News Letter Summer 2003 Carnegie Mellon University, Department of Mechanical Engineering
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Transcript of News Letter Summer 2003 Carnegie Mellon University, Department of Mechanical Engineering
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8/14/2019 News Letter Summer 2003 Carnegie Mellon University, Department of Mechanical Engineering
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Car negie MechD E P A R T M E N T O F M E C H A N I C A L E N G I N E E R I N G
ht tp : / /www.me.cmu.edu/ Volume 6 Number 3 Summer 2003
Carnegie Mellon
ENGINEERING
I
N
S
I
D
E8 William J. Br own
Pr ofessor Chair Reception
7 William Pur cell onthe Global Futur eof Engineer ing
6 Ar on Ralst on: TheCour ageous Jour neyof One of Our Ow n
MechanicalEngineering
Whats Different?
Whats Not?
What Does theFuture Hold?
Professors Robinson andShimada, and Alumnus
Bill Purcell offer someperspectives(See articles starting on page 3)
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8/14/2019 News Letter Summer 2003 Carnegie Mellon University, Department of Mechanical Engineering
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This has been an excellent year for our department, one where we have experiencedsignificant growth and made exciting contributions in research and education.
Through the generous assistance of friends and alumni, the department continues
to renovate old laboratories and build new ones that will enable our educational
and research initiatives. The engine laboratory will be combined with the air quality
laboratory in a new location. Construction of a newmicro-fluidics laboratory will be under way next year
through a beneficent gift from Ford Motor Company.
In addition, our relationship with Kennametal continues
to move forward with expansion of the Kennametal
Fellows program to include support for our design
courses. Also, our strategic relationship with Parametric
Technologies has enabled us to introduce CAD/CAM software throughout our
academic curriculum.
Our research productivity, both in terms of volumeand in significance, is continuing to rise. The
department now has a strong team of faculty whose
research interests center on micro-mechanical
engineering. Their investigations into engineering
phenomena that take place at the microand even
nanoscales will help us develop new devices
and new processes for next-generation engineering
products. Dr. Shelley Anna, who will be joining us in September, complements these
endeavors with her background in micro-structural control of complex fluids. The
commitment of the faculty to provide the best possible education for our students
is mirrored by the strong sense of pride among the student body.
The number of students in the department, both undergraduate and graduate,
continues to increase and has reached a record high for the upcoming fall
semester. In addition, our students continue to do very well. This year,
Matt DiCicco won the top research honors prize in the college while eigh
other mechanical engineering students were recognized by the university
for their leadership contributions on campus. The SAE student section
won top prizes in Micro Baja competitions. In addition, ASME
Pittsburgh section selected two of our students as Outstanding
Student Member and Outstanding Student Section Leader.
As our recent graduates join the ranks of our distinguished
alumni, we look forward to next year with a bigger student
body, additional new faculty, and increased enthusiasm.
We would like to hear from friends and alumni; we
value your thoughts, opinions, and support.
Thank you,
Adnan Akay
Car negie MechMessage from
ADNAN AKAY DEPARTMENT HEAD
The number of studenin the department, both
undergraduate and grad
ate, continues to increas
and our students are doi
very well.
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8/14/2019 News Letter Summer 2003 Carnegie Mellon University, Department of Mechanical Engineering
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Along with chemistry, there are also traditional aspects of
mechanical engineering involved in Prof.Robinsons research,
including the study of emissions from combustion systems
to help understand the impact of operating conditions on
the composition of emissions. The combination of thesemultidisciplinary areas of research has
attracted a new breed of mechanical
engineering students to the department.
According to Robinson, typically
the students I work with have a primary
motivation to understand environmental
issues. In the past, civil engineers were
the main researchers in environmental
issues; however, mechanical engineers
are now partnering with these groups
to make new strides
in environmental
engineering.
Based on this new interest, new applications are antici-
pated in mechanical engineering with interests in environ-mental issues. Prof. Robinson offers, the
results of the Supersiteresearch should
define sourcereceptor relationships, which
are needed to develop regulatory strategies
to meet the recently promulgated fine
particulate matter standards. EPA
proposed these new standards in 1997
to better protect our health. Robinson
continues, Our results will provide
information on how changing emission
levels will affect ambient particulate con-
centrations. The strategy is to identify the source of pollutants
so the causes can be reducedin other words, implementing
control strategies in sources such as power plant and auto-
mobile emissions.
