Research at a Technical Intersection: Energetic Materials and MEMS
This talk will describe research being conducted within the Rhoads Research Group at Purdue University that represents a confluence of ongoing efforts in the areas of microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) and energetic materials (explosives, pyrotechnics, and propellants). The presentation will specifically detail: (i) the design, development, and experimental characterization of bifurcation-based microsensors – small-scale sensing systems that exploit intentionally-designed nonlinear system behaviors to detect trace amounts of target analytes, such as explosive vapors; and (ii) the development of SecureMEMS – MEMS devices which leverage on-chip integrated energetic materials to generate local thrust and heat in a controlled manner. Both of these case studies will highlight the importance of, and challenges associated with, multiphysical modeling, analysis, and experimental characterization.
Dr. Jeffrey F. Rhoads is a Professor in the School of Mechanical Engineering at Purdue University and is affiliated with both the Birck Nanotechnology Center and Ray W. Herrick Laboratories at the same institution. He received his B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. degrees, each in mechanical engineering, from Michigan State University in 2002, 2004, and 2007, respectively. Dr. Rhoads’ current research interests include the predictive design, analysis, and implementation of resonant micro/nanoelectromechanical systems (MEMS/NEMS) for use in chemical and biological sensing, electromechanical signal processing, and computing; the dynamics of parametrically-excited systems and coupled oscillators; the thermomechanics of energetic materials; additive manufacturing; and mechanics education. Dr. Rhoads is a Member of the American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE), the Society for Engineering Mechanics (SEM), and the American Physical Society (APS), and is a Fellow of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), where he serves on the Design Engineering Division’s Technical Committee on Vibration and Sound. Dr. Rhoads is a recipient of numerous research and teaching awards, including the National Science Foundation’s Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) Award; the Purdue University School of Mechanical Engineering’s Harry L. Solberg Best Teacher Award (twice), Robert W. Fox Outstanding Instructor Award, and B.F.S. Schaefer Outstanding Young Faculty Scholar Award; the ASEE Mechanics Division’s Ferdinand P. Beer and E. Russell Johnston, Jr. Outstanding New Mechanics Educator Award; and the ASME C. D. Mote Jr., Early Career Award. In 2014, Dr. Rhoads was included in ASEE Prism Magazine’s 20 Under 40.