Building 3D Printed Prosthetics for Those in Need Momentum

Cullen College Department of Mechanical Engineering Magazine Issue No. 5

building 3d printed prosthetics for those in need Momentum

GET AHEAD contents WITHOUT GETTING UP Issue No. 5 I www.me.uh.edu Learn More About Online Master’s and Certificate Programs in Mechanical and Subsea Engineering 14 Powering the air and sea 2// intro notes

7// uh Engineering news 18 Giving a hand to those in need 12// HOUSTON news

14// lead news onlinelearning.egr.uh.edu 38// faculty

43// students

54// alumni

Shedding new light on the 58// support & giving 30 behavior of nanomaterials 60// culture & events

MOMENTUM Office of Communications The University of Houston is an Equal cullen college news Momentum is published by the University Cullen College of Engineering Opportunity/Affirmative Action institu- of Houston Cullen College of Engineering, University of Houston tion. Minorities, women, veterans and @uhengineering Office of Communications. E301 Engineering Bldg. 2 persons with disabilities are encouraged uhengineering Houston, Texas 77204-4009 to apply. Communications Director Audrey Grayson Phone: 713-743-4220 Fax: 713-743-8240 UHCullenCollege Art Director Rachel Knudsen Contact ME: University of Houston Cullen Graphic Designer Jose Cruz Those wishing to reprint articles or photographs Phone 713.743.4500 College of Engineering Website www.me.uh.edu Photography Carlos Landa should contact the director. Use the credit line: Reprinted with permission of the University of Writers/Editors Laurie Fickman Houston Cullen College of Engineering. Clip- Audrey Grayson Natalie Thayer pings are appreciated.

University of Houston Department of Mechanical Engineering 1 intro notes

240 Mechanical degrees awarded in 2016

Engineering TOTAL STUDENTS 1,297 IN 2016 By the Numbers

Best Engineering Program of 2017 FULL-time faculty members

chair’s message Mean entry-level salaries in In the Mechanical Engineering (ME) Department at the Uni- The University of Houston’s highly-ranked ME department $72,000 versity of Houston Cullen College of Engineering, our central boasts very close ties with Houston’s energy and engineering mission is to educate the next generation of globally competi- industrial complex as well as the medical center. Our graduates B.S. MECHANICAL tive engineers and to perform cutting-edge research in the can be found in key positions in some of the leading companies $65,593 broad area of mechanical sciences. In this issue of Momentum, both locally and internationally. ENGINEERING we invite you to explore the ways in which we continue to suc- Houston ceed in this mission and to take a closer look at our plans to The ME program has seen record growth in recent years, with a continue driving the field of mechanical engineering forward total enrollment of nearly 1,300 students. Mechanical engineering for generations to come. is currently one of the most sought-after degrees within the Cul- $85,000 len College of Engineering. With our high standards of admission vs. A modern mechanical engineer is very versatile. In our depart- and passion for teaching, we prepare our graduates with a strong ment alone, our students and faculty are currently involved in foundation in mathematics, physical sciences and engineering M.S. MECHANICAL research related to cell biology, drug delivery, missile design, principles for applications in industry, research and academia. $75,391 radiation-hardened materials, quantum dots, hypersonic flights, nationwide ENGINEERING shale gas exploration, nanostructured Li-ion batteries for en- I invite you to explore our website at www.me.uh.edu to see ergy storage, environmentally-friendly engines, high tempera- what we have to offer. If you need more information about our ture superconductive materials, subsea engineering, sensors, programs or department, please email me at [email protected]. $159,000 control of complex systems, thermal management, mechanics MEAN ENTRY-LEVEL of complex fluids, artificial muscles and ultra-strong materials. SALARY IN HOUSTON, TX This abbreviated list of active research within our department Ph.D. MECHANICAL should give you at least a glimpse of the amazing array of MEAN SALARY $93,652 career and research choices a mechanical engineer has in our Pradeep Sharma NATIONWIDE ENGINEERING current economy. M.D. Anderson Professor and Chair Mechanical Engineering SOURCE//Payscale.com Cullen College of Engineering University of Houston

2 MOMENTUM University of Houston Department of Mechanical Engineering 3 intro notes UH ENGINEERING BY THE nUMBERS

TOTAL avg sat score of entering FAculty freshmen total alumni of the cullen college BEST ENGINEERING SCHOOL OF 2017 (Source: U.S. News & World Report) RESEARCH EXPENDITURES STUDENTS BRAGGING POINTS

Named one of Princeton #1 UH engineering students #2 Review’s “Best Colleges for rank 15th in the U.S. for Undergraduate Education” salary-earning potential ENGINEERING PROGRAMS and “Nation’s Best NATIONAL ACADEMY OF (Source: PayScale.com) IN THE U.S. Colleges” (2016, 2014) ( Source: U.S. News & World Report) ENGINEERING FACULTY MEMBERS

Located in the Energy Listed as one of the world’s of uh engineering Capital of the World – #3 top universities for grads #4 the city with the highest undergrads are who go on to become CEOs demand for engineering employed in texas (Source: The Times Higher talent in the U.S. Education of London) within one year of (Source: Kelly Services) graduation average annual salary of engineering professionals in houston, texas

( Source: U.S. Bureau of labor statistics, 2016) 4 MOMENTUM University of Houston Department of Mechanical Engineering 5 intro notes uh engineering news

In the Media University of Houston Launches spotlight industry-relevant online programs in engineering

Houston’s CBS affiliate featured the selfless By Audrey Grayson work of several UH Engineering students who make up the UH chapter of eNABLE, a worldwide group providing free, 3D-printed prosthetics for children and adults. Watch the heartfelt video at www.khou.com/features/boy-gets-new-hand-thanks- to-3-d-printer-uh-students/353926713

The University of Houston Cullen College of and in-person courses are taught by the same Plans to launch additional online graduate Engineering has launched flexible, online professors in many cases.” programs in petroleum and industrial engi- master’s programs in civil, mechanical, sub- neering are currently under way, Tedesco said. sea and industrial power systems engineer- Many of the in-person classes are filmed and ing. Tailored for working professionals, the in- posted online for all students to view. Instruc- UH Engineering also offers two fully online novative digital programs include live videos tors post the materials, lectures, tests and certificate programs in subsea engineering, of lectures, interactive web-based discussions assignments online for students to access at with more online certificate programs in and opportunities for one-on-one learning any time. Typically, all courses are available development. experiences. for download and viewing two hours after the live lecture has been captured. The University of Houston’s Cullen College All four of the online programs in engineering of Engineering, located in the energy capital can be completed in as little as two to three The initial online course offerings were of the world, is one of the nation’s premiere years. The UH Engineering degrees earned hand-picked to counteract critical shortages destinations for engineering research and online are exactly the same degrees earned in engineering workforce talent in the city of education. Ranked among the Top 100 best by students who choose to attend classes on Houston and across the nation, said Joseph engineering colleges in the country by U.S. campus. W. Tedesco, Elizabeth D. Rockwell Dean of News & World Report, the Cullen College is Venkat Selvamanickam, who created high- the UH Cullen College of Engineering. home to some of the world’s most prominent temperature superconductors that can transport Students enrolled in UH Engineering’s online engineering researchers, centers, laboratories electricity with very little resistance, was profiled by programs take the same classes as on-cam- “It is critical that the Houston region and the and cutting-edge research collaborations. pus students but in a digital environment, U.S. has the engineering talent required to the Houston Chronicle as a professor who is changing Hadi Ghasemi’s ice-repelling material was covered said JR Rao, director of online programs address the grand challenges we’re facing in For more information the world and engineering the future. by Science Daily and Houston Public Media. and extension services at the UH Cullen energy, infrastructure and the environment,” on the UH Cullen College of Engineering’s College of Engineering. said Tedesco. “UH Engineering’s online mas- online learning programs, visit MEET THE UH ENGINEERS WHO learn more at ter’s programs are a flexible and cost-effective onlinelearning.egr.uh.edu ARE CHANGING THE WORLD AT “The online and face-to-face classes have the option for working engineers to help fill those exact same rigor, expectations and admis- workforce gaps by acquiring specialized skills www.egr.uh.edu/news/201610/houston-chronicle- www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/shows/uh- sions processes,” Rao said. “In fact, the online and earning advanced degrees.” profiles-uh-engineers-who-are-changing-world moment/2016/12/14/180716/uh-moment-repelling-ice/

6 MOMENTUM University of Houston Department of Mechanical Engineering 7 uh engineering news

We are a college on the move, and the most recent U.S. News & World Report rankings U.S. News & World are a wonderful Report Names reflection of this. - DEAN Joseph W. Tedesco

he UH Cullen College of Engineer- the rankings come from statistical surveys Nearly 5,000 students are enrolled in engi- ing is well on its way to becoming of more than 1,900 programs and from neering courses – 3,722 undergraduates as UH ENGINEERING a Top 50 engineering college in reputation surveys sent to more than 18,400 well as 1,247 master’s and doctoral students the nation, earning a coveted spot academics and professionals. in biomedical, chemical, civil, computer, Ton the list of the Best Engineering Schools electrical, environmental, geosensing sys- of 2017 by U.S. News & World Report. Suresh Khator, associate dean of gradu- tems, industrial, mechanical and petroleum ate programs and computing facilities at engineering. The college also offers inter- The Cullen College climbed from No. 76 the Cullen College, said the recent rankings disciplinary graduate programs in subsea, to No. 73 in the U.S. News & World Report reflect not only the success of the college’s aerospace, materials, and computer and ONE OF national rankings for graduate-level engi- professors and students, but also the rele- systems engineering. neering programs. Moreover, five graduate vancy of its programs to the city of Houston programs within the college – mechanical, and the entire nation. The Cullen College is home to some of the computer, electrical, civil and chemical en- country’s highest ranked graduate-level gineering – earned the status of Best Engi- “Graduate programs at the UH Cullen Col- engineering programs, including aerospace neering Programs of 2017. lege of Engineering are designed to im- engineering (#56), biomedical engineering THE NATION’S merse students in the grand challenges of (#73), chemical engineering (#38), civil engi- “We are a college on the move, and the most engineering represented in our city, and neering (#60), environmental engineering recent U.S. News & World Report rankings are our programs encourage students to con- (#59), electrical engineering (#65), industrial a wonderful reflection of this,” said Joseph W. duct research that finds solutions to some engineering (#50), materials engineering Tedesco, Elizabeth D. Rockwell Dean of the of the most pressing challenges facing our (#71), mechanical engineering (#69) and UH Cullen College of Engineering. city and our world,” Khator said. petroleum engineering (#12).

BEST SCHOOLS U.S. News & World Report is a leading source “UH engineers are making major contribu- FOR THE FULL LIST OF RANKINGS for rankings of colleges, graduate programs, tions to society both nationally and glob- from U.S. News & World Report, please visit hospitals, mutual funds and cars. Each year, ally, and it is wonderful to see our programs grad-schools.usnews.rankingsandreviews. the publication ranks professional school recognized among the best in the country,” com/best-graduate-schools/top-engineering- By Audrey Grayson programs in business, education, engineer- he added. schools ing, law, medicine and nursing. The data for

8 MOMENTUM University of Houston Department of Mechanical Engineering 9 uh engineering news

University of Houston Offers Energy-focused Engineering Courses

UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON HCC Katy Campus Serving katy, energy corridor & west houston

By Audrey Grayson

he University of Houston’s Cullen ing of the UH Katy facilities located near With more than 20 years of experience College of Engineering has ex- I-10 and the Grand Parkway is tentatively managing engineering projects at energy panded into the Katy area, offering scheduled for 2018. industry giants FMC Technologies and KBR, univerSity of houston the first-ever engineering courses Kondapi brings a unique and invaluable Tat the Houston Community College (HCC) Joseph W. Tedesco, Elizabeth D. Rockwell skillset to his new role at the college. Northwest-Katy Campus, about a mile north Dean of the Cullen College, said the col- of Interstate 10 at 1550 Foxlake Drive. lege’s administrators didn’t want to wait “Dr. Kondapi was vital to developing the first that long to begin offering engineering subsea engineering program in the U.S. here The graduate-level course offerings are fo- courses in Katy. at the Cullen College. I am tremendously cused on areas in high demand in Houston’s proud that he will now bring our top-ranked Energy Corridor, including petroleum, subsea, “Katy is one of the fastest-growing areas in engineering programs to the Katy com- WE WANT THOSE WHO LIVE IN THE electrical and environmental engineering. the Houston region, and the demand for munity,” said Tedesco. energy and engineering talent in Katy has This fall, five graduate-level classes will be of- never been greater. We want those who live The HCC building in Katy is easily accessible fered at the HCC building in Katy: an electri- in the area to have access to a world-class for professionals in the Energy Corridor who [KATY] AREA TO HAVE ACCESS TO A cal engineering course, “Well Logging,” three engineering education in their own back- are looking to pursue higher degrees or cer- subsea engineering courses, including “Flow yards,” Tedesco said. tificates to enhance their skills. “We are here Assurance,” “Riser Design” and “Pipeline in Katy to serve both the community and Design,” and one environmental engineering Phaneendra Kondapi, one of the pio- the industry,” Kondapi said. course, “Global Climate Change & Energy.” neering instructors in the college’s subsea WORLD-CLASS ENGINEERING EDUCATION engineering program, will serve as founding FOR MORE INFORMATION Plans are underway for several more course director of engineering programs in Katy. on the UH Engineering courses in Katy, offerings in the spring. visit www.egr.uh.edu/engineering-katy. Kondapi, who returns to UH after serving IN THEIR OWN BACKYARD. A new UH branch campus in Katy will as the director of subsea engineering at offer degrees most relevant to current Texas A&M University for the past year, will industry demands, including engineering, spearhead the expansion of UH Engineering - DEAN JOSEPH W. TEDESCO business and education. A grand open- program offerings in Katy.

