MEAE&M
MANE faculty

 Kurt S. Anderson
Associate Dean for Undergraduate Studies
Professor of Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering & Mechanics
3018 Jonsson Engineering Center
Tel: (518) 276-2339; Fax: (518) 276-4860;
E-Mail:  anderk5@rpi.edu


Kurt S. Anderson After receiving his BS degree in mechanical engineering from the University of California at Berkeley in 1982, Dr. Anderson went on to earn a MS in the area of dynamic systems and control from the same institution. He then spent the next few years working in the areas of dynamics, structural dynamics, and controls for TRW Space and Technology in Redondo Beach, California. After this period, he entered the Ph.D. program in Applied and Computational Mechanics at Stanford University, earning his degree in 1990. Dr. Anderson then accepted a position as researcher and principal dynamics engineering at TRW where he was associated with various spacecraft and research programs. In late 1991 Dr. Anderson was invited to Germany for a two-year period as a visiting scholar, lecturer, and research fellow at the Technische Hochscule - Darmstadt. In 1993 he joined the faculty of the Department of Aerospace Engineering, Applied Mechanics, and Aviation at The Ohio State University, in Columbus where he remained until coming to RPI as faculty member in August 1995.

Dr. Anderson is a member of the American Academy of Mechanics (AAM), the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA), the American Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE), the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), the US Association of Computational Mechanics (USACM), the American Society of Engineering Education (ASEE), Tau Beta Pi, Pi Tau Sigma, Phi Beta Kappa, and Sigma Xi.
 

Research Interests and Activities

Professors Anderson's primary research goals are associated with development of advanced algorithms for modeling, simulating, and analyzing the behavior of complex dynamic systems. Examples of such systems include, but are not limited to, molecular dynamic systems, spacecraft, robotic systems, automotive applications, the human body, and manufacturing operations. These analysis and simulation tools emphasize the use of algorithms which obtain the desired accuracy, while requiring far fewer computational operations than their more traditional counterparts. This results in simulations which run much more quickly, or equally important, allows a level modeling and analysis which would otherwise be prohibitively expensive. This is a accomplished through the use of special low operational order algorithms, multirate temporal integration methods, adaptive models and intelligent exploitation of parallel computing.

The general areas of research being pursued in the Computational Dynamics Laboratory at Rensselaer emphasize the research, development and application of multiscale adaptive methods for the modeling and analysis of complex dynamic systems, as wells virtual protyping tools involving complex, yet efficient multibody (rigid and flexible) dynamics simulations in multidisciplinary design, analysis, and optimization. Specific problems being investigated include: Development of highly efficient parallelizable algorithms for general molecular and multibody systems; Determination of the optimal form of the equations of motion (in the sense of maximizing simulation speed) for a complex multibody system when available computer resources have sub-optimal numbers of processors; Automated determination of design parameter values which yield near optimal design performance of complex mechanism from a dynamics point of view; Development of methods for producing design sensitivity information at a greatly reduced cost; Multi-Rate temporal integration schemes; Simulation, Design and Control of MEMS devices; Advanced material modelling; Molecular systems; Biomechanical modeling; Multi-continuous body modeling of the dynamic behavior of translating media (e.g. drive belts, tracks and tracked vehicles, etc.).
 

Other Items of Interest:

Selected Publications:

(Publications marked in red are available in a .pdf format. If you do not have a .pdf reader you can get a free viewer from Adobe®)

  1. M. Poursina, K.S. Anderson, "Canonical Ensemble Simulation of Biopolymers Using A Coarse-Grained Articulated Generalized Divide-And-Conquer Scheme," Computer Physics Communications , accepted .

  2. M. Poursina, K.S. Anderson, "Efficient Coarse-Grained Molecular Simulations in a Multibody Dynamics Scheme" Book contribution to Computational Methods in Applied Sciences: Multibody Dynamics, edited by P. Fisette, Springer Publishing, in press.

  3. M. Poursina, K.S. Anderson, "Long-range force-field calculations in multiresolution simulation of molecular systems," Journal of Computational Physics, vol. 231, No. 21, pp. 7237-7254, 2012.

  4. M. Poursina, Imad Khan, K.S. Anderson, "Efficient Model Transition in Adaptive Multiresolution Modeling of Biopolymers," Book contribution to Linear Algebra Theorems and Applications , edited by H. A. Yasser, INTECH Publishing, pp. 237-250, 2012.

