Dr. Pablo A. Tarazaga

Research / Areas of Interest

Structural Mechanics, Dynamics and Control, Smart Infrastructure, Intelligent Material Applications, Structure Acoustic Interactions, Power/Energy Harvesting, Visual Suppression

My research focuses on the general areas of structural dynamics, vibration, control, testing, adaptive structures and smart materials.

Structural Dynamics

Our work focuses on several aspects of structural dynamics such as modeling, vibration suppression, vibro-acoustics, nonlinear systems, control, testing and validation. Our work strongly focuses on bridging the theoretical and experimental field in order to provide well-validated and trustworthy systems. Our testing labs feature several distinct capabilities such as 3D laser non-contact measurements, non-contact excitation, high-bay labs, overhead cranes, temperature-controlled vacuums, and ground isolation platforms.

Key words: Model Updating, Model Reduction, Experimental Modal Testing, Modal Analysis, Model Validation

Adaptive Structures

By adaptive structures we refer to structures that have the ability to adapt, evolve or change their properties or behavior in response to the environment around them. Much of this work is accomplished with domain-coupled material such as piezoceramics and shape memory alloys and use much of the techniques we use in structural dynamics to achieve, for example, high precision control and structure integration in a native way. This takes in the Vibrations, Adaptive Structures and Testing (VAST) Laboratory directed by me.

Key words: Structural Health Monitoring (SHM and NDE), Control, bio-inspired concepts, smart material integration, PZT, Shape memory alloys

Smart Infrastructure

As founder and co-Director of the Virginia Tech Smart Infrastructure Laboratory this area of work focuses on research in topics that utilize sensor information to improve the design, monitoring and daily operation of civil and mechanical infrastructure as well as to investigate how humans