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Mark J. Schulz Associate Professor Department of Mechanical,Industrial, and Nuclear Engineering University of Cincinnati P.O. Box 210072, Cincinnati, OH 45221-0072 Tel: 513-556-4132 |
DR. SCHULZ’S research interests include structural control, integrating mechanical design and control, structural optimization, model correction, structural health monitoring, and nonlinear control. he has developed various Eigenstructure Assignment techniques for Mechanical Systems. these techniques are used to suppress vibration with active control, correct analytical structural models, and to optimize structural design. He also has industrial experience performing mechanical design, vibration, and stress analyses on many defense projects. this experience includes the analysis and design of composite radomes and reflectors, servo stabilization simulations for gimbaled antennas, vehicle response to nuclear weapon effects, and jitter analyses of space-based laser mirrors.
The current research of Dr. Schulz and his students at the Structural Mechanics and Control Research Laboratory is in the following areas:
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Structural Health Monitoring: Vibrometry techniques are being used to detect invisible delamination in composite materials and cracks in the interior of metallic structures. Experimentation is being performed using a transmittance function monitoring technique to accurately detect, locate, and quantify damage via changes in the vibration signature of the structure. This is a global method of non-destructive evaluation that can detect damage far away from a sensor location. An eight-channel DP-402 FIT analyzer and signal processing toolboxes in MATLAB are used to compute damage indicator values for the test structure. Structural health monitoring can extend the life of aging aircraft and civil infrastructure. |
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Nonlinear Design and Control: Efficient numerical algorithms and nonlinear control techniques are being developed to optimize the design of highly-flexible nonlinear. structures to reduce weight, suppress vibration, and increase fatigue life. Algorithms written using MATLAB and SIMULINK are downloaded into a Space controller and experiments are performed using piezoceramic "smart materials" for vibration suppression. |
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Modeling and Damage Detection of Composite Repaired Structures: Composite repair is used to patch cracks in aging aircraft and civil structures. Finite element modeling in MSC/ NASTRAN is used to characterize debonding of the patch and crack progression by analyzing the vibration signature of the structure. A goal is to develop an autonomous health monitoring system for repaired and new structures. |
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Automobile Crashworthiness Research: The crashworthiness of automobiles is being studied using large deformation finite element models and the LS-DYNA3D code. A deformable barrier analytical model is being verified to reduce the cost of simulating and performing vehicle collisions. |
