Ben Druecke Email & Phone Number

Bloomington, Minnesota, United States

Mechanical EngineeringAdvisor: Peko HosoiInvestigation of Failure Mechanism of Swell Packers for Oil and Gas Applications• Developed experimental apparatus to visualize behavior of model packers in situ• Developed custom hardware and instrumentation to measure swelling kinetics of polymer gels at elevated temperature and pressure• Numerical analysis of swelling kinetics of polymer gels• Characterization of mechanical properties of materials, especially elastomers (Instron, rheometry, DMA)

Undergraduate Mechanics of Materials (2.002) - Spring Semester 2010- Assisted with laboratory work- Held weekly office hours- Worked with professors in preparation and grading of examsGraduate Dynamics (2.032) - Fall Semesters 2006-2010- Graded homework and exams- Prepared and presented weekly recitations

Modeled nonlinear atmospheric wave dynamics using both asymptotic and numerical analysis of partial differential equations.

Cambridge, Ma

Schlumberger -- Doll Research: Mechanical and Materials Sciences Department• Designed, built, instrumented and tested custom high pressure, high temperature cell for in situ measurement of swelling displacement in pressurized liquid water at temperatures above 100 degrees Celsius• Designed, built, tested and currently maintain custom die set for making degradable polymer composite laboratory samples for mechanical testing• Provided supplemental design, fabrication, instrumentation and testing support for ten research scientists and several interns

Cambridge, Ma

Drilling dynamics intern - Ran simulations of drilling dynamics and steering control using proprietary code. Interpreted results. - Implemented fluid dynamics module within proprietary code to incorporate the effect of fluid forces on lateral vibrations.

Boston, Ma

Taught undergraduate dynamics and vibrations (ME 3455 and ME 3456) to a class of 43 students.• Prepared and presented lectures• Oversaw two teaching assistants responsible for labs and grading• Prepared and graded weekly quizzes• Prepared and graded exams• Received subsequent requests on two occasions to teach course again

Advisors: David Foster and Sandy KleinThesis: Exploration of Approaches to Reduce Combustion Losses in Internal Combustion Engines (Thermodynamics of Engines and Combustion)

Advisor: Joseph Domblesky- Experimental investigation of vibratory finishing- Experimental characterization of the performance of friction-welded preforms under forging Publication: J. Domblesky, F. Kraft, B. Druecke and B. Sims. "Welded Preforms for Forging". Journal of Materials Processing Technology. 171. 2006.

Research Engineer - Bonding Technology Research - Neenah, WI (Sept. 2001 - Dec. 2001)• Evaluated current test procedure (visual qualitative grading) for consumer perception of product performance• Evaluated image analysis procedure as alternate for qualitative gradingMechanical Engineer - Tissue Mill - Mobile, AL (May 2002 - Aug. 2002)Performed variety of asset engineering tasks on newly rebuilt tissue machine• Bearing redesign• Troubleshooting of failures• Updating of bills of material• Oversaw contractors performing upgradesMechanical Engineer - Tissue Mill - Everett, WA (Sept. 2002 - Dec. 2002)Performed variety of asset engineering tasks on newly rebuilt tissue machine• Designed guarding• Oversaw contractors performing upgradesMechanical Engineer - Personal Care - Neenah, WI (May 2003 - Aug. 2003)Cost reduction and standardization of cutting dies and blades for use on personal care manufacturing lines.

Mechanical Engineering

Ms, Mechanical Engineering

Bs, Mechanical Engineering