14 University of houston Department of mechanical engineering 10 MOMENTUM University of Houston Department of Mechanical Engineering 11 HOUSTON news taking houston to the next level

Forbes.com lauds University of Houston as UH rated among best leader in energy research and education colleges for undergraduate F orbes.com calls UH an epicenter of energy education and research, saying it is “increasingly a rival to places like MIT in advancing not just cleaner, safer education by Princeton Review and more efficient ways of extracting oil and gas from the earth, but also Princeton Review ranks UH among the nation’s best institutions for under- cleaner energy and zero-carbon energy.” graduate education in the 2017 edition of its flagship college guide, “The Best 381 Colleges,” based, in part, on surveys from students. “Outstanding Read the full story at academics are the chief reason we chose UH for this book, and we strongly www.egr.uh.edu/news/201611/forbescom-lauds-university-houston-leader-engi- recommend it to applicants,” said Robert Franek, Princeton Review’s editor- neering-research-and-education in-chief and author of “The Best 381 Colleges.”

Read the full story at www.egr.uh.edu/news/201609/uh-rated-among-best-colleges-undergraduate- education-princeton-review

UH ranks among best universities in the world for engineering and technology by CEOWorld Magazine UH among top U.S. universities for return

The University of Houston is one of the best universities on investment and upward mobility in the world from which to earn an engineering degree, according to 2017 rankings released by CEOWorld Magazine. Stellar academics, strong career prospects for graduates and affordability are The magazine ranked the UH Cullen College of Engineering among the reasons the University of Houston has been featured in the Prince- No. 73 in the list of top schools to receive an engineering ton Review’s 2017 edition of “Colleges That Pay You Back: The 200 Schools That or technology degree. CEOWorld Magazine ranked institu- Give You the Best Bang for Your Tuition Buck.” In addition, a recent study by tions based on academic reputation, admission require- the Equality of Opportunity Project shows UH is among the best universities ments, job placement rate, recruiter feedback, specializa- in the U.S. at turning low-income students into top earners. tion, global reputation and influence. Read the full story at Read the full story at www.egr.uh.edu/news/201702/uh-among-top-us-universities-return- www.egr.uh.edu/news/201702/uh-ranks-among-best-universi- investment-and-upward-mobility ties-engineering-and-technology-ceoworld-magazine

12 MOMENTUM University of Houston Department of Mechanical Engineering 13 lead news energy

Her next goals are to get the batteries to last longer while providing design flexibility (the bendable, stretchy batteries of which she’s so proud).

Haleh Ardebili Receives Two Grants to Store Energy “We’re not bound to these rigid space requirements,” said Ardebili. “You can bend By Laurie Fickman it, it can conform to various shapes.” “Externally, Imagine a battery that doesn’t fit neatly into its For subsea applications, the design is en- if you bend hanced to make sure it isn’t vulnerable to appointed slot, one that’s neither cylindrical nor it, what’s going pressure and corrosion. Casings and boxes square shaped, but perhaps as thin as a busi- to happen with it?” are built to protect the electronics inside, she wonders. “And ness card and as stretchy as Play Dough. If you but instead of the battery getting bigger what happens internally and bigger with each protective layer can envision that, then you’ve jumped into the when the lithium ions stress added, it is paper thin. mind of Haleh Ardebili, Bill D. Cook Assistant the electrode?” She conducts research on both levels. Professor of mechanical engineering at the UH [we are] “Materials are very important, and if they are flexible and can conform to vari- Cullen College of Engineering. That’s what the research is focused on, ous spaces, at least you are opening up technically known as aramid nanofiber- some design parameters that allow more functionalized graphene electrode for space-efficient design, so hopefully you Ardebili is a bit of a juggler, with two new grants flipping upside structural energy storage, and it involves have more space for other requirements worth more than half a million dollars. What’s experiments and modeling for the design, in those vehicles,” she said. more, her funding for energy storage research testing and analysis of ANF/FG electrodes. The total award is approximately $1 million; Energy becomes her stretches – like her batteries – from the depths down the the portion for UH is $260,000. of the sea with an award from the Subsea Ardebili herself is filled with energy as Haleh Ardebili shows off her Systems Institute, to the outer reaches of the at- Powering down below the ocean she speaks about the world she envisions, flexible, bendable batteries, which are as thin as business cards mosphere with money from the Air Force Office where batteries are integrated into every as- traditional The Subsea Systems Institute Award for pect of our lives – walking on shoe-charging of ScientificR esearch (AFOSR). $300,000 is a collaboration between batteries, wearing clothes that are electroni- Ardebili and Jim Tour of Rice University. This cally integrated and, mostly, continuing to Making smart uniforms even smarter research project is focused on the fabrica- question what people think is normal about understanding tion, testing and analysis of batteries and energy science. For the Air Force, Ardebili, principal investigator (PI) supercapacitors for subsea applications. Jodie Lutkenhaus at Texas A&M University, and other “Just kind of flipping upside down the tra- co-PIs at A&M may just end up making smart uniforms Whether on an oil rig or an autonomous ditional understanding of how batteries are last longer. underwater vehicle (AUV), batteries can supposed to behave, I ask, ‘Really? Do they of how batteries supply the power that keeps them work- have to?’” Ardebili says. Textile manufacturers have been advancing smart ing – during an emergency power outage in materials that can communicate, store energy, regulate an oil rig, or during normal AUV operation. No, they don’t. Not in Ardebili’s temperature and monitor health. But the batteries to Ardebili’s goal is to make sure those batter- world. And soon, because of her power those kinds of fabrics have to be charged and in- are supposed to ies are as safe as possible. continuous questioning and tegrated into the material so that those who wear them research, not in ours, either. feel comfortable in their own skin. To make safer batteries, she is replacing the flammable organic liquid electrolyte “We’re looking at how the fibers come together with the behave. currently inside of traditional lithium-ion graphene,” said Ardebili. “So we’ll look at the electro- batteries with polymer electrolytes, which chemical properties and mechanical properties, too.” are not flammable. It’s the kind of flexible battery that Ardebili makes in her lab. That’s why she likes to bend it and have her “Safety is number one in my mind. The most students play with it. It’s all research. compelling reason we would have a polymer electrolyte and not an organic liquid electro- – haleh arDEbili lyte is safety,” said Ardebili.

14 MOMENTUM University of Houston Department of Mechanical Engineering 15 lead news

the dispersion of oil, but also small-scale “The more we understand the fundamen- UH Engineer Improves interactions between oil droplets and tal physics, the more accurate our integral upper-ocean turbulence. His team also models will be. Now, when the rapid re- found that the use of dispersants – chemi- sponse model spits out averages, there Computer Model to Find cals used to break oil into smaller drop- will be fundamental physics underlying its lets so that it biodegrades more readily in results,” said Yang. the ocean – can profoundly impact how and where an oil plume travels across the With the current funding from GoMRI, ocean’s surface. Yang’s group will take their research a step further by integrating both the verti- in the mass and momentum exchange be- They used their findings to supplement cal and horizontal model of oil dispersion tween the plume and the ambient sea. Better the large-scale ocean circulation models into a complete framework. used for predicting regional dispersion of Due to time and computational power an oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. “Right now, if a company or the govern- constraints, this information is either av- ment wants to look for a model that can eraged together or filtered out of simula- “There’s a big gap between the smallest capture all of the essential flow physics tions in integral plume models. scale resolved by ocean circulation mod- to provide a precise prediction of how Oil Spill els and the scales at which the oil plume an oil plume will behave during its entire “The rapid response model has critical and ocean turbulence interact, so that’s fate – from the bottom of the ocean to the value for quickly determining how to re- what we’re filling in,” he said. surface – we don’t have that kind of mod- spond to an oil spill, but the accuracy of el,” Yang said. “After we understand the this prediction heavily relies on the incor- Next, Yang and his colleagues focused on true physics and integrate these models poration of other physical models to sup- modeling the behavior of an oil plume together, we will be able to predict with plement the rapid response model. This at the site of a deepwater blowout. In greater accuracy how an oil plume will be- Remediation accounts for the effects of some critical a study published in the Journal of Fluid have, and that will lead to better remedia- physical processes that are filtered out Mechanics last year, Yang’s team simu- tion strategies for future oil spills.” due to averaging,” Yang said. lated a lab-scale multiphase plume that mimicked the dynamics of the Deepwater Yang and his colleagues are using Large Horizon plume as it burst vertically from Eddy Simulation (LES), a high-fidelity com- the well at the ocean floor. The team then Strategies putational simulation technique for mod- By Audrey Grayson used a numerical model they developed eling turbulence in fluid dynamics, to fill to understand the underlying physics of in the gaps of the current integral plume the oil plume’s behavior. models. The physical models developed by Yang’s team can be seamlessly integrated In the case of the BP Deepwater Horizon WE WANT TO PROVIDE into existing integral plume models with- After a major oil spill, government agen- of oil plumes in deepwater blowouts, such sponse models, or integral plume models, Blowout in 2010, government officials ap- out requiring additional computational cies and energy companies have limited as the BP Deepwater Horizon disaster in that simulate only the average behaviors proved the company to apply dispersant INSIGHTS TO FIND power or time to receive the results. time to make decisions on how to remedi- 2010. Once deployed, the improved mod- of an oil plume in the near-field of a leak- directly at the site of the burst well, nearly ate the disaster and clean up the spilled els will provide insights to more effectively ing oil well. These models provide general 1,500 meters below the surface of the ocean. oil. Officials currently rely on computation- remediate these kinds of oil spill disasters information on the amount of oil spilled, “Using the computer power and resources BETTER REMEDIATION currently available, we will directly resolve as al models that predict the behavior of an how long it will take for the oil to reach “It reduced the damage a lot, but it’s been much information as possible that the cur- oil plume in order to determine the best Di Yang, assistant professor of mechani- the ocean’s surface and in what direction questioned how efficiently that strategy STRATEGIES FOR rent integral models can’t resolve,” Yang said. strategies for containment and clean-up. cal engineering at the Cullen College, and the oil plume will likely travel. actually worked,” Yang said. “We want his collaborators at Johns Hopkins Uni- to provide insights to find better reme- RESPONDING TO THESE Yang began this research as a postdoctoral While these models provide insights on versity and the University of California, But there are many small-scale interac- diation strategies for responding to these researcher at Johns Hopkins University in the spill that are crucial for rapid response Los Angeles, received $877,162 from the tions and processes that can have a pro- kinds of oil spills in the future.” clean-up efforts, existing simulations don’t Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoM- found impact on the overall behavior of an 2013. With funding from GoMRI, Yang’s KINDS OF OIL SPILLS team studied the complex physical sys- account for some processes that play im- RI) in support of this research. A total of oil plume. For instance, the sizes of the oil Using LES, Yang’s team advanced the un- tems at play when spilled oil travels across portant roles in determining the direction, $247,490 will support Yang’s portion of droplets and gas bubbles released from the derstanding of the fundamental physics IN THE FUTURE. the surface of the ocean. shape and overall size of an oil plume. the research at UH. site of an underwater blowout have an im- and physical processes that contribute to pact on the shape of the near-field plume the behavior of the oil as it shoots upward Results of the research showed that not A professor at the UH Cullen College of In order to glean as much useful informa- and its interactions with the ambient sea- from the well at the ocean floor. Engineering is improving the computation as possible about an oil spill within water. Small-scale turbulence at the edge only large-scale systems – such as climate - Di Yang tional model used to predict the behavior an hour or less, officials rely on rapid re- of the oil or gas plume also plays a vital role and ocean flow – play important roles in

16 MOMENTUM University of Houston Department of Mechanical Engineering 17 lead news health & medicine

On a Wednesday evening in November, Maria Sanchez sits Empathy first quietly weeping inside a private room on the first floor of the University of Houston M.D. Anderson library. When Rafael’s stepdad, Daniel Ramirez, joined the family, he wanted to make sure everyone really understood just how “My baby just held a cell phone with his left hand,” she allows, tough things were for Rafael, though he didn’t often show it. as the tears continue to stream. “Daniel sat us down one day and said, ‘Ok, today everyone It may not seem tear-worthy to most, but her baby is 8-year- tapes their left hand shut, so we can see what Rafael actually old Rafael. Likely born with a form of symbrachydactyly, goes through on a daily basis’,” said Sanchez. “It was impos- Rafael’s fingers never formed in utero, leaving him with only a sible, none of us could believe how hard it was.” tiny fist-like hand. The experiment and his compassion were truly stunning, one Now in this UH library room surrounded by family and of those rare family moments frozen in time, where years friends, Rafael is grabbing cell phones, playing online games later you can still recall the exact instant your respect grew for and waving with his newly-printed 3D hand. The hand is a gift certain family members – in this case, Daniel and Rafael. to Rafael from UH students, 19-year-old Jalal Yazji majoring in mechanical engineering at the UH Cullen College of Engi- Across town neering (also a member of the Honors College and PROMES) and 20-year-old Daniel Bahrt majoring in mechanical engi- At about the same time the family was adjusting in Humble, neering technology in the UH College of Technology. about 45 miles east at Klein High School, Yazji was about to discover his passion for engineering. Yazji and Bahrt have made it their mission to make prosthetics for people in need, even founding the first eNABLE By the time he was a senior he chose a year-long prosthetic chapter in Texas, right here on the UH campus. The Enable project for his engineering and design class. Community Foundation creates 3D-printed hands and arms for those in need. They publish prosthetic blueprints online “I didn’t know anything, so I did online research and found a and the local chapters create them on 3D printers and put design online, but our assignment was to design something, them together for their clients. so we redesigned the whole thing,” Yazji said of he and his high school friends. The original designer of the online model It’s not the first timeY azji and Bahrt have seen a mother tear was so impressed by the high schooler’s effort that he intro- up while a child squeals with joy. Less than two months after duced Yazji to the Enable Community Foundation. they formed UH eNABLE, they had received three requests, now all filled. A partnership is born

Searching for help Once in college it seemed that making prosthetics became a fait accompli. During his freshman year at UH, Yazji lived in Until this special night, when Yazji and Bahrt fitted Rafael Cougar Village Two where he met his suite mate, Bahrt. While with his new hand, there wasn’t much to be done for Rafael’s Yazji was building models in high school, Bahrt was learning condition, but Maria persisted. CAD software.

