Christian E. Silva

Lecturer

Location: West Lafayette

School of Mechanical Engineering
Purdue University
585 Purdue Mall
West Lafayette, IN 47907-2088
cesilva@purdue.edu

Office: ME 1081

Phone: 7654947806

Degrees

  • Ph.D., Mechanical Engineering, Purdue University, 2019
  • M.S., Mechanical Engineering, Purdue University, 2014
  • B.S., Mechanical Engineering, ESPOL, Ecuador, 2002

Research Interests

  • Teaching interests: Dynamics; systems and controls; engineering design; innovation and systematic problem solving
  • Research and technical interests: Resilient engineered systems; structural dynamics and vibration control; real-time hybrid simulation; nonlinear dynamics

Biography

Christian Silva Salazar is a lecturer in the School of Mechanical Engineering. He teaches dynamics, control systems, and mechanic design through systematic innovation. His teaching connects engineering theory with experiments, real-world systems, and design decisions.

Before joining the ME faculty, Dr. Silva was a research scientist with Purdue’s Resilient ExtraTerrestrial Habitats institute (RETHi). His work included the development and operation of SmartHab, an experimental testbed used to study the resilience of space habitat systems under faults and disruptions. His technical background spans structural dynamics, vibration control, experimental testing, real-time hybrid simulation, and cyber-physical systems.

Earlier in his career, he worked in industry and managed engineering projects in manufacturing. He brings those research and industry experiences into his teaching through applied problems, experimentation, and design projects.

Selected Publications

Silva, C. E., et al. “Development of a Cyber–Physical Testbed for Smart and Resilient Space Habitats.” ASCE OPEN: Multidisciplinary Journal of Civil Engineering 3 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1061/AOMJAH.AOENG-0061

Montoya, H., Salmeron, M., Silva, C. E., Mirfarah, M., and Dyke, S. J. “Experimental Validation of Thermomechanical Cyber-Physical Testing for the Assessment of Lunar Habitats.” Acta Astronautica 234 (2025): 644–659. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actaastro.2025.04.053

Montoya, H., Salmeron, M., Silva, C. E., and Dyke, S. J. “Thermal Actuator Identification and Control for Thermomechanical Real-Time Cyber–Physical Testing.” Journal of Engineering Mechanics 150, no. 9 (2024): 04024066. https://doi.org/10.1061/JENMDT.EMENG-7637

Condori Uribe, J. W., et al. “Experimental Benchmark Control Problem for Multi-Axial Real-Time Hybrid Simulation.” Frontiers in Built Environment 9 (2023). https://doi.org/10.3389/fbuil.2023.1270996

Silva, C. E., Gomez, D., Maghareh, A., Dyke, S. J., and Spencer, B. F. “Benchmark Control Problem for Real-Time Hybrid Simulation.” Mechanical Systems and Signal Processing 135 (2020): 106381. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ymssp.2019.106381