Materials R&D Engineer

Dr. Sriraman M. Ramanujam. Ph.D.

Email: **********@*****.***

Objective

A suitable R&D position in materials engineering that utilizes my education, experience, and skills.

Professional Interests

Ultrasonic additive manufacturing; Ultrasonic metal welding/ Solid-state welding, Ultrasonic fatigue; Ultrasonic cavitation peening; Effects of high-power ultrasound on materials; Surface engineering and Corrosion; Materials processing, testing, and characterization; Physical and Mechanical metallurgy; Structure-property relationships.

Experience

Researcher, Department of Materials Science & Engineering, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, U.S.A., Since Nov. 2008

Carrying out investigations on understanding the bonding mechanism (during similar metal welding) in very high power ultrasonic additive manufacturing, a recent manufacturing technology, and extending it to high strength materials. This rapid prototyping process involves near net shape fabrication of 3-D parts from thin metal tapes entirely in solid state. Results in Al alloys/ Cu (in strain-hardened condition) have shown the evolution of dynamically recrystallized grain structures across the tape interfaces leading to their metallurgical bonding. Such a phenomenon is the result of high strain rate plastic shearing between the faying metal asperities. Bonding close to 100% has been possible in these materials. Processing of austenitic stainless steel is currently being addressed. The project is in collaboration with Edison Welding Institute, Columbus, Ohio.

Research Associate, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, U.S.A., 2007-2008.

Worked on a project funded by the National Science Foundation involving modeling pitting corrosion-fatigue damage in 2024 Al/ 12%Cr steel. It was shown how cracks could initiate from corrosion pit sites extremely fast under high fatigue stresses and even from relatively small pits

Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Civil Engineering & Mechanics, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China,

2004 – 2007.

Conducted investigations on the long-life fatigue characteristics and fracture behavior of some structural nonferrous alloys such as of Al, Mg, and Ti, and ferrous materials under resonant ultrasonic fatigue loading conditions. The results have provided an insight into the occurrence of material failures under very high cycle fatigue situations and the mechanisms involved. The research projects were supported by the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

Technical Editor (Part-time in-between job), Emptek Publishing Company, Chennai, India, Feb. – July 2000.

Proofread, and edited online, technical and other information concerning new commercial materials and processes introduced by different manufacturers worldwide, for a specific short-term project funded by "Materials Connexion", NY, USA. The information was researched and extracted from literature and organized into a database for the benefit of consumers.

Visiting Researcher, Conservatoire National des Arts et Métiers (CNAM), Paris, France, 1998 – 1999.

Worked on research projects of interest to rail transportation and power industries such as ALSTOM and Electricite de France (EDF). Conducted experimental studies on high cycle fatigue (up to gigacycles) and fracture behavior of 12% Cr steel and Chrome-nickel containing AISI 304 stainless steel employing ultrasonic frequencies (20 kHz) that led to the verification of the occurrence of fatigue failure in such steels even beyond 106-107 cycles. Set up a device to facilitate water-cooling of such specimens while being fatigue-tested – something that was so desirable for conducting high frequency fatigue testing of damping materials.

Research Scholar (Doctoral Student), Department of Metallurgical & Materials Engineering, Indian Institute of

Technology (IIT) Madras, India, 1992 – 1998.

Designed and developed (with assistance from the Department of Electrical Engineering, IIT Madras, India) an ultrasonic equipment that was capable of directly imparting high energy vibrations of about 20 kHz frequency to solid samples, and carrying out accelerated high cycle fatigue tests of metallic material coupons. Investigated the effects of intense vibrations on: high cycle fatigue and fracture in Aluminum, AA2124, and AISI 1040 steel and weldments of AA7020 and Mild steel; surface residual stresses and martensitic transformations in AISI 304 stainless steel; precipitation hardening in AA2024; and yield point variations in ARMCO iron (Ph.D. Thesis).

Also assisted in conducting residual stress analysis and failure analysis of components as part of the industrial consultancy projects of the Dept. of Met. Eng., IIT Madras, India.

Senior Project Officer, Department of Metallurgical & Materials Engineering, IIT Madras, India, 1989 – 1993.

Carried out experimental investigations on the effects of ultrasonic vibrations at 20 kHz on precipitation strengthening in so me high-strength aluminum alloys such as AA7075 and AA2014; and the conditions under which such a treatment aids or hinders fine-scale precipitation were identified. The project was funded by the Indian Space Research Organization.

Intern, Metallurgy and Materials Laboratory, Lucas-TVS Ltd., Chennai, India, June-July 1987.

Worked on a project that involved surveying on the methods employed for welding/ brazing automobile starter motor armature conductors to commutators.

Summer Trainee, Mishra Dhatu Nigam Ltd. (MIDHANI), Hyderabad, India, May-June 1985.

Underwent training on the production, testing, and characterization of specialty castings, forgings, and rolled materials such as maraging steel and titanium alloy used in aerospace and defense applications.

Summer Trainee, Ashok Leyland Ltd., Chennai, India, June-July 1984.

Underwent training concerning the manufacture and testing of components such as castings (engine cylinder block), forgings (crankshafts), and case hardened parts (gears) used in the making of buses/ trucks.

Education

Ph.D. in Metallurgical and Materials Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, India, 2000.

M.S. in Industrial Metallurgy (Materials Engineering), IIT Madras, India, 1988.

B.S. in Metallurgical Engineering, Institute of Technology - Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India, 1986.

Distinctions/ Scholarships/ Memberships

Awarded two patents (jointly with two others) for developing unique product/ process of engineering significance based on high power ultrasonic vibrations, as part of the Doctoral program.

Published/ presented several technical papers in refereed journals/ conferences and symposia, with more in the pipeline.

Awarded best research paper for a presentation at the National Symposium of Research Scholars on Metals and Materials

Research (NSRS '96) held in IIT Madras, India in 1996.

Recipient of French government scholarship during 1998 - 1999 for carrying out research at CNAM, in Paris.

Awarded scholarship from IIT Madras, India, for the period 1993 - 1996 for pursuing Doctoral study.

Received scholarship from IIT Madras, India, during 1986 - 1987 for the Master's program.

Member of the American Society for Materials (ASM).

Skills & Strengths

Operated various sophisticated instruments/ equipment including the Ultrasonic additive manufacturing machine, Ultrasonic fatigue-testing equipment, Heat-treating furnaces, Optical microscopes, Scanning electron microscopes, X-ray diffractometers, Residual stress analyzers, Tensile/ fatigue-testing machines,

Acquired experience in programming using FORTRAN, C, and C++, on MS Windows and UNIX platforms and in the use of various software packages including ImageJ, IgorPro etc.

Worked on IBM PCs, IBM 370, and RISC 6000 Mainframes.

Interacted with various academic, research, and industrial organizations.

Represented fellow doctoral students in the Consultative committee of the Dept. of Metallurgical and Materials Eng., IIT Madras, India that frames research policies and programs.

Managed the work of technicians and have been instrumental in motivating them.

Mentored project work of undergraduate and graduate students, and assisted in the review of dissertations.

Prepared and presented reports; delivered seminars and lectures; reviewed technical papers.

Fluent in English, and know some French and Chinese.

Personable nature with a penchant for humor even under work pressure.

Excellent team-player and capable of working independently as well.

Motivated and responsive to a fast-paced environment.

Additional information available upon request.

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