Issam Abu-Mahfouz, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering
School of Science, Engineering, and Technology
Education: B.S.; M.S.; Ph.D.; P.E. (Case Western Reserve University)
Office: W-255 Olmsted Building
Phone: 717-948-6116
E-mail: iaa2@psu.edu
Web site: http://www.personal.psu.edu/iaa2/

Areas of Concentration and Expertise

  • Vibrations (machinery vibrations, rotating dynamics, structural dynamics, and chaos)
  • Machine design and analysis
  • Finite Element Analysis (linear, and non-linear)
  • Artificial Neural Network and Fuzzy Logic
  • Metal cutting (chip control, chatter, and machining stability)
  • Machine health monitoring and diagnostics

Education

  • Professional Status - (License Held)
       Professional Engineering License (PE) in Ohio and Pennsylvania
  • Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH
       Ph.D. in Engineering Science, 1993
  • University of Kuwait, State of Kuwait
       M.S. in Engineering Science, 1989
  • University of Kuwait, State of Kuwait
       B.S. in Engineering Science, 1986

Research Expertise

  • Turbulent flow dynamics and heat transfer
  • Rotating machinery vibration
  • Drilling (metal cutting) dynamics and chip control
  • Boring (metal cutting) dynamics and chip control
  • Exit Burr formation in drilling process
  • Finite Element Modeling of metal deformation and fracture
  • Finite Element for Stress, load, and temperature analyses

Teaching Experience

  • 1999 - present; Assistant Professor of Engineering
        Pennsylvania State University
       Middletown, PA 17057
  • For more information consult my home page
  • Major Subjects:
    • Vibration Analysis
    • Automatic Control
    • PLC and Hydraulic Control Lab Experiments
    • Kinematics and Machine Design
    • Pro/Engineer and Pro/Mechanica
    • Finite Element Analysis + ANSYS
  • 1996 - 1999; Engineering Faculty/Staff
       Kent State University (Tuscarawas Campus)
       New Philadelphia, OH
  • Major Subjects:
    • Applications in CAD
    • Advanced CAD I (3D & AutoLISP)
    • Properties of Materials & Manufacturing Processes I (+ Lab.)
    • Automated Manufacturing (Including Lab.)
    • Materials and Processes II
    • Metallurgy and Material Science (Including Lab.)
    • Advanced CAD II (Pro/Engineer- Release 20)

Industrial Experience

1995 - 1999; Research and Development Engineer
   ALLIED MACHINE & ENGINEERING Corp
   Dover, Ohio

Established a machining experimentation Laboratory for product (spade drills) testing and evaluation. Successful studies were performed on optimizing the cutting action of drilling performance. Results are proprietary material of AMEC. Briefly, the Lab utilizes the following Techniques:

  • Vibrations and chatter testing; Accelerometers (piezoelectric and strain gage types) for vibration monitoring and testing.
  • Cutting forces measurements; Strain gage bridges for measuring loads and stresses in addition to Piezoelectric rotary dynamometer.
  • Acoustic emission signals for tool condition monitoring.
  • Computerized Data Acquisition system.

In addition to the experimental investigation of tool life and chip formation, I used the finite element analysis (FEA) technique to perform stress and modal analysis studies on fixtures and tool holders. Also, I worked on modeling chip formation using a commercial FEA package.

1993 - 1995; Project Manager
   Cleveland Trencher Company
   Cleveland, Ohio

Worked on projects for the design and fabrication of heavy duty trenching machines. Provided Engineering Estimates and Cost Studies. Reviewed bids for special trenchers

Designed a hydrostatic crawler drive system to replace the mechanical crawler drive on the model 400W-HD trencher. Designed the control console for the 400W

Designed Engine doors and chain guards for the models 7036-SD and 7648 trenchers

Reviewed and translated technical contracts and machines charts (Arabic-English).

Designed a new gravel hopper for the model 246-FD farm drainage trencher

Designed a complete chain boom attachment to replace the digging wheel on the Model 9600-S trencher

Worked on engineering application projects for machine maintenance, machine modifications and other customer technical services.

Publications

  • "A Laboratory on the Use of Artificial Intelligence for Machine Health Monitoring." ASEE Computers in Education Journal, Vol. XII, No. 4, pp. 38-48, 2002.
  • "Experimental Investigation of the Effects of Feed and Speed on Exit Burr Formation in Drilling." (Paper No. 175, session # 33), Annual Technical Meeting of the Society of Engineering Science, October 14-16, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 2002.
  • "A Comparative Study of Time-Frequency and Wavelet Analysis for Fault Detection in Spur Gears." Presented at the MFPT 56th, Virginia Beach, Virginia, April 15-19, 2002.
  • "Artificial Neural Network for Tool Condition Monitoring in Drilling," ANNIE 2001, St. Louis, Missouri, Nov. 2001.
  • Condition Monitoring of a Gear Box Using Vibration and Acoustic Emission Based Artificial Neural Network. SAE 2001 Noise & Vibration Conference & Exposition, April 20-May 3, 2001
  • Exploratory Research on Chaos Concepts as Diagnostic Tools For Assessing Rotating Machinery Vibration Signatures The 4th International Conference on Rotor Dynamics,(IFToMM), September 7- 9, 1994, Chicago, U.S.A.
  • Routes to Chaos in Rotordynamics. (Ph.D. Dissertation), Case Western Reserve University, 1993.
  • Chaotic Behavior of Some Piecewise-linear Systems Part 1 ; Systems with set-up spring or with unsymmetric elasticity, 1990, Journal of Sound and Vibration,143, pp 225-288
  • Chaotic Behavior of Some Piecewise-linear Systems Part 2 ; Systems with clearance, 1990, Journal of Sound and Vibration, 143, pp 289-328
  • Chaotic Vibrations of Single Degree of Freedom Systems with Bi-Linear Characteristics. (M.Sc. Thesis), University of Kuwait, 1989.

Professional Affiliations