Prof. Sudhakar Nair | Material Behavior Award | Best Researcher Award

Prof. Sudhakar Nair , Illinois Institute of Technology , United States

Sudhakar E. Nair, PhD, is a distinguished academic with extensive experience in applied mechanics and engineering. He earned his PhD in Applied Mechanics from the University of California at San Diego in 1974, following a Master’s in Aeronautical Engineering from the Indian Institute of Science and a Bachelor’s in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Kerala. Dr. Nair has been a faculty member at the Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT) since 1977, where he currently serves as a Professor of Applied Mathematics and Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering. His notable roles include Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and Interim Chair of the MMAE Department. Dr. Nair is a Fellow of ASME and an Associate Fellow of AIAA, with numerous publications, including the book “Mechanics of Aero-structures.” His commitment to education is further demonstrated by his work on assessment plans for various engineering programs at IIT. 📘✈️🔧

Profile :

Google Scholar

🎓 Education:

PhD: Applied Mechanics, University of California at San Diego, 1974.
ME: Aeronautical Engineering, Indian Institute of Science, India, 1969.
BSc: Mechanical Engineering, University of Kerala, India, 1967.

🏫 Experience:

Professor of Applied Mathematics, Applied Math Dept., Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago, 1995–present.
Professor of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, MMAE Dept., Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago, 1991–present.
Associate Professor, MMAE Dept., Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago, 1982-1991.
Assistant Professor, MMAE Dept., Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago, 1979-1982.
Visiting Assistant Professor, MMAE Dept., Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago, 1977-1979.
Post-Doctoral Research Engineer, AMES Dept., University of California at San Diego, La Jolla, 1974-1977.
Research Assistant, AMES Dept., University of California at San Diego, La Jolla, 1969-1974.

🌐 Professional Societies:

Associate Fellow, AIAA.
Fellow, American Society of Mechanical Engineers.
Member, American Academy of Mechanics.
Member, Tau Beta Pi.
Member, Sigma Xi.
Member, American Society for Engineering Education.

🏆 Honors and Awards:

Fellow, ASME.
Associate Fellow, AIAA.
MMAE Barnett Award for Excellence in Teaching.
Outstanding Alumni Award, Indian Institute of Science.

🏢 Institutional Service:

Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, Graduate College, 2003-2012.
Interim Chair, MMAE Dept., 2000-2002.
Chair, Graduate Studies Committee, MMAE Dept., 1990-2010, 2013–present.
Chair, University Faculty Council, IIT, 1991-1992.
Chair, University Committee on Promotion and Tenure, IIT, 1993-1994.
Member, University Faculty Council, IIT, 1989-1992, 2015–present.
Member, University Committee on Promotion and Tenure, IIT, 1992-1995.
Member, University Graduate Studies Committee, 2003–present.

🛠️ Faculty Development:

Authored assessment plans for PhD, MS, and MAS for MAE and MSE programs.

Publications Top Notes 📄

Elastic waves in orthotropic incompressible materials and reflection from an interface, cited by 28, 1997

Aerodynamic performance of wind turbine blades in dusty environments, cited by 25, 2007

Dynamics of an elastic cable carrying a moving mass particle, cited by 32, 2003

Wavelet-Galerkin method for the free vibrations of an elastic cable carrying an attached mass, cited by 31, 2004

Interfacial waves in incompressible monoclinic materials with an interlayer, cited by 31, 1999

Prof. Sudhakar Nair | Material Behavior | Best Paper Award

Professor Emeritus,Illinois Institute of Technology, United States

Sudhakar E. Nair is a distinguished professor specializing in applied mathematics and mechanical and aerospace engineering at the Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT) in Chicago. With an impressive career spanning several decades, he has made significant contributions to his fields of expertise through teaching, research, and service. Dr. Nair’s dedication to academia and his extensive experience have earned him numerous awards and recognition in the engineering community.

Profile

Education 🎓

Sudhakar E. Nair holds a PhD in Applied Mechanics from the University of California at San Diego, obtained in 1974. He earned his Master of Engineering in Aeronautical Engineering from the Indian Institute of Science in 1969, following a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Kerala in 1967. His robust educational background laid a strong foundation for his illustrious academic and research career.

Experience 💼

Dr. Nair has been a professor in the Applied Mathematics and Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering departments at IIT Chicago since 1991, with prior roles as an associate and assistant professor since 1977. His early career includes post-doctoral research at the University of California at San Diego, where he also served as a research assistant. Throughout his tenure at IIT, he has held significant leadership positions, contributing to academic administration and faculty governance.

Research Interests 🔬

Dr. Nair’s research interests encompass applied mechanics, aero-structures, and wave propagation in elastic solids. His work often explores the intersection of mechanical and aerospace engineering with applied mathematics, focusing on theoretical and practical aspects that advance the understanding of complex systems in these fields. His research has been widely published and cited, reflecting his impact on the scientific community.

Awards 🏆

Dr. Nair’s excellence in teaching and research has been recognized with several prestigious awards. He is a Fellow of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) and an Associate Fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA). Among his accolades are the MMAE Barnett Award for Excellence in Teaching and the Outstanding Alumni Award from the Indian Institute of Science, highlighting his contributions to education and engineering.

Publications 📚

Book: “Mechanics of Aero-structures,” Cambridge, 2015. This comprehensive book offers insights into the mechanics of aerospace structures, integrating theoretical and practical approaches.

Article: “Scattering of Rayleigh waves by sinusoidal undulations on the surface of an incompressible monoclinic elastic solid,” co-authored with D. A. Sotiropoulas, published in Chaotic Modeling and Simulation, 2016. This paper discusses the intricate behavior of Rayleigh waves in complex materials.