He's famous!

In his lab. Ned's still working on revisions, but his dissertation defense made the office newsletter. Here's the text: Researcher Successfully Defends Dissertation: Ned Mitchell, ERDC-CHL, successfully defended his Ph.D. dissertation before committee on 13 Jul at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, TN. His dissertation is “Fluid-Structure Impact Modeling and Risk Assessment” and features research focused on the Space Shuttle solid rocket booster (SRB) splashdown sequence. Quantitative risk assessment for structural damage to the SRB during splashdown requires accurate and robust modeling methods, since full-scale failure testing is prohibitively expensive. The research included model verification and validation studies for coupled finite element analysis of fluid-structure impact. Laboratory experimental drop testing with a thin-walled aluminum cylinder was conducted for comparison with numerical model predictions. The research was funded through NASA’s Graduate Student Researchers Program and also through the National Science Foundation’s Integrative Graduate Education and Research Traineeship program.