RESEARCH

My research interests are in structural optimization, composite materials, thin-walled structures, reliability analysis, and biomimetic structural design.

Current Projects (linked to publications)

My current research projects are aimed at developing methods for

Past Projects (linked to publications)

Some projects I have worked or collaborated  in the past include


Structural optimization for robust performance and predictable failure

Venkataraman, S., and Salas, P., Optimization of Composite Laminates for Robust and Predictable Progressive Failure Response,” in print AIAA Journal, Sep 2006. (Venkataraman, S. and Salas, P., “Optimization of Performance and Failure Predictability in Composite Laminates Undergoing Progressive Failure,” AIAA-2005-2225 Proceedings of the 46th AIAA/ ASME/ ASCE/ AHS/ ASC Structures, Structural Dynamics, and Materials Conference, Austin, Texas, April 2005.)

Salas, P. and Venkataraman, S., Controlling Failure Using Optimum Structural Fuses for Robust and Predictable Progressive Failure,” in review for Structural &Multidisciplinary Optimization, Sep 2006. (Venkataraman, S. and Salas, P., “Optimum Design of Structural Fuses for Tailoring Robust and Predictable Progressive Failure,” submitted to 47th  AIAA/ASME/ASCE/AHS/ASC Structures, Structural Dynamics, and Materials Conference, Newport, Rhode Island, April 2006.)

Salas, P., and Venkataraman, S., “Incorporating Model Uncertainties and Variability in Optimization of Laminates for Predictable Failure,” in review Composites-Part B: Engineering, Oct 2006. ( Salas, P., and Venkataraman, S., “Incorporating Model Uncertainties and Variability in Optimization of Laminates for Predictable Failure,”  AIAA-2006-7040, Proceedings of the 11th AIAA/ ISSMO Multidisciplinary Analysis and Optimization Conference, Portsmouth, Virginia, September 2006.)

Marhadi, K. and Venkataraman, S., “Tailoring Load Redistributions and Failure Sequences of Progressive Collapse in Redundant Truss Structures,” Submitted to the 48th AIAA/ ASME/ ASCE/ AHS/ ASC Structures, Structural Dynamics and Materials Conference, Waikiki, Hawaii, April 2007.

Reliability analysis with parameter and distribution uncertainties

Venkataraman, S., Mahadevan, S., Strack, W. C., Nagpal. V., and Pai, S. S., “Calculating Confidence Intervals for Reliability to Quantify Effect of Distribution Parameter Uncertainty,” Submitted to the 48th AIAA/ ASME/ ASCE/ AHS/ ASC Structures, Structural Dynamics and Materials Conference, Waikiki, Hawaii, April 2007.

Venkataraman, S., Strack, W. C., Nagpal. V., and Pai, S. S., “Incorporating Distribution Parameter Uncertainty in Reliability Calculation,” Proceedings of the Annual Reliability & Maintainability Symposium 2007, Orlando, Florida, January 22-25, 2007.

Approximations and multifidelity modeling for optimization

Wesley, R., and Venkataraman, S., “Progressive Sampling for Response Surface Fitting Using Method of Dividing Rectangles (DIRECT),” Submitted to the 48th AIAA/ ASME/ ASCE/ AHS/ ASC Structures, Structural Dynamics and Materials Conference, Waikiki, Hawaii, April 2007.

Venkataraman S., “Reliability optimization using probabilistic sufficiency factor and correction response surface,” Engineering Optimization, Vol. 38, No. 6, pp. 671-685, 2006.

Venkataraman S. and Haftka R. T., “Structural Optimization: What has Moore’s Law Done for Us?” Structural & Multidisciplinary Optimization, Vol.  28, No. 6, pp 375-387, 2004.