  5. M. Poursina, K.S. Anderson, "An Extended Divide-And-Conquer Algorithm For a Generalized Class of Multibody Constraints," Multibody System Dynamics, DOI 10.1007/s11044-012-9324-9, 2012.

  6. K.D. Bhalerao, J. Critchley and K.S. Anderson, "An efficient parallel dynamics algorithm for simulation of large articulated robotic systems," Mechanism and Machine Theory, doi:10.1016/j.mechmachtheory.2012.03.001, vol. 53, pp. 86-98, 2012.

  7. M. Poursina, K.D. Bhalerao, S.C. Flores, K.S. Anderson and A.Laederach, "Strategies for Articulated Multibody-Based Adaptive Coarse Grain Simulation of RNA", Book Chapter - Methods in Enzymology, 2011, 487:73-98.

  8. K.D. Bhalerao, C. Crean and K.S. Anderson, "Hybrid complementarity formulations for robotics applications," Zeitschrift fŸr Angewandte Mathematik und Mechanik, doi: 10.1002/zamm.201000093, vol. 91(5), pp. 386-399, 2011.

  9. K.D. Bhalerao, and K.S. Anderson, "Modeling Intermittent Contact for Flexible Multibody-Rigid-Body Dynamics", ASME Journal of Computational and Nonlinear Dynamics, -doi:10.1007/s11071-009-9580-2, Vol 60(1-2), pp. 63-79 2010

  10. K.D. Bhalerao, M. Poursina and K.S. Anderson, "An Efficient Direct Differentiation Method for Sensativity Analysis of Flexible Multibody Systems", Multibody Systems Dynamics, -doi:10.1007/s11044-009-9176-0, Vol. 23(3), pp. 121-140, 2010

  11. S. Berard, J.C. Trinkle, K.S. Anderson, "Sources of Error in a Simulation of Rigid Parts on a Vibrating Rigid Plate," ASME Journal of Computational and Nonlinear Dynamics, Vol. 5, No. 4, doi:10.1115/1.4001820 , 2010.

  12. K.D. Bhalerao, K.S. Anderson and J.C. Trinkle, "A Recursive Hybrid Time-Stepping Scheeme for Intermittent Contact in Multi-Rigid-Body Dynamics", ASME Journal of Computational and Nonlinear Dynamics, -doi:10.1115/1.3192132,Vol 4(4), 2009

  13. C.G. Ballard, K.S. Anderson and L.N. Myrabo, "Flight Dynamics Simulation of Lightcraft Propelled by Laser Ablation", ASME Journal of Computational and Nonlinear Dynamics, Vol. 4(4) 2009

  14. J.H. Critchley, A. Binani, and K.S. Anderson, "Design and Implementation of an Efficient Multibody Divide and Conquer Algorithm", ASME Journal of Computational and Nonlinear Dynamics, Vol. 4(2) March 2009

  15. R.M. Mukherjee,P.S. Crozier, S.J. Plimpton, and K.S. Anderson, " Substructured Molecular Dynamics Using Multibody Dynamics Algorithms", International Journal of Nonlinear Mechanics - Nonlinear Mechanics and Dynamics of Macromolecules, Vol. 43(10), pp. 1040-1055, December 2008

  16. R.M. Mukherjee and K.S. Anderson, " Efficient Methodology for Multibody Simulations With Discontinuous Changes in System Definition", Multibody Systems Dynamics, Vol. 18, No. 2, pp. 145-168, September, 2007.

  17. R.M. Mukherjee, K.D. Bhalerao and K.S. Anderson " A Divide and Conquer Direct Differentiation Approach for Multibody Systems Sensitivity Analysis ", Structural and Multidisciplinary Optimization, Available online at http://www.springerlink.com, Paper DOI10.1007/s00158-007-0142-2, 2007.

  18. R.M. Mukherjee and K.S. Anderson " An Orthogonal Complement-Based Divide-and-Conquer Algorithm for Constrained Multibody Systems ", Nonlinear Dynamics, Vol. 48, No. 1-2, pp. 199-215, April, 2007.

  19. R.M. Mukherjee and K.S. Anderson " A Logarithmic Complexity Divide-and-Conquer Algorithm for Multi-Flexible Articulated Body Systems ", ASME Journal of Computational and Nonlinear Dynamics, Vol. 2, No. 1, pp. 10-21, 2007.

  20. K.S. Anderson, R. Mukherjee, J.H. Critchley, J.L. Ziegler, and S.R. Lipton " POEMS: Parallelizable Open-source Efficient Multibody Software ", Engineering With Computers, Vol. 23,No. 1, pp. 11-23, 2007.

