Andrew Bechel

abecne10@lsu.edu
Office: 3240A PFT
(225) 578-0114

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Andrew Becnel

Senior Instructor, Mechanical Engineering

PhD, University of Maryland, College Park (2014)

Expertise

Engineering education • engineering design • advanced manufacturing • composite materials • occupant protection.

Biographical Sketch

"To know how to evoke enthusiasm is the art of teaching."
-Henri-Frederic Amiel (1821-1881, Swiss author)

Curiosity comes naturally to students, and I believe the most effective teacher is one who can guide this curiosity to help students develop understanding. My philosophy on how to best inspire and utilize this curiosity has three complimentary components: connect with students through their individual interests and learning style; provide professional and academic context for the course content they are learning; and use an explicit and transparent framework to support their learning development. To implement this philosophy, I have employed a number of evidence-based strategies and techniques to continually improve my teaching outcomes. I am an aerospace engineer with experience developing smart materials and structures from fundamental principles to functional devices. My experience is in structural dynamics and engineering design, mechanics of solids and fluids, and occupant protection using semi-active or “smart” devices. I am developing research programs focusing on the following three areas: 1) Smart composite material systems for occupant protection and wearable augmentation; 2) Advanced manufacturing of smart structures and functionalized materials; 3) Applications of the above for improving human-device interfaces.

Key Publications

  • Magnetic particle reinforced elastomer composites for additive manufacturing.J Park, A Becnel, AB Flatau, N Wereley.IEEE Transactions on Magnetics 58 (2), 1-5
  • Scaling temperature dependent rheology of magnetorheological fluids.SG Sherman, LA Powell, AC Becnel, NM Wereley.Journal of Applied Physics 117 (17)
  • Nondimensional scaling of magnetorheological rotary shear mode devices using the Mason number.AC Becnel, S Sherman, W Hu, NM Wereley.Journal of Magnetism and Magnetic Materials 380, 90-97
  • Compact Magnetorheological Energy Absorbers for Adaptive Crew Seat Suspensions.AC Becnel, GJ Hiemenz, NM Wereley

 

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