They were turned down for a prosthetic hand several times. “One night we were just having a casual dinner and Jalal said She’s still not sure why. It may be because the goal of con- he made a prosthetic model,” said Bahrt. “I said ‘Really? I’d ventional treatment is to help a child be as independent and love to see this!’ Then he showed it to me and I was like, confident as possible, andR afael’s always had that down pat. ‘This is really cool and I see you messed up a few things’,” he said, chuckling. UH Engineering Undergrads Share Their Gifts “He does everything everyone else does, only he just has to try twice as hard,” Sanchez said. “That’s what I’ve always So a creative collaboration was born. Before long, Yazji had a taught him and it’s normal to him.” By Laurie Fickman breakthrough idea – to form a UH chapter of eNABLE. They recruited dorm friends to round out the club and Kenneth That could be a huge hurdle to some, but not to Rafael. He Garcia, administrator for the Cullen College of Engineering possesses a bouncy nature, confident smile and a sense of and PROMES advisor, became the chapter advisor. perpetual motion – traits you’d want to see in any carefree Jalal Yazji (left) plays ball with 8-year-old Rafael, 8-year-old. who recently received a 3D-printed prosthetic hand

18 MOMENTUM University of Houston Department of Mechanical Engineering 19 lead news health & medicine Life in Humble To appeal to children, the hands all have RAPTOR HAND names like the Cyborg Beast or the Raptor. On any given weekend you might findR afael hanging out with his best friend, 9-year- “Kids will outgrow the gift we give them and old Amir, or scores of cousins and friends, they will come back to us and we will build FINGER SNAP PINS partaking in the pure joys of childhood. On them another one. That’s the beautiful thing the surface all seemed well, but some stress about eNABLE,” said Yazji. cracks were about to show. Bahrt agreed. “That’s actually our whole mis- THUMB PIN One day during gym class, Rafael asked to sion because kids are constantly growing. If speak privately with his Lakeland Elementary you buy them a $10,000 prosthetic, they’re School gym teacher Tracy Wong. On the play- going to need a new one in another six-to- ground Wong says Rafael broke down, crying eight months, so a temporary fix is best for because he couldn’t hold the rope to partici- kids. That’s why we deal mostly with kids.” pate in the simple exercise of jump rope. Plus, the children get to pick the colors. KNUCKLE PINS “I try to do the jump rope,” said Rafael. “And we tie the ropes to my hand with rubber Waving goodbye bands and it kind of hurts,” he said. As Yazji and Bahrt were finishing the assembly Wong felt heartbroken. That night at dinner, of Rafael’s hand, with the help of Ramirez, PALM unable to put it out of her mind, she shared who was watching intently to make sure the story with her husband and her own he can fix it if it breaks,R afael was sharing HINGE PINS 9-year-old son, Tristen, who had never met thoughts on the most important thing he Rafael. Tristen immediately got on the com- wants to do with his new hand. puter and started looking for a way to help. “I want to hold a bottle and open it without His remarkable compassion and computer having to press it on my stomach. My favorite skills (sometimes only reserved for kids) led drinks like water, Coke, Big Blue, or sparkly Tristen to the UH eNABLE chapter and Yazji. water,” he said.

No one was more stunned with Tristen’s Rafael will make you remember it’s the little discovery than Rafael. things in life that we overlook that can pose the biggest hurdles. “She told me her son had found it and I was like, ‘Whoa, really nice!’,” said Rafael. He’ll teach you more lessons, too, if you listen to why he picked the colors for his made-to- For Rafael’s mom, it was beyond nice. order hand. “When she called me and told me about “I picked white, gray and baby blue because WANT TO HELP? Tristen’s discovery, I couldn’t help but cry,” she they’re actually my favorite colors. Baby blue, the sky; white, God; and gray, sharks,” said. “It was so touching for someone to see a Help UH eNABLE buy its own printer. Raptor Hand Assembly problem with him that I see on a daily basis – said Rafael. as a mother she knew how I felt. And for her Each of the components is printed on a 3D printer before the team members to go home feeling bad and keep discussing The really important things all 8-year-olds assemble it – a process that includes trimming and sanding the pieces. Each it. The whole thing is amazing.” should be thinking about. finger has three pieces, or about 30 components per hand. If everything fits Everyone welcome WATCH OUR VIDEO to learn more together, assembly can take an hour. The team uses elastic cord and fishing about the big brains and even line to connect the hand, along with medical-grade foam padding to provide Although UH eNABLE turns no one away, bigger hearts behind UH eNABLE Visit www.gofundme.com/2mek6vg to learn more comfort inside. they seem to deal mostly with children. Their www.youtube.com/watch?v=i64WYlB7m2s hands are inexpensive to make and cater to a young crowd. After the Raptor Hand is assembled, 8-year-old Rafael takes his new hand for a test run, waving eagerly to the camera

20 MOMENTUM University of Houston Department of Mechanical Engineering 21 lead news health & medicine

How the Guardian In the Proceedings of the National Academies of Florida in Gainesville, used nonlinear comput- “Once it reaches the 500 nm size, very small Sciences (PNAS), Ashutosh Agrawal, assistant er modeling to discover instabilities that lead compression can buckle it – the nuclear professor of mechanical engineering, explores to new sites for fusion between the layers. membrane becomes very unstable, and that’s of Our DNA Gets its the junk-food-shaped design in his article “Ul- why sizes beyond 500 nm will not be seen,” tradonut topology of the nuclear envelope,” They determined that buckling potentially said Agrawal. and concludes that mechanical forces play a occurs during the growth process, when the critical role in shaping the nucleus, a finding nucleus is growing and more membrane is Now that Agrawal has discovered the impacts that provides a fresh perspective into the being recruited. The recruitment of mem- of mechanical forces and the reason for the design of the command centers of cells. brane can generate compressive forces that observed topology, Lele will test these ideas in can destabilize membranes and set the stage future experimental studies. Donut-like “The mechanics of the nucleus have not been for the formation of new pores (or holes). explored much, even though the nucleus has “He will do the experiments to test the impact our important genetic material,” said Agrawal. “When a membrane buckles, it deforms to of mechanical forces on the architecture of “This work should provide impetus to more meet the other membrane, allowing the the membrane,” said Agrawal. biophysical studies to investigate the effect of proteins to fuse them to create a new pore,” forces on the workings of our nuclei. This is said Agrawal. Agrawal compares his exploration of the just the beginning of a less-explored area.” nuclear envelope’s shape to the early stages Structure How many holes in your donut? of research done on red blood cells, before By Laurie Fickman Facing down your donut scientists understood why they were shaped Topology of the nuclear envelope is defined like a concave disc. The donut structure of the nuclear envelope by how many holes it has. Cell nuclei typically Deep within your body there exists is formed by two concentric membrane have a few thousand holes that are intriguing- “That had been a question that excited the shells fused at numerous sites. Interestingly, ly present in a more or less uniform density. scientific community for a long time, and now donut-shaped objects – many of them, not many scientists have delved into how But why? Why don’t nuclei have 10 holes or a people can relate the shape of the red blood the membranes achieve and keep such a million holes for that matter, and why is the cell to its health,” said Agrawal. in fact. No, these donuts aren’t from unique shape. density fairly uniform? the box of Shipley’s that mysteriously One day he hopes that the doors he’s opened Agrawal studied the donuts very carefully, in- Agrawal found that spacing larger than 500 to the ultradonut-shaped world will swing disappeared, despite the fact your vestigating their geometry and the stability of nanometers (nm) basically does not exist be- wide with the answers to how all those donuts the membranes in the presence of mechani- cause as the size of the membrane increases really affect our health. diet had just started. These particular cal forces. He and his team, graduate student it becomes more unstable. donuts are the membranes of the Mehdi Torbati and collaborator Tanmay Lele, engineering professor at the University of nuclear envelope, which surround and protect the cell’s nucleus, where the Ashutosh Agrawal (left) all-important genetic material, or DNA, and Mehdi Torbati are facing down their donuts to is stored. Why they are shaped like uncover the secrets of our cells donuts has been one of biology’s great mysteries, but now a University of Houston Cullen College of Engineering professor may have found the recipe for one of the most fascinating structures inside a human cell.

22 MOMENTUM University of Houston Department of Mechanical Engineering 23 lead news #2 In 1989, an Air Ontario flight, with ice and The industrial and consumer applications “This is so small that even by tilting the materials snow covering its wings during takeoff, fails are widespread for Ghasemi’s newly created surface, ice is going to be removed,” Hadi Ghasemi Creates New to attain the proper altitude. Unable to get MAGSS. He has a patent pending on it. said Ghasemi. above the trees, it crashes into them, killing 25 Material, Breaks Limits of passengers. In 1994, an American Eagle plane How it repels Ghasemi’s material also lowered the metal surface called a “decoupled hierarchical flies into treacherous icing conditions and the freezing threshold. With the best icepho- structure” that removes the vapor barrier. His pilots lose control of the plane. It crashes, kill- Ghasemi’s material can be applied to any bic technology available today, water Leidenfrost work has been published in the American ing all 68 souls onboard. From 1990 to 2000, surface – ceramics, polymers or metals. will freeze at minus 13 degrees Fahren- Chemical Society’s journal Langmuir. 12 percent of all weather-related air disasters heit. If, however, a surface is coated with were due to icing. It’s no surprise that the “We coat a magnetic material on one side of Ghasemi’s material, water would not Phenomenon The new structure is made of two layers: a Air Safety Foundation states it clearly: “Ice in the surface and on the other side we deposit a freeze until it reached minus 29 degrees micro-pillar surface with a nano membrane on flight is bad news.” thin layer of magnetic fluid called ferrofluid,” Fahrenheit. By Laurie Fickman top. The nano membrane keeps the droplet in said Ghasemi. The ferrofluid is a mixture of contact with the surface while the micro-pillars Enter Hadi Ghasemi, Bill D. Cook Assistant fluid and iron oxide nanoparticles. What’s more, Ghasemi’s ferrofluids can Bill D. Cook Assistant Professor Hadi Ghasemi take away the generated vapor. The new mate- Professor of mechanical engineering at regenerate themselves – or “self-heal,” as is set to change history with his invention of a rial allows unprecedented heat dissipation the UH Cullen College, who has invented a The side with the ferrofluid faces outside. he calls it – and they are inexpensive. new material that provides efficient heat dis- because there is direct contact with the liquid material that can be applied to any surface When a droplet of water hits the surface of sipation at high temperatures and eliminates to the surface. to repel ice. It’s called a magnetic slippery the ferrofluid, this magnetic fluid acts as a Not out in the cold a 250-year-old scientific event known as the surface (MAGSS) and it outperforms all other barrier and doesn’t allow the droplet to inter- Leidenfrost Phenomenon. Ghasemi created the new surface in his Nano icephobic surfaces in use. Icephobicity is one act with the solid. Four of Ghasemi’s mechanical engineer- Therm lab and currently has a patent pend- of those words that make pretty good sense: ing students participated in the creation If you’ve ever cooked a meal on your stove, ing on the product. Lab members Nazanin It means the ability of a surface to repel – or “There’s no adhesion of the ice to the solid of the MAGSS and are listed as co-authors you’re probably familiar with the phenom- Farokhnia, Seyed Mohammad Sajadi and Research Spotlight become almost phobic about – ice. His work surface, so it basically slides off the surface,” of the Nature Communications article. enon, though you may not realize it. It occurs Peyman Irajizad contributed to the research is described in the November 2016 issue of said Ghasemi. Peyman Irajizad and Nazanin Farokhnia are when you sprinkle a few drops of water into a project. Ghasemi is already onto phase two of on Hadi Ghasemi the journal Nature Communications. seeking Ph.D. degrees, Seyed Mohammad hot skillet to make sure it’s heated to your sat- the material, to be made of copper in order to Why it’s better Sajadi is studying for his master’s and isfaction. In those precious moments when the lower the cost. “These new surfaces provide the path to Munib Hasnain is an undergraduate. little droplets dance around – rather than boil tackle the challenge of icing in systems, Today’s icing systems seem frozen in time #1 – you are witnessing the Leidenfrost Phenom- Compared to today’s technology, no other thereby improving the quality of human life,” compared to Ghasemi’s. Case in point: The Now that Ghasemi and his team have enon, in which a vapor barrier is created when surfaces come close to Ghasemi’s new one, said Ghasemi. strength needed to remove ice. It’s measured proved their concept, their next step is to liquid touches a hot surface, and that barrier which removes the bottleneck for the heat in Pascals (Pa). Current systems use force get more money to create the new icepho- prevents the drops from boiling on impact. transfer process. Hadi Ghasemi Creates Icephobic surfaces play critical roles in measured at 100,000 Pa to remove ice. Gha- bic surfaces and move toward large-scale industries ranging from transportation to semi’s uses 2 Pascals. Two. Just two. implementation of the material. The Scientist Johann Leidenfrost recognized the dy- “With current surfaces, the maximum tem- Better Than State-of-the- power transmission. For scientists it’s been ultimate goal is to develop the coating as a namic in 1756. Since then, scientists have been perature reported is 400 degrees Celsius when somewhat of a slippery subject – designing spray that can be applied to any surface. Art Materials to trying to prevent it, because its impact extends the Leidenfrost effect occurs. But in our surface surfaces that are icephobic. far beyond the kitchen. Think re-entry of a we couldn’t find any Leidenfrost, even at 600 Ghasemi is a pretty cool character when spacecraft or the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear degrees Celsius, and we believe we can go to Widespread impact and it comes to explaining how he created disaster during which inadequate cooling led much higher temperatures with no Leidenfrost this ice-repelling material that might improvement to three nuclear meltdowns. effect,” saidG hasemi. “It is unprecedented well change the flight plan for so many heat dissipation.” industries. In the aircraft industry, planes intercept super- “When you have a hot surface and you’re cooled water droplets as they fly through going to cool it down with a liquid, you need Infinity and beyond “It just came to me,” he said. By Laurie Fickman clouds or encounter freezing rain. The drop- contact of the liquid with the surface,” said lets freeze rapidly on the surface, leading to Ghasemi. “Otherwise the vapor becomes an Imagine one day that heat shields are made That’s pretty chill. ice accretion, or buildup. This ice accretion re- insulating layer and it blocks the heat transfer.” out of Ghasemi’s material, or power genera- sults in increased drag and may lead to loss of tors and chemical reactors. He does, as he lift force and potentially catastrophic events. Now, a scientist – among the hundreds around researches the widespread applications of Left: Hadi Ghasemi shows how the world working to eliminate the vapor the material. In the power industry, icing in transmission easily a drop of water rolls off his barrier – has succeeded, effectively working systems can lead to collapse of poles and newly-invented icephobic surface around the problem. That scientist is Ghasemi. “We envision these surfaces opening a new towers, rupture of conductors and flashover avenue in thermal management through of insulators. At your house, a buildup of ice The heat is on spray cooling,” he said. on your air conditioner can cause it to freeze, which will increase your bills or break the A/C “We have developed a new approach to com- unit completely. pletely eliminate this phenomenon,” said Gha- semi. His approach is the invention of a new

24 MOMENTUM University of Houston Department of Mechanical Engineering 25 lead news materials #3 Based on Frogs, a New Adaptive Surface Hops Out of Hadi Ghasemi’s Mind

By Laurie Fickman Of the almost 5,000 species of frogs around the world, one of them hops immediately to Hadi Ghasemi’s attention.

