Department of Mechanical Engineering

Dan Inman


Dan Inman


Goodson Professor
Director, Center for Intelligent Material Systems & Structures

315 Durham Hall
540-231-4709
540-231-2903- FAX
dinman@vt.edu



Education Research
Teaching
Experience
Honors
Publications


Education

Ph.D. Mechanical Engineering Michigan State University 1980
M.A.T. Physics Michigan State University 1975
B.S. Physics Grand Valley State College 1970

 

Research

  • Solving Vibration and Control Problems Using Smart Structures
  • Energy Harvesting (AFOSR/Acellent Technologies/ Extreme Diagnostics, Inc):
    -   The use of smart materials to capture ambient energy for use in small electronics and     wireless sensors
    -  Methods focus on harvesting vibration and thermal energy using piezoelectric,  thermal     electric and photovoltaic materials and devices

  • Morphing Aircraft Structures (AFRL/Barron Associates/AVID, LCC):
    -   Modeling and control theory of changing wing properties for flight and mission control
    -   Using smart materials for adaptive control surfaces for flight

  • Dynamics and Control of Membrane Optics (AFOSR):
     -  Use of macro fiber composites for controlling membrane mirror surface properties

  • Smart Materials and Structural Health Monitoring (NSF/NASA/Extreme Diagnostics):
    -   Use of monitoring techniques with smart materials for wireless damage assessment

  • Bio Inspired Sensor Nodes (ONR)

    -   Use of piezoceramic based composite actuators to simulate the motion of a jellyfish to serve as a base for sensor buoys

Projects in CIMSS are funded by the Office of Naval Research, the Air Force Office of Scientific Research, NIST, NASA and the National Science Foundation.  CIMSS also houses the newly created Center for Energy Harvesting Materials and Systems, and NSF and corporate sponsored center looking at various energy harvesting problems in concert with member corporations.  There 5 faculty and about 30 graduate students in CIMSS.

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Teaching Activities

  • ME 5514 Vibration of Mechanical Systems: This course continues the study of the dynamics of mechanical systems started in the required undergraduate course ME 3504. This course will investigate multiple degree-of-freedom and continuous systems. Eigenvalue-vector, steady-state, and transient response will be treated. Lagrangian methods for equation of motion development as well as an introduction to nonlinear and random vibrations are included. Pre: 3504. (3H,3C) I.
  • ME 5984 Smart Structures
  • ME 3504 Dynamic System Vibration: Principles of dynamic system modeling with emphasis on second order mechanical systems. Harmonic and nonharmonic vibrations of single and multi-degree of freedom systems. Applications of computer simulation and analysis techniques in vibrations. Pre: MATH 2214, ESM 2304. (3H,3C). II,III.
  • ME 5984 Advanced Engineering Vibrations
  • ESM 4074 Vibration and Control: Single-degree-of-freedom vibration, two- and n-degree-of-freedom systems, continuous systems, introduction to nonlinear systems, system stability, introduction to the control of dynamic systems. Pre: 3124, MATH 4564. (3H,3C) I.
  • Independent Study (5-10 offerings per year on vibration and control)
  • Undergrad Statics
  • Undergrad Dynamics
  • Graduate Dynamics

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Experience

(Selected)

G. R. Goodson Endowed Professor Dept. of Mechanical Engineering
Virginia Tech
Blacksburg, VA		 1998 - Present
Director of CIMSS Dept. of Mechanical Engineering
Virginia Tech
Blacksburg, VA		 1997 - Present
Samuel Herrick Endowed Professor Dept. of Mechanical Engineering
Virginia Tech
Blacksburg, VA		 1992 - 1998
Director, Mechanical Systems Lab Dept. of Mechanical Engineering
Virginia Tech
Blacksburg, VA		 1992 - 1997
Director, Mechanical Systems Lab Department of Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering
State University of New York at Buffalo
1984 - 1992
Professor Department of Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering
State University of New York at Buffalo
1987 - 1992
Chair Department of Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering
State University of New York at Buffalo
1989 - 1992
Founder and President Garman Systems Inc. 1987 - 1996

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Honors

(Selected)

  • ASME/Boeing Best Paper Award, ASME Aerospace Structures and Material Systems Technical Committee (to be awarded April 2008)

  • Awarded the 2007 J. P. Den Hartog Award by the ASME Technical Committee on Vibration and Sound (to be awarded September 2007)

  • Awarded the Best Paper in Structures Award by the ASME Adaptive Structures and Material Systems Technical Committee (awarded March 2007)

  • Awarded the 2007 DeMichele Award of the Society for Experimental Mechanics (awarded February 2007)

  • Awarded the “Benjamin Meaker Visiting Professorship” from the University of Bristol, UK, for visiting during AY 2004-05 and lecturing on smart structures (awarded May 2004)

  • The SPIE 2003 Smart Structures and Materials Achievement Award, awarded March 2003

  • The 2002 President’s Award for Research Excellence (Virginia Tech), awarded September 2002

  • The 2001 Dean’s Award for Excellence in Research (Virginia Tech), awarded May 2001

  • ASME AIAA SDM Best Paper Award, April 2001

  • ASME 2000 Adaptive Structures and Material Systems Prize (awarded April 2000)

  • ASME Distinguished Lecturer, 1995-2004

  • Fellow of the National Institute of Aerospace (awarded 2004)

  • Fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (awarded 2002)

  • Fellow of the International Institute of Acoustics and Vibration (IIAV) (awarded 1999)

  • Fellow of the American Academy of Mechanics (awarded 1997)

  • Fellow of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (awarded 1990)
  • Presidential Young Investigator, 1984-1989 (awarded by President Ronald Reagan and administered by the National Science Foundation)

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Publications

(Selected)

  • Allison, T. C., Miller, A. K., and Inman, D. J., "A Deconvolution-Based Approach to Structural Dynamics System Identification and Response Prediction," ASME Journal of Vibration and Acoustics; in press.
  • Inman, D. J. and Eturk, E., 2007. "Energy Harvesting Using Smart Structures," III ECCOMAS THEMATIC CONFERENCE ON SMART STRUCTURES AND MATERIALS, Gdansk, Poland, July 9-11, 2007 (Keynote Address) on cd.
  • Inman, D. J., 2007. "Modeling Smart Structures For Vibration Applications," NAFEMS World Congress on Engineering Simulation: Innovation Leads to Competitive Advantage, Plenary Lecture, Vancouver, BC, Canada, May 22-25.
  • Inman, D. J., 2007. "Modeling and Improving Damping in Lightweight Structures," International Conference on Engineering Dynamics, April 15-18, 2007, Algarve, Portugal (Keynote Address).
  • Inman, D. J., 2006. "Vibration and Control of Flexible Spacecraft: Old Lessons and New Problems," 7th International Conference on Dynamics and Control of Systems and Structures in Space, July 16-20, Greenwich, UK, (Keynote Address). Also published in Dynamics and Control of Systems and Structures in Space, Ed. S. Hobbs, Cranfield University Press, Cranfield, UK, 2006, pp. 293-305.
  • Inman, D. J., 2006. "Adaptive Structures for Structural Health Monitoring," 2006 Colston Research Society Symposium on Adaptive Structures, Bristol, UK, July 9-12, 2006 (Keynote Address), in Adaptive Structures - Engineering Applications, Ed. by D. Wagg, I. Bond, P. Weaver, and M. Friswell, John Wiley & Sons Ltd, England, pp. 1-30.
  • Inman, D., 2007. "Smart Materials and Structures," in Mechanical Vibration: Where Do We Stand? (CISM Courses and Lectures No. 488), Ed. by Isaac Elishakoff, SpringerWien, New York, pp. 139-150.
  • Inman, D. J., Farrar, C.R. , Steffan, V. and Lopes, V., eds., 2005. Damage Prognosis -For Aerospace, Civil and Mechanical Systems, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., Chichester, UK
  • Inman, D. J., Vibration with Control, John Wiley and Sons, Ltd, New York, NY, 2006.
  • Inman, D. J., Engineering Vibration, Prentice Hall, 1994, 1996 (7th printing in 1999); Second edition, August 2000 (9th printing in 2006); Korean edition, January 2003; Third edition, 2007.
  • Park, S. H., Grisso, B. L., Inman, D. J., and Yun, C. B., 2007. "MFC-Based Structural Health Monitoring Using a Miniaturized Impedance Measuring Chip for Corrosion Detection," Research in Nondestructive Evaluation, Vol. 18, No. 2, pp. 139-150.
  • Salehian, A., Seigler, T. M., and Inman, D.J., 2007. "Dynamic Effects of a Radar Panel Mounted on a Truss Satellite," AIAA Journal, Vol. 45, No. 7, pp. 1642-1654.
  • Seigler, T. M., Neal, D. A., Bae, J. -S., and Inman, D. J., 2007. "Modeling and Flight Control of Large-Scale Morphing Aircraft," AIAA Journal of Aircraft; Vol. 44, No. 4, pp. 1077-1087.
  • Kasarda, M. E., Terpenny, J. P., Inman, D. J., Precoda, K. R., Jelesko, J., Sahin, A., and Park, J., 2007. "Design for Adaptability (DFAD) - A New Concept for Achieving Sustainable Design," Robotics and Computer-Integrated Manufacturing, Vol. 23, No. 6, pp. 727-734.
  • Sodano, H. A. and Inman, D. J., 2007. "Non-Contact Vibration Control System Employing an Active Eddy Current Damper," Journal of Sound and Vibration, Vol. 305, pp. 596-613.
  • Wang, K and Inman, D. J., 2007. "Crack-Induced Effects on Aeroelasticity of an Unswept Composite Wing," AIAA Journal, Vol. 45, No. 3, pp. 542-551.
  • Peairs, D. M., Inman, D. J., and Park, G., 2007. "Circuit Analysis of Impedance-Based Health Monitoring of Beams Using Spectral Elements," Structural Health Monitoring, Vol. 6, No. 1, March, pp. 81-94.
  • Friswell, M.I., Sawicki, J. T., Inman, D. J., and Lees, A. W., 2007. "The Response of Rotating Machines on Viscoelastic Supports," International Review of Mechanical Engineering, Vol. 1, No. 1, January, pp. 41-51.
  • Sodano, H.A., Simmers, G.E., Dereux, R., and Inman, D.J., 2007. "Recharging Batteries using Energy Harvested from Thermal Gradients," Journal of Intelligent Material Systems and Structures, Vol. 18, No. 1, pp. 3-10.


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