Brandt Ruszkiewicz, Ph.D. Email & Phone Number

Greater Chicago Area

Greater Chicago Area

International Center For Automotive Research (Icar)

My research:1.Evaluation of Thermal Mechanisms to Predict the Transient Electroplastic Effect (2015-Current)-Used finite element analysis to model increased electrical resistivity around grain boundaries and precipitates to evaluate the micro-scale Joule heating theory. This theory suggests that localized hot spots exist within a metal around areas of high electrical resitivity, such as grain boundaries, these hot spots cause decreased flow stress in the presence of electric current. I found that the micro-scale Joule heating theory cannot fully account for the electroplastic effect. -Evaluation of the effect of electricity on precipitation in 7075 aluminum by comparing thermally and electrically treated tensile specimens. Precipitate size and distribution are measured by Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM).2.Evaluation and Modeling of Electrically Assisted Drilling in Hard to Machine Metals (2016-Current)-Design of experiment to quantify the effect of electricity on drilling of 1500MPa steel. It is found that electricity can drastically improve tool life and allow for higher feedrates/shorter process times.-Creation of an electrical-thermal-mechanical variation of Merchant's model to predict axial cutting force.3. Characterization and Improvement of Friction Element Welding (2016-Current)-Sponsored by Honda and EJOT-Designs of experiment to determine the effect of the cleaning, welding, and compression step parameters on joint strength, process time, and energy consumption. Through process parameter understanding, we were able to reduce process time by 50% with <10% decrease in joint strength.4. Electrical augmentation and modeling for flow drilling processes (2015-2016)-Sponsored by Honda and DEPRAG-Design of electrically insulated fixtures for a flow drill screwing machine. Electrical augmentation resulted in a 30% decrease in process time and allowed for joining a stack-up of 1.5mm 6061-T5 Al on 1.5mm 1500MPa steel.

Erie, Pennsylvania Area

My research areas (2013-2015):1.Global Springback Control and Manipulation for Incremental Forming Through Tool Pathing and Electrical Augmentation-Sponsored by Ford, Boeing, and the Department of Energy.-Created and tested the use of incrementally formed stiffeners (heavily deformed areas around the desired shape) to temporarily reduce global springback to allow for heat treatment of an incrementally formed part without its clamping fixtures. 80% springback reduction was achieved.-Electricity was used to eliminate areas of high residual stress concentration, predicted by finite element analysis. Different electrical application methods were tested, it was determined that path testing provided greater springback reduction than spot testing. Springback could be reduced by 70% with this method. Similar testing was conducted on 90 degree bent specimens.2.Electrically Assisted Friction Stir Welding of Dissimilar Metals-Partnership with GreenLeaf to develop a friction stir welding tool that could be used for electrically assisted friction stir welding of dissimilar metals.-Creation of electrical application fixtures to flow electricity through steel half of an aluminum-steel butt joint.My Leadership Role (2014-2015):As the lead undergraduate research assistant in addition to working on the projects listed above, it was my job to recruit new students and help them to begin conducting research by mentoring them on experimental planning, execution, writing, and final publication. During my tenure as lead, the team expanded from 3 to 15 members and resulted in 6 publications.

Doctor Of Philosophy (Phd), Automotive Engineering, 4.0 Gpa

Bachelor Of Science (B.S.), Mechanical Engineering, 3.91 Gpa

Graduated with highest distinction