Seyed Hamid Reza Sanei, Ph.D.

Seyed Hamid Reza Sanei, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Mechanical Engineering
[email protected]
814-898-7008
223 AMIC Building

Mailing Address:
AMIC BUILDING
5350 TECHNOLOGY DRIVE
ERIE PA 16510

Dr. Sanei is an associate professor in the Mechanical Engineering department. Dr. Sanei joined Penn State in August 2016. He received his Ph.D. from the University of Wyoming in 2016. 

Professional Appointments

  • Pennsylvania State University (2016-Present)
    • Tenured Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering (since May 2022)
    • Teaching 10 diverse courses across the Mechanical Engineering curriculum, including Finite Element Analysis (FEA), Composites, Control Systems, Machine Design, Statics, Dynamics, and Material Testing.
  • Research Mentor University of Pittsburgh medical center hospital (2022-Present)
    • Gave lectures to orthopedic surgery residents on biomechanical properties of joints, biomechanics of internal and external fixations
    • Mentored research projects from idea initiation, securing funding to experimental testing and publications. 

Teaching

Dr. Sanei has pedagogical experience ranging from lab instruction, guest lecturing, and principal instructor at three different universities.

Teaching Philosophy

One of the main challenges in undergraduate teaching is to motivate students to appreciate the importance of topics covered in class. I try to address this by providing students with real life engineering examples and providing the application of the topics being taught. Students would like to see how each topic can address a real-life problem. The challenge in teaching complex concepts is to keep in mind the larger application without being distracted by the details. Therefore, stating the problem and providing the big picture is as important as demonstrating an understanding of the details.

While implementing different teaching strategies are crucial, the attitude of the instructor plays an important role in student learning. I believe strong teacher-student rapport is a crucial element of enhanced learning. As a teacher, one should build relationships by fostering a feeling of community and personal interactions with each student. Every question should be welcomed and every attempt at answering one must be encouraged. The teacher-student relationship should not end after a final examination. A teacher should build an attitude that students feel comfortable seeking advice from their professor beyond classroom experience.

In my continuous pursuit of pedagogical innovation, I am currently developing a ‘lecture free' model, which is rooted in the principle of experiential learning. This model is encapsulated by the ethos: 'Don't explain the game to me; let's just play it.' The fundamental idea is to shift away from traditional lecture-based teaching to a more interactive, problem-solving approach, without relying on pre-lecture examples or instructions. Ultimately, the most effective lecture is one that doesn't exist.

Courses Taught

  1. Biomechanics
  2. Statics (EMCH 211)
  3. Dynamics (EMCH 212)
  4. Strength of Materials (EMCH 213)
  5. Finite Element Analysis (ME 467)
  6. Machine Design (ME 367)
  7. System Dynamics and Control (ME 357)
  8. Material Testing Lab (ME 365)
  9. Measurement and Instrumentation (ME 345)
  10. Design of Experiment
  11. Nanoindentation

Research

Dr. Sanei’s research interests are in the area of

  • Orthopedics: Biomechanics of Internal and External fixations, Biomechanics of Joint Replacement.
  • Composite Materials: Computational Modeling, Manufacturing and Experimental Testing
  • FEA: Nonlinear FEA, Stochastic FEA and XFEM
  • Failure and Fracture Mechanics
  • Image Processing: Image acquisition with SEM, TEM and Optical microscopy, Image analysis of micrographs

Composite materials are widely used in different application simply because they are offering properties that other materials cannot. Despite the advantages associated with the use of composite materials in different industrial sectors, variability in their properties has made predicting their reliability a challenge and led to the use of high safety factors in real applications. While such variability has been studied experimentally, the link between the observed variability and the physics of the underlying microstructure has not been rigorously established. Such variabilities are present in microstructures in the form of both morphological and constituent properties variability. It is important to determining such variabilities and incorporate them in stochastic modeling to predict the macroscopic properties.

Research Opportunities

Students interested in materials research are encouraged to contact Dr. Sanei. Desirable candidates would have experience with composite materials and MATLAB programming or a strong desire to learn. 

Funding

Funding is available for undergraduate students during Summer and Academic year.

Service

  • Reviewer for journal of composite material
  • Track organizer for American Society of Composites Conference
  • Research Mentor/Adviser for graduate and undergraduate students
  • Senior Design Adviser 

Composite Materials, Finite Element Analysis, Biomechanics, Orthopedics, Carbon Nanotube, Engineering Education

