Adaptive Structural System Synthesis with

Multi-Field Tailoring

Professor Kon-Well Wang

Chair, Department of Mechanical Engineering

University of Michigan

Abstract: During the past couple of decades, due to the advances in materials, electronics, and system integration technologies, structural dynamics researchers in various disciplines have been investigating the feasibility of creating adaptive structures (also known as smart structures or intelligent structures). The ultimate vision is to develop a structure that has built-in actuation, sensing, decision making, self-powered, self-diagnostic, and self-healing abilities. From a structural systems point of view, one of the major challenges in recent years is on how to best utilize the cross-field coupling characteristics of the active materials to optimally enhance the function of the overall integrated system. Many interesting phenomena have been explored and promising results have been illustrated. It is clear that to achieve significant advances in future adaptive structure research, the structural system researchers have to conduct even more cross talks with researchers in various other disciplines, such as biology, chemistry, electronics, materials, and nano science. This presentation will review some of the recent research efforts in adaptive structure enhancement via cross-field coupling synthesis and tailoring.

Bio sketch: Dr. Kon-Well Wang is the Department Chair and Stephen P. Timoshenko Professor of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, MI. After receiving his Ph.D. degree from the University of California at Berkeley in 1985, Dr. Wang worked at the General Motors Research Labs as a Senior Research Engineer. He started his career in academia as an Assistant Professor at the Pennsylvania State University in 1988. During his Penn State years, Professor Wang has served as the William E. Diefenderfer Chaired Professor in Mechanical Engineering, Director of the Structural Dynamics and Controls Lab, Associate Director of the Vertical Lift Research Center of Excellence, and Group Leader for the Center for Acoustics and Vibration. Dr. Wang joined the University of Michigan in June 2008. Professor Wang's major technical interests are in structural dynamics and vibration, and adaptive structural systems. He has published over 200 technical articles and is the holder of several patents in these areas. Professor Wang is a Fellow of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), and has received numerous recognitions for his accomplishments in research and education; including the ASME N.O. Myklestad Award for major innovative contribution to vibration engineering, the ASME Adaptive Structures and Materials Systems Prize for significant contributions to the advancement of the sciences associated with adaptive structures and/or material systems, the NASA Tech Brief Award, the Society of Automotive Engineers Ralph Teetor Award, the Penn State Engineering Society (PSES) Premier Research Award, and the PSES Outstanding Teaching Award. Dr. Wang has chaired the ASME Technical Committee on Vibration and Sound, and has been the General Chair to the Army Research Office Smart Structures Workshop and the SPIE Damping and Isolation Conference. He is currently the Chief Editor of the ASME Journal of Vibration and Acoustics and an Associate Editor for the Journal of Intelligent Material Systems and Structures.

Friday, January 9, 2009

3:30 – 4:30 p.m.

Rm. 1500 EECS