Alumni
Post-doctoral Researchers/Research Scientists Advised (1 Total)
Dr. Daniel Dopico, July 2012-Dec. 2013
Topic: Sensitivity Analysis of Multibody Systems
- Co-advised by Dr. Adrian Sandu
Associate Professor, University of La Coruña, Spain
Ph.D. Dissertations Directed (20 Total)
Adwait Dhananjay Verulkar, Feb. 16, 2024
Dissertation: “Optimal Design and Control of Multibody Systems with Friction”
Motorsports Vehicle Dynamics Simulation Engineer at General Motors, Concord, NC, USA (06/24-present).
Mohit Nitin Shenvi, Feb. 15, 2024
Dissertation: “Compacted Snow Testing Methodology and Instrumentation”
Development Engineer (Simulation/Analysis) at Sumitomo Rubber USA, Tonawanda, NY, USA (April 2024 - present).
Hoda Mousavi, Feb. 19, 2021
Dissertation: “Experimental Characterization and Modeling of Tire-Ice Interface”
Senior Research Engineer at Yokohama Tire Corporation, Charlotte, NC, USA (August 2022 - present).
Associate, Vehicle Engineering Practice, Exponent Inc., Atlanta, GA, USA (April 2021 - August 2022).
Rui He, Dec. 13, 2019
Dissertation: “Systematic Tire Testing and Model Parameterization for Tire Traction on Soft Soil”
Senior Software Engineer in Test at MathWorks at Natick, MA, USA (May 2023 - present).
Senior Dynamics Control Engineer at Rivian, Irvine, CA, USA (April 2022 - April 2023).
Vehicle Controls Engineer at Indigo Technologies Inc., Boston, MA, USA (October 2020 - April 2022).
Volunteer research assistant at TMVS, Blacksburg, VA, USA, (December 2019 - September 2020).
Sterling McBride Granda, Aug. 16, 2019
Dissertation: “A Wave Propagation Approach for Prediction of Tire-Pavement Interaction Noise”
- Co-advised by Dr. Ricardo Burdisso
Research Engineer at Cooper Tire & Rubber Company, San Austin, Texas, USA, (August 2019 - present).
Emilio Jimenez, Mar. 15, 2018
Dissertation: “Experimental Study of Tractive Performance of Tires on Ice and Advanced Tire-Ice Interface Model Development”
Product Engineer at Navistar, Lisle, IL, USA (September 2020 - present).
Sr. Product Development Engineer (May 2018 - September 2020), Navistar, Lisle, IL, USA.
Sebastien M. Corner, Feb. 14, 2018
Dissertation: “Modeling, Sensitivity Analysis, and Optimization of Hybrid, Constrained Mechanical Systems”
- Co-advised by Dr. Adrian Sandu
Racing and Multibody Dynamics Engineer at Pratt and Miller, Huntersville, NC, USA, (May 2018 - present).
Tan Li, July 19, 2017
Dissertation: “Tire-Pavement Interaction Noise (TPIN) Modeling using Artificial Neural Network (ANN)”
- Co-advised by Dr. Ricardo Burdisso
Sr. Engineer, NVH and Vehicle Dynamics Technical Lead at Maxxis Technology Center, Maxxis International, Suwanee, GA, USA, (August 2017 - present).
Shahyar Taheri, Aug. 28, 2015
Dissertation: “A Hybrid Soft Soil Tire Model (HSSTM) for Vehicle Mobility and Deterministic Performance Analysis in Terramechanics Applications”
- Co-advised by Dr. Saied Taheri
VP, Sr. Data Scientist at Wells Fargo, Charlotte, NC, USA (April 2019 - present).
Sr. Data Scientist, Pratt and Miller, Raleigh, NC, USA (September 2017 - 2018).
Sr. Technical Specialist, Pratt and Miller, New Hudson, MI, USA, (September 2015 - August 2017).
Mohammad “Mehran” Motamedi, Aug. 26, 2015
Dissertation: “Road Surface Measurement and Multi-scale Modeling of Rubber-Road Contact and Adhesion”
- Co-advised by Dr. Saied Taheri
Lead Program Engineer, European OE Tire, Bridgestone Americas, Akron, OH, USA (August 2019 - present).