You might wonder why the Bill D. Cook Assis- year-long initiative to “find innovative ideas So he decided to use this knowledge of wood tant Professor of mechanical engineering has that address challenges that will fill gaps in frogs to develop the new material that can amphibians on his mind when he is so clearly critical areas identified by NASA as having have the same adaptive properties. a man versed in mechanics. a potential impact on future space exploration,” according to NASA. Developing products based on animals is not For Ghasemi, who is freezing out the competi- as odd as it may seem. Ghasemi points to tion in the field of anti-icing surfaces and has “We think the idea of these anti-icing surfaces an adhesive material developed at UMass created better than state-of-the-art materials selected by NASA can be revolutionary for Amherst based on the mechanics of gecko to repel ice, the link is this: Wood frogs are the aerospace industry,” said Ghasemi. “We feet, which was named one of the top five part of a small group of animals that can are delighted we can make contributions to science breakthroughs of 2012 by CNN freeze, but not die. The species can tolerate future NASA missions.” Money. In theory, if you applied GeckSkin to freezing of 65 percent of their total body your hands you might be able to wall crawl water and still survive in the winter. Research jumping off the page like Spiderman. Or a gecko.

So Ghasemi thought if frogs can do it, then he Ghasemi says a vast domain of knowledge But this is the first time someone has based a can, too. has been overlooked and is hidden inside of low-temperature material on a frog. living species. He studied the frogs and built a new anti-icing “We think we can develop new surfaces for material than can withstand critically low tem- “We got the idea of these surfaces through the next generation of aircrafts and any peratures. His newly created adaptive surface nature. It is bio-inspired,” said Ghasemi. “The infrastructure that is going to stand at really works like a pair of glasses that change to wood frogs can tolerate the freezing of their low temperatures subject to freezing,” said sunglasses when you walk outdoors. In this blood and tissues while being alive. When Ghasemi. case, Ghasemi’s material performs normally at we looked closely at the cell biology of these ambient temperatures, but when exposed to frogs we observed that the ice formation was Only from the mind of Ghasemi can cold- extreme cold, it becomes an ant-icing surface. restricted to the surface of their cells.” blooded creatures warm up outer space.

For this innovating idea, Ghasemi won top That means they protect themselves from prize in the NASA iTech competition, a freezing.

26 MOMENTUM University of Houston Department of Mechanical Engineering 27 lead news materials

The invention of methods and tools to better understand the behavior of materials is partially responsible for the technological revolution of the 21st century. Understanding the electronic properties of semiconductors, for instance, led to their utilization as the “brains” of computers, and determining the mechanical behavior of metal alloys made modern aircraft construction possible.

In order to understand the behavior of materials, researchers recently have taken to using atomistic simulations – that is, modeling a material one atom at a time – to unrav- el the fundamental mechanisms underpinning its physical or chemical behaviors.

But such simulations can only account for phenomena that take place in under a few nanoseconds. By comparison, the blink of your eyes takes about a second, or roughly 1 million nanoseconds. This time-scale limitation precludes atomistic simulations from revealing what’s happening when a material is stretched or deformed slowly, among Time-scaling is a very hard many more phenomena. Studying how materials – especially nano-sized materials – will react under mechanical problem and may be considered stress in real-life applications or even during laboratory tests was impossible until now. the ‘Holy Grail’ of computational

Doctoral student Xin Yan used a suite of algorithms that materials science. collectively provide some resolution to the time limitations of atomistic simulations. Guided by intuition and - Xin Yan “an enormous body of excellent past work,” Yan said she deployed an algorithm suite to simulate what happens “Time-scaling is a very hard problem and may be consid- at the microscopic level when a nanomaterial is slowly ered the ‘Holy Grail’ of computational materials science,” compressed. Under the guidance of her advisor Pradeep Yan said. on the Behavior of Sharma, professor and chair of the mechanical engineering department at the Cullen College, Yan studied the be- Although the computational methodology that Yan and Nanomaterials havior of nano-sized pillars of nickel made up of only a Sharma deployed provides interesting insights into the few hundred atoms. behavior of nanostructures undergoing slow mechanical By Audrey Grayson deformation, the researchers said a complete resolution Traditional atomistic simulations have shown that when to the time-scale bottleneck remains elusive. However, the nickel nano-pillars experience a fast application of force, the novel method represents another step towards the crea- In a paper recently published in the journal Nano Letters, length of the pillar will simply shorten, much like a rubber tion of materials with never-before-seen applications. eraser would if you pushed down on it. When studied using mechanical engineers at the UH Cullen College of Yan’s models, her simulations revealed that the nano-pillars “Such computer simulations provide a unique window into actually behave more like a liquid when slowly squeezed. the behavior of materials at the microscopic level and pro- Engineering describe a novel method for characterizing vides us with clues for how to design next-generation ma- “The nano-pillar behaved like a soft, mushy blob being terials with brand new applications,” said Yan. and understanding the behavior of nanomaterials. squished, with material oozing out in ugly spirals – or beautiful spirals, depending on your point-of-view,” said Yan. The research published in Nano Letters was initially funded by a grant from the Air Force Office of ScientificR esearch and is Experiments using electron microscopes to observe the partially funded by the National Science Foundation. behavior of nanostructures have confirmed the same liquid-like deformation when the materials undergo slow mechanical stress.

28 MOMENTUM University of Houston Department of Mechanical Engineering 29 lead news materials I’m trying to design the material that will make this new technology available for the aerospace industry as soon as possible. Cutting - Theocharis Baxevanis

“They perform the functions of several materials and parts simultaneously, thus simplifying the device design, having fewer parts to break or wear down during the service of the plane, so they will save the industry money and decrease the overall weight of the plane and the drag on it.”

Putting the pedal to the metal It all starts here: at the computer Theocharis Baxevanis Down creates new technology for the aerospace industry But 20 years is too much time for the entire process of bringing the lightweight actuator to market. The project “I’m trying to design the material that will make this new attempts to accelerate the development and application technology available for the aerospace industry as soon as of HTSMA–actuators by combining ideas from informat- possible,” said Baxevanis. ics and design with experimental and computational materials science. The National Science Foundation (NSF) awarded him and his co-PIs at Texas A&M University $1.5 million to carry out “The basic idea is to develop a framework that will allow the the work. The grant comes through the NSF’s Designing Ma- design of a material equipped with tailored properties by terials to Revolutionize and Engineer our Future (DMREF) conducting an optimum number of physical experiments, Time program, in support of the multi-agency federal Materi- which are costly and time consuming,” said Baxevanis. To als Genome Initiative (MGI), seeking to target one of the narrow down the required number of physical experiments primary MGI goals: to halve the current time and cost for to actually take to the lab, he conducts numerical experi- to Speed Progress in the transitioning breakthroughs from the laboratory to the mar- ments – or “fictitious experiments,” as he calls them. ketplace – a process that can take as long as two decades. “We test hypothetical materials with computer models,” he Aerospace Industry New to the UH Cullen College, Baxevanis brought his por- said. “The simulations guide targeted physical experiments tion of the grant, “Accelerating the Development of Phase that in turn allow for the refinement of the models and Transforming Heterogeneous Materials: Application to High point us toward where we should look next, effectively re- Temperature Shape Memory Alloys,” to Houston. ducing the required number of physical experiments before By Laurie Fickman coming up with the material that we are looking for.” Back to those wing flaps Research taking flight Baxevanis concentrates on HTSMAs, which are alloys (a mixture of metals) that can change shape and operate at Once the work is completed, Baxevanis and his collabora- Deep within a UH computer, models being built by Theocharis Baxevanis, assistant professor high temperatures, providing high power density. tors would like anyone in the world to be able to pick up on of mechanical engineering, just may cause a sea of change in the aerospace industry. The hydro- their research and continue creating new phase transform- Currently in the aerospace industry, conventional actuators ing materials quicker by learning from their experience. mechanical system actuator, similar to an on/off switch that controls wing flaps (you see them control the wing flaps in planes. Though perfectly safe, the wing weight could be lightened if the actuators are made “We want to create a database and a framework available coming up as a plane is landing), could be replaced with a new solid-state actuator made of a new out of new HTSMA materials, and Baxevanis is set on for other researchers designing phase transforming mate- designing the HTSMA to do just that. rials for specific application requirements,” he said. High Temperature Shape Memory Alloy (HTSMA) that is lighter and more cost efficient. “We would like to replace the conventional actuators in the That way, when Baxevanis flies on from this project to the aerospace industry with single-piece, compact actuators next, his research will continue to soar. from high temperature shape memory alloys,” said Baxevanis.

30 MOMENTUM University of Houston Department of Mechanical Engineering 31 lead news technology

Superconducting motors and generators made with the wire that will be manufactured using Selvamanickam’s technology can lead to more than 6 billion kilowatt hours of annual electricity savings and reduce CO2 emissions by a million tons per year

thin film superconductor magnetically ENERGY power transmission medical defense wind wire is used in: levitated trains STORAGE cables imaging applications generators Venkat “Selva” Selvamanickam

With their potential for big savings through has continued his research since joining the The funding is part of Mission Innovation, an increased energy efficiency and reduced UH faculty in 2008. He also is director of the effort to double clean energy research and greenhouse gas emissions, interest in improv- Advanced Research Hub at the Texas Center development investments over the next five ing the manufacturing of superconductor for Superconductivity at UH and manages the years. The Energy Department last year wire is at an all-time high. Advanced Manufacturing Institute at UH. announced plans to fund up to $25 million in projects through the “Next Generation of The U.S. Department of Energy announced “Superconducting motors and generators Electric Machines: Enabling Technologies” a $4.5 million grant to Venkat Selvaman- made with the wire that will be manufac- funding opportunity, targeting technologies ickam, MD Anderson Chair Professor of tured using the technology developed in to boost efficiency in a cost-effective way. mechanical engineering at the University of this program can lead to more than 6 billion Houston, to boost the advanced manufactur- kilowatt hours of annual electricity savings Selvamanickam said the funding will enable ing of high-performance superconductor and reduce CO2 emissions by nearly a million the use of superconducting machines at liquid wires for next generation electric machines. tons per year,” he said. nitrogen temperatures, which can lead to a widespread commercialization of this technol- DOE Awards $4.5M to UH Engineer to Speed The award is one of 13 projects funded to Superconductor devices are used in energy, ogy. Until now, superconducting machines, advance technologies for energy efficient healthcare and transportation, among other including motors and generators, have been Manufacturing of Superconductor Wires for electric motors through applied research uses, and offer advantages including saving as built for use at lower temperatures because of and development. much as 2 percent in electricity use in electric performance limitations in the superconduct- motors and generators and up to 10 percent ing wire. The DOE-funded program will enable “Advancing these enabling technologies has in transmission and distribution equipment. overcoming those limitations. the potential to boost the competitiveness of That’s because superconductors can transport American manufacturers and take the devel- electricity with little or no resistance, meaning His team was the first to manufacture thin opment of more efficient electric machines a energy isn’t wasted in the electric machines film superconductor wire, which was used in giant step further,” Mark Johnson, director of and during transmission. 2008 to power 25,000 households in Albany, DOE’s Office of Energy Efficiency Rand enew- New York, and now is used by more than 200 able Energy, said of the nearly $25 million in “Dr. Selvamanickam is recognized globally institutions around the world for applications grant awards. “These technology R&D pro- for his focus on the development of innova- including wind generators, energy storage, jects aim to significantly improve industrial tive manufacturing technologies for thin film power transmission cables, magnetically motors for manufacturing, helping companies superconductor wire, which has been sup- levitated trains, medical imaging and defense who use these motors in manufacturing save ported by the federal government as well applications. energy and money over the long run.” as the state of Texas and private industry,” said Ramanan Krishnamoorti, chief energy Selvamanickam is one of the world’s leading officer at UH. “This grant will allow him to experts on manufacturing superconductors. continue his work to overcome obstacles to By Jeannie Kever He is the co-founder of SuperPower, which more efficiently manufacture the wire.” produces superconducting electrical wire, and

