Putcha, an expert in risk assessment,
analysis and methodology, will evaluate mechanics of the human body
and conduct biomechanics risk analysis involved in the performance
of certain duties by Naval servicemen.
May 11, 2005 :: No. 206
Chandrasekhar Putcha, professor
of civil and environmental engineering at Cal State Fullerton, has
been appointed a Distinguished Summer Faculty Fellow as part of
the 2005 Office of Naval Research-American Society for Engineering
Education Summer Faculty Research Program.
The fellowship — one of three types
of summer appointments funded by the Office of Naval Research and
administered by ASEE — is available to faculty members “who
are preeminent in their field of research. Successful applicants
will hold a senior appointment at a leading research university
and be internationally recognized for their research achievements.”
Of 437 applications submitted to the research program
from throughout the nation, 64 appointments were made, and only
eight individuals were named distinguished faculty fellows.
Fellows will spend 10 weeks at a naval facility
conducting research and collaborating with professional peers at
the facility.
Examining the mechanics
of the human body
Putcha, an expert in risk assessment, analysis and
methodology, will conduct biomechanics risk analysis at the Naval
Health Research Center in San Diego, beginning in June.
“I will be looking at the mechanics of the
human body and evaluating what risk factors are involved in the
performance of certain duties by Navy servicemen,” said Putcha,
comparing it to assessments he previously has performed of structures.
“What kind of pressure, for example, that is put on a leg,
will cause the bone to break.”
This won’t be his first venture into this
research arena. In 2002, the professor studied human locomotive
motion during a summer spent at the San Diego Naval facility with
funding from a previous ONR-ASEE grant.
About Putcha
A member of the Cal State Fullerton faculty since
1981, Putcha has garnered a number of government grants and contracts,
including funding for a 2001 assessment on dam gates and other components
for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, a 1997 reliability study of
navigation structures and a 1995 seismic reliability study of wharves.
Putcha also has served as a consultant for various
defense industry companies, including Northrop Grumman Corp., Boeing,
Rockwell International and TRW Defense Systems Group. He has been
a visiting professor at West Virginia University, Stevens Institute
of Technology and the University of Alabama. In addition, Putcha
has authored numerous technical reports and articles, and presented
papers throughout the world.
In February, Putcha was honored with the 2005 Prestigious
Engineering Educator Award from the Orange County Engineering Council.
The Yorba Linda resident earned his doctorate in
structural engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology.
Media Contacts: |
Chandrasekhar Putcha, professor of civil
and environmental engineering, at 657-278-7017 or cputcha@fullerton.edu
Pamela McLaren of Public Affairs at 657-278-4852 or pmclaren@fullerton.edu |
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