University of Southern California Mork Family Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science The USC Andrew and Erna Viterbi School of Engineering USC
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Steven R. Nutt


M.C. Gill Chair Professor 
Professor of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering 
Director of MCGF Composites Center


Research Topics

  • Lightweight Materials and Structures
  • Mechanical behavior of fiber-reinforced composites
  • Manufacturing methods for composites
  • Interfacial phenomena
  • Acoustics and vibrations of sandwich structures 

Research Overview

  • Sandwich panel acoustics - Measurement and computer simulation of noise transmission loss and acoustic/vibration damping in honeycomb sandwich panels. The objective is the design of a new generation of aircraft floor panels with improved transmission and damping characteristics for noise reduction in passenger cabins.
  • Polymer nanocomposites - Synthesis of nanoclay and nanotube reinforced polymers with improved mechanical properties. Applications include improved damping characteristics and shape memory characteristics through improved understanding of processing-structure relations.
  • Composites for energy infrastructure - Design, analysis, and mechanical behavior of pultruded composites for high-temperature low-sag conductors
  • Metallic foams - Synthesis and properties of aluminum and steel foams for sandwich core applications and energy absorption.
  • Non-autoclave processing of composites - Studies of resin impregnation and processing of vacuum-bag prepregs for aerospace applications.
  • High-temperature response of composites - Behavior of composites under rapid transient heating, including failure mechanisms and computational modeling intended to translate to design tools for design of hypersonic airframe components.
 
Contact Information


Web Site: 
http://chems.usc.edu/composites/website_main/index.shtml

E-mail:                       
nutt@usc.edu
Mailing Address:      
Mork Family Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science
University of Southern California
3651 Watt Way, VHE 406
Los Angeles, CA 90089-0241                   

Office Location:
       
VHE 406

Office Phone:          
(213) 740-1634

Fax:                         
(213) 740-7797  

 
Education


Ph.D., Materials Science, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 1982
M.S., Materials Science, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, 1978
B.S., Physics, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, 1977 


Research Images


   
   


Selected Publications


“Compounds in solid electrolyte interface (SEI) on carbonaceious material charged in siloxane-based electrolyte” Hiroshi Nakahara and Steven Nutt, J. Power Sources 160 [2] (2006) 1355-1360.

“Electrochemical and thermal stability of a siloxane-based electrolyte on a lithium transition metal oxide cathode” Hiroshi Nakahara, Manabu Tanaka, Sang-Young Yoon, and Steven Nutt, J. Power Sources 160 [1] (2006) 548-557.

“Passive Film Formation on a Graphite Electrode: Effect of Siloxane Structures” H. Nakahara. S-Y Yoon, and S. Nutt, J. Power Sources, 160 [1] (2006) 645-650.

"Cryomilling for the fabrication of a particulate B4C reinforced Al nanocomposite: Part II. Mechanisms for microstructural evolution" J. Ye, Z. Lee, B. Ahn, J. He, S. Nutt, and J. Schoenung, Mel. Trans. 37A (2006) 3111-3117.

“Barrier properties for short-fiber-reinforced epoxy foams” M.V. Alonso, M.L. Auad, U. Sorathia, N.E. Marcovich, and S.R. Nutt, J. Appl. Polymer Sci, 102 [4] (2006) 3266-3272.

“Short-fiber-reinforced epoxy foams” M.V. Alonso, M.L. Auad and S.R. Nutt, J. Compos. A 37 (2006) 1952-1960.

“Improving the Dispersion and Flexural Strength of Multiwalled Carbon Nanotubes - Stiff Epoxy Composites through β-Hydroxyester Surface Functionalization Coupled with the Anionic Homopolymerization of the Epoxy Matrix” W. Chen, M.L. Auad, R.J.J. Williams, and S.R. Nutt, Europ. Polymer Journal,42 (2006) 2765-2772.

“Effect of an Electrolyte Salt Dissolving in Polysiloxane-based Electrolyte on Passive Film Formation on a Graphite Electrode” H. Nakahara, S-Y Yoon, and S.R. Nutt, J. Power Sources, 158 [2] (2006) 1386-1393.

“Modeling the compressive properties of glass-fiber-reinforced epoxy foam using the analysis of variance approach” M.V. Alonso, M.L. Auad, and S.R. Nutt, Composites Science & Technology 66 (2006) 2126-2134.