32 MOMENTUM University of Houston Department of Mechanical Engineering 33 lead news technology

“Think of it as a roll of Saran Wrap or a jelly bendable TFTs then we can make flexible “It’s so easily scalable,” said Selva. One day roll,” said Venkat “Selva” Selvamanickam, computers,” said Ryou. he says it will be possible to put the glass on MD Anderson Chair Professor of mechani- a big roll, like the Saran Wrap, feed it into a cal engineering. Jae-Hyun Ryou, assistant Switching on the transistor machine and it will come out with transistors professor of mechanical engineering, added, on the other end. “You won’t need a big truck to buy a 60-inch Ying Gao, postdoctoral fellow in mechanical television set, if you can just roll it up and engineering, developed the idea of how to Stretching the imagination take it with you.” make the TFTs flexible while she was still a Ph.D. student studying with Selva. She says Much like the three-dimensional, bendable Their work is highlighted in the journal superconductors inspired her to use a highly- screens in the movie “Minority Report,” Selva Advanced Electronics Materials in their article aligned crystalline layer on a metal as a base talks about looking at a map on a computer- “High-performance flexible thin-film transis- for the TFTs. ized screen that you just stretch and bend to tors based on single-crystal-like germanium see the picture in greater detail. on glass.” “We already have this technology,” said Gao. But she replaced the bottom, rigid metal “Just imagine being able to pull out your The bright past and flexible layer with flexible glass. This pliable, thin screen and make it as big as a conference future glass is the basis for building the TFT, giving table,” said Selva. He said it makes perfect it flexibility. The performance comes from the sense to be used first by the military, so In the past, we came to know TFT technology second and third layers. soldiers could carry maps from one location to through LCD (liquid crystal display) monitors another. “They could roll this out in the middle and television sets as the brightest ones with The third layer that makes the TFT work is of the desert, make it as big as they need it to the sharpest images. Each pixel in an LCD has made of the silicon-like chemical element be,” he said. a transistor that turns it on and off, creating germanium. “The germanium is very high the vivid colors. quality with high mobility,” said Gao. The For consumer use, the possibilities are endless. second layer is an intermediate buffer film. “If “Each pixel has its own red, green or blue we don’t have this intermediate layer it will With phone screens getting bigger and bigger, elements,” explained Ryou. “So if a pixel cause low performance of the TFT.” it’s a good bet that people don’t like squinting needs to have the color red in a certain spot, while they’re pouring over a story they might the TFT turns on the red and turns off the Gao’s ideas leapt off the drawing board be reading online. With this new technology, blue and green.” and into fabrication with Ryou’s team, led if the display itself can be expanded and still by mechanical engineering Ph.D. student kept compact enough to carry in your pocket, But those are yesterday’s transistors. The Mojtaba Asadirad. it would change not only the screen view, but future is flexible. along with it, the world view of electronics With those three layers together, they created and engineering. No Longer Just Terms for Exercise, “Ordinarily transistors are made of wafer a high-performance transistor that is flexible material that will break if you try to roll or and cost-effective, becoming what Selva calls They’ll Soon Describe Your Laptop! bend them, but if we can make flexible and “simple, elegant and easy to make.”

By Laurie Fickman Ying Gao demonstrates how thin and flexible electronics may be in the future

Tired of lugging that heavy laptop in your padded backpack? Here’s an idea: When you’re finished using your laptop, just roll it up, fold it, stick it Just imagine being able to pull in your back pocket and bolt. That’s the incredible future being created in a out your screen and make it UH Cullen College of Engineering laboratory – a flexible, thin-film transistor (TFT) that may one day make your current laptop a dinosaur. as big as a conference table – Venkat Selvamanickam

34 MOMENTUM University of Houston Department of Mechanical Engineering 35 lead news technology

Shahab Shervin (left) and Jae-Hyun Ryou

R esearchers at the UH Cullen College discovered a new, low-cost be used in relatively small quantities, further driving up the costs approach to manufacturing color-changing light-emitting diodes, of large-scale manufacturing. or LEDs. “We need a cheaper option,” said Ryou. The March 2016 cover of ACS Photonics features the theoretical study authored by Jae-Hyun Ryou, assistant professor of me- Shervin, who served as first author on the study, researches the Engineers Discover Low-Cost chanical engineering, and Shahab Shervin, a materials science potential for flexible LEDs on inorganic material to reduce mass- and engineering doctoral student. production costs and increase reliability and efficiency. He said that the theoretical ability to create color-changing LEDs was an Manufacturing Process for The study, titled “Bendable III-N visible light-emitting diodes be- unexpected and surprising bonus. yond mechanical flexibility,” explored the potential for low-cost, flexible and color-changing LEDs. Ryou and Shervin’s co-authors “Through our calculations, we’ve shown that bending or applying included Cullen College doctoral student Mojtaba Asadirad, Se- strain to an LED structure can improve its efficiency,” he said. “We ung-Hwan Kim from the Metamaterial Electronic Device Research also demonstrated that bending an LED structure can cause it to Center at Hongik University, Sergey Karpov of STR Group and emit different colors of light without changing the composition.” Daria Zimina of STR US, Inc. Current LED technology uses phosphorous, which is a non-envi- LEDs are energy-efficient light sources with a wide array of poten- ronmentally-friendly material, to produce white light emission. tial applications. LEDs convert electrical current to light approxi- Ryou and Shervin achieved white light emission without the use mately 10 times more efficiently than incandescent lamps and ap- of phosphorous by combining green, red and blue light emissions proximately two to three times more efficiently than fluorescent from a single flexible LED. The researchers said they hope their lamps. By converting electrical current more efficiently, they -of study promotes the use of eco-friendly alternative materials. fer the potential to reduce green house gas emissions caused by electricity use. Shervin said he envisions future roll-to-roll LED fabrication using amorphous or polymorphous substrates, enabling cost-efficient LEDs have become more prevalent in households, automobiles mass production. and even large-scale stadium displays in recent years, but they are still less commonly used than incandescent and fluorescent “We are taking a totally new approach to LED manufacturing,” light sources. said Ryou. With this research, he and Shervin hope to provide the foundation for the future of LED technology and contribute to its One of the major barriers to market penetration and widespread increased everyday use. household use is the relatively high cost of LED bulbs compared to compact fluorescent light bulbs, or CFLs, said Ryou. LEDs cost more to purchase because they are more expensive to mass-pro- By Natalie Thayer duce. The substrate currently used for LED production is more expensive than those used for traditional CFLs – and it can only

36 MOMENTUM University of Houston Department of Mechanical Engineering 37 faculty UH Engineer Collaborates With ConocoPhillips on UH Honors Our Best and Brighest: Two Mechanical Outstanding Service Awards Given to Mechanical Engineering Professors LNG Video Series Engineering By Natalie Thayer and Laurie Fickman Excellence in engineering took center stage as Joseph W. Tedesco, Elizabeth D. Rockwell The renowned University of Hou- first video of the series, “Right for the Times.” Professors Dean of the Cullen College, recognized the outstanding performances of faculty, staff and ston mechanical engineering pro- students in teaching, research and service at the spring faculty and staff meeting.F our me- “We humans are an energy-hungry species,” for Excellence in Teaching chanical engineering professors were honored for their outstanding service to the college. fessor John Lienhard, who heralds he says, recalling the words of 16th century “how inventive minds work” as writer Miguel de Cervantes who spoke of and Research Haleh Ardebili, “the fire that warms cold, the cold that mod- Bill D. Cook Associate Profes- the creator and voice of the KUHF erates heat, the general coin that purchases sor of mechanical engineer- radio program “The Engines of Our all things.” By Laurie Fickman ing, received the W.T. Kittinger Ingenuity,” is collaborating with Teaching Excellence Award, Lienhard’s narrative spans the human use of Each spring the University of Houston shines the highest teaching award ConocoPhillips to rev up audiences power from the time when wood was the es- a spotlight on the faculty’s best and brightest, given in the college, recogniz- in a different way. sential fuel source to the modern LNG era. It honoring them with teaching and research ing outstanding teaching and is a series full of history and storytelling that awards. This year two mechanical engineering service to students. It carries a This time it’s not engines revving, but ex- makes complicated subjects understandable professors earned the distinction. $2,000 stipend. citement over liquefied natural gas (LNG). and thought provoking. The team created a series of fascinating Hadi Ghasemi, Bill D. videos that bring to life the amazing story Lienhard notes the stunning importance of Cook Assistant Professor of of how natural gas becomes a liquid – and fossil fuels being transformed by the sudden mechanical engineering, why it should. The five-part series is called availability of natural gas. “A huge piece of received a W.T. Kittinger “LNG: 101.” that use is the liquefaction that makes it Teaching Excellence Award, available worldwide – across oceans,” he the university’s most prestigious teaching Lienhard, professor emeritus of mechanical narrates. honor. Ghasemi runs the UH Nanotherm Lab engineering at the Cullen College, is widely that explores learning and research in the recognized for his unique flair in explaining Unlike natural gas, which is commonly trans- field of thermodynamics, heat transfer and high-level scientific concepts in a down-to- ported through pipelines that are limited by nanotechnology. earth, narrative style. distance and terrain, LNG can be transported J ae-Hyun Ryou, assistant profes- Xuemei Chen, instructional assistant in tankers, allowing producers and users Karolos Grigoriadis, sor of mechanical engineering, re- professor of mechanical engineering, “Very few storytellers can take technical from around the world to connect across John and Rebecca Moores ceived a teaching excellence award received a teaching excellence award topics and explain them in a quick, engaging thousands of miles of ocean. Professor of mechanical and a $250 stipend. and a $250 stipend. way that appeals to subject matter experts engineering and director of and novices alike,” said Greg Thomas, Cono- Natural gas has become abundant and the aerospace engineering coPhillips project leader. “Dr. Lienhard has a affordable and causes less harm to the program, is no stranger to winning these unique way of storytelling that ties together environment, so its demand has risen, but excellence awards. He received the Excellence history and engineering concepts.” it takes up a lot of space. in Research, Scholarship or Creative Activity Award for his work teaching modelling and Lienhard was equally enthused with the “We can put 600 times as much LNG into controlling aerospace systems, internal collaboration. “Getting to interact with the same space as gas. That makes it safer combustion engines, active/passive vibration ConocoPhillips’ experts was a great treat and and cheaper,” says Lienhard. isolation of structural systems and intelligent a rare learning experience,” he said. “I was Cunjiang Yu, Bill D. Cook Assistant Mechanical engineering graduate impacted by the selling or purchasing of LNG.” biomedical systems. Recently he earned both especially pleased with the generous way the In a world that revolves around energy, Professor of mechanical engineering, student Fatemeh Ahmadpoor took the Fluor Corporation Faculty Excellence engineers at ConocoPhillips set out to create safety and value, the series asserts that it is earned the junior faculty member home the Best Dissertation Award of The video series premiered at the LNG 18 award, the highest honor given by the Cullen a teaching tool not tied to company interests. time for LNG to be understood by all. (non-tenured) award for excellence in 2016–2017 and $1,000. Conference in Perth. College, as well as the W.T. Kittinger Teaching The process was truly collaborative.” Excellence Award, the college’s most prestig- research, carrying a $2,000 stipend. “It’s really about making this information accessible,” said Thomas. “We wanted to cre- Watch the entire “LNG: 101” video ious teaching honor. Ever the teacher, Lienhard was excited about series at See the full list of Cullen College faculty award recipients at ate something that would appeal to anyone how much everyone learned in making the lnglicensing.conocophillips.com/Pages/ www.egr.uh.edu/news/201705/best-our-brightest-outstanding-service-awards-given- who is interested in energy and its impact on series and how much there is still to learn for LNG-101.aspx cullen-college those who watch it. Lienhard begins with a society — from decisionmakers in the LNG profound quote about human history in the industry to members of the communities

38 MOMENTUM University of Houston Department of Mechanical Engineering 39 faculty

Y ashashree Kulkarni Receives ASME 2017 Three new faculty Sia Nemat-Nasser Join Mechanical Engineering Department, Including Member of Early Career Award National Academy of Engineering By Laurie Fickman The UH Cullen College of Engineering’s mechanical engi- When Yashashree Kulkarni isn’t singing opera (her latest pursuit), the neering department proudly welcomed three new faces associate professor of mechanical engineering is singing the praises of and brilliant minds to its faculty, including one member twinning, the process by which interfaces known as twin boundaries are of the National Academy of Engineering. introduced in metals to make them stronger. Twin boundaries are created when layers of atoms in crystalline materials are arranged in pairs of mirror ANDREA PROSPERETTI joined the Cullen images (twins) stacked on top of one another. College as a Distinguished Professor of mechanical engineering. He is a member “For all structural applications, we want a material that is both ultra-strong of the National Academy of Engineering and not brittle – we call it ductile – and that is what we do with twinning,” for his work involving fluid mechanics, said Kulkarni. specifically multiphase flows. Here’s what she also does: Picks up awards for her work on nanotwinned In 2003, the American Physical Society honored him with metals, most recently from the American Society of Mechanical Engineers the highest award in his field, theF luid Dynamics Prize. Since (ASME). The organization chose her as winner of the 2017 Sia Nemat- 2008, he has served as editor-in-chief of the International Nassar Early Career Award for her “pioneering work on twin boundaries Journal of Multiphase Flow and serves on the editorial board in crystalline materials and their role in next-generation nanostructured of the Annual Review of Fluid Mechanics. materials,” according to ASME.

Prosperetti comes from Johns Hopkins University, where “It’s a very prestigious award. It is national-level recognition and I am really he is the Charles A. Miller Jr. Professor of mechanical en- humbled by it,” said Kulkarni. gineering. He also serves part time as the Gerrit Berkhoﬀ Professor of applied physics at the University of Twente in Early achievements The Netherlands. Kulkarni received her Ph.D. in 2007 and has a career reel of highlights in He earned his M.S. in 1972 and Ph.D. in engineering science the field of computational modeling of twins in nanostructured materials. in 1974 from the California Institute of Technology. She has explored the ability of specially fabricated nanotwinned metals to He is the single author of approximately 40 papers and co- withstand prolonged exposure to high radiation through a grant from the author of over 160 others. National Science Foundation; and, she is an early pioneer of studying twin boundaries at the molecular level to understand their role in imparting high THEOCHARIS BAXEVANIS strength, ductility and mechanical stability to nanotwinned metals. ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING But the overarching focus of her work, she says, is to understand how twin Research interests: Constitutive modeling boundaries interact with other defects, because, as she notes, there are and numerical implementation, finite always going to be defects in materials, and they ultimately determine the It’s a very prestigious award. element analysis, damage of geomaterials, creep failure mechanical behavior of the material. of fiber-reinforced composites, high strain-rate response of metals, fracture of shape memory alloys, and material “Whenever a material deforms or ultimately fails, it all starts at the scale instability and localization. of atoms, where defects are formed breaking the crystalline order,” said It is national-level recognition Kulkarni. “My work has been mostly on how these unique twin boundaries DANIEL ARAYA interact with the defects that are already present or formed during defor- ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF mation to make the material stronger.” MECHANICAL ENGINEERING Research interests: Vortex dynamics, free- She recalls a quote by Sir Colin Humphreys, a famous materials scientist, and I am really humbled by it. shear flows, atmospheric boundary layer that she works and lives by: “Crystals are like people; It is the defects in flows, hydrodynamic stability, flow visualization techniques, them that tend to make them interesting.” passive flow control, urban wind farming, multi-rotor drone – yashashree kulkarni aerodynamics, renewable energy storage, biologically driven Sounds almost operatic. flows and space exploration.

