Courses Taught at WPI

AE 5383 Composite Materials (2 credits)

This course covers the anisotropic constitutive behavior and micromechanics of composite materials, and the mechanics of composite structures at an introductory graduate level .Topics covered will be chosen from: classification of composites (reinforcements and matrices), anisotropic elasticity, composite micromechanics, effect of reinforcement on toughness and strength of composites, laminate theory, statics and buckling of laminated beams and plates, statics of laminated shells, residual stresses and thermal effects in laminates .

AE 4717 Fundamentals of Composite Materials (1/3 unit)

This course provides an overview of the processing techniques and mechanical behavior of composite materials relevant to aerospace applications . Topics in this course may include: classification of composites; elasticity of composite materials; the effect of reinforcements on strength and toughness; bonding mechanisms of interfaces in composite; fabrication methods for polymer-matrix composite materials; viscoelasticity and creep of composites; advanced composites materials (bio-composites, nano-composites) .

Recommended background: introductory material science (ES 2001), and introductory stress analysis (AE 2712 or equivalent)

AE 4712 Structural Dynamics (1/3 unit)

This course introduces the analysis of vibrations of flexible bodies encountered as elements of aircraft and space structures . Topics include: modeling of aerospace structures with lumped parameters using Newton’s Law and Lagrange’s equations, free- and forced- vibration response of single degree of freedom systems and multi-degree of freedom systems, design of simplified vibration absorption systems, dynamic testing, modal analysis for determining structural response of lumped and continuous systems .

Recommended background: dynamics (ES 2503, PH 2201, PH2202 or equivalent), control (AE 3713 or equivalent), aerospace structures (AE 3712 or equivalent) .

MQPs Advised at WPI

Design of Micro-Rover for Lunar Polar Exploration (2022-23)

Design And Testing of Lattice Structures for Noise Reduction (2021-22)

Systematic Exploration of Cellular Lattice Structures for Aerospace Applications (2020-21)

Mechanical Design, Structural and Thermal Analysis for a 6U eLEO CubeSat (2019-20)

Influence of Interfacial adhesion on mechanical properties of AM based polymer-metal composites (2018-19) (Winner of the Aerospace Engineering MQP award)

Development of Experimental Apparatus for Composite Material Testing (2018-19) (Honorable Mention for Aerospace Engineering MQP award)

Quasi-Static and Dynamic Testing of Composite Materials (2017-18)

Design of a Split Hopkinson Pressure Bar For dynamic testing of materials  (2016-17)