One area of research on the horizon is the impact of
aerosols on the climate. For example, we already know how
carbon dioxide affects radiative forcing, a potential driver for
climate change; however, large uncertainties exist regarding the
Featured Article
Engineers Study Their Environment
Professor Allen Robinson joined Carnegie Mellon in 1998 with a joint appointment in
Mechanical Engineering and Engineering and Public Policy. Professor Robinson has
also seen a shift toward more nontraditional research in mechanical engineering.
According to Prof. Robinson, from a traditional mechanical engineering perspective,
one of the most unusual areas of my research involves Analytical Chemistry.
My research group is collecting information on molecular tracersor fingerprintsto identify the
different sources of organic particulate matter. Along with Professors
Spyros Pandis from Chemical Engineering and Cliff Davidson from Civil
and Environmental Engineering, Prof. Robinson has been working over the
past couple of years on what has been dubbed the Supersite Project,
a large EPA- and DOE-sponsored air quality study in the Pittsburgh region.
We featured this project in the Winter 2001 edition of Carnegie Mech.
Researcher Eric Lipsky adjusts flowswhile conducting a test to compare thetwo dilution sampling systems. Thetwo samplers are sampling from theexhaust of a small wood stove.
3
Pictured above, the Carnegie Mellon
dilution sampler sampling from the
exhaust of a pilot scale coal combustor.continued on page 5
The results of the Supersiteresearch should define sourcerecep-
tor relationships, which are needed
to develop regulatory strategies to
meet the recently promulgated fine
particulate matter standards.
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There are two types of
issues involved in
orthopedicsfractures
and inherent deformities.
Traditionally, doctors rely on
x-rays and their experience to
determine treatment. Withx-rays of the front and side
view of the bone, the doctors
try to imagine what the
three-dimensional shape
would be like. The two typical
types of treatment are: oste-
otomy, where the surgeon cuts
the bone, reshapes the problem
area, and inserts a plate to fuse the areas together; or distrac-
tion osteogenesis, where a narrow gap is created between two
bone fragments, and while new bone grows into the gap the
two fragments are mechanically moved away from each other
at a rate of 1 millimeter per day, extending the overall bone
length about 1 inch in a month.
Although the technical issues of orthopedics are not
traditional mechanical engineering problems, there are many
technical and research aspects in which mechanical engineers
can make contributions, both in hardware and software.
The hardware includes fixators that hold bone fragments
in place. A fixator guides the bone to re-grow into a
designated formation. There are two types of fixators
serial linkage fixators and parallel linkage fixators. One of
the current commercial parallel linkage systems, the TaylorSpatial Frame, uses six struts around the bone that have to
be adjusted by the patient at specific intervals.
Professor Kenji Shimada is designing a new serial linkage
system that will use only two adjustment points to move a bone
fragment to a desired position and orientation. This new type
of fixator will reduce error in adjustments, while achieving the
necessary three-dimensional motion of a bone fragment.
In addition to the hardware, there are also important
software aspects to the research. Currently, there is little
computer assistance in traditional orthopedic surgery, and
most doctors are making
decisions based on two-
dimensional images of the
bone (x-rays) and their own
experience. This is a major
reason why it takes many
years to become an expert inthe field. This almost total
reliance on human skill often
leads to additional visits for
the patient due to inaccurate
planning or mistakes in
calculations in reshaping
the bone.
Prof. Shimadas research
includes developing computer software that creates a three-
dimensional shape of the bone from a few x-ray images, giving
doctors a tool for more precise treatment planning. The soft-
ware system generates a three-dimensional bone shape using
free form deformation and numerical optimization, two tech-
niques used in other mechanical engineering research. Once
a three-dimensional bone shape is created, it is also possible
to create a physical mockup of the bone, which can be used
as a training tool for interns and young doctors. The mockup
can be manipulated as a real bone to show the doctor the end
results before beginning treatment.
Two years ago, a group comprising Prof. Shimada,
two other Carnegie Mellon faculty members, and two local
orthopedic surgeons, founded Bonecraft, Inc. to further the
research on the fixator and surgical planning software.Bonecraft anticipates commercializing the new technology
within the next three to four years.