Sr. Engineer, Advanced Systems Engineering, Bridgestone Americas, Akron, OH, USA, (September 2015 - September 2019).
Anudeep Kishore Bhoopalam, July 29, 2015
Dissertation: “Pneumatic Tire Performance on Ice”
- Co-advised by Dr. Saied Taheri
Innovative Research Engineer, Mobility Technology Advancement, Giti Tire R&D Center (North America) Inc., Charlotte, NC, USA (January 2016 - present).
Virginia Tech Transportation Institute (VTTI), Blacksburg, VA, USA, (August 2015 - Decmeber 2015).
Yitao Zhu, Dec. 5, 2014
Dissertation: “Sensitivity Analysis and Optimization of Multibody Systems”
- Co-advised by Dr. Adrian Sandu
CAE Engineer at General Motors, Royal Oak, MI, USA (April 18 - present).
Drivetrain MBD CAE Engineer, Optimal CAE/Ford Motor Co., Ann Arbor, MI, USA, (January 2015 - April 2018).
Jeremy J. Kolansky, March 18, 2014
Dissertation: “Real-Time Ground Vehicle Parameter Estimation and System Identification for Improved Stability Controllers”
Research Faculty, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, USA (May 2020 -present).
Sr. Professional Staff, Johns Hopkins, Baltimore, MD, USA (March 2018 - May 2018).
Chief Scientist, aXion Applied Technology, Bristow, VA, USA (February 2016 - March 2018).
Sr. Research Engineer, Vista Research, Arlington, VA, USA (September 2014 - February 2016).
Anake Umsrithong, Feb. 10, 2012
Dissertation: “Deterministic and Stochastic Semi-Empirical Transient Tire Models”
Small business owner in Thailand (February 2012 - present).
Joseph T. Hays, Aug. 25, 2011
Dissertation: “Parametric Optimal Design of Uncertain Dynamical Systems”
- Co-advised by Dr. Adrian Sandu and Dr. Dennis Hong
Robotics Engineer, U.S. Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, DC, USA (August 2011 - present).
HyunWook Lee, Aug. 31, 2010
Dissertation: “A Polynomial Chaos Approach for Stochastic Modeling of Dynamic Wheel-Rail Friction”
Sr. Researcher at Korean Railroad Research Institute, Seoul, South Korea (May 2014 - present).
Sr. Engineer at Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. Seoul, South Korea (August 2010 - April 2014).
Carmine Senatore, May 3, 2010
Dissertation: “Prediction of Mobility, Handling, and Tractive Efficiency of Wheeled off-Road Vehicles”
- Co-advised by Dr. Shane Ross
Associate Vehicle Engineering Practice, Exponent Inc., Natick, MA, USA (September 2014 - present).
Post-doctoral researcher/research scientist at MIT, Cambridge, MA, USA (May 2010 - August 2014).
Emmanuel D. Blanchard, March 26, 2010
Dissertation: “Polynomial Chaos Approaches to Parameter Estimation and Control Design for Mechanical Systems with Uncertain Parameters”
- Co-advised by Dr. Adrian Sandu
Sr. Application Engineer, The MathWorks Australia, Sydney, Australia (July 2018 - present).
Sr. Training Engineer, The MathWorks Australia, Sydney, Australia (August 2014 - July 2018).
Lecturer at School of Mechanical, Materials & Mechatronic, University of Wollongong, Australia (August 2010 - August 2014).
Lin Li, Sept. 16, 2008
Dissertation: “Treatment of Uncertainties in Vehicle and Terramechanics Systems Using a Polynomial Chaos Approach”
Technical Specialist, Nikola Motor Company, Phoenix, AZ, USA (March 2021 - present).
Sr. Analysis & Simulation Engineer, Liebherr Mining Equipment, Norfolk, VA, USA (September 2008 - February 2021).
Brendan J. Chan, Jan. 14, 2008
Dissertation: “Development of an Off-Road Capable Tire Model for Vehicle Dynamics Simulations”
Chief Engineer at Oshkosh Corp, USA (October 19 - present).
