Mechanical Engineering Department - University of Louisville

Robert L. Collins, Ph.D., P.E.

Dr. Robert L. Collins received a B.S. degree in Aeronautical Engineering from Purdue University, an M.S. in Engineering Science from Arizona State University and a Ph.D. degree in Engineering Mechanics at the Virginia Polytechnic Institute. He spent several years with the AiResearch Manufacturing Company (Phoenix), the Langley Research Center (NASA), and the Bendix Corporation, Aerospace Products Division before coming to the University of Louisville in 1970. He retired in 1997, and was immediately elected as Professor Emeritus of Mechanical Engineering by the faculty. During his career, Dr. Collins has maintained a strong commitment to both teaching, where he developed many new courses and laboratories, and research, primarily in the areas of controls and computer simulation.

Education

Experience

1970-present - University of Louisville, Louisville, Kentucky. Speed Scientific School Department of Mechanical Engineering. Emeritus Professor of Mechanical Engineering (1998-present), Professor of Mechanical Engineering (1980-1998), Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering (1970-1980).

1966-1970 - Bendix Corporation, South Bend, Indiana. Senior Analyst.

1962-1966 - Langley Research Center, NASA, Hampton, Virginia. Aerospace Technologist.

1959-1962 - AiResearch Manufacturing Company, Phoenix, Arizona. Preliminary Design Engineer.

Publications

Refereed Journals

Appliance Magazine

Journal of Heat Transfer

ASME Journal of Dynamic Systems, Measurement and Control

Journal of Aircraft

Conference Proceedings/Presentations

"Strategies for Improving Temperature Control and Energy Use in Household Refrigerators," Sixth International Refrigeration Conference at Purdue, Proceedings, July 23-26, 1996 (with K. J. Graviss).

"Development of Multifaceted Instructional Modules," FIE '92: Towards 2000 - Facing the Future in Engineering Education, Proceedings of the 22nd Annual Frontiers in Education Conference, Nashville, Tennessee, November 11-15, 1992 (with W.G. Cobourn, G.C. Lindauer, T.E. Mullin and W.P. Hnat).

"Use of the Microphone and Impact Hammer Windowing in Modal Testing," Proceedings of the Annual Conference of the Society for Experimental Mechanics, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, November 4-7, 1984. (with T. Comstock, M. Javidinejad and J. Fleming).

"Direct and Indirect Methods for Stability Studies of Articulated Vehicles," Proceedings of the Third International Conference on Vehicle Dynamics, August 1974, published 1975 (with J.P. Wong).

"A Comparison Study of Tire Influences on Vehicle Handling," Proceedings of the Third International Conference on Vehicle Dynamics, August 1974, published 1975 (with J.P. Wong).

"Experimental Determination of Tire Parameters for Aircraft Landing Gear Shimmy Studies," Proceedings of the AIAA/ASME 9th Structural Dynamics and Materials Conference, Structural Dynamics paper AIAA #68-311, Palm Springs, California, April 1-3, 1968.

Technical Reports

"A Three-Dimensional Analysis of a Tangential Yo-Yo Despin Device on a Rotating Body," NASA Report No. TND-3848, March 1967.

"A Computational Method for Two Impulse Orbital Rendezvous and Transfer Problems," NASA Report No. TND-3508, August 1966 (with A. Wallace).

"On the Motion of a Symmetric Rigid Body with a 'Yo-Yo' Despin Device Attached," University Microfilms, Inc., Ann Arbor, Michigan, June 1966.

"An Investigation of a Manned Mission to Mars," NASA Rep. No. TMX-50122, July 1963 (Co-authors: J.D. Bird and D.F. Thomas).

Sponsored Research

"Development of Horizontal Boring Technology for Small Diameter Natural Gas Distribution Lines. Phase III: Detail Design, Testing and Optimization." Columbia Gas Distribution Companies, $91,089, 10/94-3/96. Co-principal investigators: G. Prater, W.P. Hnat, and C.R. Ullrich.

"Development of Horizontal Boring Technology for Small Diameter Natural Gas Distribution Lines. Phase II: Component Design, Testing and Integration." Columbia Gas Distribution Companies, $85,000, 10/93-9/94. Co-principal investigators: G. Prater, W.P. Hnat, and C.R. Ullrich.

"Development of a Multifaceted Module for Introductory Thermodynamics," National Science Foundation, $90,000, June 1991 - December 1993. Co-Principal investigators: W.G. Cobourn, W.P. Hnat, G.C. Lindauer, and T.E. Mullin.

"Hydraulic Rammer System, Design, Review, and Analysis," NOSL (Naval Ordnance Station Louisville), $15,000, 1990-91.

"Linear Dynamic Analysis of Gun Systems, Phases 1, 2, 3, & 4," NOSL, $21,000, 1987-88.

"Methane Transportation Fuels Project," Kentucky Department of Transportation through the Government Law Center at U of L, 1982-83.

"Dynamic Seal Testing and Analysis for Turbopump Rotordynamic Stability," directed installation and developed the analytical procedure for the acquisition and storage of digital data for the NASA-Lewis study: Space Shuttle Project, Summer 1979.

"Investigation of the Effectiveness of the Flashed Hydro-Jet in Coal Cutting," KIMMR, $17,400, July 1977 - March 1978 (with R.W. Perry).

"Experimental Determination of Effectiveness of the Flashed Hydro-Jet in the Cutting of Coal," KIMMR (201-65-98903-S3600), $30,031, July 1976 - June 1977 (with R.W. Perry).

"Equipment for Coal Cutting Using a Flashed Hydro-Jet," KIMMR (201-65-98903-S3410), $37,386, July 1975 - June 1976 (with R.W. Perry).

"Coal Cutting Using a Flashing Hydro-Jet," KIMMR (201-65-8H050-S3267), $32,510, August 1974 - July 1975 (with R.W. Perry).

Consulting

Scientific and Professional Memberships