Mechanical and Civil Engineering Department Global Scholars
February 15, 2008
The University of Evansville recently announced that Dr. Douglas Stamps has been appointed as a Global Scholar for the 2008-2009 academic year. Dr. Stamps joins Dr. David Unger as a member of this prestigious group. Dr. Unger is currently serving as a Global Scholar for the 2007-2008 academic year.
Dr. Unger’s research focuses on using the Tresca perfectly plastic yield condition to mathematically analyze fracture in metals. His goal is to develop an exact solution of the mode I elastic-plastic crack problem under plane stress loading conditions. Understanding fracture in metals is not only important academically, it has economic consequences as well. To illustrate the economic impact of fracture on the United States economy, it has been estimated by a commissioned study [2] of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (formerly National Bureau of Standards) that the total direct and indirect costs of fracture in this country is 120 billion dollars annually. The Global Scholar appointment has allowed Dr. Unger to purchase the requisite reference materials and software necessary to perform his analyses. Dr. Unger plans to incorporate the results of his research in his fracture mechanics course at the University of Evansville and to publish his results in international journals.
Dr. Stamps research focuses on pressure loads generated from the partial combustion of hydrogen-air mixtures and the stability of diffusion flames. His goals are twofold: to use the computer model CHEMKIN and the results of experimental laboratory data to predict pressures generated during the pressurization of unburned gases, and use CHEMKIN to predict the laminar flame speeds of various fuel-diluent mixtures. This research is directly applicable to nuclear power plant safety where hydrogen gas can form in the reactor pressure vessel during accidents, be released into containment facilities through breaks in the reactor coolant system, and combust if adequate hydrogen control systems are not in place. The Global Scholar appointment will allow Dr. Stamps to journey to the University of Pisa in Italy to collaborate with an internationally recognized expert in combustion. Dr. Stamps will use the results of his research in his combustion course at the University of Evansville.