In the automotive, aerospace, and other manufacturing
industries, computer-aided design (CAD) and finite element
method (FEM) software packages are intensively used to
optimize the design and to increase the efficiency of the
design and analysis process. Using CAD and FEM in
medicine is relatively new, however, and it can be very
relevant. Computer-aided analysis can be used, for example,
in aneurysm analysis. At present, it takes years of experience
Professor Kenji Shimada has worked in the Mechanical Engineering Department at Carnegie
Mellon since the fall of 1996. Over the years, he has seen mechanical engineering evolve
toward more nontraditional areas of research. One of the more unusual projects that he is
involved in currently is computer-aided orthopedic surgery.
Given tw o x-ray images, softw are developed in Prof. Shimadas
lab can generate a t hree-dimensional bone model (right) using
free-form deformation and numerical optimization.
Featured Article
Engineers Study the Healing Process
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to determine the state of an aneurysm. Utilizing finite element
analysis, a doctor can obtain a more objective index for the
possibility of rupture. Prof. Shimada is currently collaborating
with researchers at the University of Pittsburgh to create a
computational model and simulation of an aneurysm with
the ultimate goal of creating such an index.
Medicine is a vast new venue for the application ofmechanical engineering talent. As Prof. Shimada states, if you
view the human body as a mechanical system, you will find
many technical aspects in which we mechanical engineers can
contribute using the expertise in the traditional mechanical
engineering disciplines. For instance, the human body
combines both the structural and
thermal-fluid aspects of engineer-
ing. A mechanical engineer has the
necessary skills to couple thermal-
fluid analysis with structural analysis
in order to conduct research in the
medical field. Mechanical engineerscan also apply their expertise in
computer modeling and analysis
of large-scale, nonlinear, and multi-
physics phenomena,which are crit-
ical in medical and clinical research.
Medical research is one of several
growing new fields requiring cross-
disciplinary research and talent.
Carnegie Mellon recognizes the
critical importance of inter- and
cross-disciplinary research and
educational programs, and has
successfully established more such
programs than most other schools.
The curriculum in the Mechanical
Engineering Department is made
highly flexible so that students
can enjoy the opportunity for inter-
disciplinary learning. Due to the
shift to this type of nontraditional
research in mechanical engineer-
ing, Prof. Shimada is noticing
that more mechanical engineeringstudents are interested in pursuing
nontraditional, multidisciplinary research. He states,
Compared to six or seven years ago, when I started at
Carnegie Mellon, there has been a definite shift toward more
multidisciplinary research, such as robotics, nanotechnology,
bio-medical engineering, and environmental engineering.
Our students are trained to perform well in multidisciplinary
problem-solving.
Multidisciplinary problem-solving skills, as Prof.
Shimada put it, might be the key to future leadership in
effects of anthropogenic
aerosols on climate, states
Robinson. Currently, theuncertainty in the potential
effects of aerosols on radiative
forcing is very large, and the
majority of their effect is to
cool the atmosphereopposite
of the greenhouse gases such
as carbon dioxide.
Robinson adds, I expect
Carnegie Mellon to be on the
forefront of this new research.
Currently, there are five faculty
members from diverse backgroundsworking in the area of air quality. This is unique in the
academic community. The interdisciplinary approach
of Carnegie Mellon provides for cross-pollinationor
synergythat is very beneficial to the research of air quality.
For instance, as a mechanical engineer, I am able to work
with chemists to assist in defining aspects of the research
in which engineers have not typically been trained.
In the past, environmental issues have not been defined
as part of the scope of mechanical engineering.In order to
benefit todays research, mechanical engineers should apply
their training and perspectives to the environment, through
such ideas as Green Design. Again, Carnegie Mellon has
been at the forefront of this initiative. q
Engineers Study Their Environmentcontinued from page 3
industry, with mechanical engineers at the forefront. He states,
I interact with industry teams that are composed of a diverse
group of engineers, such as mechanical, electrical, computer,
and materials science engineers. In these situations, I often
see the mechanical engineers taking the lead in forming and
guiding a multidisciplinary team. This is due, in part, to the
diverse training that mechanical engineers receive. Mechanicalengineers are trained to be problem-solvers. They have a
background that encourages them to learn new things. This
is why mechanical engineers are often best suited to be the
leaders in establishing the multidisciplinary teams. We should
continue to take the lead and resolve ourselves to be life-long
learners as the field of mechanical engineering continues
to evolve.q
A smaller dilution sampling
system designed for field
sampling from a full-scale
power plant. Gas analyzers
monitor the exhaust CO2concentration and the CO2concentration in the sam-
pler in order to determine
the dilution ratio.
