Adam Hendricks earned BS and MS degrees in Mechanical Engineering at Virginia Tech. His Master's thesis dealt with developing empirical models of flame dynamics using Tunable Diode Laser Absorption Spectroscopy. The end goal is decreasing harmful emissions of gas turbines through controlling and predicting thermoacoustic instabilities.
Last year, he received an Honorable Mention in the NSF Graduate Fellowship competition, and he has had several conference publications based on his Master's work. His advisor is Assistant Professor Bogdan Epureanu.
Hendricks' doctoral work will deal with detecting parametric variations in systems through nonlinear dynamics. Complex systems, such as aeroelastic structures, exhibit chaotic dynamics. In the same way as simple systems tend towards an equilibrium point or cycle, chaotic systems tend towards a strange attractor in phase space. By monitoring changes to the strange attractor, parametric changes to the system can be detected with a high degree of sensitivity. The first application that he will explore is detecting the extent and location of damage to the structure inside an airfoil using the vibratory response.
"I was impressed with the breadth and quality of research in the ME department," said Hendricks. "I also found a professor, Dr. Bogdan Epureanu, whose interests closely matched my own. I like that the university has strong programs in many areas-medicine, business, liberal arts-and that it is situated in a vibrant community."
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