Venkataraman, S., and Haftka, R.T., "Response Surfaces for Predicting Load Redistribution in Multi-level Structural Optimizations," Proceedings of the 20th International Congress of the International Union of Theoretical and Applied Mechanics, Chicago, Illinois, August 27 - September 2, 2000

Qu, X., Venkataraman, S., Haftka, R. T., and Johnson, T. F., "Response Surface Options for Reliability based Optimization of Composite Laminates" Proceedings of the 8th ASCE Special Conference on Probabilistic Mechanics and Structural Reliability, June 2000

Venkataraman, S., Haftka, R. T. and Johnson, T. F., "Design of Shell Structures for Buckling Using Correction Response Surface Approximations,” AIAA Paper 98-4855, Proceedings of the 7th AIAA/USAF/NASA/ISSMO Symposium on Multidisciplinary Analysis and Optimization (Part. 2), St. Louis, MO, September, 1998, pp. 10-31.

Venkataraman, S., and Haftka, R. T., "Integration of Finite Element Analysis and Panel Design Program," AIAA Paper 97-1052, Proceedings of the 38th, AIAA/ ASME/ ASCE/ AHS/ ASC Structures, Structural Dynamics and Materials Conference, Kissimmee, Florida, April 1997.

Optimization of stiffened shell structures (multi-fidelity models)

Venkataraman, S., Lamberti, L., Haftka, R. T., and Johnson, T. F., “Challenges in comparing numerical solutions for optimum weights of stiffened shells,” Journal of Spacecraft and Rockets, Vol. 40 (2), pp. 183-192, 2003.

Lamberti, L., Venkataraman, S., Haftka, R. T., and Johnson, T. F., “Preliminary Design Optimization of Stiffened Panels Using Approximate Analysis Models,” International Journal of Numerical Methods in Engineering, Vol. 57, pp. 1351-1380, 2003.

Venkataraman, Haftka, R. T., and Johnson, T. F., “Maximal Errors due to Use of Equivalent Properties for Sublaminates,” AIAA Journal, Vol. 39, No. 2, Feb. 2001.

Lamberti, L., Venkataraman, S., and Haftka, R. T., “Comparison of Preliminary Designs of Stiffened Panels Optimized Using PANDA2 for Reusable Launch Vehicle Propellant Tanks,” AIAA Paper 2000-1657, Proceedings of 41st AIAA/ ASME/ ASCE/ AHS/ ASC Structures, Structural Dynamics, and Materials Conference, Atlanta, GA, Apr. 3-6, 2000.

Venkataraman, S. Modeling, Analysis and Optimization of Cylindrical Stiffened Panels for Reusable Launch Vehicle Structures, Ph.D. Dissertation, University of Florida, Dec. 1999.

Biomimetic design of functionally graded structures

Venkataraman, S., Haftka, R.T., and Rapoff, A.J.," Structural Optimization Using Biological Variables to Understand How Bones Design Holes,” Structural & Multidisciplinary Optimization, Vol. 25, pp. 19-34, 2003.

Huang J., Venkataraman S., Haftka R.T. and Rapoff A.J., “Optimization of Axisymmetric Distribution of Elastic Modulus Around a Hole for Increased Strength,” Structural & Multidisciplinary Optimization, Vol. 26, pp 1-12, 2003.

Structural analysis and optimization of Structures with functionally graded properties

Venkataraman, S., and Sankar, B.V., “Analysis of Sandwich Beams with a Functionally Graded Core,” AIAA Journal, Vol. 41, No. 12, 2003, pp. 2501-2505.

Huang J., Venkataraman S., Haftka R.T. and Rapoff A.J., "Optimization of Axisymmetric Distribution of Elastic Modulus Around a Hole for Increased Strength," submitted to Structural Optimization.

S. Venkataraman, and B. Sankar, “Elasticity Analysis and Optimization of a Functionally Graded Plate with Hole,” AIAA Paper 2003-1466, Proceedings of the 44th AIAA/ASME/ASCE/AHS/ASC Structures, Structural Dynamics, and Materials Conference, Norfolk Virginia, April 2003.

B. Sankar, N. Apetre and S. Venkataraman , Indentation of a Sandwich Beam with Functionally Graded Core, AIAA Paper 2002-1683, Proceedings of the 43rd AIAA/ASME/ASCE/AHS/ASC Structures, Structural Dynamics, and Materials Conference, Denver Colorado, April 2002, 11 pages.

