Title:

Mesoscale Modeling and Experiments – Why and How? Challenges

Speaker:

Dr. Lalit C. Chhabildas

Affiliation:

Munitions Directorate, Air Force Research Laboratory

When:

Thursday, June 24, 2010 at 3:00:00 PM   Add to Calendar

Where:

MRDC Building, Room 4211

Host:

Min Zhou & Naresh Thadhani
mn.zhou@me.gatech.edu,naresh.thadhani@mse.gatech.edu
404-894-7769

Abstract

There is considerable ongoing effort at many research institutions to use modeling and simulations at a granular scale to evaluate physical effects related to dynamic effects during compression and/or decompression. The technique is being applied to diverse systems such as polycrystalline, porous, mixtures, energetics, and reactive materials. For simplicity, these systems could be referred to as heterogeneous materials. As diverse as many applications are, so are the many motivations and goals that drive this research. There is still, however, a huge gap in validation techniques. One of the limitations needless to say is due to lack of mesoscale experimental tools that do not exist. The basic question is can we use mesoscale modeling as a research tool. In this talk, I will provide some experimental evidence on why one could contemplate on using mesoscale modeling techniques as a research tool. I will also show examples of space and time resolved velocity interferometric techniques which have proven potential of determining material properties at a granular scale.

Biography

Dr. Lalit Chhabildas received his Ph.D. in physics from RPI in 1971. He was a senior member of the technical staff, a distinguished member of the technical staff, and manager at Sandia National Laboratories in Albuquerque, NM between 1976 and 2007. Since 2007, he has been the principal physicist for enhanced energy effects at the Munitions Directorate of Air Force Research Laboratory in Eglin AFB in Florida. He leads the high-pressure/rate materials science basic research program at Eglin and has over 30 years of experience in research on high-pressure, high-strain-rate phenomena in materials. Dr. Chhabildas is well-known for his work in developing many novel experimental techniques for studying dynamic properties of metals, explosives, ceramics, and piezoelectric materials. Dr. Chhabildas has an extensive service record in professional societies. He has received many awards, including the Sandia award for excellence (six times), the ballistics award, the Sandia distinguished scientist award, and best paper awards from the Hypervelocity Impact Society (three times) and AIAA missile defense conference. He is a fellow of The Aeroballistics Range Association and the American Physical Society.

Notes

Refreshments will be served.