Fatigue and fracture: analysis, testing, and design
Residual stress measurement
Structural integrity and damage tolerance (aircraft structure, mechanical systems)
Effects of maintenance quality on aircraft structural performance
Laser shock peening, cold working, and other residual stress treatments for metals
Finite element simulation for structural analysis
Experimental mechanics
Measurements in general (here is an interesting history of measurements)
Current Research:
Laser shock peening: process characterization, effects on fatigue behavior
Prediction of fatigue and fracture behavior for residual stress bearing materials
Improvement of metallic structures using residual stress treatments
Correction of fracture and fatigue data for residual stress effects
Measurement of residual stress in metallic and metallic-ceramic composites
Development of the contour method for residual stress measurement
Standardization of the slitting method for residual stress measurement
Education:
PhD in Mechanical Engineering, September, 1996. Stanford University, Stanford, CA. Department of Mechanical Engineering. Dissertation research described below. Advisors: Drew V. Nelson and Sheri Sheppard.
MS in Mechanical Engineering, May 1991. University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ. Course work emphasis in probabilistic design and reliability, mechanics, and structural dynamics. Advisor: Paul H. Wirsching.
BS in Mechanical Engineering, May 1989. University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ.
Experience
Professor, University of California, Davis, 5/10 – Present
Associate Professor, University of California, Davis, 7/04 – 5/10
Founder and Chief Executive, Hill Engineering, LLC (a UC Davis start-up), 1/05 – Present
Assistant Professor, University of California, Davis, 9/96 – 6/04