Michael Santare

Professor

EDUCATION

PhD | Theoretical and Applied Mechanics, Northwestern University
MS | Theoretical and Applied Mechanics, Northwestern University
BS | Mechanical Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic University

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Professor Santare earned his B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Rensselaer, and his M.S. and Ph.D. in Theoretical and Applied Mechanics from Northwestern University. In 1986, he joined the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Delaware. He was Director of the Orthopedic and Biomechanical Engineering Center (now called the Center for Biomechanical Engineering Research) from 1993-98 and was a founding faculty member of the Biomechanics and Movement Science Program at the University. Dr. Santare is a former recipient of a Fulbright Distinguished Fellowship, awarded to spend a semester studying and lecturing on fracture mechanics at the Universidade do Porto in Portugal, and has been elected to the grade of Fellow in the American Society of Mechanical Engineers.

The unifying theme to his research is the mechanics of complex material systems in which microstructure is a key element. Examples of these systems include; composites, fuel cell membranes, biological tissues, functionally graded materials and damaged materials. He employs a combination of analytical, computational and experimental research techniques to develop models to predict the behavior of these materials to external loads. These models are then used to study the relationships between material parameters and mechanical response. In technological systems, this is critical information for engineering design, manufacturing and construction. In natural systems, the load-response behavior of materials is important for the understanding of natural phenomena such as fracture and orthopedic disease.

RESEARCH AREAS

• Biomechanical Engineering
• Clean Energy & Environment
• Composites & Advanced Materials

FACULTY EXPERTISE

• Biomechanics
• Solid Mechanics