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Mathew Abraham Kuttolamadom (Dr. K)

Associate Professor
Manufacturing & Mechanical Engineering Technology
Depts. of Engineering Technology & Industrial Distribution, Materials Science & Engineering, Multidisciplinary Engineering

Personal Summary:
  • Interdisciplinary research program advancing the bioinspired intersection of manufacturing, materials & tribology
  • PI or Co-PI on external/internal grants & industry donations totaling over $11M
  • Research thrusts include bioinspired functionally-graded materials & surfaces, additive/subtractive manufacturing processes, tribology, pharmaceutical/dental manufacturing & engineering education
  • Teaching of 3000+ students in Engineering mechanics, Mechanical design, Automotive engineering, Manufacturing & Materials
  • Professional service in the ASME Manufacturing Engineering Division (MED) & ASEE
  • Expanding Your Horizons STEM outreach workshop organizer for local B/CS 6th grade girls
Education:
  • Ph.D., Materials Science & Engineering, Int’l Center for Automotive Research, Clemson University, Clemson, SC
  • M.S., Mechanical Engineering, University of Detroit Mercy, Detroit, MI
  • B.Tech., Mechanical (Automobile) Engineering, University of Kerala, Trivandrum, India
Professional Experience:
  • SEA Ltd., Columbus, OH
  • FORD Motor Company, Dearborn, MI
  • GoldSpark Holdings Ltd., Ann Arbor, MI

CURRENT STUDENT RESEARCHERS

Graduate Students (M.S./Ph.D.)

Michael Liu
Ph.D., Materials Science & Engineering (Expected: May '21)

Ph.D. Dissertation: Bio-Inspired  Compositionally-Gradient Additive Manufactured Material Systems for  Mechano-Thermal Property Control
Yash Parikh 
Ph.D., Mechanical Engineering (Expected: May '20)

Ph.D. Dissertation: Additive Manufacturing of Bio-Inspired Structures having Spatial Mechanical Property Gradients for Tailoring Mechanical Responses 

Samarth Zala 
M.S., Industrial & Systems  Engineering (Expected: May '19)

M.S. Thesis: Effects of Post-Processing Approaches on the Spatial Porosity Distribution & Mechanical Properties of Selective Laser Sintered SS 316L 

Karthik Yalavarthi 
M.S., Mechanical Engineering (Expected: Dec '19)

M.S. Thesis: Development & Characterization of Abuse-Deterrent Formulations by Selective Laser Sintering Additive Manufacturing 

Minh Tran
M.S., Materials Science & Engineering (Expected: May '18)

M.S. Thesis: Preparation & Properties of LuxGa1-x Amorphous Alloys (Co-Chair)

Laxmi Sai Prasad Yallasiri
M.S., Industrial & Systems Engineering (Expected: Aug '18)

M.S. Thesis: Correlating Ti-6Al-4V Adiabatic Shear Banding Forces to Chip 
Morphology & Workpiece Surface Characteristics (Co-Chair)

Undergraduate Students (B.S. Thesis)

Daniel Lewis
B.S., Manufacturing & Mechanical Engineering Technology (Exp: May '18)

B.S. Honors Thesis: Toughness Enhancement of Spark Plasma Sintered Zirconium Oxide Through Carbon Nanotube Fiber Dispersion 

Julia Carter
B.S., Manufacturing & Mechanical Engineering Technology (Exp: May '18)

B.S. Honors Thesis: Fabrication of Bio-Inspired Hardness-Gradient Structures via SLM (AM) for Reduced Surface Friction & Wear

Evan Loehr
B.S., Manufacturing & Mechanical Engineering Technology (Exp: May '18)

B.S. Honors Thesis: Measurement & Investigation of Adiabatic Shear Banding-Induced Ti-6Al-4V Chip Morphology & Process Characteristics

Christina Sheldon
B.S., Biomedical Engineering (Exp: May '18)

B.S. Honors Thesis: Fabrication of Bio-Inspired Compositional Gradient Structures via LENS (AM) Processing for Reduced Surface Friction & Wear

Undergraduate Students (Projects)

Luisa De Leon
B.S., Manufacturing & Mechanical Engineering Technology (Fa'17 onwards)

Research Project: Laser Surface Texturing Effects on Tactile Sensation & Perception for Grip & Control 

Marco Guzman
B.S., Manufacturing & Mechanical Engineering Technology (Sp'18)

 
Research Project: Vibration Damping Redesign & Validation of a Pin/Ball-On-Disc Tribometer Setup

LAB ALUMNI

Graduate Students (M.S./Ph.D.)