JOURNAL PUBLICATIONS

Google Scholar citation

  1. Sacherich, A. B., Sanei, S. H. R., & Bakis, C. E. (2024) Biomimetic 3D-printed Composites: Ballistic Impact Resistance with Nacre-Inspired and Tubulane Structures. SAMPE Journal, September-October 2024.
  2. Zoltan, J., Popescu, D., Sanei, S. (2023) A systematic review of follow up results of additively manufactured customized implants for the pelvic area. Expert Review of Medical Devices, 20 (3), 233-244.
  3. Scarpitti, N. , Gavio, N., Pol, A. , Sanei, S. (2023) Recycling unrecycled plastic and composite wastes as concrete reinforcement. Journal of composite science, 7 (1), 11 pages
  4. Hetrick, D., Sanei, S. H. R., Ashour, O. (2022) Void content reduction in 3D printed glass fiber-reinforced polymer composites through temperature and pressure consolidation. Journal of composite science 6(5).
  5. Hetrick, D. (Co-Author - Undergraduate Student), Sanei, S. (Primary Author) H. R., Ashour, O. & Bakis, C. E. (2021) Charpy Impact Energy Absorption of 3D Printed Continuous Kevlar Reinforced Composites. Journal of Composites material, 55 (12), 12 pp.
  6. Hetrick, D. (Co-Author - Undergraduate Student), Sanei, S. (Primary Author) H. R., Bakis, C. E., & Ashour, O. (2021) Evaluating the effect of variable fiber content on mechanical properties of additively manufactured continuous carbon fiber composite. Journal of Reinforced Plastics and Composites, 40 (10), 12 pp.
  7. Zameroski, R. (Co-Author - Undergraduate Student), Kypta, C. J. (Co-Author - Undergraduate Student), Young, B., Sanei, S. H. R., & Hollinger, A. (2020) Mechanical and electrical properties of injection molded MWCNT reinforced polyamide 66 hybrid composites. Journal of Composites Science, 4 (4), 177.
  8. Sanei, S. H. R. (Primary Author), & Popescu, D. (2020). 3D-printed carbon fiber reinforced polymer composites: A systematic review. Journal of Composites Science, 4(3), 23 pp.
  9. Sanei, S. H. R. (Primary Author), & Doles, R. (Co-Author - Undergraduate Student) (2020). Representative volume element for mechanical properties of carbon nanotube nanocomposites using stochastic finite element analysis. Journal of Engineering Materials and Technology, 142(3), 15 pp.
  10. Xu, X. (Co-Author - Undergraduate Student), Sanei, S. H. R. (Primary Author), Steinmetz, E. (Co-Author - Undergraduate Student), Gohn, A., & Williams, J. (2020). Effect of microstructure uncertainty and testing frequency on storage and loss moduli of injection molded MWCNT reinforced PA6/6 nanocomposites. Polymer Testing, 85, 9 pp.
  11. Sanei, S. H. R. (Primary Author), Arndt, A. (Co-Author - Undergraduate Student), & Doles, R. (Co-Author - Undergraduate Student) (2020). Open Hole Tensile Testing of 3D Printed Continuous Carbon Fiber Reinforced Composites. Journal of Composite Materials, 54(20), 8 pp.
  12. Bhuiyan, F. H., Sanei, S. H. R. (Co-Author), & Fertig, R. S. (2020). Predicting variability in transverse effective elastic moduli and failure initiation strengths in UD composite microstructures due to randomness in fiber location and morphology. Composite Structures, 237, 17 pp.
  13. Sanei, S. H. R. (Primary Author), Doles, R. (Co-Author - Undergraduate Student), & Ekaitis, T. (Co-Author - Undergraduate Student) (2019). Effect of nanocomposite microstructure on stochastic elastic properties: An FEA study. ASCE-ASME Journal of Risk and Uncertainty in Engineering Systems Part B, 5(3), 6 pp.
  14. Sanei, S. H. R. (Primary Author), Alisafaei, F., & Han, C. S. (2016). On the origin of indentation size effects and depth dependent mechanical properties of elastic polymer. Journal of Polymer Engineering, 36(1), 9 pp.
  15. Sanei, S. H. R. (Primary Author), & Fertig, R. S. (2016). Length-scale dependence of variability in epoxy modulus extracted from composite prepreg. Polymer Testing, 50, 4 pp.
  16. Sanei, S. H. R. (Primary Author), & Fertig, R. S. (2016). Characterization, synthetic generation, and statistical equivalence analysis of composite microstructures. Journal of Composite Materials, 51(13), 13 pp.
  17. Sanei, S. H. R. (Primary Author), & Fertig, R. S. (2015). Uncorrelated volume element for stochastic modeling of microstructures based on local fiber volume fraction variation. Composites Science and Technology, 117, 8 pp.
  18. Alisafaei, F., Han, C.-S., & Sanei, S. H. R. (Co-Author) (2013). On the time and indentation depth dependence of hardness, dissipation and stiffness in polydimethylsiloxane. Polymer Testing, 32(7), 9 pp.