“High-Temperature Strength and Storage Modulus in Unidirectional Hybrid Composites” E.J. Bosze, A. Alawar, O. Bretschger, Yun-I Tsai, and S.R. Nutt, Compos Sci & Tech 66 (2006) 1963-1969.

“Effect of an Additive to Polysiloxane-based Electrolyte on Passive Film Formation on a Graphite Electrode” H. Nakahara. S-Y Yoon, and S. Nutt, J. Power Sources 158 [1] (2006) 600-607.

“Analysis of the Passive Surface Film on a Graphite Electrode Charged in Polysiloxane-Based Electrolyte,” H. Nakahara, S-Y Yoon, T. Piao, F. Mansfeld, and S.R. Nutt, J. Power Sources 158 [1] (2006) 591-599.

“Sound transmission loss of honeycomb sandwich panels” S. Rajaram, T. Wang, and S. Nutt, Noise Control Engrg J, 54 [2] (2006) 46-55.

“Measurement of sound transmission losses of honeycomb partitions with added gas layers” S. Rajaram and S.R. Nutt, Noise Control Engineering J., 54 [2] (2006) 41-45.

“A Comparison of the Corrosion Behavior of Nanocrystalline and Conventional Al 5083 Samples,” E. Kuş, Z. Lee, S. Nutt and F. Mansfeld, Corrosion 62 [2] (2006) 152-154.

“A Hybrid Numerical Method for Calculation of Sag of Composite Conductors” A. Alawar, E. Bosze, and S.R. Nutt, Electric Power Systems Delivery, 76 (5) (2006) 389-394.

“3D Long-Fiber-Reinforced Syntactic Foams Based on Hollow Polymeric Microspheres” L. Vaikhansky, Y-J Huang, and S.R. Nutt, Composites Part A, 37 [3] (2006) 488-496.

“Rodlike Silicate-Epoxy Nanocomposites” H. Lu, H. Shen, Z. Song, K.S. Shing, W. Tao, and S.R. Nutt, Macromolecular Rapid Comm., 26 [18] (2005) 1445-1450.

“Bimodal Microstructure and Deformation of Cryomilled Bulk Nanocrystalline Al-7.5Mg Alloy” Z. Lee, D.B. Witkin, E.J. Lavernia, and S.R. Nutt, Mater. Sci. & Engrg. A410-411 (2005) 462-467.

“A Tri-modal Aluminum Based Composite with Super-high Strength” J. Ye, B.Q. Han , Z. Lee, B. Ahn, S.R. Nutt, and J. M. Schoenung, Scripta Mater. 53 (2005) 481-486.

“The influence of Sc on thermal stability of a nanocrystalline Al-Mg alloy processed by cryogenic ball milling” F. Zhou, E. Lavernia, Z. Lee, and S.R. Nutt, Metall. Trans. A 36A (2005) 1587.

"Deformation Behavior of Bimodal Nanostructured 5083 Al Alloys" by B.Q. Han, Z. Lee, D. Witkin, S. Nutt and E.J. Lavernia, Metall. & Mater. Trans.A 36 [4] (2005) 957-965.

“Energy of Compressed Foam” Z. Song and S.R. Nutt, Advanced. Engrg Mater. 7 [1-2] 73-77 (2005).

“Assessment of Sandwich Models for the Prediction of Sound Transmission Loss in Unidirectional Sandwich Panels” T. Wong, V.S. Sokolinsky, S. Rajaram, and S.R. Nutt, J. Applied Acoustics 66 (2005) 245-262.

“A Composite Core Conductor for Low Sag at High Temperatures” A. Alawar, E. Bosze, and S.R. Nutt, IEEE Trans Power Delivery 20 [3] (2004) 2193-2199.

“Microstructure and microhardness of cryomilled bulk nanocrystalline Al-7.5%Mg alloy consolidated by high pressure torsion,” by Z. Lee, F. Zhou, R.Z. Valiev, E.J. Lavernia and S.R. Nutt, Scripta Mater. 51 (2004) 209-214.

“Higher Order Free Vibrations of Debonded Sandwich Beams” V.S. Sokolinsky, S.R. Nutt, J.J. Lesko, and H.F. von Bremen, Intl. J. of Solids & Structures 41 (2004) 6529-6547.

