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Head of the Department: Hassan Aref
Director of Graduate Studies: J. W. Phillips
Barbara J. Kirts, Student Coordinator
216 Talbot Laboratory
104 South Wright Street
Urbana, IL 61801
(217) 333-0087
gradprog@tam.uiuc.edu
Graduate Degree Programs
The graduate programs in the Department of Theoretical and Applied
Mechanics lead to the master of science and doctor of philosophy degrees.
Major areas of study and research are applied mathematics, computational
mechanics, dynamics and vibrations, fluid mechanics, materials engineering,
and solid mechanics.
Admission
Applicants should have the bachelor’s or master’s degree
in engineering, mathematics, physics, or related fields and meet the
Graduate College requirements for admission. The Graduate Record Examination
(GRE) is required. The minimum Test of English as a Foreign Language
(TOEFL) score for international applicants is 610 on the paper-based
test, or 257 on the computer-based test. Admissions are made primarily
for the fall semester; however, spring admission will be considered
on a case-by-case basis.
Graduate Teaching Experience
Experience in teaching is considered a vital part of the graduate
program and is required as part of the academic work of all Ph.D.
candidates in this program.
Master of Science
Candidates must complete a minimum of 32 gh of graduate work,
including a thesis (ordinarily 8 gh) and maintain a minimum grade
point average of 3.0 (A = 4.0). Students are required to register
for the seminar in engineering mechanics. If a student elects not
to present a thesis, 36 gh of coursework are required. 12 gh
must be at the 500 level, and 8 of the 12 must be in theoretical
and applied mechanics. A full-time student can usually complete this
program in one academic year of study. A student who has an assistantship
can usually complete the requirements in one calendar year.
Doctor of Philosophy
Candidates for the doctor of philosophy degree are required to complete
a minimum of 16 gh of coursework (depending upon preparation)
beyond the master’s degree with a minimum grade point average
of 3.0. The coursework must include a core of master’s level
courses in applied mathematics, fluid mechanics, and solid mechanics
taken at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign or elsewhere.
In addition, one course (or the equivalent) is required from each
of the following major areas in the department: applied mathematics,
dynamics and vibrations, fluid mechanics, materials engineering, and
solid mechanics. Students are required to register for the seminar
in engineering mechanics. Acceptance into the doctoral program requires
good academic standing and the successful defense of a scholarly work,
such as a master’s thesis. A student must also pass an oral
preliminary examination based on the proposed thesis work. The thesis
research usually constitutes about half of the work beyond the master’s
degree. A full-time student can usually complete the doctoral program
in two years of study beyond the master’s degree.
Research Interests
Analytical, computational, and experimental research is conducted
in the areas of solid mechanics and materials, fluid mechanics, and
wave propagation. In solid mechanics and materials, current research
topics include ferroelectric ceramics, shape-memory alloys, composite
interfaces, woven laminates, electronic packaging, energetic materials,
corn-based composites, orientable elastomers; thermoelasticity, dynamic
plasticity; residual stresses, martensitic microstructure, surface
crack growth, brittle-to-ductile transition, pure shear failure, shear-band
measurements, damage evolution, creep resistance, hydrogen embrittlement;
continuous casting, powder consolidation; machine-tool design, metal
cutting; and shape optimization. In fluid mechanics, topics include
detonation, deflagration-to-detonation transition, shock propagation,
reacting flows; continual eddies, turbulent boundary layers, turbulent
wakes, stratified turbulence, turbulence simulation, instability modes;
vortex dynamics, coating flows, void growth, flow separation, mantle
convection; three-dimensional foams; direct numerical simulation;
and particle-image velocimetry. In wave propagation, topics include
surface waves, wave scattering, crack detection, vibration transport,
diffuse waves, stochastic waves, and reverberant ultrasound.
Financial Aid
Half-time teaching and research assistantships allow students to take
up to 12 gh of coursework each semester. Stipends are based on
the student’s year in graduate work and on the percentage of
time spent on the assistantship. Teaching and research assistantships
carry with them waivers of tuition and some fees. Assistantship applications
should be submitted by February 15 for appointments beginning in the
fall. Partial fellowships are also available. |
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