Dr. Kuang-Ting
Hsiao is an Assistant Professor of Mechanical
Engineering at the University of South Alabama. He earned his
Ph.D. degree in Mechanical
Engineering at the University of Delaware in 2000 with
concentration in fluid-thermal sciences, transport phenomena in porous media,
and polymer composites manufacturing. Before joining the University of South Alabama, Dr. Hsiao
conducted research at the Center for Composite Materials (CCM), University of Delaware and worked under
projects sponsored by ARO, ONR, and NSF.
His research interests are dispersion of nano-particles, processing and
characterization of advanced composite materials, smart materials, sensing and
control techniques, heat/mass transfer, fluid mechanics, transport phenomena
in porous media, and artificial intelligence.
Intelligent
processing of composite materials is one of the research areas in which he
actively involves. He has been
developing algorithms to have a computer to automatically optimize and control
the flow, thermal, and chemical processes during the Resin Transfer Molding
(RTM) and Vacuum Assisted Resin Transfer Molding (VARTM).
The goal is to have the computer reliably generate manufacturing
solutions to minimize the residual thermal stress and void content of polymer
composite parts. Several case studies suggested the design and control
approach to combining process models, artificial intelligence, sensors,
pattern recognition, computer decision making for RTM and VARTM outperforms
the traditional trial-and-error design approach in many aspects such as higher
success rate, shorter design cycle, lower prototype cost, and being able to
robustly and precisely handle complex molding process design and control
without solely relying on designer's experience. In addition to
intelligent composite processing, Dr. Hsiao and his students are also working
on manufacturing and characterization of a new class of hybrid nano-/macro-
fiber reinforced polymer composites. Their research results showed
promising improvement of traditional micro-fiber reinforced polymer composites
can be realized by processing carbon nanofiber and carbon nanotubes into the
composites with a good process design and quality control.
Dr. Hsiao serves as a reviewer for Journal of
Physics D: Applied Physics, International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer,
Journal of Porous Media, Composites Part A: Applied Science and Manufacturing
and Measurement Science and Technology, Journal of Micromechanics and
Microengineering, Modeling and Simulation in Materials Science and
Engineering, Nanotechnology, Polymer.
He is a professional member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME)
and the Society for the Advancement of Material and
Process Engineering (SAMPE).