“Formation of Nanostructure in Al Produced by Low-Energy Ball Milling at Cryogenic Temperature” F. Zhou, D. Witkin, S. R. Nutt, and E. J. Lavernia, Mater. Sci. Eng. A, 375-377 (2004) 917-921.

“Direct observation and measurement of fiber architecture in short fiber-polymer composites through micro-CT imaging,” H. Shen, S. Nutt, and D. Hull, Compos. Sci. & Tech. 64 (2004) 2113-2120.

“Analytical and Experimental Study of Free Vibration Response of Soft-Core Sandwich Beams” V.S. Sokolinsky, H.F. von Bremen, J.A. Lavoie, and S.R. Nutt, J. of Sandwich Structures and Materials, 6 [3] (2004) 239-261.

“Consistent Higher-Order Dynamic Equations for Soft–Core Sandwich Beams” V.S. Sokolinsky and S.R. Nutt, AIAA Journal 42 [2], 2004.

“Accurate predictions of bending deflections for soft-core sandwich beams subject to concentrated loads” H. Shen, V. Sokolinsky, and S.R. Nutt, Composite Structures, 64 [1] (2004) 115-122.

“Fiber-Reinforced Composite Foam from Expandable PVC Microspheres,” L. Vaikhanksi, S.R. Nutt, Composties A, 34 [12] (2003) 1245-1253.

“Enhanced Peel Resistance of Fiber Reinforced Phenolic Foams” H. Shen, A.J. Lavoie, and S.R. Nutt, Composites A, 34 [10] (2003) 941-948.

“Al-Mg Alloy Engineered with Bimodal Grain Size for High Strength and Increased Ductility” D. Witkin, Z. Lee, R. Rodriguez, S. Nutt, E. Lavernia, Scripta Mat., 49 [4] (2003) 297-302.

“Nanostructure in an Al-Mg-Sc alloy processed by low energy ball milling at cryogenic temperature” F. Zhou, C. C. Bampton, E. J. Lavernia, S. R. Nutt, Met. & Mater. Trans. 34A [9] (2003) 1985-92.

“Enthalpy Relaxation of Layered Silicate-Epoxy Nanocomposites,” H. Lu and S.R. Nutt, Macromolecular Chemistry and Physics, 204 (2003) 1832-1841.

“Mechanical Characterization of Short Fiber Reinforced Phenolic Foam,” H. Shen and S. Nutt, Composites A, 34 [9] (2003) 899-906.

“Synthesis of Composite Foam from Thermoplastic Microspheres and 3D Long Fibers,” L. Vaikhanski, S.R. Nutt, Composites A, 34 [8] (2003) 755-763.

“Cold Crystallization Kinetics of Syndiotactic Polystyrene” H. Lu and S.R. Nutt, J. Appl. Polymer Sci. 89 (2003) 3464-4370.

“Composite Foams for Sandwich Structures” S.R. Nutt, H. Shen, and L. Vaikhanski, J. Korean Ceramic Soc. 40 [7] 625-631 (2003).

“Restricted Relaxation in Polymer Nanocomposites near Glass Transition” H. Lu and S.R. Nutt, Macromolecules 36 (2003) 4010-4016.

“Microstructural Evolution and Deformation of Cryomilled Nanocrystalline Al-Ti-Cu Alloy” Z.Lee, R. Rodriguez, R.W. Hayes, E.J. Lavernia and S.R. Nutt, Metall. & Mater. Trans. 34A (2003) 1473-1481.

“Cellular Polymer Composites Based on Bi-Component Fibers,” L. Vaikhanski, J.J. Lesko, S.R. Nutt, Composites Science and Technology, 63 [10] (2003) 1403-1410.

“Mechanical Properties of an Ultrafine-grained Al-7.5% Mg Alloy,” B.Q. Han, Z. Lee, S.R. Nutt, E.J. Lavernia, and F.A. Mohamed, Metal. & Mater. Trans. A 34A [3] (2003) 603-613.

“New Thermally Re-mendable Highly Cross-linked Polymeric Materials” X. Chen, F. Wudl, Ajit K. Mal, H. Shen, and S.R. Nutt, Macromolecules 36 (2003) 1802-1807.

“Experimental and Analytical Study of Nonlinear Bending Response of Sandwich Beams” Vladimir S. Sokolinsky, Hongbin Shen, Lev Vaikhanski, and Steven R. Nutt, Composite Structures, 60 [2] (2003) 219-229.