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Ultrasonics and Applied Mechanics Laboratory

January 2023

The Ultrasonics and Applied Mechanics Laboratory (UAML) team at CSUN is researching at the frontier of theoretical and experimental science in various fields that can benefit from ultrasound technology.

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Christoph Schaal

Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering

California State University, Northridge

Director

Dr. Christoph Schaal is an Associate Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at California State University, Northridge (CSUN), and Director of the Ultrasonics and Applied Mechanics Laboratory (UAML). His research interests include wave propagation, nondestructive testing, medical ultrasound, robotics and experimental techniques. His teaching interests are in the areas of solid mechanics, smart structures and controls.

Interests

  • Wave propagation
  • Nondestructive testing
  • Composites
  • Experimental mechanics
  • Medical ultrasound
  • Robotics and autonomy
  • Structural dynamics
  • Smart structures

Education

  • Postdoc in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

    University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)

  • Dr.-Ing. (Ph.D.) in Mechanical Engineering

    University of Stuttgart, Germany

  • Dipl.-Ing. (B.S. and M.S.) in Cybernetics and Systems Engineering

    University of Stuttgart, Germany

Projects

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Focused ultrasound for medical applications

Investigating the ultrasonic wave-scattering at bone-tissue interfaces using numerical and experimental methods.

Nondestructive testing experiments

Advancing the accuracy and efficiency of experimental methods for guided wave-based nondestructive testing.

Autonomous sensor robot

Conducting nondestructive testing using ultrasonic waves through the use of a novel autonomous sensor robot.

Manufacturing and monitoring of composite structural components

Experimental, numerical and analytical investigations to achieve monitoring of (custom) composite structures.

Calculating energy loss of miniature resonators into plate substrates

Developing a novel approach to model the anchor loss of miniature resonators (inertial sensors).

Fuzzy Arithmetical Assessment of Wave Propagation Models for Multi-Wire Cables

Wave propagation model assessment through advanced fuzzy arithmetic.

Ultrasonic Monitoring of Overhead Power Lines and Stay Cables

Developed a fully automated damage detection method for mult-wire cables using guided waves.

Publications

(recent)

  • B. Kim, S. Maharjan, F. Pranto, B. Guidio, C. Schaal, and C. Jeong. Convolutional neural network and level-set spectral element method for ultrasonic imaging of delamination cavities in an anisotropic composite structure. Ultrasonics, 138: 107254, 2024. doi: 10.1016/j.ultras.2024.107254
  • C. Schaal, R. Granados, M. Barrett, and K. Davis. Automated transducer deployment for Lamb wave-based nondestructive evaluation of plates. Health monitoring of structural and biological systems XVIII, 2024. doi: 10.1117/12.3009829
  • F. Alsaffar, L. Wang, A. Mal, and C. Schaal. Guided Waves in Pipes Versus Lamb Waves in Plates - A Convergence Analysis. , 2022. 7. doi: 10.1115/QNDE2022-98270
  • C. Schaal, C. Kühl, J. Vural, and P. Zinkewich. Automated nondestructive testing of composites using air-coupled guided ultrasound. Health monitoring of structural and biological systems XVII, 2023. doi: 10.1117/12.2658014
  • C. Schaal, M. Chow, P. Logozzo, N. Shirajian, and S. Tai. On detecting regional inhomogeneity in composite plates using Lamb waves. Health monitoring of structural and biological systems XVII, 2023. doi: 10.1117/12.2657344
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