Professor Shimadas
research group
has developed an
orthopedic surgeryplanning softw are.
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8/14/2019 News Letter Summer 2003 Carnegie Mellon University, Department of Mechanical Engineering
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alumni news
retiring,he golfs and fly fishes, is an actor
with Tour Wafdi, is an association
treasurer, and does some private tutoring.
Herbert W. Massie, Jr.
(B.S. 1970, M.S. 1972) received his
M.S. in nuclear engineering in 1999
and is still in school at the University of
Maryland. He is a technical specialist
at the Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety
Board and recruits at Carnegie Mellon
each year in October.
Ramakant (Raam) Vichare
(B.S. 1972), after retiring in October
2002, traveled for a few months visiting
friends. Now he works as president for
the Dimension R company and is a
consultant in resources and supply chain
management.
Ernestine M. Kuhr
(B.S. 1980), mentioned in our Fall 2002
edition,writes to update that she was
promoted to Senior Engineer at Duke
Energy Corporation.
Tiffani Singleton, D.O.
(B.S. 1996) is a first-year family practice
resident at Dayton Community Family
Practice in Dayton, Ohio, at the Good
Samaritan Hospital.
Alumni Updatess s s s s
Sanford Norman Belkin
(B.S. 1943) passed away August 27, 2002,
in El Paso, Texas.
Alfred H. Ambrose
(B.S. 1940) has been enjoying retired life
since 1984.He spends his time playing
golf and keeping track of his five grand-
childrenthree in advanced studies and
two still in college.
William H. Davis
(1941) has no personal news to report,
but writes to comment that the Carnegie
Mech publication is well done and
appreciated.
Richard H. Flock
(B.S. 1957) retired from Westinghouse
Electric Corporation in 1994 and retired
from consulting in 2001. He moved to his
new home in Greensburg,Pennsylvania,
and was recently elected Vice President of
the Westmoreland Chapter of S.C.O.R.E,
a partner in WRHN Industries.
William J. Peterson
(B.S. 1952) retired in 1989 from the U.S.
Bureau of Mines.Arthritis ended basket-
ball play in 1987 and wind surfing in
1999.
James E. Komer
(B.S. 1958, Aero Option) decided to teach
after a 21-year military career, the business
world, and six years in Alabama state
government. He taught algebra and
geometry at Valley Forge Military
Academy for 14 years. Since finally
Aron Ralston
The Courageous Journey
of One of Our Own
Recently, in national news, we
learned of the courageous efforts
of survival of one of our mechanica
engineers. Aron Ralston, an avid
hiker, became trapped for five
days in a remote canyon in Utahs
Canyonlands National Park in April
when a boulder dislodged and
crushed his right arm. The situation
became desperate when he ran ou
of water and realized that his loca-
tion was obscure for a rescue crew
With thoughts of his family, he
made the remarkable decision to
amputate his arm to save his life.
His desire to live not only motivated
him to get out of the canyon floor
but to hike approximately five miles
before he was spotted by several
tourists. Those who knew Aron as
a student at Carnegie Mellon were
not surprised by his tenacity.
Aron Ralston graduated from
Carnegie Mellon in 1997 with a
double major in Mechanical
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At last years homecoming,William Purcell was presented
with the Alumni Distinguished Achievement Award.
This award is given for distinguished service and
accomplishment in any field of human endeavor
that brings honor to the recipient and the university.
During his career, Mr. Purcell was instrumental
in the implementation of three national nuclear
programs.He received both his bachelors
(1944) and his masters (1949) in mechanical
engineering from Carnegie Tech. His edu-
cation was interrupted toward the end of
his junior year due to World War II and so
he completed his degrees upon completion
of his military service.
Mr. Purcell,who grew up in Pittsburgh, decided to attend Carnegie Tech
because it was an excellent engineering school, and, at the time,most of the stu-
dents were local; there werent many people who went away for an education. The
student body during this time was about 80 percent from western Pennsylvania.
