Academic & Industrial Experience

Key Milestone: Non-linear FEA modeling for rough surface nanoindentation of aerospace-grade Ti6Al4V alloy.

• Engineered a novel non-linear finite element model in Abaqus to simulate rough surface nanoindentation on Ti6Al4V alloy.
• Integrated experimental 3D surface metrology and profilometry data with continuum mechanical material response using custom Python pipelines.
• Correlated localized plastic strain evolution, hardness variation, and micro-asperity deformation mechanisms with experimental nanoindentation protocols.

Key Milestone: Engineered next-generation lubrication-state determination models for commercial heavy vehicle drivetrains.

• Designed and mathematically formulated an advanced lubrication-state determination model for heavy-duty transmission components under transient operating cycles.
• Validated the numerical model's robustness and sensitivity (Λ*-ratio in microelastohydrodynamic lubrication) for real-world industrial fleet implementation.
• Peer-reviewed industrial research findings published in Tribology Letters (Springer, 2025).

Key Milestone: Developed 3D transient mixed-EHL FEA solvers and simulated electric current-induced film breakdown in EV motor bearings.

• Built a full 3D transient non-Newtonian mixed-EHL FEA solver for rolling element bearings operating under high-speed, dynamic contact conditions.
• Formulated coupled electro-mechanical simulations for electric current-induced lubrication film breakdown and electrostatic discharge (ESD) in EV powertrains.
• Executed experimental validation campaigns using a Mini Traction Machine with Electrical Contact (MTM-EC) to study friction, electrical resistance, and film collapse.

Key Milestone: Delivered advanced university courses in Tribology and Machine Design, supervising student FEA simulation projects.

• Delivered comprehensive undergraduate and graduate curriculum courses covering Advanced Tribology, Machine Element Design, and Contact Mechanics.
• Mentored and supervised capstone student research projects focusing on finite element analysis (FEA) and fatigue evaluation of critical machine components.
• Established curriculum bridges between theoretical continuum mechanics and contemporary computational modeling tools.

Key Milestone: Applied machine learning algorithms to predict lubrication regimes and frictional behavior in concentrated contacts.

• Developed machine learning frameworks (ANN, Regression) trained on numerical and experimental databases to predict mixed lubrication regimes and friction coefficients.
• Investigated eco-friendly water-lubricated journal bearings and demonstrated the pronounced impact of non-Gaussian roughness on load capacity and hydrodynamic friction.
• Co-authored publications in Surface Topography: Metrology & Properties and ASME Journal of Tribology.

Key Milestone: Formulated rigorous thermal mixed-EHL models for traction prediction in automotive drivetrain components.

• Developed a thermal mixed-elastohydrodynamic lubrication (TEHL) numerical solver for traction coefficient prediction across elliptical and line contacts.
• Simulated non-Newtonian rheological behavior of high-performance transmission fluids subjected to severe shear rates and contact pressures exceeding 2 GPa.
• Advanced understanding of micro-asperity thermal flash temperatures and boundary lubrication film transitions.

Key Milestone: Doctoral dissertation on surface topography evolution of tribological components under rolling and sliding motion.

• Investigated running-in wear mechanisms and rolling contact fatigue (RCF) using Micropitting Rigs (MPR) and Electrical Contact Resistance (ECR) techniques.
• Developed 2D and 3D numerical wear models using fractal mathematics and multi-scale areal topography characterization (ISO 25178).
• Authored 10+ peer-reviewed journal papers in ASME Journal of Tribology, Wear, Friction, and Fatigue & Fracture of Engineering Materials.