Carleton Vangsness-III 
M.S., Mechanical Engineering (Graduated: Aug '17)

M.S. Thesis: Drilling Optimization of Titanium Implants for Minimal Mechanical & Thermal Damage (Co-Chair)
{Status at Graduation: Industry Job}
Avinash Danda
M.S., Mechanical Engineering (Graduated: Aug '17)

M.S. Thesis: Cutting Mechanics Based Model for Haptic Rendering of Surgical 
Bone Burring Simulation (Co-Chair)
{Status at Graduation: Engineer,  Tesla, Palo Alto, CA}
Sagar Patel
M.S., Materials Science & Engineering (Graduated: May '16)

M.S. Thesis: Grain Orientation Texture Control & its Effects on the Hardness
& Abrasion Resistance of Spark Plasma Sintered Carbides
{Status at Graduation: Ph.D. candidate, University of Waterloo,  ON, Canada}
Qiong Bai
M.S., Mechanical Engineering (Graduated: Dec '14)

M.S. Thesis: Interactions between Wear Mechanisms in a WC-Co /  Ti-6Al-4V
Machining Tribosystem
{Status at Graduation: Industry Job}

Graduate Students (Projects)

Sachin Kamat
M.S., Industrial & Systems Engineering (Sp'15)


Research Project: Chip Morphology Effects on the Surface Roughness & Machining
Forces when Turning Ti-6Al-4V
{Status at Graduation : Industrial Engineer (Tech. Development), Intel, Phoenix, AZ}
Ruchi Natani
M.S., Industrial & Systems Engineering (Su'14)


Research Project: Predicting Recyclability of Automotive Component Systems for
Inception-Stage Decisions
{Status at Graduation: Supply Chain Engineer, ASML, San Diego, CA}
Sarath Sudhish
M.S., Industrial & Systems Engineering (Fa'13 - Sp'14)


Research Project: Correlation of Part Surface Roughness to Cutting Power &
Material Removal Rate
{Status at Graduation : Supply Chain Analytics, Kerry Group, Beloit, WI}

Undergraduate Students (B.S. Thesis)

Michael Carrillo
B.S., Manufacturing & Mechanical Engineering Technology (Grad: May '17)

B.S. Honors Thesis: Manufacturing Bio-Inspired Surfaces having Topology  
Gradients using Laser Texturing to Enhance Tribological Performance
{Status at Graduation: Industry Job}
Sydney Hale
B.S., Manufacturing & Mechanical Engineering Technology (Grad: May '16)


B.S. Honors Thesis: Investigation of the Property & Topology Gradients of
Scaled Reptile Skin for Bio-mimetic Optimization of Material Systems
{Status at Graduation: Industrial Engr., Samsung Austin Semiconductor, Austin, TX}
Derek Bahner
B.S., Manufacturing & Mechanical Engineering Technology (Grad: May '15)


B.S. Honors Thesis: Design of a Tribometer Retrofitted onto a Computer 
Numerical Controlled (CNC) Machining Center for Rock Drilling Studies 
{Status at Graduation: Manufacturing Engr., Daily Thermetrics Corp., Houston, TX}

Undergraduate Students (Projects)

Fernando Sanchez
B.S., Manufacturing & Mechanical Engineering Technology (Su'17)

Research Project: Catalyst Filling Process Automation
(Sponsor: NSL Aerospace, Magnolia, TX)
Cole McAlister
B.S., Manufacturing & Mechanical Engineering Technology (Su'17)

Research Project: Tribometer Design/Calibration & the  Investigation of Friction/Wear between PDC Cutters & Rock 

Adetola Adebiyi
B.S., Manufacturing & Mechanical Engineering Technology (Sp'17)

Research Project: Multi-Material Interface Designs with Controllable Flexures to  
Reduce Delamination, Friction & Wear 

Jonathan Mitchell
B.S., Manufacturing & Mechanical Engineering Technology (Sp'17 - Sp'18)

 
Research Project: Motivating STEM Participation in Colonias High Schools through
Autonomous Making-Production Teams (MPT) 

Julia Carter
B.S., Manufacturing & Mechanical Engineering Technology (Fa'16 - Su'18)

Research Project: Promoting STEM Education in High Schools through 3D Printing 
Instruction & Projects 

Jenna Gonzalez
B.S., Manufacturing & Mechanical Engineering Technology (Fa'16)

Research Project: Calibration of a Small-Scale Test Rig for Study of PDC 
Performance when Drilling Limestone 

Drake Semien
B.S., Manufacturing & Mechanical Engineering Technology (Fa'16)

Research Project: Design Optimization & 3D Printing of an Auger-Based Cement 
Mixing and Delivery System 

Andre Denis
B.S., Petroleum Engineering (Su'16 - Fa'16)

Research Project: Effect of PDC Bit Chamfer & Forces on the Achievable Rate of  
Penetration & Drilling Efficiency 

