Our People

Principal Investigator

Research Assistant Professor

Ph.D. in Aeronautics and Astronautics, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA

Zherui Martinez-Guo is a Research Assistant Professor with Purdue University’s Aeronautics & Astronautics Engineering department. He leads the Impact Science Laboratory, which houses several Kolsky bars, ballistic gun systems, and high-speed imaging cameras. Prior to joining Purdue in 2023, he was a Russell L. Heath Distinguished Fellow with Idaho National Laboratory, working for both National & Homeland Security and Energy and Environment Science & Technology directorates. He currently leads research efforts examining solid particle erosion effects on aero-engine blades, as well as the dynamic behavior of energetic materials. Dr. Martinez-Guo currently holds joint appointments with Argonne National Laboratory and Idaho National laboratory, and maintains synchrotron X-ray integrated equipment at APS 32-ID-B.

Faculty

Weinong Chen

Reilly Prof Of Aae And Mse

wchen@purdue.edu

(765) 494-1788

Staff

Arthur Jillson

Ug Research Assistant - Student Service

adjillso@purdue.edu

Arthur is currently a senior at Purdue University pursuing a degree in Aeronautics and Astronautics Engineering with a specialization in structures and materials. Arthur is working on energetic materials basic research. He is assisting with designing and implementing a heating process for specimens on the Kolsky bars.

Adithya Kolisetty

Ug Research Assistant - Student Service

akolise@purdue.edu

Andrew Radulovich

Ug Research Assistant - Student Service

aradulov@purdue.edu

Andrew Radulovich is a Research Assistant who is working on the thermal capabilities of the lab to test temperature dependent effects. Andrew also works on rebuilding the hydraulic systems in the lab. He is a senior in AAE

Ryan Robinson

Surf Fellowship

robin594@purdue.edu

Ryan is a current senior at Purdue university who is working towards a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering. He is also a part of the 4+1 program working towards a professional master’s degree. Currently, He assists around the lab on various different projects where needed.

Abigail Shelchuk

Ug Research Assistant - Student Service

Graduate Students

Cody Kirk

Graduate Research Assistant

kirk24@purdue.edu

Shane Paulson

Graduate Teaching Assistant

paulsons@purdue.edu

Shane Paulson is a current PhD candidate in the Gambaro Graduate Program of Aeronautics and Astronautics. Shane joined Purdue with a Masters degree in civil and environmental engineering from Tennessee Technological University and three years of experience in the structural design industry. His current research seeks to characterize the damage and wave propagation mechanisms in fiber-reinforced polymer composites under high velocity impact.

Nikita Chari

Graduate Research Assistant

BS: Aeronautics and Astronautics Engineering & Material Science Engineering , Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN. USA

Nikita is a grad student in the material science program.

Kevin Clapp

Graduate Research Assistant

Tyler Dillard

Graduate Research Assistant

tdillard@purdue.edu

Tyler Dillard is a current PhD candidate in aero studying dynamic behavior in soft materials. Tyler joined Purdue after studying mechanical engineering at the University of South Carolina. His research interests include quantifying complex behavior in heterogeneous materials and developing new experimental methods for under-studied materials/behaviors.

Aishvarya Joshi

Graduate Research Assistant

joshi270@purdue.edu

Aishvarya is a Graduate Research Assistant doing her MS in Aerospace Structures. She is working on evaluation of rate dependent facture on turbine blade materials using Kolsky Bar. She is also working on optimization of bone plate using mechanical analysis. Prior to Purdue, she worked with Collins Aerospace in India. She is also the Social Events Chair of AeroAssist (Graduate Student Organization of School of Aeronautics and Astronautics).

Oliver Meraz

Graduate Research Assistant

meraz3@purdue.edu

Rahul Mogalapalli

Graduate Teaching Assistant

rmogalap@purdue.edu

Andrew Roginski

Graduate Research Assistant

aroginsk@purdue.edu

Undergraduate Students

Maya Araujo

Surf Fellowship

araujob@purdue.edu

(630) 222-1775

Maya is an Aerospace Engineering Undergraduate Senior that helps investigate the properties of quartz and how quartz reacts upon impacts that cause granulation. She has also worked with efforts to collect quartz particles after impact, and also assists with preparation of biological materials.

