Discrete Element Calculations of the Impact of a Sand Column Against Rigid Structures

A recently published paper in the IJIE explains the discovery of the fundamental mechanisms by which novel aluminum alloy sandwich structures interact with high velocity (explosively accelerated) sand particles that control the dynamic response.  To read the full article, click here.

Bailey Risteen and Lark Washington take top honors, make Rob Kelly proud

The top two undergraduate research competitions which feature engineering students are the SEAS- wide Undergraduate Research and Design Symposium (URDS) and the pan-University  President's Research Poster Competition.  This year's winners both had research based in materials science and both had Rob Kelly as their research adviser.  Not only did Lark Washington and Bailey Risteen each win a competition, but they both did so as non-4th years competing against students who had just wrapped up their 4th year undergraduate research projects.

L to R: Rob Kelly, Bailey Risteen, and Eric Schindelholz.

Third year Chemical Engineering student and Rodman Scholar Bailey Risteen (CHE '14) won first place at the SEAS-wide Undergraduate Research and Design Symposium with her poster and talk titled “Marine Aerosol Drop Size Effects on the Corrosion Behavior of Plain Carbon Steel.”  Eric Schindelholz, (MSE PhD Candidate in Kelly's group), designed and built the instrument Bailey used.  

L to R:  Lark Washington, Rob Kelly, and Jay Srinivasan. 

Lark Washington (CE '15) was the 2013 first place winner for Engineering Undergraduates in the President's pan-University Research Poster Competition, which recognizes research as central to the University's mission and seeks to showcase the  research endeavors that have significant impact for innovation and the Commonwealth.  Awards are divided into seven broad impact areas spanning the academic disciplines.  From the seven areas, three graduate and three undergraduate finalists are selected who then are ranked 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place. Washington's poster, "The Cathodic Kinetics of 17-4 PH Stainless Steel," compared corrosion potential across atmospheric, coating, and surface variables.  Her research in Prof. Kelly's lab, assisted by graduate student Jay Srinivasan, was part of a REU offered in materials science by Prof. Jerry Floro in the summer of 2012.

In his typical self-effacing style, Professor Kelly remarked of the outstanding coincidence that "even a stopped watch is correct twice a day." 

Installation of robotically controlled TSD system complete

Wadley's research group has installed a state of the art thermal spray deposition system for robotically controlled coating of

ceramic matrix composites with multilayer thermal and environmental barrier coatings.

Beth Opila Elected ECS Fellow

Beth Opila was recently elected a Fellow of the Electrochemical Society, and will be formally inducted as part of the Class of 2013 at the ECS meeting in San Francisco.  This honor recognizes her scientific achievement and service to the society.

Beth joined the Materials Science and Engineering department in 2010 and has quickly established a thriving research group exploring high temperature materials, coatings, and oxidation of ceramic materials.  Much of her previous work at NASA Glenn Research Center focused on durability and protective coatings as well.

The ECS fellows program:

"Established in 1989 for individual contributions and leadership in the achievement of science and technology in the area of electrochemistry and solid-state sciences and current active participation in the affairs of The Electrochemical Society."

Congratulations Beth!


  

MSE Celebration and Recognition Tea Time

On Wednesday, May 1st, the MSE community gathered at 3:00 in Wilsdorf 101 to celebrate the accomplishments of our graduate and undergraduate students.



2013 Doris Kuhlmann Wilsdorf Outstanding Graduate Student Award – Eric J. Schindelholz: recognizing his “outstanding research achievements and exemplary contributions to the advancement of the MSE academic mission.”



2013 Fred D. Rosi Outstanding Citizen Award – Bradley T. Richards: recognizing his “overall contributions to the academic, educational and outreach goals of the MSE department and for exemplary teamwork.”



“In recognition of notable teaching and considerable skill in motivating and inspiring students, the University of Virginia presents its 2012-2013 Outstanding GTA Award in the School of Engineering and Applied Science Department of Materials Science and Engineering to” Matthew A. Steiner.



2013 Materials Science and Engineering Distinguished Undergraduate Award—Mark Hrdy: recognizing his “outstanding academic achievement and good citizenship.”

2013 Engineering Science Distinguished Undergraduate Award- Jeffrey R. O’Dell: recognizing his “exceptional achievement in research and academics.” 

 

4th Year Engineering Science student Carolyn Pelnik was recognized at the Tea Time for having received the SEAS Outstanding Student Award at the SEAS garden party on April 26th.

2013 Engineering Science Poster Symposium Awards:

Individuals:

First place: Matthew Perez

Second place: Dylan Royston and Jeffrey O’Dell (tie) 

Third place: Regan O’Brien

Groups:

First place:

Patrick Andersen

Keith Thomas

Niduk Basnayake



Second place:

Venita Jones

Mary Wright

Leanna Foster lands NSF Graduate Research Fellowship

Congratulations to Leanna Foster on earning a National Science Foundation Fellowship.  NSF graduate fellowships are among the most prestigious and competitive fellowships within STEM fields.  Foster, advised by John Scully, is currently researching potential applications leveraging the

inherent antimicrobial properties of copper alloys for use in medical surface applications.

The research has the potential to significantly decrease the risk of healthcare associated infections - among them, MRSA.  Foster plans to investigate model copper alloys in order to determine the effect of secondary alloys (zinc, nickle, aluminum, and tin) on ion release rates; copper ion release rates dictate both an alloy's antimicrobial effectiveness and its tarnish resistance rate.

While studying Chemistry at Christopher Newport University, Foster interned with The Mariners' Museum in their conservation lab, where she gained a keen interested in metallic corrosion.  Additionally,  at NASA Langley she worked on polymer research in the Materials Development and Processing branch.

...and she bakes great cakes.