Randall Chaffee
B.S., Manufacturing & Mechanical Engineering Technology (Sp'16)

Research Project: Design & Prototyping of an Auger-Based High-Volume Cement 
Mixing & Delivery System

Phillip Esmaili
B.S., Manufacturing & Mechanical Engineering Technology (Sp'16)

Research Project: Tribological Testing of Polycrystalline Diamond Compact (PDC) 
on Eagle Ford Shale & Berea Sandstone

Adetola Adebiyi
B.S., Manufacturing & Mechanical Engineering Technology (Fa'15 - Sp'16)

Research Project: 3D White-Light Scanning, Point-Cloud Manipulation, & 3D  
Prototyping of Freeform Solids

Calvin Luu
B.S., Manufacturing & Mechanical Engineering Technology (Fa'15)

Research Project: Calibration of a Pin-on-Disc Tribometer for Monitoring Friction
between Sintered Carbides & Aluminum 6061

Matthew Flores
B.S., Manufacturing & Mechanical Engineering Technology (Sp'15)

Research Project: 3D Printing, Tolerancing & Assembly of a Mechanical Power
Transmission System

VISITING & EXCHANGE STUDENTS

Research Experiences for Undergraduates

Kirana Bercich 
B.S., Mechanical Engineering, University of Texas Dallas (Su'17)

M.S. Thesis: Texturing of (SLM) Additive Manufactured  Surfaces for Bio-Inspired Control of Friction & Wear
(Sponsor: National Science Foundation)
Frank Dam
B.S., Mechanical Engineering, University of Tennessee Knoxville (Su'17)

M.S. Thesis: Selective Surface Modification of Additive  Manufactured Parts
(Sponsor: National Science Foundation)
Christina Sheldon
B.S., Biomedical Engineering, Texas A&M University (Su'17)

Research Project: Bio-Inspired Compositional Gradients via LENS  Processing for Tailorable Mechanical Responses  
 (Sponsor: National Science Foundation)
Michael Violet
B.S., Mechanical  Engineering, Mississippi State University (Su'17)

M.S. Thesis: Tailorable Stiffness & Deformation of  3D-Printed Porous Geometries
(Sponsor: National Science Foundation)
Jackson Liu
B.S., Mechanical Engineering, University of Southern California (Su'17)

M.S. Thesis: In-Situ Imaging Observations of Metal Cutting
(Sponsor: National Science Foundation)
Joel Bay
B.S., Mechanical Engineering, University of Texas Dallas (Su'17)

Research Project: In-Situ Imaging Observations of Metal Cutting
(Sponsor: National Science Foundation)

Exchange Students (B.S.)

Candice Wright
B.S., Mechanical Engineering, University of Southern California (Su'16)

Research Project: Manufacturing Bio-inspired Aluminum Surfaces with Topology 
Features to Enhance Tribological Performance Cutting
(Sponsor: Undergraduate Summer Research Grant (USRG), TAMU)
Angela Coker
B.S., Petroleum Engineering, Texas Tech University (Su'16)

Research Project: Design of a Small-Scale Instrumented Test Rig for Studying PDC Performance when Machining Rock Cutting
(Sponsor: Undergraduate Summer Research Grant (USRG), TAMU)
Yuan Tang
B.S., Mechanical Engineering, Pennsylvania State University (Su'16)

Research Project: Mechanical Characterization of Swine Teeth at Micro/Macro Scale
(Sponsor: National Science Foundation)
Christina Sheldon
B.S., Biomedical Engineering, Texas A&M University (Su'17)

Research Project: Mechanical Characterization of Swine Teeth at Micro/Macro Scale
(Sponsor: National Science Foundation)
Rubens Schatz II
B.S., Mechanical Engineering, Universidade do Estado  Amazonas (Su'14)

Research Project: Effect of Chip Morphology & Cutting Forces on the Surface 
Roughness of Machined Titanium Alloys
(Sponsor: Brazilian Scientific Mobility Program, CAPES/CNPq)

Graduate Student Committees

(Ph.D Dissertation/M.S. Thesis Committees; Ph.D. Qualifying Exams; Final M.S. Oral Exams)

