Shannon Sweeney, M.S.

Mr. Shannon Sweeney is an associate professor of engineering at Penn State Behrend. He received the A. S. in Drafting and Design Engineering Technology and the B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from West Virginia Institute of Technology in 1981 and 1985 respectively. Mr. Sweeney also received an M.S. in Mechanical Engineering in 1996 from Case Western Reserve University.

Mr. Sweeney is certified as a Quality Engineer 17106 by the American Society for Quality. He is also a Licensed Professional Engineer PE 041960E in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

Mr. Sweeney began his engineering career as a design drafter in 1981 for Union Carbide Corporation's Technical Center. Subsequent to that time he worked for LORD Corporation in various quality engineering and product design positions through 1996 when he joined the faculty at Penn State Behrend. Mr. Sweeney is a member of the American Foundry Society and the American Society for Engineering Education. His research interests are materials testing, industrial statistics, and vibration analysis.

Teaching 

Courses Taught

• Advanced Strength of Materials
• Engineering Dynamics
• Materials Engineering
• Mechanics for Technology: Statics
• Quality Control and Quality Improvement
• Six Sigma Analysis
• Strength of Materials
• Strength of Materials Laboratory
• Vibrations for Technologists

Recipient of Teaching Awards

• Nominated, Council of Fellows Excellence in Teaching Award, 2006.
• Nominated, Society of Automotive Engineers’ Ralph R. Teetor Educational Award, 2003 and 2004.

Research 

Research reports to sponsor

• Sweeney, S. [Principal Investigator], “Sheet stock fatigue analysis of various metals,” Lord Corporation, $23,461, March 2006-January 2007.
• Michael, R. J., and Sweeney, S. K., “Development of structural damper utilizing ultra-high-damped elastomer,” Pennsylvania Infrastructure Technology Alliance (PITA), with Carnegie Mellon and Lehigh Universities and Corry Rubber Corporation, August 2005.
• Sweeney, S. K., “Development of structural damper utilizing ultra-high-damped elastomer,” ICES/PITA Open House Poster Session, Carnegie Mellon University, October 29, 2003.

Research projects completed

• Sweeney, S. [Principal Investigator], “Sheet stock fatigue analysis of various metals,” Lord Corporation, $23, 461, February 2007.
• Michael, R. J., and Sweeney, S. [Co-investigators], “Development of structural damper utilizing ultra-high-damped elastomer,” Pennsylvania Infrastructure Technology Alliance (PITA), year 3, with Carnegie Mellon and Lehigh Universities and Corry Rubber Corporation, $34,000, July 2004-June 2005.
• Sweeney, S. [Principal Investigator], “Fatigue testing of titanium alloys,” Lord Corporation, $6,650, June 2005.
• Michael, R. J., and Sweeney, S. [Co-investigators], “Development of structural damper utilizing ultra high damped elastomer,” Pennsylvania Infrastructure Technology Alliance (PITA), year 2, Carnegie Mellon University, Lehigh University, and Lord Corporation, $40,000, 2003-2004.
• Michael, R. J., and Sweeney, S. [Co-investigators], “Diagnostic testing of Whirlpool Duet washer,” Corry Rubber Corp., $800, October 3, 2004.
• Michael, R. J., and Sweeney, S. [Co-investigators], “Diagnostic testing of Whirlpool Duet washer,” Corry Rubber Corp., $1,800, February 8, 2004.
• Michael, R. J., and Sweeney, S. [Co-investigators], “Development of structural damper utilizing ultra high damped elastomer,” Pennsylvania Infrastructure Technology Alliance (PITA), year 1, with Carnegie Mellon University and Lehigh University and Lord Corporation, $40,000, 2002-2003.
• Fisher, K. J., and Sweeney, S. [Co-investigators], “Acquisition of equipment for a materials selection laboratory,” National Science Foundation-ILI grant, $141,548, 1996.

Patents

• Safetied Sandwich Mount Assembly with Integral Centering and Holding Feature, U.S. Patent No. 5,842,677, December 1998.
• Dual-Stage Mounting System for Vibratory Compactor Drum, U.S. Patent No. 5,716,162, February 1998.
• Flexible Dual-Rate Coupling, U.S. Patent No. 4,473,462, November 1996.

Grants for equipment

• Michael, R. J., and Sweeney, S., “Acquisition of MTS810 TestStar IIs Material Testing System,” National Science Foundation-MRI/RUI grant, 2003-2004.

Service 

Active participation in professional and learned societies

• American Foundry Society, Northwest Pennsylvania Chapter
  • Chair, Board of Directors, 2008-2009.
  • First vice-chair, 2007-2008.
  • Member, Board of Directors, 2000-2008.
  • Education Committee Member, 2002-present.
  • Developed partnership between Penn State Behrend and the American Foundry Society, Northwest Pennsylvania Chapter.
  • Student membership and recruitment coordination.
  • AFS scholarship administration.
  • Internship and placement follow-up.
  • Accumulation of equipment for updated foundry.
  • School representative, Foundry Sub-Committee Liaison.
  • Meetings and coordination with AFS Foundry Sub-Committee members to fulfill current foundry equipment needs and plan for future foundry utility and equipment needs.
• ASM International, Northwest Pennsylvania Chapter
  • Student membership and recruitment coordination, 2002-2010.
  • Executive Committee Member, 2000-2010.
  • Administration of annual scholarship award, 2000-2006.

Participation in campus and/or University-wide governance bodies and related activities

• Materials presentation, breaking stuff and laboratory demonstration
  • Math Options, Erie, PA, Summer 2005, 2003, 2001.
  • Tech Prep Camp, Erie, PA, Summer 2000.
• Behrend/Schreyer Honors Program
  • Honors Advisor, 2MET and 4MET, 2005-present.
• Foundry Educational Foundation (FEF)
  • Attended the College Industry Conference (CIC) which allowed Behrend to maintain its status as an FEF Affiliated School. 2006.
  • Serve as the FEF key contact for the College. FEF affiliation makes our students eligible for the many scholarships offered by FEF and for attendance at the annual College Industry Conference, 2004.
  • Pursued and attained affiliation for Penn State Behrend, 2004.
• Math Options
  • Provided materials program presentation “breaking stuff” and laboratory demonstration, May 2005.
• Reviewer, the Technology Interface, The Electronic Journal for Engineering Technology (peer-reviewed online journal).