Adv. Technologies - ADAS/Autonomy Technical Lead, Navistar, Lisle, IL, USA, (October 2017 - October 2019).
Technical Specialist/Manager - Vehicle Dynamics and ADAS, Navistar, Lisle, IL, USA, (January 2016 - October 2017).
Sr. Team Lead – CAE Multibody Dynamic Simulation, Navistar, Lisle, IL, USA, (May 2012 - January 2016).
Staff Engineer at Bendix Commercial Vehicle Sys. LLC, Elyria, OH, USA (November 2008 - May 2012).
Test Engineer at Robert Bosch, MI, USA (January 2008 - November 2008).
M.S. Students Graduated (24 Total)
Nikhil Ravichandran, February 2024
Thesis: “Off-road tire performance on non-cohesive soil under combined slip conditions and 3D tire footprint investigation”
Test Engineer at Smithers. (07/24 - Present)
Chance Bisquera, December 2021
Thesis: “Design of an Ankle Exoskeleton Employing Dual Action Plantarflexion Assistance and Gait Progression Detection”
Product Design Engineer at Stellar Exploration Inc. (05/22-Present)
Adwait Dhananjay Verulkar, May 2021
Thesis: “Direct Sensitivity Analysis of Spatial Multibody Systems with Joint Friction”
PhD student at VT since Fall 2021.
Xiangtong Chen, Aug. 2020
Thesis: “Tire Footprint Analysis Based on Image Processing Techniques"
Volunteer researcher at TMVS (August 2020 - December 2020).
Mohit Nitin Shenvi, Aug. 2020
Thesis: “Comparative Study of the Effect of Tread Rubber Compound on Tire Performance on Ice”
Ph.D. student at VT since Fall 2020.
Lucas Daniel Spies, May 2019
Thesis: “Machine-Learning based tool to predict Tire Noise using both Tire and Pavement Parameters”
- Co-advised with Dr. Ricardo Burdisso
PhD student at VT since Fall 2019.
Aamir Khusru Khan, Sept. 2017
Thesis: “Design and Implementation of a Clutch and Brake System for a Single Wheel Indoor Tire Testing Rig”
Mechanical Design Engineer at ASML, Greater New York Area, NY, USA (08/18-present).
Mechanical Design Engineer at Engineering Resource Group, Inc., NJ, USA (December 2017 - August 2018).
Jianxiong Feng, Feb. 2017
Thesis: “Separation of Tread-pattern Noise in Tire-pavement Interaction noise”
- Co-advised by Dr. Ricardo Burdisso
Ph.D. student at Purdue University (August 2017 - present).
Shahyar Taheri, May 2014
Thesis: “Finite Element Modeling of Tire-Terrain Dynamic Interaction for Full Vehicle Simulation Applications”
- Co-advised with Dr. Saied Taheri
VP, Sr. Data Scientist at Wells Fargo, Charlotte, NC, USA (04/19-present).
Sr. Data Scientist, Pratt and Miller, Raleigh, NC, USA (09/17-18).
Sr. Technical Specialist, Pratt and Miller, New Hudson, MI, USA (September 2015 - August 2017).
Scott Naranjo, June 2013
Thesis: “Experimental Investigation of the Tractive Performance of an Instrumented off-Road Tire on a Soft Soil Terrain”
Robotics Engineer for Advanced Technology & Research Corp., Beltsville, MD, USA (February 2019 - present).
Aberdeen Testing Center (July 2014 - January 2019).
Naranjo Brothers Construction Corp., Virginia Beach, VA, USA (June 2013-June 2014).
Elizabeth G. (Armstrong) Owen, June 2013
Thesis: “Investigation into Use of Piezoelectric Sensors in a Wheeled Robot Tire for Surface Characterization”
Autonomous Vehicle Platform Engineer (August 2018 - present).
Crash Safety Engineer (May 2016 - August 2018).
Product Development Body Exterior Ford College Graduate at Ford Motor Co., Ann Arbor, MI, USA (September 2013 - May 2016).
Christopher P. Johnson, Apr. 2012
Thesis: “Comparative Analysis of Lightweight Robotic Wheeled and Tracked Vehicle”
Generation Engineer III (February 2019 - present); Generation Engineer II (March 2018 - February 2019); Fuel Engineer at Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association, Inc., Denver, CO (February 2015 - May 2018).
