Research
Faculty Research Areas
Dr. Jason Ash has research interests in the interfacial mechanics of composite materials as well as biaxial testing of composite materials.
Dr. Cassandra Birrenkott studies the design, fabrication, and analysis of multifunctional structures and materials including: manufacturing of structures with multifunctional potential; coupling mechanical stimuli with varied automatic responses; transfer of mechanochemistry knowledge; and elicit responses such as optical, chemical, magnetic, energetic, etc. For more information, visit the Joining and Mechanics of Polymers (JMP) Lab.
Dr. Aaron Lalley’s current research activities include modeling chatter in VMC machining processes. Previous research includes: manufacturing process development for advanced solar cell production; ion implantation for enhanced tooling performance; nano-fiber composite modeling; novel tooling methods for thin metal coining; laser weld process control; and novel part handling.
Dr. Micah Lande is the E.R. Stensaas Chair for Engineering Education, and he leads the Holistic Engineering Learning Lab and Observatory (HELLO). His research interests include design education, design thinking and making, and engineering education research. Research projects include the educational pathways of makers, the role of prototyping in design thinking, and public participation in making and engineering. For more information, visit the HELLO Lab.
Dr. Pierre Larochelle’s core research interests are focused on the kinematics and design of complex robotic mechanical systems. For more information, visit the Robotics and Computational Kinematics Innovation (ROCKIN) Lab.
Dr. Cristián Vargas-Ordóñez focuses on epistemic justice and compassion in engineering, design reasoning and research to integrate knowledge, inclusion in engineering, trans and anti-disciplinary education, qualitative research methods, and practice-based research (PBR).
Dr. Pierre Larochelle’s core research interests are focused on the kinematics and design of complex robotic mechanical systems. For more information, visit the Robotics and Computational Kinematics Innovation (ROCKIN) Lab.
Dr. Daniel Rederth has research expertise in the area of nanoscale semiconductors. His recent work has focused on a numerical approach to modeling magnetic quantum dots.
Dr. Jason Ash has research interests in the interfacial mechanics of composite materials as well as biaxial testing of composite materials.
Dr. Cassandra Birrenkott studies the design, fabrication, and analysis of multifunctional structures and materials including: manufacturing of structures with multifunctional potential; coupling mechanical stimuli with varied automatic responses; transfer of mechanochemistry knowledge; and elicit responses such as optical, chemical, magnetic, energetic, etc. For more information, visit the Joining and Mechanics of Polymers (JMP) Lab.
Dr. Eunice Fu studies biodegradable composite materials, green manufacturing of lignocellulosic fiber, and life cycle assessment.
Dr. Prashant Jha's research areas are computational mechanics of solids and granular media and numerical methods. Dr. Jha is interested in developing and applying mathematical models and computational methods to key and present-day relevant engineering problems. His current focus includes the mechanics of functional soft and granular materials and the computational design of such materials.
Dr. Aaron Lalley’s current research activities include modeling chatter in VMC machining processes. Previous research includes: manufacturing process development for advanced solar cell production; ion implantation for enhanced tooling performance; nano-fiber composite modeling; novel tooling methods for thin metal coining; laser weld process control; and novel part handling.
Dr. Albert Romkes studies computational and applied mechanics and mathematics with an emphasis on: (multi-scale) modeling of heterogeneous media and multiphysics/interaction processes; numerical analysis of partial differential equations arising in continuum mechanics applications; development of finite element type methods of approximation; estimation of approximation and modeling error; and development of strategies for mesh-adaptive finite element processes.
Dr. Sonya Dick's interests are computational fluid dynamics of materials at high pressures (between 1 million to 100s billions times atmospheric pressure) with applications for inertial fusion, planetary interiors, and laboratory astrophyics.
Dr. Prasoon Diwakar studies laser-based diagnostics, plasma-particle interactions, plasma diagnostics, plasma spectroscopy, aerosol analysis and instrumentation, thermal sciences, and combustion diagnostics. For more information, visit the Laser Plasma Diagnostics Lab (LPDL).
Dr. Joseph Thalakkottor’s research is focused on gaining a deeper understanding of the nature, behavior, and effects of features existing at the limits of continuum field theory. Common examples of these features, which are often represented as discontinuities, are material or phase interface, vortex sheet, shock front, combustion front, and gravity wave, to name a few. These problems are intriguing and challenging at the same time as it is accompanied by rapid changes in scales, multi-physics, geometrical complexities, and fascinating chemical phenomena. He uses and develops theoretical and computational tools to study them. For more information, visit the Laboratory of Interfacial Transport (LIT).
Dr. Khosro Shahbazi studies computational and theoretical fluid dynamics; high-order hybrid methods for multiscale high-speed flows; high-order discontinuous Galerkin methods; multigrid algorithms and Newton-Krylov solvers; high performance scientific computing and parallel algorithms; compressible and incompressible fluid mechanics; shock/ultrasound wave bubble interactions and multi-phase flows.
Dr. Weibing Xing conducts research in electrochemical energy storage including primary lithium batteries, rechargeable Li-ion batteries, next-gen Li-ion batteries (Li metal anode, all-solid-sate), beyond-Li-ion battery chemistries (Li-S, Li-air), and supercapacitors (symmetric, asymmetric). His research interests include fundamental material-level study (electrodes, electrolytes, separators) and integrated system cell-level investigation/optimization. For additional information, please visit the Energy Storage Lab's website.
Related South Dakota Mines Labs and Research Centers
Energy Storage Lab (ESL)
Contact: Dr. Weibing Xing
Holistic Engineering Learning Lab and Observatory (HELLO)
Contact: Dr. Micah Lande
Joining and Mechanics of Polymers Lab (JMP)
Contact: Dr. Cassandra Birrenkott
Laboratory of Interfacial Transport (LIT)
Contact: Dr. Joseph John Thalakkottor
Laser Plasma Diagnostics Lab (LPDL)
Contact: Dr. Prasoon Diwakar
Robotics and Computational Kinematics Innovation Lab (ROCKIN)
Contact: Dr. Pierre Larochelle
Composite and Polymer Engineering Laboratory (CAPE)
Contact: Dr. David Salem
Arbegast Materials Processing and Joining Laboratory (AMP)
Contact: Dr. Grant Crawford
All South Dakota Mines Laboratories and Research Centers