S. Buskirk, S. Venkataraman, P. Ifju and A. Rapoff, “Functionally Graded Biomimetic Plate with Hole,” AIAA Paper 2002-1330, Proceedings of the 43rd AIAA/ ASME/ ASCE/ AHS/ ASC Structures, Structural Dynamics, and Materials Conference, Denver Colorado, 2002.

Optimization of FGM foams for thermal protection systems

Venkataraman, S., Zhu, H., Haftka, R. T., Sankar, B. V. and Blosser, M., “Optimum Design of a Functionally Graded Metallic Foam Thermal Insulation,” AIAA Journal, Vol. 42, No. 11, pp 2355-2363, 2004.

Zhu, H., Sankar, B. V., Haftka, R. T., Venkataraman, S., and Blosser, M., Minimum Mass Design of Insulation Made of Functionally Graded Material,” Journal of Spacecraft and Rockets, Vol. 40, No. 2, 2004, pp. 467-469

Zhu, H., Sankar, B. V., Haftka, R. T., Venkataraman, S., Blosser, M. L., “Optimization of Functionally Graded Metallic Foam Insulation under Transient Heat Transfer Conditions,” Structural & Multidisciplinary Optimization, Vol. 28, No. 5, November, pp 349-355, 2004.

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Reliability Based Design Optimization

Qu, X., Venkataraman, S., Haftka, R. T. and Johnson, T. F., “Reliability, Weight, and Cost Tradeoffs in the Design of Composite Laminates for Cryogenic Environments,” AIAA Journal, Vol. 41, No. 10, 2003, pp. 2029-2036.

Qu, X., Venkataraman, S., Haftka, R. T., and Johnson, T. F., "Reliability based Optimization of Composite Laminates for Cryogenic Environments," AIAA Paper 2000-4760.


Optimization of composite laminates

Venkataraman, Haftka, R. T., and Johnson, T. F., “Maximal Errors due to Use of Equivalent Properties for Sublaminates,” AIAA Journal, Vol. 39, No. 2, Feb. 2001.

Grosset, L., Venkataraman, S., and Haftka, R. T., "Probability-based genetic algorithm for composite laminate optimization," submitted to the 43rd AIAA/ASME ASCE/AHS/ASC Strcutures, Strurctural Dynamics and Materials Conference, Denver, Colorado, April 22-25, 2002.

Venkataraman and Haftka R. T., "Composite Panel Optimization: Review,"  Proceedings of the American Society of Composites- 14th Annual Technical Conference, Fairborn, OH, pp. 479-488, 1999.


Biomechanics

Rapoff AJ, Rinaldi RG, Johnson WM, Venkataraman S, Daegling DJ. Heterogeneous anisotropic elastic properties in a Macaca fascicularis mandible. Proceedings of the 72nd Annual Meeting of the American Association of Physical Anthropologists, Tempe, Arizona, 23-26 April 2003.

Daegling DJ, Marinescu R, Venkataraman S, Rapoff AJ. Effects of structural heterogeneity and anisotropy on finite element model predictions for a mandible of Macaca fascicularis. Proceedings of the 72nd Annual Meeting of the American Association of Physical Anthropologists, Tempe, Arizona, 23-26 April 2003. (published in the  American Journal of Physical Anthropology: 83-83, Suppl. 36.)

Rapoff AJ, Fontanel O, Venkataraman S. Heterogeneous orthotropic elasticity about a nutrient foramen via microindentation. Proceedings of the ASME Summer Bioengineering Conference, Sonesta Beach, FL, 25-29 June 2003. (published in the American Journal of Physical Anthropology: 174-175, Suppl. 36)

Rapoff, A. J., Johnson, W. and Venkataraman, “Transverse Plane Shear Test Fixture for Total Knee Systems,” Experimental Techniques. Vol. 27, Iss. 3, pp. 37-39, 2003.