Systems Engineer, Dominion, Surrey County, VA (December 2012 - February 2015).
Power Systems Engineer, BAE Systems, Washington D.C., USA (June 2012 - December 2012).
Eduardo J. Pinto, Feb. 2012
Thesis: “A Three Dimensional Discretized Tire Model for Soft Soil Applications”
Sub Gerente de Operaciones de Servicio (January 2019 - present); Sub Gerente de Operaciones de Venta y Usados at Maquinaria y Tractores Ltda, Costa Rica (October 2017 - January 2019).
Gerente Agricola/Maquinaria at Ingenio Costa Rica S.A., Costa Rica (April 2013 - September 2017).
Product Validation Engineer, Cummins Inc., North Charleston, SC., USA (February 2012 - May 2013).
Adam C. Woodward, June 2011
Thesis: “Experimental Analysis of the Effects of the Variation of the Drawbar Pull Test Parameters for Exploration Vehicles on GRC-1 Lunar Soil Simulant”
Chief Operating Officer, Pro ATM, New Castle, PA, USA (November 2020 - present).
Enterprise Data Governence & Data Quality Leader, PNC, Pittsburg, PA, USA (April 2018 - November 2020).
Solutions Manager/Strategic Account Manager, Signals Analytics, Pittsburg, PA, USA (September 2015 - January 2018).
Co-Founder and Adviser, Didius LLC, Pittsburg, PA, USA (January 2015-January 2018).
Director of Marketing (2014 - 2015); New Venture Specialist (2013 - 2015); New Business & Technology Development Lead at Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company, Cleveland/Akron, OH, USA (June 2011 - 2013).
Troy N. Holley, Sept. 2010
Thesis: “Experimental Analysis of the Pneumatic Tire Friction on Ice”
Software and Systems Engineer at The John Hopkins Univ. Applied Physics Lab, Washington D.C., USA (June 2019 - present).
Software and Systems Engineer at U.S. Naval Research Lab, Washington, D.C., USA, (May 2015 - June 2019).
Systems Engineer at NAVSEA, Washington, D.C., USA, (September 2010 - May 2015).
Benjamin P. Taylor, July 2009
Thesis: “Experimental Evaluation and Semi-Empirical Modeling of the Tractive Performance of Rigid and Flexible Wheels on Lunar Soil Simulant”
Global Parts Marketing & Aftermarket Engineering Manager /Product Manager-Reclaim Feeders at Komatsu Mining Corp., Lexington, KY (September 2017 - present).
Engineering Technical Lead at Caterpillar Inc., Peoria, IL, USA (October 2012 - July 2017).
Application Engineer for Articulated Truck Traction Control at Belcan Engineering, Peoria, IL, USA (June 2010 - September 2012).
Heavener’s, Blacksburg, VA, USA (July 2009 - September 2009).
James B. Allen, May 2009
Thesis: “Estimating Uncertainties in the Joint Reaction Forces of Construction Machinery”
Harris Corporation, USA (March 2018 - present).
OrbitalATK, USA (May 2015 - March 2018).
Mantech International Corporation, USA (August 2014 - May 2015).
Logos Technologies, Merrifield, VA, USA (February 2013 - March 2014).
US Postal Service, Merrifield, VA, USA (May 2012 - February 2013).
QuantaDyn, Sterling, VA, USA (May 2009 - May 2012).
Brian J. Sperry, May 2009
Thesis: “Complex Bogie Modeling Incorporating Advanced Friction Wedge Components”
Engineer at ENSCO, Springfield, VA, USA (October 2010 - present).
Mechanical Supervisor at Norfolk Southern, Altoona, PA, USA (July 2009 - October 2010).
Richard C. Lee, May 2009
Thesis: “Stochastic Terrain and Soil Modeling for Off-Road Mobility Studies”
Director of Operations at Pantheon Integrated Solutions Inc., Arlington, VA, USA (December 2017 - present), Cost Team Lead at NAVSEA, Washington, D.C., USA (May 2014 - November 2017).
