Education
Ph.D., Mechanical Engineering, University of Washington
M.S., Mechanical Engineering, University of Massachusetts
B.S., Mechanical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology
Areas of Expertise
Dr. Krishnaswamy has conducted extensive research in both analytical
and experimental areas of engineering mechanics with particular
interest in the mechanical behavior of plastics and polymeric
composites. In computational mechanics, he has developed new finite
element algorithms to model nonlinear material, time and history
dependent behavior of plastics. These models are used to study the
structural behavior of plastics.
More recently his interests have focused on using computer simulation
methods to reduce the cycle time in developing new product. He has developed
the P3 approach to polymer product design. He is the principal investigator
and program manager for a multi-client effort to develop performance
requirements and standards for plastic lumber in structural use. He
currently chairs ASTM Section D20.20.01 responsible for developing standard
for plastic lumber and was given the 'Distinguished Service Award' for his
work in 1997.
Dr. Krishnaswamy also has significant experience in managing large,
collaborative, international technology development programs
involving interdisciplinary fields.
Technical Qualifications
Plastics Products Design. By integrating injection molding
simulation, material property information, and performance evaluation
methods, Dr. Krishnaswamy has developed a methodology to cut the cost
and reduce the cycle time in designing polymeric products. This design
procedure known as the P3 approach - Processing, Properties and
Performance, is especially useful for products made of polymeric
composites and other advanced materials.
NASA Composites Consortium. Dr. Krishnaswamy was the
principal collaborator in technology transfer of composites modeling
capabilities from NASA-Lewis to commercial and non-aerospace
applications. He has conducted critical evaluation of PC-based
programs for design and structural analysis of composites developed
at NASA. These codes can be used for developing new composites as
well as for successfully predicting the mechanical behavior of fiber
and particulate reinforced for polymer, ceramic and metal matrix
composites.
Recycling of Plastics. Principal investigator in
evaluating the processing of plastic lumber, analyzing existing
designs for recycled plastic lumber structures in a joint
private-public sector partnership to develop standards for the
material. The program results will expand markets for composite
polymeric lumber thereby creating a new industry.
Constitutive Modeling of Plastics and Composites. Dr.
Krishnaswamy has worked extensively in developing and implementing
finite element algorithms for nonlinear, time-dependent,
orthotropic, and time-independent material behavior. These models
are widely applicable in describing the inelastic behavior of
polymer, polymeric composites, and metals under monotonic, sustained
(creep) as well as cyclic loads.
Rapid Crack Propagation in Plastic Pipelines. Task leader
in conducting research on dynamic brittle fracture of polyethylene
gas distri-bution piping at cold temperatures. Results from this
work are used as a basis for designing large-diameter plastic piping
systems.
Computational Fracture Mechanics. Dr. Krishnaswamy has
conducted finite element analyses study the influence of various
linear and nonlinear constitutive models on the parameters that
govern creep crack growth in viscoelastic materials such as polymers
and polymeric composites. As part of his dissertation, he has
demonstrated for the first time that the choice of a given
constitutive model leads to stress-redistribution during creep in
complex geometries.
Ductile Fracture of Plastics. Experimentally evaluated
the ductile fracture of tough plastics using elastic plastic fracture
mechanics and demonstrated for the first time that tough polymers
exhibit tearing instability. Characterized fracture surface
morphology using scanning electron microscopy.
Full-Scale Fracture Testing of Structures. Task leader in
correlating various small-scale impact tests with more fundamental
fracture mechanics tests and accurately predicting full-scale
fracture behavior of heavy-wall steel components used in gas
transmission piping. Also conducted several failure investigations
on pipeline components.
Elastic-Plastic Fracture Mechanics Analysis of Nuclear Piping
Components. Extended the state-of-the-art in elastic-plastic
fracture mechanics methodology to the application and validation of
the leak-before-break approach used in analyzing nuclear piping
components with flaws.
Program Management. As deputy program manage for the
Short Cracks in Piping and Piping Welds Program for the US NRC Dr.
Krishnaswamy coordinated all the activities of the $1M/year effort.
He also was the leader for all the analysis work. This research
involved evaluating the structural integrity of nuclear piping with
short cracks in both the base and weld metals. Currently, he is the
program manager for a four-year, international, multi-client,
collaborative research program to develop acceptance criteria for
blunt, erosion-corrosion type of flaws in power plant piping
components.
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