Ashwath Yegyan Kumar
Ashwath received his Bachelor of Technology degree in Mechanical Engineering from the National Institute of Technology, Tiruchirappalli, India (NIT-Trichy) in 2015. His undergraduate research experience began with an experimental project in the summer of 2013 at the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, India under Dr. Satish V. Kailas, where he aided a graduate student in the investigation of Friction Stir Processing as a means of preparing a copper/Polymer-derived-ceramic (PDC) composite. For the summer of 2014 he was selected for the Mitacs Globalink Fellowship to pursue a 12-week research internship at the University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada under Dr. Kajsa Duke and Dr. Marwan El-Rich. His project there involved the geometric modeling of the Pelvis bone from CT scans, to analyze them for bilateral symmetry. He established a foundation for continuing research that could potentially aid in acetabular fracture treatment using customized 3D printed implants designed using CT scans. This work was presented as a poster at the European Society of Biomechanics in July 2016 at Lyon, France. His Senior Design project at NIT Trichy under Dr. T. Ramesh involved the design and fabrication of an actuation system for Flapping-Wing motion in a light-weight, cost-efficient Micro Aerial Vehicle based on a compliant mechanism design.
After graduating from NIT Trichy, Ashwath joined Virginia Tech in the Spring of 2016 to pursue a Master's of Science in Mechanical Engineering, where he joined the DREAMS Lab to be advised by Dr. Christopher B. Williams. His research involves the investigation of Additive Manufacturing of copper using Binder Jetting, followed by suitable powder metallurgy based post-processing techniques to achieve desirable material properties. Additionally, he is also working on a project for an industrial partner that involves the exploration of Binder Jetting as a means of 3D printing pharmaceutical products. Ashwath graduated in 2018.
Aside from academics, Ashwath enjoys playing sports, reading novels, watching movies and driving/riding and fiddling around with cars and motorcycles.