Cost Analyst at Technomics, Arlington, VA, USA (September 2009 - April 2014).
Brent S. Ballew, May 2008
Thesis: “Advanced Multibody Dynamics Modeling of the Freight Train Truck System”
Research Engineer at Norfolk Southern, Roanoke, VA, USA (January 2009 - present).
Marilyn E. Worley, June 2007
Thesis: “Experimental Study on the Mobility of Lightweight Vehicles on Sand”
- Co-advised by Dr. Dennis Hong
Engineering Specialist, Excavation Division (August 2016 - present).
Senior Engineer, Global Engine Development – North America (April 2013 - July 2016).
Engineer, Integrated Powertrain Systems (January 2009 - March 2013).
Senior Associate Engineer, Engineering Rotational Development Program, Caterpillar, Peoria, IL, USA (August 2007 - December 2008).
Jennifer M. (Steets) Zahaczewski, May 2007
Thesis: “A Multibody Dynamics Approach to the Modeling of the Friction Wedge Elements for Freight Train Suspensions”
Staff Engineer/ Project Manager at ENSCO, Chambersburg, VA, USA (August 2007 - present).
Erik R. Andersen, May 2007
Thesis: “Multibody Dynamics Modeling and System Identification for a Quarter-Car Test Rig with McPherson Strut Suspension”
Computer Aided Engineer – Functional Body Systems (October 2011 - present).
Engineer – Functional Body Systems at Toyota, Detroit, MI, USA (May 2007 - October 2011).
Russell Richards, Feb. 2007
Thesis: “Comparison of Linear, Nonlinear, Hysteretic, and Probabilistic MR Damper Models”
President at Quality Assurance Services Inc., Grand Rapids, MI, USA (December 2017 - present).
BFO – Suspension and Structure at General Motors, Detroit, MI, USA (February 2007 - November 2017).
Non-Thesis M.S. Students Graduated (2 Total)
David Blankenship, December 2022
Thesis: “Implementation of a Finite State Machine into the Gait Tracking Progression System of an Assistive Ankle Exoskeleton”
Ph.D. student at VT (January 2023 - present)
Gabriel Enrique García Chávez, December 2022
Thesis: “Controlling Sliding with Friction Contacts
& Sensitivities in Optimization”
Ph.D. student at VT (January 2023 - present)
Major Undergraduate Research Projects (ME 4994, 34 Total)
- Pedro Vidovic, “Investigation of Soil Testing, Parameterization, and Methods for Assessing Tire Performance on Soft Soil”, Spring 2018.
- GyeongMin (Terra) Lee, “Brake System Design and Development for the Terramechanics Rig”, Fall 2015.
- Tyler Dick, “Indoor Performance Evaluation of Pneumatic Tires on Soil and Ice”, Spring 2015.
- Mei Bandy, “Assembly and Calibration of a Bevameter”, Fall 2014.
- Yuta Yoshimura, “Terramechanics Rig Enhancement, Ice Preparation, and Testing of Pneumatic Tires on Ice (II)”, Spring 2014.
- Amaar Ahmed, “Tire Parameterization Study using Modal Analysis and Field Testing”, Fall 2013.
- Yuta Yoshimura, “Terramechanics Rig Enhancement, Ice Preparation, and Testing of Pneumatic Tires on Ice (I)”, Fall 2013.
- Michael Smith, “Performance of Pneumatic Tires on Silty Sand (II)”, Summer II, 2012.
- Michael Smith, “Performance of Pneumatic Tires on Silty Sand (I)”, Summer I, 2012.
- Matt Givens, “Experimental Study for the Performance of Pneumatic Tires on Sandy Loam – continuation”, Fall 2011.
- Matt Givens, “Experimental Study for the Performance of Pneumatic Tires on Sandy Loam”, Summer I 2011.
- Robert Winslow, “Drawbar Pull Study for Lunar Rover Wheels. Continuation”, Spring 2010.
- Scott Naranjo, “Study of Pneumatic Tires Traction on Ice”, Spring 2010.
- Robert Winslow, “Drawbar Pull Study for Lunar Rover Wheels”, Fall 2009.
