Education

2016-2020

PhD Candidate in Civil Engineering including a European Industrial Doctorate

Thesis Title: Characterisation of lightning strike induced damage in CFRP laminates and components for blades

2010-2012

Master of Science in Civil Engineering (Structural Mechanics)

Thesis Title: Application of Gröbner basis to geometrically nonlinear analysis of axisymmetric circular isotropic plates

2005-2009

Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering (Structural Mechanics)

Graduated Cum Laude

Awards and Honors

2019 British Society of Strain Measurements “Young Stress Analysts Award” Runner up

2017 International Conference on Lightning and Static Electricity “Best paper by young researcher award”

Work Experience

Jan 2019 – Present

University of Southampton

Experimental Officer Structures 2025

    • Testing and comparing high speed cameras for use with Digital Image Correlation
    • Development of testing rigs for use with hybrid tests
    • Buckling/Post-buckling test of discretely fibre steered carbon fibre/epoxy laminates

Jan 2016 – Jan 2019

University of Southampton

Marie Skłodowska-Curie Fellowship

    • Development and experimental validation of coupled thermal-electrical models for lightning strike induced damage in CFRP materials, which can make distinctions between fibre and resin damage.
    • The development and experimental validation of complex structural models to assess the load response, criteria for damage progression and residual strength of lightning strike damaged CFRP blade components and sub-structure.
    • Development of guidelines for design and proposal of novel lightning protection solutions tailored made for wind turbine utilising CFRP materials.
    • Experimental investigation of the effect of combined mechanical and lightning strike loading on representative CFRP blade component.
    • Full field imaging approach to examine the damage of CFRP materials subjected to a lightning strike event.
    • 18 months industrial experience among Boeing, LM Wind Power and Global Lightning Protection Services A/S (now Poly-Tech A/S)

Mar 2013 – Dec 2015

United Launch Alliance

Structural Engineer III (Centaur Weld Factory Support Department)

    • Performed strength analysis on Centaur Propellant Tank and accompanying secondary structure including but not limited to ducts, sumps, fill and drain, door assemblies using traditional methods (hand calculations from Bruhn, Roark, etc.) and finite elements methods (MSC Patran/FEMAP/Hypermesh and NX/MSC Nastran).
    • Engineering Material Review Board certification. Determined optimum repair methods and use as is disposition for non-conforming hardware.
    • Perform structural weld analysis on resistance, fillet and orbital tube welds. Obtained resistance welding certification. Developed weld schedules for resistance welds and orbital tube welds.
    • Group team member to develop and fly the first 3D printed flight hardware on a ULA launch vehicle which was designed and built in a 4-month time window.
    • Completed a 9-month engineering rotation in Centennial, CO at the ULA design center. Performed strength analysis on new design on both Centaur and Delta Cryogenic Second Stage, in which coordination between thermal, loads/dynamics, and design group was used to develop all the loading on the new design.

Jun 2011 – Mar 2013

United Launch Alliance

Structural Engineer II (Core Factory Support Department)

    • Conducted strength analysis on a variety of structures on both Atlas and Delta launch vehicles to determine margins of safety on non-conforming hardware, which lead to use as is or repair disposition for MRB personnel.
    • Review, check and analyse tooling drawings to maintain safety and structural integrity.
    • Cross-trained in the composite design group. Performed engineering drawing changes utilizing CAD modelling packages to change drawings (Unigraphics 4/8 and CREO) as well as developing change request summaries (CRS).
    • Tested equipment and hardware using Digital Image Correlation techniques to determine full field strain measurements in place of strain gages.
    • Cooperatively work with Tennessee Technological University to teach staff and students how to use their Digital Image Correlation unit. Continue to support projects including using the VIC-3D software to run test on cable, short beam shear test, and dog bone samples on high density foam.

May 2010-Aug 2010

Research Assistant at Shanghai Jiaotong University

International Research and Education in Engineering

National Science Foundation Program

    • Design and analysed a conceptual house which incorporated phase change materials, solar panels, and structural insulated panels. This effort was to design a house that is self sufficient just outside the Gobi desert. The project included coordinating with several graduate students as well as learning new programs which help analyse phase change materials and designing the house with help from an architect.
    • The second project included evaluating the 2010 World Expo Axis project in Shanghai, China for different uses after the completion of the world expo.

May 2007-Aug 2008

Crouch Engineering

Co-op Student/Engineering Assistant

    • Developed engineering drawings for several railway projects. These spanned from creating engineering drawings for spur tracks, railroad sidings, to shop drawings.
    • Conducted several Environmental Phase 1 Studies to determine where the sites would need environmental control, and past history of any environmental issues in the area. These surveys included going to the job site, finding deeds, interviewing the local community for past events and capturing the current state of the land.
    • Conducted a GPS Survey of an Entire Railway Holding Company Track which spanned from Pennsylvania to California. Over 800 miles of track was surveyed, I coordinated with the client, gather the data, and made it digital for use in drafting programs.

Skills and Knowledge

Computer Languages:

FORTRAN (including USFLD/UMAT ABAQUS functions), Python, Visual Basic


Software Packages:

MSC Patran, MSC Nastran, AutoCAD, ANSYS Suite, FEMAP, Tecplot, ArcGIS, Maple, Visual Analysis, STAAD, MATLAB, FEMAP, NASGRO, UniGraphics (NX4 & NX8), PTC CREO, OptiStruct, Hypermesh, VIC-3D, Macromedia Flash, Adobe Photoshop and MS Office

Knowledgeable Subject Areas:

Finite Element Analysis, Fibre Reinforced, Composites, Digital Image Correlation, Plate Theory, Advanced Computational Methods (Gröbner Basis), Composite Materials, 3D printing, Fracture Mechanics, Elasticity, Strength Analysis, Thermography, and Computed Tomography

Publications

“Damage in CFRP Composites Subjected to Simulated Lighting Strikes - Assessment of Thermal and Mechanical Responses.” Composites Part B: Engineering.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compositesb.2019.107298


“Application of Gröbner basis to geometrically nonlinear analysis of axisymmetric circular isotropic plates.” Tennessee Technological University Master’s Thesis. August 2014. Open Access. http://gradworks.umi.com/15/67/1567200.html


“Free Size Optimized for a Doubler Repair of a Gouge Type Defect on Uniaxially Loaded Composite Sandwich Structures.” Altair Technology Conference 2013. October 2013. http://www.altairatc.com/presentations/americas/United_Launch_Alliance.html

Presenter on webinar on optimization: “Webinar emphasizes optimization, analysis for space launch vehicles.” Compositeworld.com. May 2014. http://www.compositesworld.com/news/webinar-emphasizes-optimization-analysis-for-space-launch-vehicles

“Lightning Protection of CFRP Wind Turbine Blades - What Is the Dominant Cause of Failure : Specific Energy or Charge?” In International Conference on Lightning and Static Electricity, Nagoya, Japan, 1–5. September 2017.

“Damage Prediction of CFRP Materials Subjected to Lightning Strike.” In 21st International Conference on Composite Materials, Xi’an, China, 1–9. August 2017.

“Identification of lightning strike damage using Pulse Thermography through integration of thermal data”, Society of Experimental Mechanics Annual Conference. June 2018.

“Delamination prediction on CFRP materials subjected to a lightning strike”, European Conference on Composite Materials June 2018.

“Torsional Property Measurement for Polycarbonate using DIC Technique with 3D Printed Specimen.” iDICs Conference November 2015.