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School of Engineering

People William W. Clark

Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science


Phone: 412-624-9794
Fax: 412-624-4846
Office: BENDM 218H

Education

PhD, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 1991

Professional Interests

Professor Clark’s primary research interest is in the area of smart structures and microsystems, with focuses on structural vibration control, novel actuators and mechatronics, variable stiffness/damping materials, morphing materials and systems, energy harvesting, and integrated mechanical-electrical systems for communications and signal processing.  Much of his current research focuses on piezoelectric systems for actuators, valves, resonators, mechanical filters, biosensors, or energy sources.  Examples of current research includes the use of piezoelectric microvalves for improved fuel management in energy systems, and the development of piezoelectric energy harvesting devices for wireless sensor systems, and development and use of materials that exhibit controllable change in mechanical properties.

Selected Publications

Muriuki, M. and W. W. Clark, “Analysis of a novel technique for tuning a cantilever beam resonator using shunt switching,” Journal of Smart Materials and Structures, Vol. 16 (2007) 1527-1533.

Mo, C., R. Wright, and W. W. Clark, “The Effect of Electrode Pattern on the Behavior of Piezoelectric Actuators in a Circular Diaphragm Structure,” Journal of Intelligent Material Systems and Structures, May 2007, Vol. 18, No. 5, pp. 467-476.

Hensel, J. Peter, Randall S. Gemmen, Brian J. Hetzer, Jimmy D. Thornton, Jeffrey S. Vipperman, William W. Clark, and Brian A. Bucci, “Effects of Cell-to-Cell Fuel Mal-Distribution on Fuel Cell Performance”, Journal of Power Sources, Volume 164, Issue 1, 10 January 2007, Pages 115-125.

Corr, L. R. and W. W. Clark, “Similarities Between Mechanical Springs and Piezoceramic Switching Shunts,” AIAA Journal, Vol. 44, No. 11, pp. 2797-2800, November 2006.

Mo, C., R. Wright, W. S. Slaughter and W. W. Clark, “Behavior of a Unimorph Circular Piezoelectric Actuator,” Journal of Smart Materials and Structures, Vol. 15, pp. 1094-1102, 2006.

Kim, S., W. W. Clark, and Q-M. Wang, “Piezoelectric Energy Harvesting Using a Bimorph Circular Plate: Analysis,” Journal of Intelligent Material Systems and Structures, Vol 16, No. 10, October, 2005, pp. 847-854.

Kim, S., W. W. Clark, and Q.-M. Wang, "Piezoelectric Energy Harvesting Using a Bimorph Circular Plate: Experimental Study,” Journal of Intelligent Material Systems and Structures, Vol. 16, No. 10, October, 2005, pp. 855-864.

faculty

The Department of Mechanical Engineering has 16 full time, 6 adjunct, and 5 emeritus faculty members