Hatem ElBidweihy, a graduate research assistant in VSTC's Institute for Magnetics Research, and a doctoral candidate in the School of Engineering & Applied Science’s Electrical and Computer Engineering Department (ECE), successfully defended his dissertation “Measurements and Modeling of the Effects of External Stimuli on the Magnetic and Magnetostrictive Properties of High-Strength Steel” on February 27, 2014.
His research was conducted under the guidance of Professor Edward Della Torrre, director of the Institute for Magnetics Research (IMR). IMR focuses its work on modeling, experimental measurements, and the use of magnetic materials. The materials most commonly studied are magnetic nanostructures, magnetic recording media, magneto-optical media, and magnetostrictive materials.
ElBidweihy’s said his dissertation focused on how high-strength steels have a specific structural role due to their ability to withstand very high mechanical stresses. Effective operation of such materials in actuator applications, non-destructive testing, and construction requires precise understanding of how external stimuli induce hysteretic changes in their magnetic and magnetostrictive properties.
He considers himself a multidisciplinary researcher and educator with theoretical and experimental expertise in magnetic coupled phenomena (magnetomechanical, magnetoelastic and magnetocaloric effects), appended with a solid electrical power systems background spanning the areas of reliability, economics, policy development, high-voltage technology, renewable energy, smart grids and applied electromagnetics.
His Ph.D. coursework major was Power and Renewable Energy, with secondary research in Magnetic Refrigeration and Magnetocaloric Materials. Prior to his Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering he completed a M.Sc. with coursework in High Voltage Engineering and a B.Sc. in Electrical Power and Machines.
While in the doctoral program he was a Graduate Research Assistant in the Institute for Magnetics Research. He has 16 publications and has given six conference presentations. He is also a regular peer reviewer for IEEE Transactions on Magnetics.