Alumni Profile: Siddharth Bhaganagar turns his motorsports research into textbook
“I came to Purdue with two bags,” Bhaganagar recalled. “From day one, I was greeted with open arms and told, ‘We are going to start some groundbreaking research.’”
Bhaganagar moved from India to pursue a master’s degree in motorsports engineering at Purdue University in Indianapolis. When he arrived, he began research with Hamid Dalir, professor of mechanical engineering and director of Advanced Composite Structures Engineering Laboratory (ACSEL). His work focused on composite materials and their applications, focusing on sustainability in manufacturing.
“Until I came to Purdue, I had never experienced taking the theory we learned in class and the research I was doing and seeing how it translated into practical applications,” said Bhaganagar.
While at Purdue, he published five research peer-reviewed papers and attended numerous conferences where he often presented his research.
In 2024, Bhaganagar and Dalir published Design, Analysis, and Manufacturing of Lightweight Composite Structures. The textbook serves as a guide for the design, testing, and evaluation of advanced composite materials for students, researchers and industry professionals. “Essentially, we’re taking our research and showing people that it is practical and can have a national impact,” he said.
Co-authoring a textbook as a recent graduate is uncommon and Bhaganagar said it was never something he imagined doing. “Dr. Dalir came to me with the opportunity and after looking it over, I thought to myself, ‘I’m about to write a book, aren’t I?’” he said.
The book highlights the advantages of lightweight composite materials, including their sustainability, biodegradability, cost-effectiveness and efficiency. While much of the research initially focused on automotive applications, such as race car components, Bhaganagar now applies many of the same principles in his current role as Senior Quality Engineer at Hitachi Energy in Tennessee.
“Has anyone thought about why all transformer tanks are made of carbon steel? Nobody questions it,” said Bhaganagar. “Are there biodegradable and more sustainable options? Yes, and we’re working on exploring those alternatives.”
The project took about two years to complete and drew heavily from Bhaganagar’s thesis research while incorporating input from industry professionals and faculty members to ensure the material reflected both academic research and real-world engineering needs.
“We would love for Purdue students to use this book,” said Bhaganagar. “When I wrote it, I intentionally didn’t make it overly technical so more people could understand and enjoy it.”
Interested in reading Design, Analysis, and Manufacturing or Lightweight Composite Structures? Find it here.