Mechanics at Extreme Temperatures Lab
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Prof. Ryan Berke

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Phone: (435) 797-8184
Fax: (435) 797-2417

ryan.berke@usu.edu
Assistant Professor of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
Director, Mechanics at Extreme Temperatures Laboratory, 2015-Present
Director, Thermal Hydraulics and Material Properties Center, 2017-Present
 
Postdoc Aerospace Engineering, University of Illinois, 2013-2014
Ph.D. Mechanical Engineering, The Ohio State University, 2013
B.S. Mechanical Engineering, University of Maryland, 2008

Curriculum Vitae  (Last Updated Aug 2019)

About Us

We are a large and diverse group in which undergraduate research plays a strong role in recruiting and training top graduate students.

For more info, read our
Lab at a Glance
(Last Updated Feb 2019)

YEAR FIVE: May 2019 - April 2020
Most of us ended the year working from home due to coronavirus but it's better to be safe and healthy,
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(Top Row, Left to Right): Shelby Ames, Emma Ashby, Brooklyn Beck, Ashley Buxton, Elizabeth Chamberlain, Harley Cragun, Weston Craig.
(Middle Row): Brandon Furman, Emma German, Robert Hansen, Ben Hill, Steven Jarrett, Maggie Lea, Blair Martin.
(Bottom Row) Jacob and Cynthia (and Spencer!) Rigby, Bobby Rowley, Adam Smith, Thinh Thai, Fiona Van Leeuwen, Dr. Berke.
Not Pictured:  Savannah Augustine, Kacy Craig, Nate Rowley

Highlights: Dr. Berke won a prestigious Young Investigator Award from the Air Force Office of Scientific Research. The lab presented over 30 posters, presentations, and panel discussions at various venues and conferences. Our lab won 3 of the 4 MAE departmental graduate student awards, earning Dr. Berke recognition as Graduate Research Mentor of the Year. Thinh defended his PhD dissertation. Weston won an NRC graduate fellowship.
Photos from past years

Graduate Students

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Weston Craig
M.S. Student, May 2020 - Present
B.S. Mechanical Engineering, Utah State University, 2020

Novel Speckling Techniques for Digital Image Correlation (URF, EURP)
2021 MAE MS Researcher of the Year!
FY20 NRC Graduate Fellowship
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Brandon Furman
PhD. Student, May 2019 - Present
B.S. Mechanical Engineering and Math, Utah State University, 2019

Shape Optimization of Rectangular Plates for Vibration-based Fatigue Testing
2020 MAE Outstanding Graduate Student Teacher of the Year!

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Robert Hansen
PhD. Student, May 2018 - Present
M.S. Mechanical Engineering, Utah State University, 2018
B.S. Mechanical Engineering, Utah State University, 2016

Hydrogen Embrittlement of  Nuclear Fuel Cladding under Accident Conditions (NEUP IRP)
2021 MAE Outstanding Doctoral Scholar of the Year!
FY17 NEUP Graduate Fellowship

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Ben Hill
M.S. Student, Aug 2020 - Present
B.S. Mechanical Engineering, Utah State University, 2020.

Eliminating Strain Gauges in Vibration-based Fatigue Testing (EURP)
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Steven Jarrett
M.S. Student, Aug 2019 - Present
B.S. Mechanical Engineering, Utah State University, 2019

Cladding Burst Testing for Light Water Reactors
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Robert Rowley
M.S. Student, Jan 2019 - Present
B.S. Mechanical Engineering, Utah State University, 2018

Full-Field Strain Measurements during High Temperature Impact (EURP)
Benchmarking Micro-scale Ductility Measurements (NEUP)

Undergraduate Students (Alphabetical by Last Name)


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Brooklyn Beck
B.S. Student, Expected Graduation Spring 2023

Heterogeneous Deformation of Knit Metameterials (URF)

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Micah Estrada
B.S. Student, Expected Graduation Spring 2022

Adapting Directional Reflectance Microscopy (DRM) to Map Grain Orientations in Large Specimens (EURP)

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Tanner Flitton
B.S. Student, Expected Graduation Spring 2022

High-Throughput Creep Characterization using a Novel Tapered Specimen (EURP)

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Maggie Lea
B.S. Student, Expected Graduation Spring 2023

Teaching Literature Review through Superhero Comics (URF)

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Alexandra Loftin
B.S. Student, Expected Graduation Spring 2022

Identifying Failed Specimens in High-Throughput Measurements of High-Cycle Fatigue

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Hannah Maxwell
B.S. Student, Expected Graduation Spring 2023

A Variable Extensometer Technique to Measure Ductility at High Temperature (EURP)

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Jacob Rigby
B.S. Student, Expected Graduation Spring 2021

Sources of Lighting in High Speed DIC

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Fiona Van Leeuwen
B.S. Student in Chemistry and Mechanical Engineering, Expected Graduation Spring 2021

Scheimpflug Adjustment for Stereo-DIC (URF, EURP)

Alumni (Reverse Chronological)

