Donald J. Leo

Office: 307 Durham Hall			Mechanical Engineering Department
Tel:	540-231-2917                 	Virginia Tech 
Fax:    540-231-2903                 	Blacksburg, VA 24061-0261
E-mail: donleo@vt.edu  

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Last Updated: 5/29/02

Research Area

Dynamics and control of active material systems.

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Current Research Topics

• Electroactive polymer materials
• Hybrid piezoelectric devices
• Launch vehicle noise and vibration control
• Conformal communication and power systems

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Research Projects

Ongoing Projects

• Electroactive Polymer Membranes for In-Situ Dynamic Mechanical Analysis - National Science Foundation
• Chemoelectric and Electromechanical Modeling of Ionic Polymer Material Systems - National Science Foundation
• Piezohydraulic Systems for Exoskeletal Devices - Oak Ridge National Laboratories
• Regenerative Systems for Active Noise and Vibration Control - Air Force Research Laboratory

Completed Projects

• Power Efficiency of Active Structural-Acoustic Control Systems - National Science Foundation
• Ionic Polymer Materials for Space Optics - Air Force Research Lab / USRA
• Local and Global Control Authority for Noise Control in Payload Fairings - Air Force Research Lab / Syndetix, Inc.
• Efficient Hybrid Actuation using Solid-State Actuators - DARPA / NASA
• NVH Reduction in Automotive Seats - Daimler-Chrysler Corporation
• Adaptive Vibration Suppression for Autonomous Control Systems - Air Force Research Lab
• Dissipative Acoustic Sources for Interior Noise Control in Payload Fairings - Air Force Research Lab
• Optimal Selection and Testing of Superintegrated Engine Control Systems - Daimler-Chrysler Corporation
• Self-Sensing Acoustic Sources for Interior Noise Control in Payload Fairings - Air Force Research Lab
• Vehicular Applications of Smart Material Systems - Daimler-Chrysler Corporation

Research Group

Current Students
Kenneth Newbury - Ph.D.	Kevin Farinholt - Ph.D.	Barbar Akle - M.S.
Matt Bennett - M.S.	Will Hurst - M.S.	Curt Kothera - M.S.
Honghui Tan - M.S.	Nikola Vujic - M.S.	John Franklin - M.S.
Kristen Monson - CIMSS Summer Researcher

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Former Students
Mark Vaughan - M.S.	Kiran Mallavarapu - M.S. Current Position: Project Engineer, GM Fuel Cells Rochester, NY	John Bird - M.S. Current Position: Ph.D. Candidate Virginia Tech
Renfang Cao - Ph.D. Current Position: Engineering, General Motors Warren, MI	Khalil Nasser - M.S. Current Position: Control Engineer, H2Gen Arlington, VA	Kimball Green - M.S. Current Position: Production Engineer, General Motors Baltimore, MD
Mark Malowicki - M.S. Current Position: Test Engineer, General Motors Milford, MI	Mark McEver - M.S. Current Position: Ph.D. Candidate, Duke University	Craig Weddle - M.S. (University of Toledo) Current Position: Test Engineer, General Motors Milford, MI
Jiejun Lu - M.S. (University of Toledo) Current Position: Ph.D. Candidate, University of Toledo	Yimin Yang - M.S. (University of Toledo) Current Position: Ph.D. Candidate, University of Toledo	Douglas Limpert - M.S. (University of Toledo) Current Position: Engineer, B.F. Goodrich Dayton, OH

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Teaching Activities

ME 2024 Engineering Design and Economics Introduction to basic concepts in design and economics, including time value of money and visual thinking. The course emphasizes active learning in a team-oriented environment.

ME 5505 Advanced Control Engineering State-space methods for modeling and controlling dynamic systems. Topics include controllability and observability, pole placement, observer design, and linear quadratic optimal control.

ME 5506 Advanced Control Engineering - Digital Control Systems Design of digital control systems using emulation, transfer function, and state-space design techniques.

ME 5984 Smart Structures / Active Material Systems Fundamental properties of several different types of active materials (piezoelectric, electrostrictive, ionic polymer, rheological fluids, and shape memory alloys) will be studied.  Topics in systems-level analysis (dynamic analysis, power flow, data acquisition and sensing) will be discussed.

LINK TO COURSE WEB SITE

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Research Archive

Current Vita

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