Duane Cronin

Duane Cronin is a Professor in the Department of Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering, Director of the Impact Mechanics and Material Characterization (IMMC) laboratory at the University of Waterloo, and Tier 1 Canada Research Chair in Trauma Biomechanics and Injury Prevention.
Dr. Cronin’s expertise lies in the areas of impact mechanics, material characterization applied to trauma biomechanics, auto crash and occupant simulation, and multi-material lightweight vehicles.
The development of advanced numerical models and interpretation of physical test data for impact events requires a fundamental understanding of high-deformation rate material properties, followed by implementation using appropriate constitutive equations in numerical codes. Test equipment supporting this research includes a suite of high deformation rate Split Hopkinson Pressure Bar apparatus; and intermediate, rate and standard hydraulic test frames to measure mechanical properties, complemented by high-speed imaging and digital image correlation.
The field of Impact Biomechanics seeks to understand the response of the human body to high-rate loading, the potential for injury or trauma, and methods to mitigate injury. Research areas include characterization and constitutive modelling for biological tissues, finite element implementations, and human body modelling. Detailed human body models represent an evolution in assessing occupant safety in vehicle crash scenarios through Virtual Vehicle Evaluation, and also act as tools for the design of improved vehicle safety. These innovative human models are also used to improve blast protection for the head, thorax and lower extremity, and to develop enhanced ballistic protection to mitigate Behind Armour Blunt Trauma (BABT).
Professor Cronin’s research led him to serving on 2 NATO task groups and acting as a subject matter expert in the areas of blast and ballistic protection. He was a is a council member and board member on the International Research Council on Biomechanics of Injury (IRCOBI) for 10 years, and currently leads the Neck Model Centre of Expertise for the Global Human Body Models Consortium.