards, podcast lectures, and online storage. The school also has 24-hour secure access to most of its computer labs with the swipe of a student ID card that has an embedded chip. Michigan Tech was the only university in Michigan to make the list.
Department Accomplishments
The Department of Mechanical Engineering-Engineering Mechanics' Capstone Design Program has received an "Award of Excellence" from Ansul Inc., of Marinette, Wis., a business unit of Tyco Safety Products. This recognition is as stated on the plaque, "For the comprehensive Senior Design Program promoting collaborative networking with industry and providing innovative solutions for the Ansul High-Expansion Foam Generator". The plaque was presented to the Department by Mr. Jay Thomas, Director of Research and Development, Tyco Fire and Security Systems. Ansul is part of Tyco. The Capstone Design team made improvements to Ansul's high-expansion foam generator, a five feet square unit that is used in aircraft hangers and similar sites. The team figured out how to make it generate more foam and the company is adopting their innovations.
New Staff
Jeremy Worm (BSME 1999) has joined the ME-EM staff as a research engineer and grant writer. He was previously employed by General Motors as a lead engine development/calibration engineer, specializing in general engine development and calibration, specifically related to combustion system development.
Faculty/Staff Awards/Accomplishments
The following ME-EM staff was recognized for their years of dedicated service to Michigan Tech: Gerald Dion - 35 years and Michael LaCourt - 30 years.
Dr. John Gershenson (ME-EM) was promoted from associate professor with tenure to professor with tenure.
Dr. Mahesh Gupta (ME-EM) was promoted from associate professor with tenure to professor with tenure.
Dr. John H. Johnson (Research Professor and Professor Emeriti, ME-EM), was selected as chair of the National Research Council's (NRC) Review of the 21st Century Truck Partnership Committee. Among other duties, the committee will review the higher level technical goals, targets, and timetables for R&D efforts, which address such key areas as heavy vehicle systems; hybrid electrical propulsion; advanced internal combustion engines; and materials technologies.
Dr. Abhijit Mukherjee (ME-EM Prof.) and Anthony S. Bourassa (ME Sr.) placed third with their poster "Study of water removal mechanism of aphids for application in low temperature fuel cells (FuelCell2007-25276) at the 5th Fuel Cell Science, Engineering & Technology Conference held June 18-20, 2007 in Brooklyn, NY.
Dr. Gordon G. Parker (ME-EM) has been appointed as an Associate Editor of the Journal of the Franklin Institute.
Dr. Mohan Rao (ME-EM) was promoted from associate professor with tenure to professor with tenure.
Current Contracts and Grants
Jeffrey S. Allen, (PI - ME-EM), "Collaborative Research: Interfacial Instability, Convective Motion and Heat Transfer in Evaporating Films", Sponsor: National Science Foundation, Total award amount: $140,056
Jaime Camelio, (PI - ME-EM), "REF - Mentoring Grant - Dr. Camelio (mentee) & Dr. Ceglarek (mentor)", Sponsor: State of Michigan - Research Excellence Fund, Total award amount: $9,000.
Roshan D'Souza (PI - ME-EM), "Creation of PACE SAE CAD Professional Certification Institution Guide", Sponsor: PACE Research, Total award amount: $7,000.
Roshan D'Souza (PI - ME-EM), "Support for 5-Institution Pilot for SAE CAD Professional Certification", Sponsor: PACE Research, Total award amount: $20,000.
Roshan D'Souza (PI - ME-EM), "Implementing Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) Using UGS Teamcenter and Windows SQL Server in Computer Aided Design Methods Course", Sponsor: PACE Research, Total award amount: $10,000.
Roshan M. D'Souza, (PI - ME-EM), "Graphics Hardware Accelerated Real-Time Machinability Analysis of Free-Form Surfaces", Sponsor: National Science Foundation, Total award amount: $256,445.
Tammy L. Haut Donahue, (PI - ME-EM), Tara Swanson (Co-PI - ME-EM), "Recovery of Meniscal Tissue Following a Period of Spaceflight or Disuse", Sponsor: University of Michigan - Michigan Space Grant Consortium, Total award amount: $2,500.
Tammy L. Haut Donahue, (PI - ME-EM), Karen Jarvey (Co-PI - ME-EM), "The Consequences of Spaceflight on the Mechanical Properties of the Knee Joint Meniscus", Sponsor: University of Michigan - Michigan Space Grant Consortium, Total award amount: $2,500.
