MECHANICAL ENGINEERING & MATERIALS SCIENCE
David Schmidt, PhD
509 Benedum Hall | 3700 O’Hara Street | Pittsburgh, PA 15261
Associate Professor
P: 412-625-9755 C: 412-445-2185 des53@pitt.edu
David Schmidt received his PhD in 2009 from Carnegie Mellon University in the area of computational mechanics. His dissertation research developed predictive simulation approaches tailored to the soft tissue biomechanics of cardiovascular systems. Prior to his doctoral studies, Dr. Schmidt developed a career in industry focused on the integration of engineering design, manufacturing and computational modeling. His industry experience includes aerospace, defense, automotive, biomedical and manufacturing. The experience based developed in these industrial environments serves as a core component in his approach to research. A central aim of among his research projects is to bridge the gap between traditional engineering techniques and the evolving state simulationbased technologies. His recent research activity has been in the area of middle ear gas exchange mechanisms, multi-scale tissue biomechanics, robotic assisted surgery, biodegradable magnesium alloys and powder metal materials processing.
Middle Ear Gas Exchange and Pressure Regulation Gas exchange within the middle ear mucosa is a dominant mechanism associated with middle ear pressure regulation. Diseased states associated with middle ear inflammation can be attributed to complex structure-function relationships linking mucosa-scale gas exchange and aggregate pressure regulation. Dr. Schmidt’s research has developed a computational model to explore the inter-related roles of constituent tissue mechanisms driving gas conductance. The adopted meso-scale approach has been used to quantity gas exchange as a function of mucosa thickness, capillary morphology, gas media and blood flow characteristics. Physiologically consistent models of capillary microstructure have been derived from multi-photon fluorescence imaging. A primary objective of this research is to establish exchange rate-limiting mechanisms under pathologic conditions associated with middle ear pressure dysregulation, Eustachian tube function and the disease state of otitis media.
Soft Tissue Biomechanics Motivated by the study of pathology and tissue engineering, researchers have leveraged computational-based predictive models to gain insight into the complex biomechanical response of soft tissues. Simulation approaches have become an essential component in cardiovascular research. Computational models have been used to advance basic science, develop engineered tissue alternatives and guide medical device development. Dr. Schmidt’s research has developed a constitutive model based on the characterization of the collagen microstructure as is morphology governs load-bearing tissue response. A primary objective of this research has been to guide the design of engineered tissue scaffolds associated with aortic heart valve replacement.
Near Net Shape Materials
Hot isostatic processing is an industrial metal powder forming process aimed at the manufacturing of high performance mechanical parts. The processing involves the densification of a metal powder preform under elevated pressure and temperature conditions. Central to the process is the ability to achieve final part dimensions or “near-net-shape,” as minimization of traditional machining is a primary objective of the processing strategy. Research has developed a constitutive material tailored to the densification of high performance alloys. The simulation tool provides a foundation to explore the complex relationships linking preform geometry and processing parameters with final part shape. This generalized approach can be leveraged to explore densification behavior of preforms developed using additive manufacturing techniques.
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DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING AND MATERIALS SCIENCE
