Diana A. Lados, Ph.D.
Research Assistant Professor
Washburn Labs 319
508-831-5535 (Voice)
508-831-5993 (Fax)
lados@wpi.edu
Education
- B.S./M.S., Mechanical Engineering, Polytechnic University of Bucharest, 1997
- M.S., Mechanical Engineering, Southern Illinois University, 1999
- Ph.D., Materials Science, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, 2004
Research
- Fatigue, fatigue crack growth, fracture
- Design and optimization of materials for fatigue and fatigue crack growth resistance in automotive, aerospace, marine, and military applications
- Light metals (traditionally cast and semi-solid processed)
- Advanced microstructure characterization and microstructure-performance relationships optimization
- Physical metallurgy aspects of solidification processes of cast alloys
- Impact of post-solidification operations (heat treatment) on mechanical properties, fatigue, fatigue crack growth, and fracture behavior of materials
- Alloy/process development from fundamentals to production
- Traditional and novel techniques to measure residual stress and new methods to compensate for its presence
- Evaluate plasticity contributions to fatigue crack growth and fracture toughness and introduce elastic/plastic growth analyses
- Closure and long-crack to small-crack correlations in fatigue crack growth
- Fracture mechanics concepts and their application to residual stress and crack closure corrections
- "On-line" residual stress, plasticity, and closure corrections techniques
- Develop appropriate/compatible fatigue life prediction models
- Powder metallurgy
- Novel, forensic, and historic materials
Selected Publications
- D.A. Lados and D. Apelian, "Fatigue Crack Growth Characteristics in Cast Al-Si-Mg Alloys - Part I: Effect of Processing Conditions and Microstructure", Materials Science and Engineering A, A385, pp. 200-211, 2004.
- D.A. Lados and D. Apelian, "Fatigue Crack Growth Characteristics in Cast Al-Si-Mg Alloys - Part II: Life Predictions Using Fatigue Crack Growth Data", Materials Science and Engineering A, A385, pp. 187-199, 2004.
- D.A. Lados, D. Apelian, P.C. Paris, and J.K. Donald, "Closure Mechanisms in Cast Al-Si-Mg Alloys and Long-crack to Small-crack Corrections", International Journal of Fatigue, vol. 27, issues 10-12, pp. 1463-1472, 2005.
- D.A. Lados and D. Apelian, "The Effect of Residual Stress on the Fatigue Crack Growth Behavior of Al-Si-Mg Cast Alloys: Mechanisms and Corrective Mathematical Models", Metallurgical and Materials Transactions A, vol. 37A, issue 1, pp. 133-145, 2006.
- D.A. Lados and D. Apelian, "Limitations of Elastic Definitions in Al-Si-Mg Cast Alloys with Enhanced Plasticity: Linear Elastic Fracture Mechanics versus Elastic-Plastic Fracture Mechanics", Engineering Fracture Mechanics, vol. 73, issue 4, pp. 435-455, 2006.
- D.A. Lados, D. Apelian, and J.K. Donald "Fatigue Crack Growth Mechanisms at the Microstructure Scale in Al-Si-Mg Cast Alloys: Mechanisms in the Near-threshold Regime", Acta Materialia, 2006 (in press).
- D.A. Lados, D. Apelian, and J.K. Donald, "Fracture mechanics analysis for residual stress and crack closure corrections", International Journal of Fatigue, 2006 (in press).
- D.A. Lados, J.P. Nicolich, and K. Macchiarola "Surface residual stress in automotive components: measurement and effects on fatigue life", SAE publications, Paper # 2006-01-0323, 2006.
Honors and Awards
- Finalist Bodycote Paper Prize Competition 2004, UK
- Axel Madsen Scholarship Award - Center for Powder Metallurgy Technology, 2003
- Sigma Xi Graduate Research Scientific Award, 2001
- American Foundry Society - Aluminum Division Award, 2000
- ASM Chet Inman Award Scholarship, 1999-2000
- Best Graduate Student Award (sef de promotie - Polytechnic University of Bucharest), 1997
- 1st Prize - Scientific Session Contest, Bucharest, Romania, 1996
- Member of the Board of Review - ASM-TMS/Metallurgical and Materials Transactions
Scientific and Professional Societies/Memberships
- The Materials Information Society (ASM)
Student Chairperson 2000-2003, ASM - Worcester Chapter - The American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME)
- The Minerals, Metals & Materials Society (TMS-AIME)
- American Foundry Society (AFS)
- American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM)
- E08 on Fatigue and Fracture
- B09 on Metal Powders and Metal Powder Products
- American Powder Metallurgy Institute (APMI)
- Metal Powder Institute Federation (MPIF)
- Pi Tau Sigma
- Sigma Xi, The Scientific Research Society - Full Member
- Member of Who’s Who in Science and Engineering
- Member of Manchester Who’s Who Among Executives and Professionals Women in Research and Science
- Member of Who’s Who in Powder Metallurgy