Many of the students were commuters, so there werent many campus activities.
President Dougherty initiated luncheons with the students.Mr. Purcell commented
that this was an important step toward creating a sense of campus community.
According to Purcell, the education he received at Carnegie Tech was a goodfoundation in math (the math department was one of the finest in the country)
and problem-solving, along with discipline and an expectation ofdoing things
in a rigorous manner,and prepared him for his career in nuclear engineering.
The biggest change in engineering that Mr. Purcell has seen over his career is
the invention of the computer. These days you can access software that can help
solve difficult problems that previously you had to solve piecemeal. Using slide
rules and the tools of the time took longer and made for some difficult problem-
solving.With the computers and technology available today, you can get optimum
results in less time and solve much more complicated problems.
Some things havent changed. Purcell observes that Carnegie Mellon has
remained the same with regard to standards, excellent performance of students,
and dedication of the professors.Purcell stated, The interdisciplinary practices now apparent in the education
of engineers is an important improvement. According to Purcell, when dealing
with engineering problems,one has to be able to deal with all kinds of attitudes
and understanding of mechanical engineering. He adds, The global nature of
engineering has increased the need for collaboration. Working in nuclear power,
Mr.Purcell often experienced challenges in dealing with other points of view.
He sees the broadening of engineering education as a positive step toward a
successful career in the industry. q
Engineering and French, and a
minor in Music. With a 3.97 QPA,
he graduated with UniversityHonors and was elected by the
Mechanical Engineering faculty to
receive the Forstall Award that year.
Aron was also a member of the
Carnegie Mellon Kiltie Band and
spent his junior year in France.
According to Professor Bob
Simoneau, who taught Engineering
Analysis while Aron was an under-
graduate here, Aron worked hard
and enjoyed life. He was involved in
everything and was always amazed
by what he was learning. Prof.
Simoneau, who is now working at
Penn State, was not surprised by
the fact that Aron matter-of-factly
told the park ranger he had ampu-
tated his arm because he was an
unassuming individual, very intelli-
gent, but not full of himself. Prof.
Simoneau commented that the
Engineering Analysis course he
taught that year, which included
Aron Ralston, was one of the
best groups of students I ever had.
Prof. Jonathan Cagan remem-
bers Aron as a member of his senior
design class. Cagan commented,
He worked on a universal shower
design to support independent living
of the elderly. He was part of an
excellent team, and his project was
very well done.
After he graduated in 1997, Aron
worked for Intel Corporation until he
returned home to Colorado.
Aron, your fellow mechanical
engineers wish you well. q
William Purcell Remembers the Past andComments on the Global Future of Engineering
7
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faculty news
Shelley Anna will join Carnegie Mellon
as an assistant professor in Mechanical
Engineering in September 2003. She
received her Ph.D. from Harvard
University in Engineering Sciences in2000. Before joining Carnegie Mellon,
she was a senior research scientist at
Solutia, Inc. for one year, and she then
completed a postdoctoral fellowship in
Fluid Mechanics and Complex Fluids
at Harvard University.
Anna will participate in the Center for Complex Fluids
Engineering, an interdisciplinary program involving faculty
from both CIT and MCS. Annas research interests comple-
ment the goals of this program by integrating concepts from
fluid mechanics, including micro-fluidics, non-Newtonian
rheology, and interfacial phenomena, to target the design an
fabrication of advanced materials. Even trace amounts of po
mers, surfactants, particles, and other microstructural compo
nents can dramatically influence the flow behavior of a liquid
both in bulk and at interfaces. Fluid f low can in turn be used
a mechanism to control the microstructure of a liquid, and
therefore to create useful materials in novel ways. Using the
concepts, Anna plans to explore both the fundamental beha
ior of flowing microstructured fluids in bulk and at interfacesas well as the processing and synthesis of new materials for
applications from encapsulation of drugs to d irected assemb
of nanostructured materials.