40 MOMENTUM University of Houston Department of Mechanical Engineering 41 faculty students

Professor Wins American Chemical Society’s Doctoral Canaan Martin new investigator award Space Architecture Students Win By Natalie Thayer

Cunjiang Yu, as- the career opportunities of students through polymer-encapsulated, deformable nanoelec- sistant profes- research experiences. tronics into responsive hydrogels. sor of mechanical engineering This award provides funding of $110,000 over With this grant, Yu and two of his Ph.D. at the UH Cullen two years and will support Yu’s research on students, Kyoseung Sim and LeiLei Shi, will College of Engi- developing and studying the fundamental conduct both experimental and theoretical neering, received properties of a new class of smart material – investigations of the material. By Natalie Thayer the American an electrically-responsive hydrogel composite Chemical Society Petroleum Research Fund that can be locally actuated, or internally Yu said he looks forward to discovering poten- Former space architecture students Brett metric scale,” said Fittipaldi. (ACS-PRF) Doctoral New Investigator (DNI) stimulated. tial applications for the hydrogel composite, Montoya and Canaan Martin won the award for his proposed research on “Elec- particularly in the biomedical engineering Genesis Engineering Solutions (GES) Su- Though the competition focused on the trically Responsive and Locally Programma- Hydrogels are soft, adaptable and highly ab- field. In addition to advancing technology perior Design Award for their interior op- interior layout and components of the ble Hydrogel Composites.” sorbent polymers with various applications for tissue engineering and drug delivery, Yu erational systems and layout design of a SPS, Montoya said he had to consider the ranging from everyday materials, such as said he envisions this material playing an single-person spacecraft (SPS.) spacecraft holistically, as the sum of its Each year, the ACS-PRF holds a highly selec- contact lenses, to advanced biomedical tools, important role in the development of soft parts, to successfully design the interior. tive competition to award seed funding to such as skin wound dressings. robotics that can be used by surgeons in the GES, an aerospace and technology com- top researchers in the petroleum field with a operating room. pany, sponsored the three-month national “In order to map the layout, I had to un- proven track record of producing innovative Some classes of responsive hydrogels are able competition to encourage and integrate derstand the control requirements for fundamental research. The DNI grant, which to adapt to their environments by responding “Fundamental research is invaluable,” said Yu. student creativity in the development of each system,” he said. “As a result, my un- provides start-up funding for researchers who to external stimuli. But Yu wants to take this a “We have to really understand the material their SPS technology. derstanding of spacecraft systems [grew] are within the first three years of an academic step further by engineering a class of hy- before we can move forward and look into immensely. I have Genesis Engineering to appointment as an assistant professor, aims to drogels that can also adapt to internal stimuli. practical applications.” Students from an array of disciplines, in- thank for that.” promote the careers of young faculty, support Yu has proposed a strategy for creating a cluding engineering, industrial design, hu- research of high scientific caliber and enhance novel composite material made by integrating man factors and space architecture, were Montoya and Martin each took home $1,500 challenged with developing creative in- as recipients of the superior design prize. A ternal designs for GES’s SPS that included team from Florida Institute of Technology both functional elements, such as displays took home the $2,500 Grand Prize. Dong Liu, associate professor of mechanical optimize the transport process with thermal, and controls, and “creature comforts” us- Dong Liu Climbs engineering, continues to climb the ranks of electrical and/or magnetic fields. The ap- ing only existing technologies. GES is based in Landham, Maryland. Since the American Society of Mechanical Engi- plications of his research range from thermal it was founded in 1993, GES has support- neers (ASME), the premiere organization for management to biomedical engineering and A panel of esteemed judges, which included ed various NASA projects, including the the ASME Ladder: mechanical engineering professionals and nanomanufacturing. a former NASA astronaut and leaders in en- Hubble Servicing Missions and the James students. gineering and design from GES, reviewed Webb Space Telescope. “Involvement in both of these ASME activities the design entries. Liu was recently named associate editor of is highly rewarding to me as a professor and The UH Sasakawa International Center for ASME’s Journal of Electronic Packaging and researcher,” said Liu. “It allows me the oppor- The judges awarded Montoya and Martin Space Architecture (SICSA) offers the world’s was selected as vice chair of the ASME Heat tunity to stay abreast of the latest develop- the superior design prize for their unique only master’s degree in space architecture Transfer Division’s Committee on Nanoscale ments in my field and in some ways influence solution to the design challenges. Joe Fit- and provides students with an advanced in- Transport Phenomena. where the field is headed next.” tipaldi, one of NASA’s human factors ex- terdisciplinary research, design and teaching perts who served as a competition judge, center. Liu’s research explores the basic science of said he was particularly impressed by the Organization Elects Liu as multiphase transport phenomena involving attention Montoya and Martin paid to the TO LEARN MORE Editor of Journal and Member fluid-particle interactions (such as a vapor human factors of their design. about the space architecture program bubble or solid particles in a liquid) with at the UH Cullen College of Engineering, of Prestigious Committee metaphysical and multiscale effects. His goal “[They] paid careful attention to [ensure] please visit sicsa.egr.uh.edu is to come up with new ideas to control and a common viewpoint across the anthropo-

42 MOMENTUM University of Houston Department of Mechanical Engineering 43 students Undergrads Help NASA’s Small Satellites

UH Space Architects Present Plans for Mars Mission to By Natalie Thayer

Three UH Engineering undergraduate stu- Each unit weighs approximately 3 pounds The team built the CubeSat model during dents are improving NASA’s CubeSat mis- and is covered in solar panels for energy the fall 2015 semester and spent the fol- Buzz Aldrin sions by programming the small satellites collection. Once the solar energy is col- lowing spring semester fine-tuning the al- to orient and stabilize themselves based lected, it is stored in batteries inside the gorithms and formulas used in the code. By Audrey Grayson on the position of the sun. satellite. The entire process is managed While many engineering projects can have by a microprocessor, which serves as the clearly defined solutions, Zinecker, London Apollo 11 astronaut Buzz Aldrin, the second The code developed by mechanical engi- “brain” of the satellite. and Yao said they encountered several person to walk on the moon, met with neering student Abby Zinecker and elec- challenges during this project unique to the University of Houston space architecture trical and computer engineering students Under the guidance of Len Trombetta, the complex and creative process of coding. students to hear their plans for establishing Julia London and Tiffany Yao will solve associate chair of the Cullen College’s elec- human settlements on Mars. one of the biggest obstacles to success- trical and computer engineering (ECE) de- “Coding is a lot like painting or drawing, fully completing CubeSat missions: the in- partment, and Steve Provence, a NASA en- because it’s never quite done,” said Lon- Space architecture graduate students Suza- ability to stabilize a small satellite after it’s gineer and alumnus of the Cullen College’s don. “It’s always evolving.” na Blanco, Kyle Kesling and Taylor Phillips- launched into space. ECE department, the team wrote code that Hungerford presented their project to the employs a CubeSat’s built-in solar panels But the project also provided unique re- space legend at the Sasakawa International “When CubeSats are launched, at first they’re and microprocessor to orient the satellite wards. The ability to determine angular Center for Space Architecture (SICSA), just tumbling and spinning in space,” said Lon- according to a light source, such as the velocity in a CubeSat is a challenge cur- home to the world’s only space architecture don. “They need to stabilize before they can sun, and stabilize the satellite in space by rently faced by NASA and others interest- master’s program. take readings and collect data.” determining its angular velocity. ed in the small satellites. With their code, the team provided a novel and practical The group’s presentation focused on orbital With standard-sized satellites, the angular ve- The model simulated the CubeSat’s rota- solution to a current, real-world challenge. and surface integrated systems, or OASIS, locity, or the direction and speed of the spin- tion using servomotors – small, energy- and how those systems would be used to ning satellite, is often calculated using a de- efficient motors often used in robotic and “My favorite part of this project is know- colonize Mars. The team utilized the Aldrin vice called an accelerometer. But the added industrial applications – and was lined ing that we were able to accomplish some- Mars Cycler, a spacecraft conceptualized by weight and power requirements of these de- with clear acrylic walls to make the inter- thing new,” said Zinecker. Aldrin to send human missions to the Red vices render them impractical for CubeSats. nal wiring and microprocessor visible. The Planet. students said that being able to see the To further the potential applications of The size, weight and power constraints internal components proved invaluable their code, the team created a user inter- Aldrin’s son, Andrew Aldrin, president of of CubeSats drove the innovation process throughout the design process. face designed so that even non-scientists Moon Express, Inc., attended the presen- for Zinecker, London and Yao. Their goal could interpret the data. tation, along with former NASA astronaut was to develop an alternative method “We could see how everything connected, Bonnie J. Dunbar and Ondrej Doule, as- for calculating angular velocity in Cube- which was really helpful for debugging “We wanted to make something with a sistant professor in the Human-Centered Sats without increasing their size, weight and testing,” said Zinecker. very user-friendly display, so that anyone Design Institute at the Florida Institute of or power consumption. To achieve their with a computer could open the interface Technology. mission, the undergrads had to find cost- With the team’s code, CubeSats can be sta- and easily read the data collected from effective ways to use and repurpose the bilized after launch by using the sun as a ref- satellites,” said Yao. components of a standard CubeSat to ex- erence point to determine its location and ecute tasks more efficiently and perform calculating the satellite’s angular velocity. The team presented the CubeSat model, altogether new functions. code and user interface at the Graduate View more photos at “Calculating the angular velocity is impor- Research and Capstone Design Confer- www.flickr.com/photos/cullencollege CubeSats are made up of 4x4x4-inch tant because we have to find out how fast ence hosted by the ECE department on cubes called units and can be as small as the satellite is going to be able to accurately April 29, 2016. one unit (1U) or as large as six units (6U). reverse the spin and slow it down,” said Yao.

44 MOMENTUM University of Houston Department of Mechanical Engineering 45 students Reed is a fast mover, fast thinker and as bright as the solar cells she’s developing. She’s deeply immersed in research with thin Tam Nguyen film photovoltaics to make solar cells from a more affordable and efficient semiconductor, gallium arsenide, rather than the traditional silicon. That work is financed through a stipend she received last year from the Houston Scholars Program, the same year she was named outstanding sophomore by the Texas Society of Professional Engineers who seem to have created the award just for Reed. It was their first year to give such an honor.

Pretty amazing research for any scientist, let alone one at the age of 20. Reed credits women her parents for her upbringing to succeed and Engineering the Future give back. “It was a pretty strict upbringing,” says Reed. Meet the Brilliant Ladies Named the Cullen College’s 2016-2017 Outstanding Students “We had to go volunteering on Saturdays and I remember once crying, asking them why we had to go out every Saturday,” Reed recalls. By Laurie Fickman She says her mother promised she’d remember the importance of it one day, and indeed “I’m trying to get as many experiences under “Building a dyno has never been done by the she has. my belt before I concretely choose some- UH-FSAE team before,” said Nguyen proudly. thing,” she said. At UH Reed launched two writing-related She’s also active in the UH Society of Asian programs, each to voluntarily tutor young- No grass growing under those comfy shoes for Scientists and Engineers, currently serving as ndergraduate mechanical engi- sters. She created her first group, Writing to this outstanding junior. senior advisor. Last year, in her prior role as neering students Tam Nguyen, a Inspire Successful Education, as part of the president, she tripled the group’s membership. Serrae Reed senior, and Serrae Reed, a junior, UH Bonner Leaders Program. focus on their studies with the Outstanding senior Nguyen says it’s her basic personality that Uprecision of the engineers they are becoming. “Our objective is to improve writing skills, drives her forward. Upon graduation, Nguyen has an engineering increase college aspiration and raise the test Tam Nguyen job nailed down at Shell, and Reed is conduct- scores of our partner school, KIPP Intrepid,” “I always strive for the best,” she said. “I see ing research on solar cells and the efficiency in said Reed. Her aim is to “obliterate the educa- Tam Nguyen is closing out her undergraduate hurdles and obstacles as opportunities.” She which light is harvested for energy production. tion gap that occurs between low-income career with the outstanding student award for must. Leaving her family behind in her native students and their more affluent peers.” the second year in a row. As a senior, she Vietnam, she traveled to Houston, alone at 17, That’s the kind of hard work and dedica- was never coasting. At times she’s worked to live with an aunt. She didn’t know much tion it takes to be named a Cullen College Seeing the success of her efforts, in fall 2016 two or three jobs along with a full course English yet, but was determined not to see outstanding student for 2016-2017, a title Reed developed the Houston Scholars Writing load to reach her goals. obstacles. So she learned the language they’ve both captured. As it turns out, the Workshops for 11th graders as they prepare and got an associate’s degree at a com- pair is so outstanding they are both back- their college essays. For her honor’s thesis, she explored thermal munity college before applying to UH. to-back winners. batteries with an eye on making them more Again she tracks back to the influence of efficient. Thermal batteries use the differ- “I wanted to make a better future for my her mother, a successful writer and thera- ences in temperature to produce power. She family,” she said. Outstanding junior pist, and her father, a former geophysicist also worked on her Capstone Project with the Serrae Reed and financial advisor in the oil industry, for Society of Automotive Engineers to build a And so she has. In January she brought her mix of interests. Formula One-style race car from the ground her brother over to live in Houston and her up to compete in the Formula SAE Series It’s a good thing Reed is an engineering major: parents will follow, all of them living together (FSAE) races. She is a study of energy in motion. Her days Pursuing a master’s degree is definitely next with her husband of four years. Her parents are filled with meetings, on one project or for Reed, but she’s still trying to determine will make it just in time to help raise the new Nguyen’s part is creating the engine dy- another, or with one of two writing groups she which specialty she’ll pursue. Last fall she baby she’s expecting. namometer that measures the horsepower formed for youngsters. went to Shell’s Drilling and Production Train- ing Camp and this summer she interned at and torque of an engine. With those measure- Nguyen is a study in balance, taking on ments in hand, engineers can tweak the car’s “I wear comfortable shoes. I have to get the LyondellBasell Channelview plant. all roles with ease. Launching a baby and performance and maximize it for racing. around really fast,” she laughs. career at the same time, no hurdles here – not for Nguyen.