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Adam Smith
    M.S. Mechanical Engineering, Utah State University, 2020
    B.S. Mechanical Engineering, Utah State University, 2018
    A Variable Extensometer Method for Measuring Ductility Scaling Parameters
    FY19 NEUP Graduate Fellowship
    2020 MAE MS Researcher of the Year!
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Emma German, B.S. Mechanical Engineering 2020
    High-Throughput Vibration-based Fatigue Measurement with Alternating Modes (URF, EURP)
    2020 MAE Undergraduate Researcher of the Year!
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Harley Cragun, B.S. Student in Biological Engineering, 2019-2020
    Broadening Participation of LGBTQ+ Students in Engineering (URF)
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Elizabeth Chamberlain, B.S. Student, 2019-2020
    Validating Scaling Relationships in Vibration-based Fatigue Testing (EURP)
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Emma Ashby, B.S. Student, 2019-2020
   Tchebichef Decomposition of Microstructural Strain Maps
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Shelby Ames, B.S. Student, Expected Graduation Spring 2021   
    Micro-scale Strain Mapping of Aluminum Oligocrystals (EURP)
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Thinh Thai
    PhD Mechanical Engineering, Utah State University, 2020
    M.S. Mechanical Engineering, Utah State University, 2018
    B.S. Aerospace Engineering, Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology, 2015
    Materials Characterization at Extreme Temperatures for Advanced Aerospace Applications (USU RGS)
    2019 MAE MS Researcher of the Year!
    2020 MAE Doctoral Graduate Scholar of the Year!

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Ashley Buxton, B.S. Mechanical Engineering 2020
    Validating Barba's Law with DIC (EURP)
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Savannah Augustine, B.S. Student, 2019-2020
    Relative Errors of Motion Blur vs Depth of Field (EURP)
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Cynthia Rigby, B.S. Mechanical Engineering 2020
    DIC at High Magnification and Long Working Distances
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Kenna Craig, B.S. Student in Statistics, 2019
    Broadening Participation of LGBTQ+ Students in Engineering
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Nate Rowley, B.S. Student 2019
    High Intensity UV Light Source
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Katharine Burn, B.S. Mechanical Engineering 2019
    Effects of Diffraction Limits on Full-Field Measurements at Long Working Distances (EURP)
    2019 MAE and College of Engineering Undergraduate Researcher of the Year!
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Matt Calvin, B.S. Student, 2018-2019
    High-Resolution Imaging during Vibration-based Fatigue Testing (EURP)
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Christopher Stolinski
    M.S. Mechanical Engineering, Utah State University, 2018
    B.S. Mechanical Engineering, University of Utah, 2016
    Dynamic Fracture of 3D-Printed Materials
    2019 MAE Graduate Student of the Year!

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Samantha Burton, B.S. Mechanical Engineering, 2018
    Improved High-Throughput Measurement for High Cycle Fatigue at Extreme Temperatures (EURP)
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Daniel Waldram, B.S. Mechanical Engineering, 2018
    Super-resolution Imaging for DIC at High Magnification and Long Working Distances (EURP)
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Cedale Armstrong, B.S. Student, 2017-2018
    Retrofitting a Vacuum Chamber with Induction Heating
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Matt Nelson
    PhD. Student, May 2017 - Aug 2018
    B.S. Mechanical Engineering, Utah State University, 2017
    High Temperature Vibration Fatigue of Gas Turbines (AFRL)
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Alisa Dabb, B.S. Student, 2017-2018
    Heterogeneous Strain Measurements during Tensile Testing under a Thermal Gradient (URF)
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Ethan Nickerson
    M.S. Mechanical Engineering, Utah State University, 2018
    B.S. Mechanical Engineering, Utah State University, 2016
    Ultraviolet Diffraction-assisted Image Correlation (UV-DAIC) (NRC)
    2018 MAE MS Researcher of the Year!
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Connor Bell, B.S. Mechanical Engineering, Utah State University, 2017
    Effects of Phase Lag in Thermo-Mechanical Fatigue near Crossover Strain
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J. Jackson Matsen, B.S. Student, Expected Graduation December 2018
    Damage Accumulation in Multi-modal Vibration Fatigue (EURP)
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Jesse Long, B.S. Mechanical Engineering 2017
    Restoring a 3D Metal Printer for Advanced Structural Characterization
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Trevor Bird, B.S. Mechanical Engineering 2017
    Modal Identification in Flat Plates during Vibrational Resonance at High Temperatures (EURP)
    2017 MAE Undergraduate Researcher of the Year!
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Colin Schlicher, B.S. Mechanical Engineering 2017
    UV Imaging of C-C Composites during Hot-Fire Testing
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Ren "Vox" Voie, B.S. Mechanical Engineering 2017
    Full-Field Microstructural Strains at High Temperatures and Long Working Distances (EURP, URF)
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Ben Sottilare, B.S. Student 2017
    Restoring a vacuum chamber for inert testing environments (URF)
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Celina Fisher Dodge, B.S. Student 2017
    Control Strategies for Gleeble 1500D Thermo-mechanical Loading System
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Braden Beckstrom, B.S. Mechanical Engineering 2017
    Benchmark Experiments for Thermo-Mechanical Fatigue
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Jonas Rogers, B.S. Mechanical Engineering 2017
    Modal Analysis of Reinforced Vibrating Plates
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Awilma Ventura, B.S. Mechanical Engineering 2017
    Lab safety and operating procedures for induction heating
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Wm. Jesse Miller, B.S. Student 2015-2016
    Restoring a Split Hopkinson Bar for High-Speed Impact Measurements

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Matt Schumann, B.S. Mechanical Engineering 2016
    UV and IR optical window for High Temperature Environmental Testing Chamber
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Jaren Devey, B.S. Mechanical Engineering 2016
    UV Digital Image Correlation to characterize Graphite at Extreme Temperatures (EURP)
Copyright © 2015-2020 Ryan Berke (ryan.berke@usu.edu)
Utah State University | College of Engineering | Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
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