Research projects in Annas group wi ll draw from an inte
disciplinary mix of topics, including fluid mechanics, materia
and microfabrication. In one project, micro-fluidic devices w
be used to create particles with tailored mechanical and inte
facial properties. Gel beads, core-shell articles, and adhesive
particles could all be fabricated using these microdevices, alo
with particles containing encapsulated drugs or functional pr
teins. The particles will be targeted for use in applications su
destructive vibrations. His publications have served as bench-mark baselines for further research and the development of
methodologies that are currently in use. Many of his papers are
among the most frequently cited papers in the field, and some
have been cited as the foundation for the design of friction
damping for turbo-machinery blades.
To make the results of his research available to engineers
designing turbines,Prof.Griffin has been instrumental in the
creation and development of the GUIde (Government,
University, and Industry) Consortium on the forced response
of bladed disks. In this consortium, researchers representing
government, industry, and universities work together to promote
research and development and to expedite the transfer of new
As attested to by those in industry, Prof. Jerry Griffinscontributions to his field in the past 20 years have
altered the design of aircraft turbine engines. An official
from a key U.S. government research center considers Griffin
the foremost bladed-disk theoretician in the world, who has
established the area of mistuning for turbine blades. It would be
fair to suggest that Prof. Griffins research on engine blade
vibrations has helped aircraft engines become safer and has
saved the nation much by preventing unnecessary losses.
Griffins published research has been used to establish a
sound foundation for improved understanding of turbo-
machinery vibrations, and for the development of design
tools that allow designers to produce engines that are free from
Please join us in congratulating Professor Jerry Griffin, who
has been named the William J. Brown Professor of Mechanical
Engineering effective July 1, 2002. Professor Griffin is an inter-
nationally renowned researcher in the area of turbo-machinery
vibrations, specifically in the area of engine blade mistuning
problems, which can lead to excessive vibrations and eventual
failure of engines while in flight.
PROFILE:Shelley Anna
Pictured left to right: Nam Eung Kim, Sue Cunningham,
Drew Feiner, Jerry Griffin, Alok Sinha, Mike Rossi,
Kyun Hee Koh, and James Kenyon.
William J. Brown ProfessorChair Reception
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8/14/2019 News Letter Summer 2003 Carnegie Mellon University, Department of Mechanical Engineering
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as drug delivery and high-throughput screening, as well as
more novel applications such as directed assembly of particles
to form microstructured templates. The influence of surfac-
tants and other macromolecules on the formation of the
particles will be characterized, along with the fundamentals
of particlesurface interactions.
Anna believes that the lines between dif ferent engineering
and science disciplines are becoming much less clear in
todays cutting edge research and teaching. She looks forw ardto drawing on her own interdisciplinary experiences and her
experiences in industry to bring wider insights to her teaching.
Anna plans to teach courses in fluid mechanics, complex
fluids, and thermodynamics, and will incorporate examples
from emerging research areas such as micro-fluidics. Anna
says, The tradition of interdisciplinary research and education
at Carnegie Mellon University helps create an exciting environ-
ment that inspires creativity both in the classroom and in the
lab. I look forward to helping students develop their potential
through these innovative programs. q
9
technology into industry. He continues to lead this activity, which
has six turbine engine manufacturers as members, into its tenth
year. In part, as a result of these accomplishments, CIT in 2001
lauded Prof.Griffin with its inaugural Research Award.
In addition to his excellent research credentials, Prof. Griffin
is an excellent teacher and mentor to students and young faculty
alike. His current and former students, a number of whom hold
academic positions or are in industry working on similar prob-
lems, characterize his teaching as being passionate, but clear,
concise, and well-planned.
However,Prof. Griffins activities go beyond classroom
teaching. He has been pivotal in developing our new curricu-
lum, and continues to
play a significant role
on the undergraduateeducation committee.
CIT recognized Prof. Griffins educational accomplishments
by awarding him the Teare Award (1997). He twice received the
Best Professor of the Year award from the seniorswhen it
was first established in 1995 and again in 2002. The awards he
received describe
both the breadth
and depth of his
accomplishments
in the two areas of
academe we value
the most. His con-
tributions span
research, educa-
tion, and service at
such a high level.A reception was
held on January 24
of this year to
bestow this honor on Prof. Griffin among family, friends, and
colleagues. In attendance were several of Prof. Griffins former
students, including James Kenyon, who offered the following
comment: He taught me more than just everything to know
about my topic area; he taught me how to approach research.