- Khaled Adjerid, “Experimental Mobility Study for Lunar Rover Wheel Prototypes”, Summer I, 2008.
- Sarah O’Neill, “Calibration of the Terramechanics Rig”, Fall 2007.
- Shannon Richardson, “Experimental Tire Mechanics and Multibody Dynamics Simulations with LMS Virtual Lab”, Fall 2007.
- Sarah O’Neill, “Stress and Fatigue Analysis of the Tire Mechanics Rig”, Summer II 2007.
- Sturges Wheeler, “Assembly and Calibration of the Terramechanics Rig”, Summer II 2007.
- Sarah O’Neill, “Experimental Study for the Mobility of an ATV on Dry and Wet Sand”, Summer I 2007.
- Sturges Wheeler, “Data Collection and Analysis for the Mobility of an ATV in off-road Conditions”, Summer I 2007.
- Ethan Bloomfield, “Design of Carriage and Actuation Components for a Terramechanics Test Rig”, Spring 2007.
- Ray Craft, “Testing Support for Analyzing the Mobility of Light Vehicles on Sand”, Spring 2007.
- Michael Glemming, “Design of the Carriage for the Terramechanics Test Rig”, Spring 2006.
- Marilyn Worley, “Measuring the Pressure Distribution in the Tire Contact Patch using Tire Footprint Pressure Measurement Systems”, Spring 2005.
- Alexis Berkowitz, “Tracked Vehicle Dynamics Simulation in Mambo”, Spring 2005.
- Corbin Clawson, “Actuation of Tires and Other Attachments for the Terramechanics Test Rig”, Spring 2005.
- Brian Lee, “Design of a Terramechanics Rig. Part II: Ice testing capabilities”, Spring 2005.
- Marilyn Worley, “Measuring and Predicting the Pressure Distribution in the Tire Contact Patch”, Fall 2004.
- Alexis Berkowitz, “Advanced Brake Light System Performance Improvement”, (co-advised with Prof. M. Ahmadian)”, Fall 2004.
- Corbin Clawson, “Measuring the Forces and Torques at the Wheel, using a 6-Axis Wheel Load Measurement System”, Fall 2004.
- Brian Lee, “Design of a Terramechanics Rig. Part I: Basic Capabilities”, Fall 2004.
- Marilyn Worley, “Vehicle Dynamics Simulation in Dymola”, Spring 2004.
- Brendan J. Chan, “A Ray-tracing Approach to Simulation and Evaluation of a Real-time Quarter Car Model with Semi-active Suspension System using Matlab”, 2003, Michigan Tech, Houghton, MI.
Work Study Projects (2 Total)
- Daniel Mead, “Terramechanics Rig Enhancements. Part II”, Spring 2014.
- Daniel Mead, “Terramechanics Rig Enhancements”, Fall 2013.
Honor Theses (UH 4994, 1 Total)
- Erin Hissong, “Design and Construction of an off-Road Tire Testing Attachment for a Quarter-Car Test Rig and of a Friction Wedge Prototype”, May 2007.
Undergraduate Students Mentored for Research (2 Total)
- Austin Gardner (Fall 2018-Spring 2019, freshman)
- Dylan Guy (Fall 2018-Spring 2019, freshman)
Major Non-thesis Project (ME 5974, 1 Total)
- Davide Pezzia, “Mobility Analysis for Lunar Rover Wheels”, Spring 2008.
NSF REU Students Advised (6 Total)
- Alexander Thai, “Designing a Brake System for the Terramechanics Rig and Outdoor Testing on Deformable Terrain”, May-Aug. 2015.
- August Valentour, “Development of a Wireless Sensor for Real-Time Measurement of Tire Deflection”, May-Aug. 2015
- Mei Bandy, “Design and Fabrication of a Bevameter. Pressure-sinkage”, May-Aug. 2014.
- Afton White, “Design and Fabrication of a Bevameter. Shear Stress-Shear Displacement”, May-Aug. 2014.
- Daniel Mead, “Enhancement of Terramechanics Rig and Tire-Ice Studies”, May–Aug. 2013.
- Douglas Arendt, “Modal Analysis for Tire Parameterization”, May – Aug. 2013.