Srinath Dantu

Ug Research Assistant - Student Service

Nicole Maneatis

Surf Fellowship

nmaneati@purdue.edu

Nicole is a current junior at Purdue University pursuing a degree in materials science engineering. Nicole is continuing research conducted through the SURF program regarding mechanical testing of shaped quartz samples. She focuses on sample preparing methods, ballistic testing (via gas gun) and MTS compression testing.

Juliann Muntz

Ug Research Assistant - Student Service

jmuntz@purdue.edu

Juliann is studying the dynamic loading effects of heterogeneous energetic materials for AAMP-UP! 2024 with a focus on sample preparation.

Xavier Williams

Ug Research Assistant - Student Service

will2619@purdue.edu

Xavier is a junior pursuing a Bachelor's degree in Astronautics and Aeronautics Engineering with a focus on design. His prior research experience includes work on high-speed solenoid projectiles. Currently, he is serving as an undergraduate research assistant with the impact science lab team, where he contributes to projects involving profilometry and post-mortem characterization of impacted metallic substrates used in turbine and compressor materials.

Former PhD Students

Naranjan Parab

“Fracture of Sherical Particles under Compression,” May 2017. Post-doc Researcher, Argonne National Laboratory, Lemont, IL.

Waterloo Tsutsui

“Mechanical Response of Multi-functional Battery Systems,” May 2017. Visiting Assisting Professor, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN.

Matthew Hudspeth

“Multi-axial Failure of High-performance Fiber during Transverse Impact,” May 2016. President Truman Fellow, Sandia National Laboratories, Albuquerque, NM.

Steven Dubelman

“Dynamic Deformation and Failure of MEMS Materials,” May 2013. GE Aviation, Cincinnati, OH.

Andrew Schlueter

“Dynamic Delamination of Z-Pinned Composite Panels,” May 2012. US NAVAIR, China Lake, CA.

Matthew Mordasky

“Impact Damage in Aircraft Composite Sandwich Panels,” December, 2011. United Technologies Research Center, East Hartford, CT.

Yun Ge

"Mixture Theory Modeling of Dynamic Finite Deformation of Hydrated Soft Tissues,” August, 2011. Apple, Cupertino, CA.

Hwun Park

“Crack Propagation Through Adhesive Interface in Glass Driven by Impact Loading,” May 2011. Samsung, South Korea.

Xu Nie

“Dynamic Failure of Borosilicate Glass under Various Loading Conditions,” December 2010. Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering, Southern Methodist University.

Md Enamul Kabir

“Dynamic Response of Geo-materials,” December 2010. Intel, Beaverton, OR.

Farhana Pervin

“Dynamic Constitutive Response of Brain Tissues,” December 2010. Intel, Beaverton, OR.

John Foster

“Dynamic Fracture of High-strength Metals,” December 2009. Associate Professor of Pertrolium Engineering, University of Texas Austin.

Chul Jin Syn

“Dynamic Delamination in a Glass Fiber Composite and Interfacial Fracture in a Bi-Material,” April 2008. Korean Aerospace Insduries (KAI), South Korea.

Huiyang Luo

“Dynamic Compressive Responses of Intact and Damaged Armor Ceramics,” May 2005. Senior Research Scientist, University of Texas Dallas.

Ming Cheng

“Experimental Investigation of the Biaxial Flexural Strength of 8YSZ Thin Ceramic Substrates as Electrolytes,” May 2002. Research Scientist, AllenVenguard, Ottawa, Canada.

Bin Zhang

“Fatigue Behavior in an Aluminum Casting Alloy (A356.2): Effects of Some Defects, SDAS, Hipping, and Strontium Modification,” November 2002. Senior Engineer, Wagstaff, WA.

