Duane Cronin, PhD, PEng, FCAE

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.

• Impact biomechanics
• Auto Crash and Occupant Simulation
• Material Characterization
• Automotive
• Biomechanics and Biotechnology
• Trauma Biomechanics
• Human Safety and Protection
• Material Characterization

• 2000, Doctorate Mechanical Engineering, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Canada
• 1996, Master's Mechanical Engineering, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Canada
• 1994, Bachelor's Mechanical Engineering, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Canada

• 2022 Fellow, The Canadian Academy of Engineering
• 2022 Article selected for journal cover art: Journal of Dynamic Behavior of Materials Volume 8, Issue 2
• 2021 NFL Helmet Challenge Winner: Xenith Project Orbit (with Xenith, Rheon, BASF)
• 2018 Canada Research Chair, Tier 1: Trauma Biomechanics and Injury Prevention
• 2018 Annual Honorary Award, ARL's 24th Annual Honorary Awards Ceremony
• 2017 Best paper published in the Journal of Dynamic Behavior of Materials
• 2016 University Research Chair in Impact Mechanics and Material Characterization
• 2015 Faculty of Engineering Outstanding Performance Award
• 2013 University of Waterloo Distinguished Teacher Award
• 2013 Faculty of Engineering Distinguished Performance Award
• 2012 Outstanding Performance Award (Faculty of Engineering)
• 2010 Faculty of Engineering Distinguished Performance Award
• 2010 Department of MME Service Award
• 2008 Faculty of Engineering Sanford Fleming Teaching Excellence Award
• 2007 Distinguished Performance Award for outstanding contribution in teaching, scholarship and service.
• 2006 Distinguished Performance Award for outstanding contribution in teaching, scholarship and service.
• 2005 Distinguished Performance Award for outstanding contribution in teaching, scholarship and service.
• 2004 PASS 2006, Personal Armour Systems Symposium, Best Presenter
• 2003 Premier's Research Excellence Award, Advanced numerical modeling of trauma to the human body
• 1999 University of Waterloo Distinguished Teaching by a Registered Student Award
• 1997 The Institution of Mechanical Engineers Sesquicentennial Award
• (Central Canada Branch) for an outstanding M.A.Sc. Thesis

• ME 720 - Special Topics in Solid Mechanics
  • Taught in 2019, 2021, 2023
• MTE 204 - Numerical Methods
  • Taught in 2021, 2022, 2023

* Only courses taught in the past 5 years are displayed.

• *Kalra M, McGregor ME, McLachlin S, Cronin DS, Chandrashekar N (2022), Characterizing In-Situ Metatarsal Facture Risk during Simulated Workplace Impact Loading, Journal of Biomechanical Engineering.
• *Hartlen D, Cronin DS (2022), Arc-length Re-parametrization and Signal Registration to Determine a Characteristic Average and Statistical Response Corridors of Biomechanical Data, Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology, Volume 10.
• *Rycman A, McLachlin S, Cronin DS (2022), Comparison of Numerical Methods for Cerebrospinal Fluid Representation and Fluid-Structure Interaction During Transverse Impact of a Finite Element Spinal Cord Model, International Journal for Numerical Methods in Biomedical Engineering, Volume 38, Issue 3.
• *Corrales MA, Bolte J, Malcom S, Pipkorn B, Cronin DS (2022), Methodology to geometrically age human body models to average and subject-specific anthropometrics, demonstrated using a small stature female model assessed in a side impact, Computer Methods in Biomechanics and Biomedical Engineering.
• Cronin DS, *Watson B, *Khor F, *Gierczycka D, Malcolm S (2022), Cortical Bone Continuum Damage Mechanics Constitutive Model with Stress Triaxiality Criterion to Predict Fracture Initiation and Pattern, Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology.
• *Singh D, *Sathananthan P, Sirois A, Cronin DS (2022), Soda Lime Glass Response to Projectile Impact and Damage Characterization Using Depth of Penetration Testing with a Polycarbonate Backing, Journal of Dynamic Behavior of Materials, Volume 8, 285–303.
• *Ibrahim A, Cronin DS (2022), Mechanical Testing of Adhesive, Self-Piercing Rivet, and Hybrid Jointed Aluminum Under Tension Loading, International Journal of Adhesion and Adhesives, Volume 113, DOI: 10.1016/j.ijadhadh.2021.103066
• *Singh D, Cronin DS (2022), Identification of Material Parameters for the Vawter Lung Tissue Constitutive Model and Assessment Under Impact Loading, Biomechanics and Modeling in Mechanobiology.
• *Hadagali P, Cronin DS (2022), Enhancing the Biofidelity of an Upper Cervical Spine Finite Element Model Within the Physiologic Range of Motion and its Effect on the Full Ligamentous Neck Model Response, Journal of Biomechanical Engineering, Volume 145, Issue 1.
• *Watson B, Worswick MJ, Cronin DS (2022), A novel cohesive zone modelling approach to represent mixed mode loading and bond line thickness effects, The Journal of Adhesion.