46 MOMENTUM University of Houston Department of Mechanical Engineering 47 students

ject, in which the team designs and builds a Senior’s Hologram Software Formula One-style race car from the ground up to compete in the Formula SAE Series Could be Used to (FSAE) races.

When Mottershaw joined the group, it was sputtering. There had been one group started in the College of Technology and one in the Cullen College, but neither group was posi- Augment Reality tioned yet to get out of the starting gate.

So Mottershaw took the wheel and revved up By Isabel Pen, Daily Cougar Reporter Though James uses the wearable computer the operations, financial management and Wearing a bulky version of La Forge’s visor to generate three-dimensional models of the new member recruitment. He also is on the from “Star Trek,” a man pinches and pulls ocean floor, he says the applications of this team building the car’s chassis, which is the the air in front of him; behind the lens of his technology are limitless. frame of the vehicle. futuristic goggles, reality is altered. “Right now, the field is taking off,” said Setting it on cruise University of Houston mechanical engineer- computer science doctoral student Daniel ing senior Evan James is developing software Biediger, who researches augmented real- “The goal from the beginning was to build a for a device that creates an immersive ity for visualization, education, simulation sustainable organization,” said Mottershaw. “I augmented reality experience. The Microsoft and training. “There are many projects that like to think of FSAE as a microcosm of what HoloLens can be used to aid engineers in involve construction, planning, medicine, data Top: Microsoft HoloLens goes on in the real world – you have to raise visualizing and interacting with their ideas in visualization and even games. It’s much more the money, allocate your resources, deal with Bottom: James can manipulate the three-dimensional space. natural to interact with higher-dimensional size and position of a hologram — in this case, politics and you still have to have a product at data in higher dimensions.” the end of the day.” a three-dimensional topographic map. Photo “HoloLens is the true and most superior first- courtesy of Evan James generation mixed-reality device that projects James said the HoloLens could prove to be And so he went to work, studying other FSAE for a user a layer of relevant information on useful in providing a three-dimensional models of success to perfect a plan for the UH in their field of vision while they’re trying to top of the physical objects or environment,” full-size blueprint, which contractors could prepare a new meal. team. He recalls a quote that helped drive his said computer science research assistant build on top of to ensure precision construc- success: “First you must finish, then you can professor Chang H. Yun. tion. Holograms could help medical students With his military background, James envisions finish first,” said Mottershaw. And to finish, understand how the human body works by they needed money. No coincidence that if a future in which he can communicate with The technology enables the wearer to see zooming in on specific organs to observe his loved ones while overseas via “holoporta- Mottershaw wasn’t an engineer he says he’d holographic versions of objects or people and their function. Accelerating Success: like to be a financier. Since he took control, tion.” By fitting a room with special cameras, view them from all angles as if they were in he would be able to see the holographic form Cullen College Senior Wins the organization has raised $115,000 in cash the same room. The technology could even host a game that and in-kind services. of his mother and children using the HoloLens scans the room and layers virtual walls and as a viewing device. Automotive Leadership Award “As a mechanical engineer, it’s all about objects on top of the real world to create an An Eagle Scout at 16, Mottershaw has always developing technology that can help our work immersive augmented-reality video game. While they haven’t had any takers in the By Laurie Fickman combined leadership skills with his love of process,” James said. “So, what I’ve built is a building things and solving problems. big oil world, they have piqued the interest holographic topographical map of the Gulf of Virtual holograms could also revolutionize the of a drill bit company. In the meantime, Mexico to visualize where the oil pockets are.” way people live their daily lives. Even after returning from the whirlwind James develops other apps that utilize this award ceremony in Detroit, Mottershaw says holographic capability. In the not-so-distant James is no stranger to getting creative with “Unlike watching TV, which requires you to future, mixed reality could become a part of winning hasn’t sunk in. Admittedly, he says technology; his creative insights were rec- sit or stand in front of the device, or talking “it’s awesome,” but what was greater for the everyday experience for the American ognized after making it to the finals in the on the phone, which requires you to hold the household, Yun said. Grant Mottershaw, a senior in mechani- Annually, SAE identifies and recognizes an him was presenting to the groups of industry U.S. Microsoft Imagine Cup 2015. Windows device to your ear, this technology requires no cal engineering at the Cullen College of outstanding student leader and, through professionals and getting the opportunity to Insiders, a select group of developers given specific posture,” said James. “Your hands are meet them. “You can make a lot of stuff with this tech- Engineering, received the 2016 Rumbaugh the award, encourages “a vision within the the first opportunity to experiment with completely free and you’re not required to sit nology,” James said. “It’s the imagination Outstanding Student Leader Award in De- recipient to become an SAE leader during his/ new Microsoft technology, invited James to down; you can look at the data while you’re Mottershaw has high hopes of becoming a that comes first. Everybody who created troit at the Society of Automotive Engineers her adult career,” according to SAE. Among be a member. working on something else.” something started with a great imagination.” (SAE) International World Congress. SAE is the honors, Mottershaw becomes a lifetime professional in the auto industry. a global association of more than 128,000 member of the organization. Once approved, James received a developer James imagines a world where someone Naturally. He’s geared for it. This article was originally published in the Daily engineers and related technical experts in edition of the Microsoft HoloLens in order to wearing a HoloLens, which is controlled either Cougar: http://thedailycougar.com/2017/03/22/ the aerospace, automotive and commercial- SAE cited Mottershaw for demonstrating begin designing applications to see the tech- by in-air hand motions or voice commands, seniors-hologram-software-used-augment- vehicle industries. outstanding leadership skills for his involve- nological world in a whole new dimension. can pull up the user manual while they’re fix- reality/ ment with the UH Formula SAE (FSAE) pro- ing their car, or have a recipe from a cookbook

48 MOMENTUM University of Houston Department of Mechanical Engineering 49 students

UH Materials UH-MRS winners are: Students Showcase Research Society Cutting-Edge Research Student Chapter Hosts Winners all around at the UH-MRS at 2016 Undergraduate Research Day Campus Symposium symposium! By Audrey Grayson F irst Place: By Laurie Fickman Yunwen Zhou Venkat Selvamanickam and Pavel Dutta of More than 200 UH undergraduate students presented their mechanical engineering. research at the 2016 Undergraduate Research Day held at Chemical Engineering Department the Elizabeth D. Rockwell Pavilion in October. The University of Houston-Materials Research Advisor: Jeffrey Rimer “It was nice to see such a high level of par- Society Chapter (UH-MRS) hosted its first ticipation and enthusiasm among materials A total of 40 UH engineering students participated in the student symposium in the main lobby of researchers and it was a great experience to campus-wide event, presenting research on a wide array of Engineering Building 1. At the symposium stu- Second Place: bring MRS activities to the UH campus,” said topics ranging from medicine and health to energy and materi- dents presented their work to an esteemed Peyman Irajizad Meysam Heydari Gharahcheshmeh, president als. Four engineering students won poster awards at the event. crowd of professional members across vari- Mechanical Engineering Department of the UH-MRS chapter. ous engineering and science disciplines at Advisor: Hadi Ghasemi Electrical and computer engineering student Lillian Lin, advi- UH. The 40 presenters came from different UH-MRS was established in April 2016. The see of Aaron Becker, received a poster award for her research departments including chemistry, physics; primary goal of the chapter is to broaden on controlling swarms of micro-robots. and chemical, mechanical, materials and Third Place: participation of students in materials research electrical engineering. Pratap Rudra and STEM (science, technology, engineering Tara Mars, a chemical and biomolecular engineering student, and math) fields. The chapter also provides a received a poster award for her work on flow and transport The event was organized by the members and Mechanical Engineering Department platform for materials disciplines to convene, of complex fluids in porous media. She worked closely with volunteers of the UH-MRS chapter under the Advisor: Venkat Selvamanickam collaborate, integrate, communicate and faculty advisor Jacinta Conrad on this project. supervision of the chapter faculty advisors advocate materials research activities. Another chemical and biomolecular engineering student, Phillip Reid, earned a poster award for his research conducted with Peter Vekilov on assessing the effects of combined anti- malarial drugs on treating malaria. Meysam Heydari Gharahcheshmeh, a for Superconductivity Applied Research Hub. materials engineering doctoral student at the Selvamanickam is also the founder of the Serrae Reed, a mechanical engineering student working UH Cullen College of Engineering, received Advanced Superconductor Manufacturing with faculty advisor Pavel Dutta, received a poster award a 2016 Graduate Study Fellowship in Applied Institute, an industry-led consortium. for her work on antireflection coatings for thin film photo- Superconductivity from the Institute of Electri- voltaics on flexible substrates. cal and Electronics Engineers (IEEE). Heydari Gharahcheshmeh said that it has been “an honor and a deeply enriching experience Other projects presented at the event covered the use of fish The annual fellowship is awarded by the to work so closely with Dr. Selvamanickam.” oil supplements to treat arthritis and lupus; identification of IEEE’s Council on Superconductivity Commit- novel catalysts for the synthesis of ammonia; enhanced oil tee (CSC) to encourage promising doctoral As a 2016 recipient, Heydari Gharahcheshmeh recovery methods; evaluation of how the brain experiences students studying applied superconductiv- received complimentary membership to the art; and the development of aqueous batteries. Doctoral Student Wins ity to contribute to the future of the field. IEEE and a CSC’s sponsoring societies, an Applicants are selected based on the quality inscribed certificate and a $5,000 honorarium. Watch our video from the 2016 Undergraduate Fellowship to of prior work, the impact of their current Research Day at research and the potential impact of their Learn more about the IEEE’s https://youtu.be/bQN__mJdhhk. future research. Applicants’ financial need is Graduate Study Fellowship in Investigate also taken into consideration. Applied Superconductivity at View photos from this year’s Undergraduate http://ieeecsc.org/awards/ieee-csc-fellow- Research Day at Applied At the Cullen College, Heydari Gharahchesh- ship-award. www.flickr.com/photos/CullenCollege meh works with his award-winning advisor and mentor Venkat Selvamanickam, M.D. Superconductivity Anderson Chair Professor of mechanical By Natalie Thayer engineering and director of the Texas Center

50 MOMENTUM University of Houston Department of Mechanical Engineering 51 students

If undergraduate students are motivated to conduct advanced-level research, there shouldn’t be a scenario in which they are DEAN not able to do that at the Joseph W. Tedesco Cullen College.

UH Engineering and Honors Colleges Launch Stuart Long Undergraduate Research Fund By Audrey Grayson

At the UH Cullen College of Engineering, un- lege. The Professor Stuart Long Undergradu- made it his personal mission to increase and soon became the cornerstone of a formal over the country into Cullen College laborato- research projects that are not funded through dergrads are strongly encouraged to engage ate Research Fund will support undergradu- enhance the research opportunities available program, called the Electromagnetic Under- ries to conduct research alongside its world- one of the existing undergrad research pro- in hands-on, real-world research while pursu- ate research programs at UH such as the to undergraduate students. graduates Program (EMUGs), which identi- renowned professors. grams, such as SURF and PURS. ing their degrees – and there’s no shortage of Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship fied outstanding undergraduate students cutting-edge research projects for undergrad- (SURF) and Houston’s Early Research Experi- Long invited outstanding undergraduate stu- and gave them access to a space where they Long also works closely with Karen Weber, “If undergraduate students are motivated uate students to get involved in at the college. ence (HERE) for many more years to come. dents in the Cullen College to join his labora- could interact with graduate students and as- director of the UH office of undergraduate to conduct advanced-level research, there tory group, assist with research, co-author pa- sist Long and other electrical and computer research, to enhance undergraduate research shouldn’t be a scenario in which they are not Now UH engineering students will have more Long is a long-time proponent of undergradu- pers and travel to conferences to give poster engineering professors with research projects programs at the University including SURF, able to do that at the Cullen College,” Tedesco opportunities than ever to pursue research in ate research and is credited with increasing presentations and seminar talks. and papers. PURS (the Provost’s Undergraduate Research said. “It is my absolute pleasure and one of one of the world-class laboratories on campus research opportunities across the UH campus Scholarship), the Senior Honors Thesis and my highest priorities to provide additional thanks to the Professor Stuart Long Under- for undergraduate students. “Engaging undergraduate students with re- Thanks to Long’s efforts, undergraduate re- Undergraduate Research Day, an event funding to support the stunning array of pro- graduate Research Fund, which will provide search projects or professional opportunities search opportunities both inside the Cullen wherein undergrads across the UH campus fessional quality undergraduate research con- support to students across the UH campus “I was blessed with many amazing mentors not only helps them connect-the-dots be- College of Engineering and across the UH showcase their research projects to faculty, ducted by UH engineering students.” conducting innovative, high-level research. during my undergraduate education who tween classroom lessons and their real-world campus have been steadily increasing. Long fellow students and industry representatives. encouraged me to get involved in research,” applications – it also helps them earn better and Fritz Claydon, director of the division of For more information The UH Cullen College of Engineering and the Long said. “That mentorship had such a pro- grades and increases the chances that they undergraduate programs and student suc- Opportunities for undergraduate research and to make a gift to the Professor Stuart UH Honors College created the fund in honor foundly positive impact on my education and will successfully complete their engineering cess at the Cullen College, were instrumental have been steadily increasing at the Cul- Long Undergraduate Research Fund, please of Stuart Long, associate dean of undergradu- my trajectory after graduation.” So much degree,” Long said. in securing funding to establish the UH Re- len College. Joseph W. Tedesco, Elizabeth D. contact Ryan Kenney at [email protected] ate research at UH and professor of electrical so, in fact, that when Long became a faculty search Experience for Undergraduates (REU), Rockwell Dean of Engineering, has devoted and computer engineering at the Cullen Col- member at the Cullen College in 1974, he This model of undergraduate engagement which brought talented undergrads from all additional funding to support undergraduate

