Prof. Kornel Ehmann, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Northwestern University, USA

Title
Micro-textured Engineered Surfaces 
Abstract
It is an undisputable fact that surface texture has a profound influence on the functional behavior and responses of all engineering systems and products. Typical high-impact examples include: biomedical applications (e.g., resistance to bio-film formation), energy production (e.g., algae-philic/phobic properties, reflectivity of solar-cells), mechanical systems (e.g., friction reduction in machinery), etc. Yet, the current scientific basis and technologies are limited in their ability to engineer and physically impart precisely controlled surface textures that result in a specific engineering performance. In this presentation some of the key R&D issues, with particular emphasis on the salient features of micro/meso-scale manufacturing process developments that are needed for the realization of surfaces in terms of both topographical and physical properties to meet precisely prescribed functional characteristics will be presented. Specifically, capabilities that currently do not exist will be targeted. These are characterized by the following attributes: large surface areas, high density surface features, “hard materials” (metals, ceramics, composites, etc.), and mass-production rates/efficiencies that result in low cost. Examples of micro-cutting, -forming and -laser processing will be presented for tribological, biomedical and energy-related applications. The talk will raise more questions than offer answers to the underlying problems.
Biography
Professor Ehmann has received his B.S. and M.S., degrees in 1970 and 1974 respectively from the University of Belgrade and his Ph.D. degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1979, all in Mechanical Engineering. Dr. Ehmann’s main research interests are in the interrelated areas of machine tool structural dynamics, metal cutting processes and dynamics, computer control of machine tools and robots, accuracy control in machining, and micro/meso-scale manufacturing. Dr. Ehmann has published over 350 articles and supervised over 50 MS and 48 Ph.D. students.  He has served as the Technical Editor of the ASME Transactions: Journal of Manufacturing Science and Engineering of the Elsevier/SME Journal – Manufacturing Letters, as the President of the North American Manufacturing Research Institution of the Society of Manufacturing Engineers (NAMRI/SME), as the Chair of the Manufacturing Engineering Division of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (MED/ASME) and as the director of the International Institution for Micromanufacturing (I2M2). In 2004 he was named the James N. and Nancy J. Farley Professor in Manufacturing and Entrepreneurship at Northwestern. He was awarded a Distinguished Visiting Fellowship by the Royal Academy of Engineering at Cardiff University, the SME Gold Medal, MED/ASME Outstanding Service Award, NAMRI/SME Outstanding Lifetime Service Award, ASME: Blackall Machine Tool and Gage Award, the ASME: Milton C. Shaw Manufacturing Research Medal, the SME Education Award and the 2018 Hideo Hanafusa Outstanding Investigator Award of ASME and of the Institute of Systems, Control and Information Engineers (ISCIE) in Japan. Professor Ehmann is a Fellow of ASME, SME and ISNM.