Professor Michael Ladisch has been named a Fellow of the National Academy of Inventors. Founded in 2010, the National Academy Inventors recognizes researchers at universities and non-profit institutes who translate their research findings into inventions that may benefit society. Congratulations!

Marco Zecchi (PhD) "A Novel Fluid Structure Interaction and Thermal Model to Predict The Cylinder Block/Valve Plate Interface Performance in Swash Plate Type Axial Piston Machines" November 21, 2013, 3:00 pm Maha Fluid Power Research Center (Ivantysynova)

Davide Cristofori (PhD) "Advanced Control Strategies for Mobile Hydraulics Applications" November 22, 2013, 9:00 am Maha Fluid Power Research Center (Vacca)

Chelsie Boles (MS), "SWAT Model Simulation of Bioenergy Crop Impacts in a Tile-Drained Watershed" November 26, 2013, 12:30 pm ABE 301 (Frankenberger)

Awards & Degree Milestones

Congratulations to Naseem Daher (PhD Candidate) for receiving a peer-selected SAE 2013 Excellence in Oral Presentation Award from the ComVEC conference held in Rosemont, IL on October 1st-3rd. His presentation was titled, “Pump Controlled Steer-by-Wire System”. Naseem will be presenting his preliminary PhD defense later this month.

After four incredibly productive and dedicated years at Maha under Dr. Ivantysynova, Marco Zecchi successfully defended his PhD dissertation on November 21^st. Dr. Zecchi made phenomenal contributions toward understanding axial piston pump lubrication and tribological interfaces. His defense was entitled, “A Novel Fluid Structure Interaction and Thermal Model to Predict the Cylinder Block / Valve Plate Interface Performance in Swash Plate Type Axial Piston Machines”. Congratulations to Marco; Maha wishes you well in this new stage of life!

Maha also congratulates another outstanding student, Davide Cristofori, on his successful PhD Defense on November 22^nd. Since joining Maha in 2010, Dr. Cristofori was hugely productive and fruitful in his work to damp oscillations in valve-controlled hydraulic machines. His detailed and invested research with adaptive control strategies was a powerful tool in furthering Dr. Vacca’s overall research goals and hydraulic control. Davide’s defense was entitled, “Advanced Control Strategies for Mobile Hydraulics Applications”. Congratulations to Davide; Maha wishes you well in this new stage of life!

Maha in the News

Congratulations to Dr. Ivantysynova for receiving three patents and being recognized at the ninth annual Inventors Recognition Reception hosted by the Purdue Research Foundation on November 20^th (click here). The new patents are:

• - U.S. Patent No. 8,277,352: Power split transmission with energy recovery 
• - U.S. Patent No. 8,453,441: System and method for pump-controlled cylinder cushioning 
• - U.S. Patent No. 8,454,469: Power split transmission with energy recovery

Publications

Congratulations to Dr. Ivantysynova and former Maha PhD student Matteo Pelosi for their recent publication in the International Journal of Fluid Power (Volume 14, No. 3, pp. 33-51). The article is entitled, “The Impact of Axial Piston Machines Mechanical Parts Constraint Conditions on the Thermo-Elastohydrodynamic Lubrication Analysis of the Fluid Film Interfaces.”

The minimum to establish an endowed scholarship is $12,500, payable in a lump sum or up to a five-year pledge period.  The College will match the gift up to $100,000 on a 1:1 basis, thus doubling the endowment. We are pleased that we have a number of scholarships endowed by alumni and former faculty; this offers us the opportunity to increase the number of scholarships we award each year at the Spring Awards banquet and having a dramatic impact on students within ABE.

Gifts made are tax deductible, depending on your circumstances. Matching gifts from your employer can leverage your commitment even further. If you are not sure whether your employer matches, the University Development Office provides a searchable database at http://www.matchinggifts.com/purdue/. A pledge will place a hold on matching funds to guarantee the amount. The scholarship can be named at your discretion.

We would be delighted to share more details about this opportunity. Please feel free to contact Dr. Bernie Engel at 765/494-1162 and then Joel Hartman will provide the necessary paperwork.