10. Perawat Boonpuek, Ph.D., Mechanical Engineering - Ph.D. Dissertation Committee (Commenced: Aug ‘16)

9. Zachary Hopkins, M.S., Petroleum Engineering - M.S. Thesis Committee (Commenced: Aug ‘16)

8. Ibrahim El-Sayed, M.S., Petroleum Engineering - M.S. Thesis Committee (Commenced: Aug ‘16)

7. Elias Munoz, Ph.D., Materials Science & Engineering - Ph.D. Qualifying Exam (Conducted: Aug ‘17)

6. Mengying Liu, Ph.D., Materials Science & Engineering - Ph.D. Qualifying Exam (Conducted: Mar ‘17)

5. Mahsa Tajdari, M.S., Mechanical Engineering - M.S. Thesis Committee (Graduated: May ‘16)

4. Sean Den, M.S., Mechanical Engineering - M.S. Thesis Committee (Graduated: Dec ‘15)

3. Prakash Ramakumar, M.S., Industrial & Systems Engineering - Final Oral Exam (Graduated: Dec ‘14)

2. Sarath Sudhish, M.S., Industrial & Systems Engineering - Final Oral Exam (Graduated: May ‘14)

1. Deepaknatraj Selvaraj, M.S., Industrial & Systems Engineering - Final Oral Exam (Graduated: May ‘14)

AggiE-Challenge Project Teams

(2 Semester Duration; 5-10 Members in VIP-Teams; Final Prototype, Poster & Product Video; ENGR-491)

7. Augmented Reality-Coupled Haptic System for Orthopaedic Surgery Training

Team: 6-undergraduates from 2-departments (Spring ‘18)

Students: Blake Chancellor, Ricardo Munoz Castillo, David Nash (ETID/MXET); Tae Kim, Cameron  Stolle, William Weinert (MEEN)

6. Augmented Reality-Coupled Haptic System for Orthopaedic Surgery Training

Team: 6-undergraduates from 3-departments (Fall ‘17)

Students: Megan Bullard (BMEN); Levi Jordan, Laura Morris, David  Nash (ETID/MXET); Tae Kim, William Weinert (MEEN)

5. Design & Control of a Vibration-Added Haptic Device for Minimally Invasive Surgical Simulation

Team: 10-undergraduates from 3-departments (Spring ‘17)

Students: Matthew McMahan, Steven Thompson, Cesar Fuentes (MEEN); Hanzhi Guo, Cassidy Shaver (CEEN); Rafael Urraca, Harman Chawla, Bach Nguyen Le, Cyrus Funkhouser, Jerry Perez-Roach (ETID/MMET)

4. Design & Control of a Vibration-Added Haptic Device for Minimally Invasive Surgical Simulation

Team: 10-undergraduates from 4-departments (Fall ’16)

Students: Malek Albadri, Jake Cooper, Matthew McMahan, Steven Thompson (MEEN); Mason Decock (BMEN); Hanzhi Guo, Cassidy Shaver, Quinn Nguyen (ELEN); So Kim (ETID/ESET); Rafael Urraca (ETID/MMET)

3. Vibration-Added Haptic Device for Surgical Simulation

Lean Startup Program, 2-undergradautes from 1-department (Summer ’16)

Students: Rico Balakit, Clayton Wells (CSEN)

2. Enhanced Haptics & Environment-Detailing for Virtual Reality Training of Minimally Invasive Surgery

Team: 10-undergraduates from 4-departments (Spring ’16)

Students: Shyam Ravichandran, Steven Thompson, Austin Cantrell (MEEN); Rico Balakit (CSEN); Michael Walker, Emily Roth (ECEN); Phillip  Esmaili, Adetola Adebiyi; Autumn Copley, Calvin Luu (ETID/MMET)

1. Enhanced Haptics & Environment-Detailing for Virtual Reality Training of Minimally Invasive Surgery

Team: 10-undergraduates from 4-departments (Fall ’15)

Students: Kyle Mathenia, Austin Cantrell, Trace Dressen (MEEN); Rico Balakit (CSEN); Michael Walker, Emily Roth (ECEN); Adetola Adebiyi; Autumn Copley, Calvin Luu, Jacob Vierus (ETID/MMET)

Capstone Project Teams

(2 Semester Duration; 5-6 Member Team; Final Report, Prototype & Presentation; MMET 422/429)

4. Spraying of Cement Powder & Water for 3-D Printing of Concrete (2016)

Dept. of Civil Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX

(Co-advised with Dr. Jorge Alvarado & Dr. Zachary Grasley (CVEN))

Students: Case Fischer, Colton Allee, Jonatan Ortega, Orlando Pena, Paul Beisert, Zachary Jones

3. Louver Bender & Radii Bender Tooling Design (2015-2016)

Goodman Manufacturing, Houston, TX

(Co-advised with Dr. Jyhwen Wang)

Students: Sydney Hale, Katrina Lack, Ethan Torres, Colton Howard, Brandon Meyer, Mark Davison

2. Design of a Transport Bogey for Material Handling (2014-2015)

Oil States, Houston, TX

Students: Amber Huvar, Andrew Latshaw, Jun Gong, Kevin Moschell, Salvador Martinez III

1. Hydraulic Press Redesign (2013-2014)

MIC Group, Brenham, TX

Students: Miguel Sierra, Aaron Landes, Joseph Pollard, Kim Ketring, Cory Leist