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ME Invited Speaker: Srinkanth Pilla
March 22, 2023 @ 9:00 am - 10:00 am
ME Invited Speaker:
“Atoms to Autos”
Srinkanth Pilla
Professor
Clemson University
Wednesday, March 22, 2023, 9:00 am
2540 ME Grand Conference Room
GG Brown Building
Abstract:
The Pilla research group at Clemson University works on highly interdisciplinary research projects spanning from chemistry to engineering to manufacturing, that help to solve critical issues affecting human livelihoods while developing concepts of use to Industry, Education, Society, and the Environment. Encompassing the “Circular Economy” and the “Sustainable Engineering” domains, Pilla’s created Circular Engineering concept builds on the foundations of “Materials Genome Initiative”, and “Hybrid and Intelligent Manufacturing Technologies”. Specifically, Pilla’s work enables informatics-driven materials and manufacturing discoveries of concepts that drive the world on a true sustainable path.
The presentation highlights Pilla research group’s journey in advanced composites: ‘Atoms to Autos’, that bridges fundamental science with applied engineering to enable sustainable technologies transforming the mobility industry. Starting with foundational work in creating new polymer systems that are 100% biobased and recyclable, the study presents a circular non-isocyanate polyurethane foam technology that can be chemically recyclable at the end of its service life. Further, the presentation embarks on hybrid manufacturing techniques built to integrate the process physics of distinct technologies to yield multi-material constructs of importance and relevance to automotive industry. The presentation also provides a deep dive into the world’s first carbon fiber reinforced thermoplastics composites door project that integrates precision engineering with materials and manufacturing concepts.
Bio:
Dr. Srikanth Pilla is the ExxonMobil Employees Chair in Engineering at Clemson University. He is also the Founding Director of Clemson Composites Center, Director of DOE-EFRC “AIM for Composites”, and the Director of the Automotive Engineering Certificate Program. Pilla earned his doctorate in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee with a postdoctoral training from Stanford University. Prior to joining Clemson, Pilla worked as an Assistant Scientist at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Pilla’s research interests are in the fundamentals and applications of sustainable and lightweight functional materials and manufacturing. Pilla has co-authored over 150 peer-reviewed archival publications. His research is supported by NSF, DOE, USDA, DOD, and NASA, besides several foundations and industries including automotive OEMs, and their suppliers. Pilla currently serves as the Editor-in-Chief of SAE International Journal of Sustainable Transportation, Energy, Environment and Policy. Pilla’s efforts in research and engineering education have garnered him numerous awards, including the 2022 DOE-VTO Team Award, 2021 US EPA Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge Award, 2021 Innovision’s Sustainability Award, 2019 Composites Educator of the Year Award, 2018 SC Governor’s Young Scientist Award, 2017 Stefan Pischinger Young Industry Leadership Award, 2017 SAE Ralph R. Teetor Educational Award, and 2016 Robert J. Hocken Outstanding Young Manufacturing Engineer award from SME. He has supervised over 50 graduate students and postdocs, and many undergraduate students. Four of his former team members now hold faculty positions at the University of Texas-El Paso, Cleveland State University, Clemson University and Amasya University.