Multifunctional Material and Aerospace Structures Optimization Lab

This weekend members of the Maestro lab volunteered at the 2019 Physics & Engineering Festival. The festival attracts over 7,000 people and consists of 200 booths with interactive experiments including two from our lab. This was the fifth year in a roll that we have participated at the festival and we look forward to next year!

[Read more…] about Maestro lab doubles down at Physics Festival

After years of researching the mechanics of various multifunctional materials systems, with an emphasis on shape memory alloys (SMAs), Dr. Darren Hartl was recently named as an Affiliate Faculty Member of the Department of Material Science and Engineering (MSEN) at Texas A&M University.

[Read more…] about Hartl granted courtesy appointment in Department of Material Science and Engineering

Starting Tuesday, January 22, the senior graduate students of the MAESTRO Lab launched a peer teaching series known as the MAESTRO Workshop, where younger students will learn from the more experienced on topics of programming, technical writing, technical presentation, laboratory practices, and many other areas. The Workshops will be held biweekly in HRBB 702 from 8:30AM to 10:00AM, and all are welcome.

[Read more…] about Senior graduate students launch “MAESTRO Workshop”

Last week, Dr. Hartl and graduate students Pedro Leal and Patrick Walgren attended the biggest aerospace conference in the nation, the”AIAA Science and Technology Forum (AIAA SciTech 2019)”. Among the more than 2500 technical presentations held during the conference, the Maestro group was directly involved with four papers. Pedro presented his work related to morphing wings result of the collaboration with Utah State University (USU) in the low-boom supersonic aircraft development project.  Patrick, as shown below,  presented his high-fidelity simulation work regarding bending cylinders in collaboration with the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL). This was a great opportunity for networking with new (Lockheed, Boom, and others) and old (USU, Purdue, AFRL, and others) colleagues as well as learning about cutting edge research.

One of the difficulties encountered when teaching science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) courses is trying to present three-dimensional concepts using two-dimensional classroom tools. The Maestro VR Studio in the Department of Aerospace Engineering has been funded by the Texas A&M Triads for Transformation initiative to conduct research into how the STEM classroom experience can be enhanced through the use of virtual reality (VR).

[Read more…] about Immersive Visualization Laboratory receives university funding

This past fall, Dr. Hartl and a small group of students had the pleasure of meeting for several hours with Larry Schueckler, an accomplished full-time sculptor residing in the College Station area, to discuss the integration of shape memory alloy elements into artworks and architectural creations.

[Read more…] about MAESTRO Teams with Local Sculptor to Explore SMAs in Art

This Friday (12/14), six of our current research students graduated as part of the Class of 2018. As a lab that firmly believes in undergraduate research, it was a pleasure to have somehow been involved with the development of the next generation of Aerospace Engineers. Among the graduating students, Jacob, Michayal, and Madalyn have been in the lab from its conception and will continue their studies at A&M.

[Read more…] about Congratulations to Maestro graduating students!