FACULTY RESEARCH PROFILES

Research Interests:
Experimental and computational mechanics of novel materials including: nano-, micro- and macroindentation, simultaneous mechanical loading and diffraction (neutron and synchrotron X-ray), smart composites for actuator applications (shape-mmory and superelastic NiTi reinforced with TiC) and Bulk Metallic Glasses.

Degrees:

• Ph.D. Materials Science and Engineering, MIT, 1999
• M.S.   Materials Science and Engineering, Stanford University, 1995
• B.S.   Chem. Eng. (Honors) (Summa Cum Laude), Lafayette College, 1994

Recent Publications:

• C.R. Rathod, B.C. Clausen, M.A.M. Bourke and R. Vaidyanathan, “A Neutron Diffraction Investigation of Hysteresis Reduction and Increase in Linearity in the Stress-Strain Response of Superelastic NiTi”, Appl Phys Lett 88 (2006), 201919-3.
• S. Rajagopalan, A.L. Little, M.A.M. Bourke and R. Vaidyanathan, “Elastic Modulus of B19’ NiTi from in situ Neutron Diffraction during Macroscopic Loading, Instrumented Indentation and Extensometry” Appl Phys Lett 86(2005) 081901-3.
• C.R. Rathod, V. Livescu, B. Clausen, M.A.M. Bourke, W.U. Notardonato, M. Femminineo and R. Vaidyanathan, “Neutron Diffraction Characterization of Residual Strain in Welded INCONEL 718 for NASA Space Shuttle Flow Liners”, Adv Cryo Eng, American Institute of Physics, 50A (2004) 167-175.
• R. Vaidyanathan, M.A.M. Bourke and D.C. Dunand, “Investigating Shape-Memory Alloys and Composites with Neutron-Diffraction Techniques”, Neutron News 14 1 (2003) 19-22.
• S. Rajagopalan and R. Vaidyanathan, “Nano- and Microscale Mechanical Characterization using Instrumented Indentation,” J OM-J Min Met Mat S 54 9 (2002) 45-48,60.
• R. Vaidyanathan, M. Dao, G. Ravichandran and S. Suresh, “Study of Mechanical Deformation in Bulk Metallic Glass through Instrumented Indentation,” Acta Mater 49 (2001) 3781-3789.

Scientific and Professional Societies:

• Member - TMS, MRS, ASM International,  AIST
• Professional societies committee participation
• Member - Mechanical Properties of Materials Committee (TMS/ASM joint committee)  2002 - present
• Member - Nuclear Materials Committee (TMS/ASM joint committee) 2002 - present
• Member - Offshore Technology Conference Next Wave Committee 2005-2006
• Chair - Young Leaders Committee (TMS) 2005-2006
• Vice Chair - Young Leaders Committee (TMS) 2004-2005
• Secretary - Young Leaders Committee (TMS) 2003-2004
• Member - Young Leaders Committee (TMS) 2002-2003 

Honors and Awards:

• TMS/Japan Institute of Metals (JIM) Young Leader International Scholar (2006)
• National Science Foundation Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) Award 2003-2008
• Mechanical, Materials and Aerospace Engineering (MMAE) Department and College of Engineering and Computer Science (CECS) Researcher of the Year (2005-2006 - associate professor level);  (2003-2004 - assistant professor level)
• TMS Young Leader Intern (2002)
• 17th Annual Louis Rosen Award from Los Alamos Neutron Science Center at Los Alamos National Laboratory (1999)