L Brad King (PI - ME-EM), "Microplasma Device Characterization Facility", Sponsor: Air Force Office of Scientific Research, Total award amount: $151,069
L. Brad King, (PI - ME-EM), "(DURIP 07) Microplasma Device Characterization Facility", Sponsor: U.S. Department of Defense - AFOSR, Total award amount: $151,069.
L. Brad King, (PI - ME-EM), Alexandra Zevalkink, (Co-PI - Materials), "Design of Device for Electromagnetic Lunar Dust Removal", Sponsor: University of Michigan - Michigan Space Grant Consortium, Total award amount: $2,500.
L. Brad King, (PI - ME-EM), "Aerospace Enterprise Nanosatellite Design", Sponsor: University of Michigan - Michigan Space Grant Consortium, Total award amount: $2,500.
L. Brad King, (PI - ME-EM), "A Nanosatellite for Space Situational Awareness", Sponsor: U.S. Department of Defense, Air Force Office of Scientific Research, Total award amount: $149,218.
L. Brad King, (PI - ME-EM), "MISNER: Aerospace Enterprise CanSat Development", Sponsor: University of Michigan - Michigan Space Grant Consortium, Total award amount: $3,900.
L. Brad King, (PI - ME-EM), Edmond J. Meyer, (Co-PI - ME-EM), "Electromagnetic Lunar Dust Removal", Sponsor: University of Michigan - Michigan Space Grant Consortium, Total award amount: $2,500.
Spandan Maiti, (PI - ME-EM), "Deformation and Failure Behavior of Cellular Solids and Biopolymer", Sponsor: State of Michigan - Research Excellence Fund, Total award amount: $34,318.
Dean Massey, (PI - ME-EM), L. Brad King, (Co-PI - ME-EM), "Experimental Investigation of High Power Bismuth Thrusters", Sponsor: University of Michigan - Michigan Space Grant Consortium, Total award amount: $5,500.
Abhijit Mukherjee, (PI - ME-EM), "Empirical Modeling of Convective Heat-Transfer Coefficient in Micro-Ducts", Sponsor: Endres Machining Innovations, LLC, Total award amount: $8,486
Jeffrey D. Naber, (PI - ME-EM), John E. Beard, (Co-PI - ME-EM), Donna J. Michalek, (Co-PI - ME-EM), "GDI Ethanol Flex-Fuel Engine Optimization and HC Cold-Start Emissions Reduction for Hybrid Applications", Sponsor: General Motors, Total award amount: $52,052
Henry Sodano, (PI - ME-EM), "Biologically Inspired Autonomic Structural Materials with Controlled Toughening and Healing", Sponsor: National Science Foundation, Total award amount: $281,160.
Byeng D. Youn, (PI - ME-EM), "Integration of Bayesian Principle to Reliability/Quality Assessment with Both Aleatory and Epistemic Uncertainties (JD Power Survey Data)", Sponsor: General Motors, Technical Center, Total award amount: $118,836.
Byeng D. Youn, (PI - ME-EM), "Multidisciplinary Bayesian System Reliability Analysis", Sponsor: State of Michigan- Research Excellence Fund, Total award amount: $35,318.
Student Competitions and Team Awards
On April 19th, 2007, 53 Senior Design Project Teams, 11 Undergraduate Research Project Teams and 23 Enterprise Project Teams participated in the 2007 Annual Undergraduate Expo. Two MEEM teams received Honorable Mention in the Senior Design category. They are:
Team 122, "Transaxle Assembly at the General Motors Lansing Delta Township Assembly Plant"
Sponsor: General Motors Corporation
Team Members: Ben Deyo, Jeff Taylor, Dave DeVormer and Rachel Sherzer
Faculty Advisor: Dr. Thomas Grimm;
Team 135, "Improved Wastewater Aeration Process"
Sponsor, Van Aire, Inc.
Team Members: Andrew Daavettila, Thomas Halt, Kassie Monick, Alan Pieniadz and Christopher Thoms
Faculty Advisor: Robert Whipple
Second Place winner in the Senior Design category was the Materials Science team that included two ME -EM students, Kyle Peterson and Andrew Brouwers.
Third Place winner in the Enterprise area was Challenge X
Sponsor, U.S. Department of Energy, General Motors
Leader: Todd Cimermancic
Faculty Advisor: Dr. John Beard
See the complete information at http://www.expo.mtu.edu/2007/report/index.html.