Prof. Griffins students and colleagues were all pleased
to participate in this auspicious occasion.We thank Prof. Griffin
for his important and valued contributions and look forward
to his continued success at Carnegie Mellon. q
Pictured right to left: The Griffin Family
Jerry, Naomi, Matt, Linda, Ed, and
Julie Story
Professor Jonathan Cagan received the 2002 CIT
Teaching Award for Excellence.. . . .
Professor Howie Choset appeared in the October
edition of MIT Technologyin connection wi th his
slitherbot research.. . . .
Professor Paul Steif has been selected to receive
Honorable Mention in the University/Post-Secondary
Educator category from the Carnegie Science Center
Awards for Excellence Selection Committee.. . . .
Professor Jonathan Wickert received an IBM 2002
Faculty Award. Professor Wickert has done outstand-
ing research in the area of applied mechanics and the
vibration o f m echanical systems, combining physical
modeling, analysis, computation, and measurement
with a view tow ard understanding fundamental
phenomena in the dynamics of engineered systems.
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On April 30, 2003, a group of Carnegie Mellon
Engineering students attended an event at
Kennametal, a manufacturing company located
in Latrobe, Pennsylvania, to present their
research to the staff and researchers on site.
This was the first year that students were asked to present
research at Kennametal, and the students chosen were recipi-
ents of the newly implemented Kennametal scholarship. The
scholarship was developed to offer support to the top engineer-
ing graduate students at well-known institutions.
This years participants were from Carnegie Mellon andPenn State. Arbtip Dheeravongkit and Matthew Brake repre-
sented the Mechanical Engineering Department. There were
also three students from Information Network Institution (INI)
an affiliate of the Electrical and Computer Engineering
Department and one student from Materials Science
Engineering.
The day included poster presentations; guest
speaker, Alex Cirillo, Jr., from 3M; lunch with the
executives of Kennametal; and a tour of the facility,
including the on-site university and manufacturing
areas. According to Dr. Cirillo, much of todays
research is done on the campuses of universities andat government agencies because there is less money
available for research and development, so industries
are tapping into these alternate arenas. Bringing the stu-
dents to Kennametal allows for interaction between the researchers and the end users.
Cirillo adds that, through this exchange of information, innovation becomes a reality.
Based on recent statistics one-third of sponsored research at Carnegie Mellon
comes from industry. Carnegie Mellon works with industry because thats where the
problems that need to be solved can be found. These are the people engineering stu-
dents will be working for and with after they graduate. q
Carnegie Mellon students with Kennametal
representative, Paul Prichard (center); studen
left to right: Matt Brake (ME), Chris Lord (INI
Arbtip Dheeravongkit (ME), Anupam Dhanuk
(INI), Qidi Chen (MSE), and Sarvesh Bagla (IN
1 0
student news
Engineering Laboratory Renovation
Ford Motor Company has agreed to contribute a substantial monetary award to the MechanicalEngineering Department to help renovate and equip a new laboratory for research activities inthe area of micro-fluidics. The laboratory will feature state-of-the-art instrumentation to perform
fundamental investigations in this rather new field. Prof. Shelley Anna, recently hired by the depart-
ment (also featured in this edition of Carnegie Mech), will utilize this new space for her research
involving both the fundamental behavior of flowing microstructured fluids in bulk and at interfaces, as well as
the processing and synthesis of new materials for applications from encapsulation of drugs to directed assembly
of nanostructured materials. Shelley is an expert in micro-fluidics, with a Ph.D. from Harvard, and is currently
conducting a postdoctoral assignment at MIT and Harvard. Read more about Shelley Anna on page 8. q
Arbtip Dheeravongkit w ith a
poster of her research enti-
tled Mesh Pre-Deforming for
Large Deformation Analysis.
Paul Prichard gives the students a tour of
Kennametal University, an on-site training
center for the Kennametal employees and
customers.
Kennametal Scholarship RecipientsInvited to Present Their Research
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8/14/2019 News Letter Summer 2003 Carnegie Mellon University, Department of Mechanical Engineering
11/12
v
1 1
This years design competition for
Fundamentals of Mechanical
Engineering involved a mousetrap-
powered airplane. The objective
was to deliver an airplane as far a
distance as possible using a stan-
dard household mousetrap as the
only energy source for propulsion.
