Associate Professor

BS, MS, Mechanical Engineering: University of Pune, India
PhD, Mechanical Engineering: North Carolina A&T State University

Email: JT31@txstate.edu

Office: RF Mitte Building Room 2218; Phone: 512-245-4872

Composites Lab: RF Mitte Building Room 1218; Phone: 512-245-6782

Personal Web Page on Plastics and Composites Lab

Research Interests

•  Characterization and failure analysis of polymers, elastomers, and composites
  • Under mechanical loadings
    • Static: Tension, compression, shear, flexure, fracture
    • Dynamic: Impact and fatigue
  • Under thermal loadings using:
    • Dynamic Mechanical Analysis (DMA)
    • Thermo Mechanical Analysis (TMA)
    • Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA)
    • Mass Loss Calorimeter and Radiant Heat Panel
    • Ablation using Simulated Solid Rocket Motor (SSRM)
• Manufacturing of  Polymer (Thermoset and Thermoplastics) matrix composites
  • Special interest in low cost vacuum assisted resin transfer molding (VARTM) process for polymeric composites: Process Improvement and Automation
• Fatigue of Composites – Life Prediction Modeling and Damage Mechanisms
• Development of innovative composite materials such as
  • Polymer Nanocomposites for wind turbine blades and for rocket ablative material
  • Bio-based composites as an alternative materials (Natural fiber and soy-resins)
  • Fire retardant composites for transportation and construction applications
• Finite element modeling using ANSYS