Acquisition of an Axial-Torsional Loading System for Civil, Mechanical and Materials Testing, 1999-2001, National Science Foundation (Co-PI with A. K. Ashmawy et al). This grant provides a universal MTS axial-torsional system with a digital controller and an array of fixtures including three and four point bend fixture, compression and tension fixtures, coefficient of friction fixture, and fastener testing fixture for ASTM F606 (NSF Grant No. 9977736 under Major Research Instrumentation Program).
Stress Analysis of a Mechanical Orange Harvesting Head, 1999, Florida Department of Citrus. This contract supports a stress analysis of the head from a mechanical orange harvesting machine. The goal is to make recommendations for design modifications to reduce component failures within the head.
Effect of Dimensional Thread Conformance on Bolt Yield and Tensile Strength, 1999, The Johnson Gage Company. This contract supports a series of tests to measure the yield and tensile strength of dimensionally conforming and nonconforming bolt and nut combinations. The test specimens consist of product with precisely controlled nuts and bolt pitch diameter, minor diameter, major diameter, lead, thread angle, helical deviation, front and back taper, and out of roundness.
Dynamic Analysis of a Flue Gas Desulfurization Outlet Seal Air Fan System, 1998-1999, Tampa Electric Company. This contract supports vibration analysis and isolation system design for an outlet seal air fan system.
Dynamic Analysis of a Fire Water Pump System, 1998, Tampa Electric Company. This contract supports a torsional analysis and assessment of a diesel engine driven fire water pump system.
Optimization of a Passenger Weight Measurement System, 1997-1998, Breed Technologies. This contract supports analyses of a passenger weight measurement system that will become an integrated part of an automotive air bag and belt restraint system. The specific tasks are to optimize the number and placement of the sensors in the existing system design, and to optimize the thickness and material of the floating plate component through stress analysis.
NSF Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers, 1996-2001, National Science Foundation. This award supports research that addresses pervasive issues involving dynamics of mechanical and structural systems with friction. The award also supports teaching activities including developing an engineering outreach web page, a graduate course on dynamics of systems with friction, and a graduate student industrial experience program (NSF Grant No. CMS-9629217 under Surface Engineering and Tribology Program).
Evaluation of Dimensional Size Conformance of Threaded Fasteners with Respect to Vibration-Induced Loosening, 1997-1998, The Johnson Gage Company. This contract supports a series of tests which examine the effect of dimensional size conformance of bolts and nuts on vibration-induced loosening. The test specimens consist of master bolts and nuts with precisely controlled nuts and bolt pitch diameter, minor diameter, major diameter, lead, thread angle, helical deviation, front and back taper, and out of roundness.
Thread Locker Life Tests, 1997-1998, Loctite Corporation. This contract supports research on assessing and quantifying the useful life of thread locking adhesives under dynamic loading environments. The goals are to develop an apparatus and test procedure for an accelerated vibration life test for threadlocking adhesives, and to use this life test to evaluate and compare various thread adhesives.
Modeling and Analysis of Automotive Seat Weight Sensors, 1997-1998, Breed Technologies. This contract supports finite element analyses of two different proposed seat weight sensors. The analyses are used to identify sources of sensor nonlinearity and to provide design modification recommendations.
Dynamic Analysis of a Water Cooling Tower Fan System, 1997-1998, Tampa Electric Company. The contract supports dynamic analyses aimed to identify and correct existing dynamic problems of water cooling tower fan systems.
Dynamic Analysis of Mechanical Airbag Sensor Systems, 1996-1997, Breed Technologies. This contract supports dynamic modeling and analysis of mechanical airbag sensors. The goal is to better understand the inherently nonlinear dynamic behavior of such systems and to propose design modification for improved performance.
Dynamics of Threaded Fasteners in Aircraft Components and Orthopaedic Fixations, 1995-1999, NSF Faculty Early Career Award. This grant supports innovative education activities as well as novel experiments and analyses of aircraft and orthopaedic assemblies. The goal is to develop guidelines and criteria for assembly design which minimize maintenance and failure due to vibration-induced fastener loosening (NSF Grant No. CMS-9501824 under Dynamic Systems and Control Program).
Dynamic Loosening and Tightening of Threaded Fasteners by Vibration, 1992-1995, NSF RIA. This grant resulted in a fundamental understanding of fastener dynamics and the development of useful dynamic fastener models. Experiments and analyses revealed that a loosening action, a tightening action or no action at all will occur when single-bolt assemblies are subjected to vibration; and that the resulting action is dependent upon the applied vibration and various joint characteristics (NSF Grant No. MSS 92-10331 under Dynamic Systems and Control Program).
Vibrations Equipment Grant, 1994, IMC Agrico. This grant resulted in the development of laboratory experiments for undergraduate and graduate courses in vibrations and system dynamics.
Vibration Analyzer Grant, 1994, MachineView. This grant provided a spectrum analyzer that is used for research and undergraduate laboratory experiments.
Chaotic Motion and Friction at Mechanical Joints, 1992, USF RCSG. Research from this support revealed that mechanical joints often exhibit micro-scale chaotic motion which can cause significant fluctuations in friction. The range of conditions for which this unpredictable behavior occurs was found to reduce with increasing pre-load.
Vibration Sensors Grant, 1992, PCB Piezotronics. This grant provided several accelerometers and associated instrumentation that is used for research and undergraduate laboratory experiments.