At the end of the semester, teams
of three students competed in
head-to-head fights against other
designs in the class during a modi-
fied elimination round-robin tourna-
ment. The winning team, Dan
Bernier, Chytra Pawashe, and ErickJohnson, created an airplane that
flew the length of the gymnasium.
Second place went to David
Bertucci, Joel Clark, and Murat Asci.v
Matthew DiCicco, a senior in mechanical engineering won the top prize
for CIT Research Honors this year. His project, entitled A Muscle
Controlled Orthotic Exoskeleton for the Hand, was advised by Prof.
Yoky Matsuoka. The goal of this project was to design and construct a
lightweight, comfortable orthotic device for the hand (exoskeleton) to
be used by upper spinal cord patients suffering from a loss of precise
control in the upper limbs and hands. At the end of the project, it
was demonstrated that his device enabled a quadriplegic individual
with partial upper limb control to grasp and manipulate objects.
At the Society of Automotive Engineers 2002 Micro Baja competition,
Carnegie Mellon came out the big winner again. Placing 1st, 2nd, and
3rd in the modified stock category, and 1st and 2nd in the unlimited
category, the team also won best design and best performance in
these categories. One of the teams entries, Frankenstein, has been
on top for five years. Congratulations to our team members in
mechanical engineering: Dan Fry, Serge L-Gregory, Mike Miles, and
Carl Neimeyer. The next M icro Baja competition w ill be held in Detroit
at the SAE World Conference in March of 2004. We can expect great
things again from our talented students.
Junior mechanical engineering student, Vanessa Gerber, wasselected to receive the Lockheed-Martin Award. In addition to a
monetary reward, Lockheed-Martin also offers the winners an oppor-
tunity for a summer internship. In addition, Gerber was part of a team
who won the bronze medal in the Womens Lightweight 4 division at
the 65th annual Dad Vail Regatta in Philadelphia, this May.
John P. Reifenberg, also a junior in the department, was selected
as a Boeing Leadership Scholarship recipient. John was
selected as a student who exemplifies leadership, teamwork,
quality, and perseverance, traits targeted for the selection
of the Boeing Award.
Two of the mechanical engineering ASME Student Section
members were honored by the Pittsburgh Section of
ASME; Christopher R. Antimary was chosen Outstanding
Student Member and Chung Hwan Jos Lee was
selected Outstanding Student Section Leader. q
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8/14/2019 News Letter Summer 2003 Carnegie Mellon University, Department of Mechanical Engineering
12/12
Carnegie Mellon University does not discriminate and Carnegie Mellon University is required not to discriminate inadmission, employment, or administration of its programs or activities on the basis of race, color, national orig in, sex, orhandicap in violation of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972, and Section504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, or other federal, state, or local laws or executive orders. In addition, Carnegie MellonUniversity does not discriminate in admission, employment, or administration of it s programs on the basis of religion,
creed, ancestry, belief, age, veteran status, or sexual orientation, or in violation of federal, state, or local laws or executiveorders. However, in the judgment of the Carnegie Mellon Human Relations Commission, the Department of Defense policyof Dont ask, dont tell, don t pursue excludes openly gay, lesbian, and bisexual students from receiving ROTC scholarships
or serving in the military. Nevertheless, all ROTC classes at Carnegie Mellon University are available to all students. Inquiries concerningapplication of these statements should be directed to the Provost, Carnegie Mellon University, 5000 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15213,telephone (412) 268-6684, or to the Vice President for Enrollment , Carnegie M ellon University, 5000 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15213,telephone (412) 268-2056. Obtain general i nformati on about Carnegie Mellon Un iversity by calling (412) 268-2000.
Carnegie Mellon University publishes an annual campus security report describing the universitys security, alcohol and drug, and sexualassault policies, and containing statistics about the number and type of crimes committed on the campus during the preceding three years.You can ob tain a copy by contacting the Carnegie M ellon Police Department at (412) 268-2323. The security report is also available atwww.cmu.edu/security.
Carnegie Mellon U niversity makes every effort to provide accessible facilities and programs for individuals w ith disabilities.For accommodations/ services, please contact the Equal Opportunity Office at (412) 268-2012.
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Department of
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Department Head
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Editor
M. Christine Zeise
Photographers
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Dolores Smiller
Zhaoshun Xu
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