52 MOMENTUM University of Houston Department of Mechanical Engineering 53 alumni

F rom his office in west Houston, UH Cullen Three years after earning his bachelor’s Shortly after purchasing the building, Mit- College of Engineering alumnus Giancarlo degree, Mitterhofer made an unusual terhofer replaced its 30-year-old heating, Mitterhofer (BSME ’03) looks down at his career move: rather than going to work at ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) sys- smartphone and realizes two things: He’s not one of Houston’s many engineering and tem with a brand new roof-mounted model making as much money as he could and his energy firms, he decided to try his hand at with direct digital controls, allowing him to environmental footprint is growing instead of the commercial real estate industry, pur- remotely monitor and control heating and shrinking. chasing a 65,000-square-foot commercial cooling systems from his smartphone. This building just west of Beltway 8, adjacent to alone shaved more than $100,000 off of the That’s a lot of information to absorb in a Houston’s Energy Corridor and Westchase building’s electricity bill each year. simple glance. But with the invention of Mit- Business District. terhofer’s Renaissance Management System, At its core, Mitterhofer’s desire to cut costs is it’s information he gleans in the blink of an At the time, Mitterhofer had no prior real pretty noble. eye. The hardware-software system automat- estate or property management experience. ically monitors and controls energy usage in “I jumped in the pool in the deep end, but “Reduced operating costs translate to buildings, displaying crucial information on I didn’t drown. That has a lot to do with reduced rents for tenants, which ultimately energy efficiency in a user-friendly visuali- engineering,” he said. benefits the small business owners renting zation dashboard. office spaces inside of our building,” he said. All in the family “We are able to offer premium office spaces In practical terms, that means the office build- with top-notch property management to ing using the system, that he happens to own, Mitterhofer now operates his own real estate small business owners at affordable prices.” has operating expenses well below average – company, G&W Holdings LLC, out of that about $6 per square foot compared to $8 for same building at 800 Wilcrest Dr., special- From a wider-angle lens, reducing electricity similar commercial properties in the area. izing in residential and commercial real usage and increasing energy efficiency means estate as well as property management less harm to the environment, he added. He’s multi-talented, of course tools and systems. In 2015, commercial and residential buildings Though he graduated from the Cullen College In Mitterhofer’s opinion, he’s got the best accounted for roughly 40 percent of total with a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engi- team behind him that money can buy. primary energy consumption in the nation, neering in 2003, Mitterhofer is not solely an according to the U.S. Energy Information engineer. He is also an entrepreneur, property “My sister is the accountant, my father helps Administration. manager, realtor, business owner and most with networking, I do the property manage- recently, self-taught programmer and soft- ment and my little brother supports in the “A number of studies have shown that ware developer. development of software,” Mitterhofer said, commercial buildings in the U.S. could use pausing to look around the room at each of as much as 15 to 30 percent less energy if You wouldn’t know it by his long list of titles his family members. “I wouldn’t be anything they simply improve operational practices,” MAKING and successes, but he said it wasn’t too long without you guys.” Mitterhofer said. ago that he couldn’t have imagined his future as an engineer and entrepreneur. The family business runs like a well-oiled One simple way of reducing operational machine. Along with the below-average op- costs is utilizing smart building technologies, “Earning my engineering degree from the erating costs, the office building is at nearly such as building automation software (BAS), University of Houston was one of the most 100 percent capacity. but roughly 90 percent of all commercial challenging things I have ever done in my buildings lack such technologies, according SMART to a study published by the Pacific Northwest life,” Mitterhofer said. “That experience pre- “I have a competitive advantage in that, pared me to take on anything I set my mind because I’m an engineer, I’m able to look National Laboratory in 2012. to afterwards.” at everything in a quantitative manner, and that has allowed us to reduce a lot of costs,” The not-so-smart building Mitterhofer is dyslexic, intimidatingly smart Mitterhofer said. and an eager, avid learner. Traditional class- Most smart building technologies work by lev- BUILDINGS room learning was tough to keep up with, eraging all of the building’s systems – cabling, Dollars and sense Mechanical Engineering Mitterhofer said, so he constantly sought lighting, HVAC, security and internet – into a opportunities to apply chalkboard lessons Reducing operating costs is key to ensuring a single system that can be controlled remotely Alumnus Invents Smart to real-world problems throughout his building’s profitability. Rents are determined through a smartphone or computer. Sensors college career. by the market, but property managers can installed throughout the building collect infor- Building Technology fine-tune how much money goes out the mation on temperatures and lighting, among SMARTER: “I learn by doing,” he said. door for expenses. other things, and send this information to a By Audrey Grayson

54 MOMENTUM University of Houston Department of Mechanical Engineering 55 alumni centralized database.

Some smart building technologies simply collect the information from sensors, and other technologies will actually analyze this information and automatically make adjustments We believe the Renaissance Management Suite to the building’s systems accordingly. (RMS) could have a considerable positive The problem with a lot of off-the-shelf smart building technologies is the same problem effect on the environment and profitability of with one-size-fits-all clothing – one size cannot ever truly fit all. Much like people, buildings have unique sizes and personalities, commercial buildings. and like clothing, smart building technologies – Giancarlo Mitterhofer work best when tailored to fit the building’s unique specifications. A software is born the most profitable and efficient buildings in At the root of many building automation sys- the city. tems is what Mitterhofer calls a “lack of engi- Learning takes time, so Mitterhofer worked neering.” For instance, there is an ideal time late into the night to teach himself program- On a global level, Mitterhofer hopes his smart In 2015, commercial and residential to turn the air conditioning units on and off in ming and coding in order to create a building building software suite can help other prop- order to maintain a comfortable temperature automation software that would make his erty managers do what he managed to with buildings accounted for roughly while using the least amount of energy. Most smart building even smarter. his own property – address inefficiencies and smart building technologies aren’t engineered reduce energy consumption. to run such an analysis. Rather than simply monitoring inside temperatures, Mitterhofer’s Renaissance “I want to create a service,” he said. “I want to The oh-so-smart engineer Management Suite also collects and analyzes see as many people as possible benefit from information on all temperature-changing fac- using this software.” Determined to tackle his building’s remaining tors, such as weather conditions, total people inefficiencies, Mitterhofer conducted a regres- inside of the building, how often the elevators Mitterhofer offers subscriptions for his smart sion analysis – a statistical modeling process are used and how many times the doors are building technology at affordable prices. used to identify the relationships among opened and closed. However, if you prefer a more “plug and play” multiple variables – to identify the optimal option, G&W Holdings can also fully imple- times to turn the unit on in order to maintain Since these factors are unique to every ment the Renaissance Management System a comfortable temperature at all times. building, the Renaissance Management Suite in any residential or commercial property in offers something most other smart building the area. Ever the engineer, Mitterhofer didn’t stop technologies don’t – a real-time analysis there. He wanted to compare his building’s tailored to a building’s unique personality. That’s what you call a smart move. energy consumption and utility bills with similar properties. Mitterhofer knew if he The Renaissance Management Suite also For more information on the could teach himself how to code, he could provides information on how a building’s services offered by G&W Holdings, write a script that collected this information efficiency compares to the national averages including the Renaissance into database systems, analyzed the data and for similarly-sized buildings. Management System, please visit provided quantitative feedback on utilities http://wvele9.wixsite.com/gwholdings of total primary energy bills and energy consumption for commercial “We believe the Renaissance Management buildings across the Houston region. Suite (RMS) could have a considerable posi- For more information on the consumption in the nation. tive effect on the environment and profitabil- Renaissance Management System, Mitterhofer also knew if he could teach ity of commercial buildings,” Mitterhofer said. please visit himself how to program, he could integrate https://www.bldgot.com/ all of the building automation systems he Smartest building on the block had already created into a single monitoring and control system that would increase his On a personal level, Mitterhofer wants to use building’s efficiency even further. his Renaissance Management System as a platform to grow his portfolio of proper- These were ideas that, for the last two years, ties across the Houston area, transforming S ource: U.S. Energy Information Administration kept Mitterhofer awake at night. some of the most inefficient properties into

56 MOMENTUM University of Houston Department of Mechanical Engineering 57 support & giving

elor’s degree in chemical engineering at the Generous University of Houston,” Brookshire has said. He graduated in 1957 and later moved to Engineering Louisiana to earn his master’s and doctoral degrees in the same discipline.

Alumnus William In the early 1960s, Brookshire put his degrees to work at Exxon. Then, in 1967 he took A. Brookshire another big leap, investing his life savings – about $7,000 – to launch S&B Engineers and Funds $1M Award Constructors with partner James Slaughter, Sr. Endowment for Teachers † The company flourished, expanding from just the two partners to more than 7,500 employ- ees across the world. Today, S&B continues to By Laurie Fickman provide a complete range of project services for the petrochemical, refining, chemical, Cullen College Alumnus In his continued spirit of generosity, UH midstream and power generation industries Engineering alumnus William A. Brookshire for clients worldwide. donated $1 million to the Cullen College of William A. Brookshire meets the recipients of the William A. Brookshire Engineering to create the William A. Brook- This is not the first time Brookshire shined his Honors Wife with endowment shire Teaching Excellence Award Endowment. Scholarship and the William A. very generous light on the Cullen College of Brookshire IMPACT Scholarship By Laurie Fickman According to the endowment agreement, Engineering. Prior to this gift, he founded the annual distributed income will honor two student scholarships. The William A. When Bertha “Bo” Lohec passed away in About the namesake Cullen College and constantly encouraging faculty members in the Cullen College “who Brookshire Scholarship is for students taking a November, her husband, UH mechanical young people, especially young girls, to find demonstrate an unwavering commitment to full course load (12 hours) and working at least beyond to provide UH engineering students engineering alumnus Ron Lohec, knew the Engineering flowed alongside Bo’s life from a sense of purpose in that field of study. exemplifying the highest levels of teaching 20 hours a week, and the William A. Brook- with personalized attention, tailored lessons perfect tribute – an endowment to the UH a young age. When she married Ronald excellence inside the classroom.” shire IMPACT Scholarship is for students who and mentorship in order to help them achieve Cullen College to help students achieve their in 1953 at the age of 20, she got to work Mr. Lohec serves on the Engineering Leader- are working, taking a full course load and pay- their personal and professional goals. At many dreams of becoming engineers. immediately, supporting him while he ship Board at the Cullen College, providing More than many others, Brookshire clearly ing for college on their own with no outside world-class research institutions, professors pursued his engineering degree from UH. respected counsel to the school in establish- understood the significance of high caliber financial support. who are focused on the art of teaching and “Ron is one of our all-time great alumni and Two years later, degree in hand, Ron went ing priorities and objectives. In 2006, the mentors inside the classroom. Raised without student engagement are the unsung heroes Bo was a staple at his side at every UH en- to work and Bo stayed home as their first couple was inducted into the Bridgebuilder means, he was the first in his family to earn a One or more awards will be granted annually – but thanks to Dr. Brookshire’s endowment, gineering event,” said Russell Dunlavy, chief of three children was born. Motherhood Society, the highest honor bestowed on high school diploma. College wasn’t encour- from the new endowment, with a minimum of that will not be the case at the Cullen College development officer at UH. “She meant so and grandmotherhood were her favorite donors to the Cullen College. They were also aged, but he didn’t need anyone to light his $15,000 per recipient. of Engineering.” much to Ron and to all of us. It’s a wonderful occupations, say family members. early investors in the Multidisciplinary Re- fire; his spark came from within. way to honor her.” search and Engineering Building (MREB). “The UH Cullen College of Engineering is † Dr. William A. Brookshire died on April 21, 2017. Still, she maintained an adventurous spirit, He’s often recounted his experience as a night home to some of the most devoted and in- A memorial was held at the UH campus to honor The Bertha “Bo” Johnston Lohec Engineer- even finding a way to meet the Queen student at UH. novative engineering educators in the world,” his memory and long legacy of philanthropy. ing Endowed Scholarship will be awarded to Mother while living in London. Throughout said Joseph W. Tedesco, Elizabeth D. Rockwell engineering majors who exhibit leadership her life she valued engineering, joining her “I had to work a full-time job during the day Dean of the Cullen College. “Many of our qualities and maintain a 3.0 GPA. husband in his unwavering support of the while attending night classes to finish my bach- engineering faculty members go above and

58 MOMENTUM University of Houston Department of Mechanical Engineering 59 culture & events

presents A stem event Women in Engineering Chevron Inspires Girls to Become Women in Red at Engineer the Future at UH Spring Event

The second annual “Girls Engineering the Future: A STEM Event,” sponsored by Chevron The Cullen College played host to the 3rd Women and hosted by the Cullen College last March, in Engineering spring event in March. The introduced over 500 Houston-area girls in grades free event was funded by alumna Cynthia Oliver 4-8 to complex engineering principles through Coleman, P.E. (BSChE ’71). The event took place at fun, hands-on activities. the UH Hilton and included female engineering students, faculty and alumnae. Aside from networking, those in attendance were inducted LEARN MORE AT into the Women in Red Movement, which will www.egr.uh.edu/girls-engineering-the-future serve as a registry of female students and alumnae to serve as mentors for one another. The Cynthia Oliver Coleman Rising Star Award was presented to Tam Nguyen for being named the outstanding senior for the Cullen College of Engineering.

View more photos AT www.flickr.com/photos/CullenCollege

60 MOMENTUM UH Cullen College of Engineering Department of Mechanical Engineering Engineering Building 1 4726 Calhoun Rd, Suite N207 Houston, Texas 77204-4003

https://giving.uh.edu/eng/