2012–2013 UNIVERSITY CATALOG - Florida Institute of Technology

DeParTmeNT oF meChaNiCaL aND aerosPaCe
eNgiNeeriNg
Pei-feng Hsu, Ph.D., Head
Associate Head
Daniel R. Kirk, Ph.D.
Degree Programs
Aerospace Engineering, B.S.
Aerospace Engineering, M.S.
Areas of Specialization:
Aerodynamics and Fluid Dynamics
Aerospace Structures and Materials
Combustion and Propulsion
Aerospace Engineering, Ph.D.
Mechanical Engineering, B.S.
Mechanical Engineering, M.S.
Areas of Specialization:
Automotive Engineering
Biomedical Engineering
Dynamic Systems, Robotics and Controls
Structures, Solid Mechanics and Materials
Thermal-Fluid Sciences
Mechanical Engineering, Ph.D.
Professors
Guy A. Boy, Ph.D., University Professor, human-centered design,
cognitive engineering, cockpit design/evaluation, air traffic management,
human factors in aerospace engineering, advanced interaction media, lifecritical
systems, technological and organizational automation, knowledge
management, complex systems, modeling and simulation, technical and
operational documentation, information systems.
Martin Glicksman, Ph.D., Allen S. Henry Chair and University
Professor of Engineering, solidification of metals and semiconductors,
atomic diffusion processes, energetics and kinetics of material interfaces,
microstructure evolution.
Pei-feng Hsu, Ph.D., micro/nanoscale radiation transfer, radiative and
multimode heat transfer, premixed combustion in porous ceramics,
numerical methods in heat transfer, pulsed laser applications in medical
imaging and material property diagnostics, thermal systems designs (heat
exchangers, HVAC).
Pierre M. Larochelle, Ph.D., P.E., synthesis and analysis of mechanisms and
machines, design and control of robotic manipulators, theoretical kinematics,
design of spherical and spatial mechanisms, computer-aided design.
T. Dwayne McCay, Ph.D., low-density gas dynamics, high-speed flows,
propulsion systems, laser interaction with materials.
Kunal Mitra, Ph.D., thermal fluid science laser applications, thermal
radiation, microscale heat transfer, material processing, bio-heat transfer,
biomedical imaging, laser-based systems, photovoltaic and hybrid systems.
Chelakara S. Subramanian, Ph.D., P.Eng. (U.K.), boundary layer roughness,
energy systems, film cooling, turbulence measurement and analysis, wind
tunnel testing, wireless sensor network.
Research Professor
Mary H. McCay, Ph.D., P.E., metallurgy, crystal growth, laser interaction
with materials.
Associate Professors
David C. Fleming, Ph.D., structural mechanics, advanced composite
materials, crashworthy aerospace vehicle design, finite element analysis,
fracture mechanics.
Hector M. Gutierrez, Ph.D., P.E., mechatronics, nonlinear control,
electromechanical systems, electromechanical energy conversion, magnetic
suspension systems, computer-based instrumentation, computer-aided
engineering of control systems.
140 Florida Tech
Daniel R. Kirk, Ph.D., fluid mechanics, heat transfer, combustion, airbreathing
propulsion, chemical and nuclear thermal rocket propulsion,
shock tube flow experimentation, high-speed aerodynamics, internal flows,
superconductivity for launch assist, spacecraft shielding, energy storage and
propulsion.
Paavo Sepri, Ph.D., fluid mechanics, turbulence, convective heat transfer,
boundary layers, aerodynamics, wind tunnel testing, droplet combustion,
computational fluid dynamics.
Yahya I. Sharaf-Eldeen, Ph.D., P.E., modeling/simulation/design of dynamic
systems, advanced dynamics, vibration, design of machinery, thermal-fluid
sciences, energy/power systems.
Assistant Professors
Mark R. Archambault, Ph.D., rocket combustion and propulsion, rocket fuel
injector modeling, computational fluid dynamics, multi-phase fluid flow, spray
and particulate dynamics, hydrogen fuel cell modeling.
Razvan Rusovici, Ph.D., structural dynamics, smart material applications,
damping modeling, vibration and acoustics, sensors and instrumentation,
experimental modal analysis, turbomachinery, biomechanics.
Shengyuan Yang, Ph.D., cell and tissue mechanics and mechano-
biology, micro- and nano-electromechanical systems (MEMS/NEMS),
bio-MEMS/NEMS.
Ju Zhang, Ph.D., computational fluid dynamics, combustion, detonation,
solid rocket and propellant propulsion, planetary astrophysics.
Adjunct Faculty
M. Guvendick, Ph.D.; B. Vu, Ph.D.; L. Weaver, Ph.D.; D. Willard, M.S.
Professors Emeriti
Thomas E. Bowman, Ph.D.; John J. Engblom, Ph.D., P.E.;
John M. Russell, Sc.D.; Palmer C. Stiles, M.S.
mission statement
The mission of the mechanical and aerospace engineering department
is to prepare our students to be successful professionals in
the global industrial, research and/or academic environment. This
is achieved via developing curricula that enable students to achieve
four education objectives: academic fundamentals, engineering
practices, teamwork and communication, and professional development.
Graduates of the mechanical and aerospace engineering
department are equipped with the knowledge and capabilities to
solve real-world engineering problems and to advance the state-ofthe-art
in their selected fields.
UNDERGRADUATE DEGREE PROGRAMS
Undergraduate Programs Chair
Chelakara S. Subramanian, Ph.D.
Aerospace Engineering, B.S. ___________________
major Code: 7044 Degree awarded: Bachelor of Science
age restriction: N admission status: undergraduate
Delivery mode/s: classroom only Location/s: main campus
The field of aerospace engineering has grown rapidly in recent
decades to assume a vital role in modern human endeavors.
Ranging from manned lunar excursions, exploration of the solar
system and ecological study of Earth, to beneficial commerce on
space stations and high-quality products for humans and military
concerns, the contributions from the aerospace engineering profession
have been profound. Aerospace engineers are currently
involved in space station operations and are expected to take part
in future moon-base and space station missions, as well as manned