Sharvan Kumar
Professor:
Engineering
Phone: +1 401 863 2862
Sharvan_Kumar@Brown.EDU
Professor Kumar's research interests include experimental characterization and analysis of defects, deformation and fracture in structural metals and alloys, and intermetallic and metal-matrix composites. Current research activities focus primarily on various intermetallics, novel high-strength, high-toughness steels, nanocrystalline metals and alloys, and refractory alloys for aerospace and defense applications. He also collaborates extensively with scientists from Oak Ridge National Laboratories.
Biography
Prior to joining Brown in January 1995, Professor Kumar was a senior staff scientist at Martin Marietta Laboratories in Baltimore, MD. While there, he co-invented a new generation of aluminum-copper-lithium alloys for aerospace cryogenic fuel tank applications. The fuel tank for the Space Shuttle launched on June 2, 1998 was built out of this family of alloys. He received the Outstanding Technical Paper Award at the First and Third International Symposia on Structural Intermetallics in 1993 and 2002, the Maryland Distinguished Young Scientist Award in 1994, participated as a member of National Academies Committee for "Alternative Technologies to Anti-Personnel Landmines" from 1999 to 2001 and was made a Fellow of ASM International in 2003.
Interests
Professor Kumar's research interests include structure-property relationships in structural metals and alloys, intermetallics, metal-matrix composites, physical metallurgy, phase transformations in metallic materials, and deformation behavior. Current research activities focus primarily on intermetallic materials, nanocrystalline metals and alloys, refractory alloys of Molybdenum, and high-strength steels. Professor Kumar is actively researching the structure of Laves phases in Cr-based alloys and their stability as a function of temperature and composition. In this, he has collaborated with scientists from Oak Ridge National Laboratory to understand the atomic structure in the core of dislocations and how the local structure may facilitate the motion of dislocations. In the project on nanocrystalline metals and alloys, he collaborates with faculty members at MIT to understand the deformation mechanisms in these materials by employing in-situ straining techniques in the transmission electron microscope. In the project related to Molybdenum alloys (alloys for the next generation aircraft engine components), strength and crack growth resistance in monotonic and cyclic loading over the temperature range from room temperature to 1400C are being measured and the role of the underlying microstructure on the properties are being understood. In addition, dominant deformation mechanisms are being elucidated using a combination of experiments and computations. In yet another project, the basllistic penetration responses of novel high strength steels are being assessed and the evolution of microstructure in the dynamic deformation regime is being characterized using a range of state-of-the-art experimental techniques that include focussed Ion Beam and high resolution transmission electron microscopy. These techniques enable detailed characterization of microstructure within the narrow adaibatic shear bands and provide evidence for features that were until now hypothesized.
Awards
1. Outstanding Achievement Award, Martin Marietta Laboratories, 1990.
2. Runner-up, Robert Lye Best Technical Paper Award, Martin Marietta Laboratories, 1992.
3. Best Technical Paper, First International Symposium on Structural Intermetallics, Seven Springs, PA, 1993.
4. Maryland Distinguished Young Scientist Award, 1994.
5. Served on the National Academies Committee on "Alternative Technologies to Anti-Personnel Landmine", October 1999 – March 2001.
6. Best Technical Paper, Third International Symposium on Structural Intermetallics, Jackson Hole, Wyoming, April 2002.
7. Fellow of American Society of Materials – Class of 2003.
Affiliations
The Metallurgical Society of AIME (TMS-AIME)
American Society for Materials (ASM)
The Materials Research Society (MRS)
Sigma Xi
Alpha Sigma Mu
American Men and Women of Science
Teaching
Teaching responsibilities at the undergraduate level includes core courses (example --EN41) at the sophomore level and upper undergraduate courses in Materials Science and Engineering (EN0144 and EN0148). EN0148 includes physical metallurgy and processing of metals and alloys whereas EN0144 deals with the elastic and plastic response of materials.
At the graduate level, EN0243 deals in detail with defromation behavior, the emphasis in this course being more on underlying theory. A substantial portion of this course is devoted to dislocation theory and a description of dislocations in specific crystal structures. This course is often taken by first and second year graduate students pursuing degrees in Materials Science and Solid Mechanics.
Funded Research
Current
• Office of Naval Research – 3-year program – $380K— June 2004 – June 2007.
• Brown Materials Research Science and Engineering Center (MRSEC) member- National Science Foundation - $ 9.3M over 2005 --2011 (total of 19 faculty members; my part: 1 post doc + 1 summer month.
• Second Office of Naval Research Program – $360K – September 2004 - September 2007.
• Naval Surface Warfare Center Program – $50K – September 2005 - September 2006.
Past Record
At Brown University
• Office of Naval Research –3-year program – $290K— September 2001 – May 2004
• Defence Advance Research Project Agency – $ 180K over 2 years – July 2001- July 2003
• Office of Naval Research – 4 year program $330K total -- 1995-1999
• Office of Naval Research – 1996-1999 (with Prof. Clyde Briant) – $450K/3 years
• Ford Grant– 1998 – 75K "research gift"
At Martin Marietta Laboratories
• From Comalco Aluminum, Thomastown, Australia -- $150K/year for 3 years 1985-1988.
• From Pratt & Whitney, Florida – $150K/1 year, 1989
• Three (3) contracts from National Aeronautics and Space Agency- Lewis Research Center (1986-1989) adding up to ~$750K.
• From National Aeronautics and Space Agency-Langley Research Center– 75K/year for 2 years
• Office of Naval Research effort on XD-NiAl for three years for $1.1M (1989-1992)