Former MS Students

Yule Li

“Mechanical Response of Precursor and Post-draw UHMWPE Fibers under Dynamic Loading,” May 2017

Michael Harr

“Hot-spot Formation in PBX under Impact Loading,” May 2017

Yizhou Nie

“Cyclic Tensile Response of a Polyurethane Elastomer,” August 2016

Jou-Mei Chu

“Mechanical Properties of Transgenic Silkworm Silk under High Rate Impact,” May 2016

Stephen Lavine

“Dynamic Transverse Debonding between a Single S-2 Fiber,” May 2016

John T. Chojnacki

“Mechanical Response of Glass Materials under High-rate, Multiaxial Compression,” May 2016

Jaspreet Kukreja

“Crash Analysis of a Conceptual Electric Vehicle with a Multifunctional Battery System,” December 2015

Karan Bhise

“Non Destructive Testing of Soft Body Armor,” August 2015

Jennifer Spatola

“Microstructure and Failure Mode of High-performance Fibers,” May 2015

Zherui Guo

“Transverse Compression of High-performance Ballistic Fibers,” August 2014

Jangzhuo Sun

“Dynamic Strength of Spectra Fibers under Multi-axial Loading,” May 2014

Ben Claus

“Dynamic Tensile Damage in Soft Tissues,” May 2014

Brittany Essink

“Shock Mitigation by Porous Rock,” May 2014

Boon Him Lim

“Size Effects on Dynamic Behavior of Extra High Strength Concrete under Tension and Compression Loading,” December, 2013

Alex Mondel

“Dynamic Response of High Strength Concrete under Tri-axial Loading,” August 2012

Matthew Hudspeth

“Dynamic Response of Spider Silk,” May 2012

Hangjie Liao

“Effect of Impadance Mismatch on Dynamic Equilibrium and Constant Strain Rate Conditions on a Kolsky Bar Specimen,” May 2012

Jih Hong

“Yarn Pull-out Behavior under Dynamic Loading,” August 2011

Brett Sanborn

“Dynamic Mechanical Behavior of Lung Tissues,” May 2011

Jared Wright

“Dynamic Failure Behavior of Brittle Transparent Materials,” December 2010

Kyle Herwig

“High Rate Properties of Porcine Skull Bone Tissue,” August 2010

Oscar Guzman

“A Kolsky Bar Using a Hollow Incident Tube,” August 2010

Nishida Erik

“Distinguishing Inertia Effects from the Intrinsic Mechanical Behavior in Soft Materials at High Strain Rates by Kolsky Bar Experiments,” May 2010

Andrew Schlueter

“Modeling of Impact Damage to Composite Panels,” May 2009

Seth Skube

“Valid Experiments on Metals Deforming to Large Strains,” May 2009

Bradley Martin

“Moisture Effects in the Dynamic Compressive Response of Fine Sand,” April 2007

Christopher L. Grupido

“Development of a Split Hopkinson Pressure Bar Method for Intermediate Strain Rate Experimental Testing,” May 2006

Yi Pan

“The Upper Limit of Constant Strain Rate in a SHPB Experiment for a Linearly Elastic Material,” May 2006

Yun Ge

“Radial Inertia Effects on Dynamic Response of Extra-Soft Materials in Split Hopkinson Pressure Bar Experiments,” December 2005

Tamaki Yanagita

“Cross-calibration of a Quasi-static Test Machine and a Split Hopkinson Pressure Bar in a Polymeric Foam,” December 2004

Chul Jin Syn

“Effects of Lateral Inertia Confinement on the Axial Compressive Response of Specimens with Different Geometries,” August 2004

Raul R. Rojas

“Instrumented Low-Speed Penetration into Granular Alumina,” November 2003

Corey J. Roberts

“Thermal Analysis of The University of Arizona CubeSat,” May 2003

Zunping Liu

“Dynamic Tensile Behavior of EPDM Rubber,” November, 2002

Qiuping Wu

“Dynamic Compressive Behavior of Shape Memory Alloys,” May, 2000

Xiaodong Zhang

“Dynamic Response of Polymers under Multiaxial Loading at Various Temperatures,” November, 1997