The Michigan Tech Clean Snowmobile Challenge Enterprise Team earned a mention in the April 2007 Road and Track magazine. On page 34 in the editorial section the Michigan Tech Enterprise was mentioned in regard to Peter Egan's February 2007 column Side Glances "Time, Tools, Talent" where Egan addresses a radio interview regarding the All American Soap Box Derby in which the Derby Director defends the "dumbing down" of the event because today's youth are lacking in time, tools, and talent. John R. Fitzgerald of Burlington, WI responded with "engineering schools, such as Michigan Tech, are co-sponsoring Enterprise Programs, such as the Clean Snowmobile Team, whose student-built racing sleds are amazing. . . The innovations of these students show that power and noise/emissions responsibility can be combined. The Clean Snowmobile Enterprise Team faculty advisor is Dr. Jason Blough (ME-EM)
The Michigan Tech Aerospace Enterprise Team was featured the week of April 30 on the WLUC-TV6 Early News. In the four-part series, "Weightless in Houston," Houghton-based reporter Jeni Jewell chronicled the team's experiences during a visit to NASA's Johnson Space Center, April 18 - 27th. The team flew aboard the C9, or "weightless wonder," an aircraft used to mimic the weightlessness of space. Team members tested a device they developed to sweep moon dust off of lunar rovers and similar equipment. The Aerospace Enterprise faculty advisor is Dr. L. Brad King (ME-EM).
The Michigan Tech Aero Team took 1st place at the SAE Aero East National Competition held May 4-6 in Fort Worth, Texas. The team also placed 2nd in the Regular Class Report / Presentation Award category and 3rd in the Autodesk Inventor Design Communication Award category. There were over 50 teams competing from around the world. The team also took 3rd place at the SAE Aero West National Competition held in March in Van Nuys, Calif. This is a first for the Aero Team to place in the top 3 in both national competitions. The Aero Design Competition challenges engineering students to design and build a radio-controlled aircraft that can take off and land while carrying as much cargoas possible. Aero Team faculty advisors are Steve Stackhouse (Corporate Development) and Dr. Donna Michalek (ME-EM).
Four Aerospace Enterprise students, Jeffry Katalenich (Jr. ME), Matt Killeen (Sr. ME), Ryan Lemmens (Jr. ME), and Peter Radecki (Jr. ME), attended the Student Hands-On Training (SHOT) workshop sponsored by the Air Force Research Laboratory University Nanosatellite Program held June 12-14 at the University of Colorado in Boulder, CO. The goal of the event was to build a small sub-orbital payload and to learn spacecraft fabrication skills. The MTU students built a small (6-inch x 6-inch) box that contained batteries, timer circuits, cameras, etc. The box was carried into near-space (20 miles up) tied beneath a stratospheric balloon. When the balloon finally burst, the payload returned to the ground via parachute and was retrieved by following GPS coordinates transmitted from an on-board radio. The Aerospace faculty advisor is Dr. L. Brad King (ME-EM)
The Michigan Tech SAE FormulaCar Enterprise Team finished in the top half in the 2007 SAE FormulaCar competition, held May 16-19 at the Ford Proving Grounds in Romeo. The team ranked 48th in a field of 129 and were awarded a FormulaCar Certificate of Accomplishment. In the Society of Automotive Engineers Formula competition, students from colleges all over the world conceive, design, fabricate, and compete with small, formula-style racing cars. The FormulaCar advisor is Ron Savela (ME-EM).
The Michigan Tech Challenge X Enterprise Team claimed 11th place in the 2007 Challenge X competition held at the GM Milford Proving Grounds, May 30-June 7. The MTU team is one of 17 universities from across North America that was selected out of more than 100 applicants to compete in the four year Challenge X program which replaced the Future Truck program. This is the third year of the program where teams have re-engineered a 2005 Chevrolet Equinox crossover SUV using advanced propulsion technologies that increase fuel efficiency and reduce environmental impact, yet retain its consumer appeal. The major sponsors of the Challenge X program are GM and the Department of Energy.GM kept the MTU car for display in the Wintergarden at the Renaissance Center. It was also featured in the Detroit International River Days from June 22nd - 27th. The Challenge X advisor is Dr. John Beard (ME-EM).