REFEREED CONFERENCE PROCEEDINGS

  1. Sacherich, A. B., Sanei, S. H. R., & Bakis, C. E. (2024) Utilizing nature-inspired designs in 3d-printed materials for enhanced resistance to high-velocity impacts. Society for the Advancement of Material and Process Engineering (SAMPE), Long Beach, California.
  2. Maitra, D., Sanei, S. H. R., & Gong, J. (2024) Investigating Supports, Barriers, and Cultural Navigations During Transitions as International Faculty Members. American Society of Engineering Education (ASEE), Portland, Oregon.
  3. Sanei, S. H. R. (Primary Author), Drozynski, H. (Co-Author - Undergraduate Student), & Hetrick, D. (Co-Author - Undergraduate Student) (2020). "Effect of strain rate on tensile properties of injection molded multiwall carbon nanotube reinforced pa 6/6 nanocomposites." International Mechanical Engineering Congress & Exposition (IMECE). (6 pp.). Virtual Conference.
  4. Sanei, S. H. R. (Primary Author), & Afsharfar, A. (2019). An experimental approach in defect detection of a single row ball bearing using acoustic noise signal. International Mechanical Engineering Congress & Exposition (IMECE). (6 pp.). Salt Lake City, Utah, USA.
  5. Sanei, S. H. R. (Primary Author), Lash, Z. (Co-Author - Undergraduate Student), Servey, J. (Co-Author - Undergraduate Student), Gardone, F. (Co-Author - Undergraduate Student), & Nikhare, C. (2019). Mechanical properties of 3D printed fiber reinforced thermoplastic. International Mechanical Engineering Congress & Exposition (IMECE).( 6 pp.). Salt Lake City, Utah, USA.
  6. Dotchev, P. (Co-Author - Undergraduate Student), Sanei, S. H. R. (Co-Author), Steinmetz, E. (Co-Author - Undergraduate Student), & Williams, J. L. (2018). Nanocomposites: manufacturing, microstructural characterization and mechanical testing. American Society of Composites (ASC) 33rd Technical Conference. (13 pp.). Seattle, Washington, USA.
  7. Doles, R. (Co-Author - Undergraduate Student), Cole, C. (Co-Author - Undergraduate Student), & Sanei, S. H. R. (Co-Author) (2018). Stochastic finite element analysis of composite. American Society of Composites (ASC) 33rd Technical Conference. (12 pp.). Seattle, Washington, USA.
  8. Sanei, S. H. R. (Primary Author), & Fertig, R. S. (2017). "Stochastic multiscale approach to predict failure initiation and progression in composite materials." SciTech 2017. (11 pp.). Grapevine, Texas, USA.
  9. Sanei, S. H. R. (Primary Author), & Fertig, R. S. (2016). Effect of fiber morphology on the elastic properties of statistically equivalent uncorrelated volume elements. Society for the Advancement of Material and Process Engineering (SAMPE) Conference. (11 pp.). Long Beach, CA, USA.
  10. Sanei, S. H. R. (Primary Author), & Fertig, R. S. (2016). "Stochastic failure analysis of an uncorrelated volume element using extended finite element." 31st American Society of Composites (ASC) Technical Conference. (12 pp.). Williamsburg, Virginia, USA.
  11. Sanei, S. H. R. (Primary Author), & Fertig, R. (2015). Capturing size effects in composites using progressive failure stochastic simulation. Integrated Computational Materials Engineering (ICME) 2015. (6 pp.). Colorado Spring, Colorado, USA.
  12. Sanei, S. H. R. (Primary Author), & Fertig, R. S. (2015). Generation of synthetic FRP microstructures based on experimentally observed microstructures. The Minerals, metals and Materials Society (TMS) 144th Annual Meeting & Exhibition. (7 pp.). Orlando, Florida, USA.
  13. Sanei, S. H. R. (Primary Author), Jensen, E. M., & Fertig, R. S. (2015). Multiscale stochastic analysis of FRP based on variability in fiber volume fraction, epoxy stiffness and strength. SciTech 2015. (15 pp.). Orlando, Florida, USA.
  14. Sanei, S. H. R. (Primary Author), Alisafaei, F., & Han, C.-S. (2013). Indenter tip dependence in the determination of elastic modulus in polymers. American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) International Mechanical Engineering Congress & Exposition. (5 pp.). San Diego, California, USA.
  15. Alisafaei, F., Sanei, S. H. R. (Co-Author), Smith, E. J., & Han, C.-S. (2013). On the time dependence of size effect in polydimethylsiloxane. American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) International Mechanical Engineering Congress & Exposition. (6 pp.). San Diego, California, USA.
  16. Alisafaei, F., Sanei, S. H. R. (Co-Author), & Han, C.-S. (2012). Length scale dependent deformation in polymers. American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME). (5 pp.). Houston, Texas, USA.
  17. Sanei, S. H. R. (Primary Author), & Rezaeepazhand, J. (2010). Critical load of a transversely cracked beam. The 2nd International Conference on Composites: Characterization, Fabrication, and Application. (6 pp.). Kish Island, Iran.

 

Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering, 2016
University of Wyoming (UW); Laramie, WY, USA