The Michigan Tech Mini Baja Enterprise Teams finished 19th and 30th overall in a field of 100 at the Baja SAE West competition held May 23-26, 2007 at the South Dakota School of Mines in Rapid City, SD. MTU finished 4th in the Design category, 5th in the Overall Static category, and 6th in the Acceleration category. Baja SAE competition simulates real-world engineering design projects and their related challenges. Engineering students design and build an off-road vehicle that will survive the severe punishment of rough terrain and/or water. It provides SAE student members with a challenging project that involves the planning and manufacturing tasks found when introducing a new product to the consumer industrial market. Teams compete against one another to have their design accepted for manufacture by a fictitious firm. Students design, build, test, promote, and race a vehicle within the limits of the rules. They also generate financial support for their project. All vehicles are powered by a ten-horsepower Intek Model 20 engine donated by Briggs & Stratton Corporation. Baja's faculty advisor is Dr. Brett Hamlin (Engineering Fundamentals).
Student Accomplishment/Awards
Atakan Altinkaynak (MEEM Ph.D. student) won the Lew Erwin Memorial Scholarship from the Society of Plastics Engineers. His advisor is Dr. Mahesh Gupta.
The winners of the Aftermath Cafe Art Competition were announced in April. The competition was designed to find scientifically themed artwork produced by Tech students to decorate the new Aftermath Cafe in Fisher. An honorable mention went to ME undergraduate student Scott Gittins for the schematic of a water pump.
Tara Hansen, Biology Sr. and undergraduate research student working with Dr. Tammy Haut Donahue (ME-EM), has been named one of the recipients of the Biotechnology Research Center 2007 Spring BRC Travel Grants. The grants help with travel expense to regional, national and international scientific meetings to present research related to the interests of the Biotechnology Research Center (BRC). Tara received the award to help with her travel expenses for her presentation at the ASME Summer Bioengineering Conference held in Florida in June 2006. The BRC promotes education and research in the areas of molecular biology, biochemistry, genetics, genomics, bioinformatics and biotechnology for the benefit of society and the environment.
Joseph Hernandez (MEEM PhD student) has been awarded an NSF travel fellowship to present his paper titled" BislugFlow in Circular and Square Cross-Sectional Microchannels" at the 5th International Conference on Nano-, Micro-, and Macro-channels in Pueblo, Mexico, June 18-20, 2007. His advisor is Dr. Jeffrey Allen.
Justin Keske (MEEM Ph.D. student) has been awarded the 2007 3M Acoustic Solutions Scholarship. His advisor is Dr. Jason Blough.
Kiran Khadke (MEEM PhD student) earned a 2007 IAMOT Fellowship to present his paper (co-authors J.K. Gershenson, Professor - ME-EM, and K.I. Pelc, Director CenTILE, Prof Emeritus School of Bus & Econ) titled "Considering Risk Potential to Enhance Engineering Decision" at the 2007 International Conference on Management of Technology in Miami, FL. His advisor is Dr. John Gershenson.
Ben Moscherosch (MSME student) has been selected to receive the Daimler-Chrysler Fund Fellowship for the 2007/08 academic year. His advisor is Dr. Jeffrey Naber.
Vanessa Ortis, ME Sr., has been selected as the Department Scholar for 2007.
MTU students took all three places at the Student Paper Competition at the SAE Noise & Vibration Conference in St. Charles, IL, during the week of May 14th. They are:
First Place: Rohit Gujarathi (MEEM Ph.D. student), (Advisor: Dr. Mohan D. Rao): Paper: Panel Contribution Analysis Using Sound Intensity
Second Place: Andrew Willemsen (ME Sr.), (Advisor: Dr. Mohan D. Rao): Paper: Noise Reduction from an Excavator Cab
Third Place: Greg Ehlert (ME Sr.), (Advisors: Dr. Nels Christopherson & Prof. Chuck VanKarsen): Paper: Calendar Roller Vibration Abatement
Please e-mail me at wwpredeb@mtu.edu with your feedback and suggestions on the NewsBrief.
William W. Predebon, Ph.D.
Professor and Chair
Department of Mechanical Engineering-Engineering Mechanics
Michigan Technological University
1400 Townsend Drive
Houghton, MI 49931-1295
Phone No.: 906-487-2551
Fax No.: 906-487-2822
E-mail: wwpredeb@mtu.edu
For more news and information about our faculty, students,and staff - please visit our web site news pages:: Department News -- Research News -- Alumni News -- Student News |