  21. M. Oghbaei and K.S. Anderson, " A New Time-Finite-Element Implicit Integration Scheme for Multibody System Dyanmics Simulation ", Computer Methods in Applied Mechanics and Engineering, Vol. 195, pp. 7006-7019, 2006.

  22. K.S. Anderson and M. Oghbaei, " A Dynamics Simulation of Multibody Systems Using a New State-Time Methodology ", Multibody Systems Dynamics, Vol. 14, pp. 61-80, 2005.

  23. K.S. Anderson and M. Oghbaei, " A State-Tme Formulation for Dynamic Systems Simulation Using Massively Parallel Computing Resources ", Nonlinear Dynamics, Vol. 39, pp. 305-318, 2005

  24. O. Gundogdu, K.S. Anderson, and M. Parnianpour, " Simulation of Manual Materials handling: Biomedcial Assessment Under Different Lifting Conditions", Health and Technology, Vol. 13, pp. 57-66, 2005.

  25. O. Gundogdu, M. Parnianpour, and K.S. Anderson, " Development of a Genetic Algorithm Based Biomedical Simulation of Sagittal Lifting Tasks", Biomedical Engineering, Vol. 17, No. 1, pp. 12-19, 2005.

  26. J.H. Critchley and K.S. Anderson , " Parallel Logarithmic Order Algorithm for General Multibody System Dynamics ", Journal of Multiscale Computational Engineering, Vol. 12, No. 1, pp. 75-93, August 2004

  27. K.S. Anderson and Y.H. Hsu "Order(n+m)" Direct Differentiation Determination of Design Sensitivity for Constrained Multibody Dynamic Systems", Structural and Multidisciplinary Optimization, Vol 26, No. 3-4, pp. 171-182, February 2004. abstract

  28. J.H. Critchley and K.S. Anderson , "A Generalized Recursive Coordinate Reduction Method for Multibody Dynamic Systems", Journal of Multiscale Computational Engineering, Vol. 1, No. 2, pp. 181-200, 2003

  29. K.S. Anderson and J.H. Critchley, " Improved Order-n Performance Algorithm for the Simulation of Constrained Multi-Rigid-Body Systems", Multibody Systems Dynamics, Vol. 9, pp.185-212, 2003.

  30. Y.H. Hsu and K.S. Anderson, " Recursive Sensitivity Analysis for Constrained Multi-rigid-body Dynamic Systems Design Optimization", Structural and Multidisciplinary Optimization, Vol. 24, No. 4, pp. 312-324, October 2002. abstract

  31. K.S. Anderson and Y.H. Hsu, "Analytical Full-Recursive Sensitivity Analysis for Multibody Chain Systems", Multibody Systems Dynamics, Vo. 8, No. 1, pp. 1-27, 2002. abstract

  32. K.S. Anderson and Y.H. Hsu, "Domain Approximation and Deterministic Progression in Genetic Crossover", Engineering Optimization, Vol. 33, pp. 683-706, 2001 abstract

  33. Y.H. Hsu and K.S. Anderson, "Low Operational Order Analytic Sensitivity Analysis for Tree-Type Multibody Dynamic Systems", AIAA Journal of Guidance, Control and Dynamics, Vol. 24, No. 6. pp. 1133-1143, December 2001. abstract

  34. O. Kopmaz and K.S. Anderson, "On the Eigenfrequencies of a Flexible Arm driven by a Flexible Shaft", Journal of Sound and Vibrations, Vol. 240, no.4, pp 679-704, 2001. abstract

  35. K.S. Anderson and S. Duan, "Highly Parallelizable Low Order Dynamics Algorithm for Complex Multi-Rigid-Body Systems", AIAA Journal of Guidance, Control and Dynamics. Vol. 23, No. 2, March-April, 2000, pp. 355-364.

  36. K.S. Anderson and S. Duan, "Parallel Implementation of a Low Order Algorithm for Dynamics of Multibody Systems on a Distributed Memory Computing System", journal Engineering with Computers, Vol. 16, No. 2, 2000, pp 96-108. abstract

  37. K.S. Anderson and S. Duan, "A Hybrid Parallelizable Low Order Algorithm for Dynamics of Multi-Rigid-Body Systems: Part I, Chain Systems", journal Mathematical and Computer Modelling vol. 30, 1999, pp. 193-215. abstract

  38. K.S. Anderson and Gundogdu. "Optimal Trajectory Determination for Sagitally Symmetric Manual Lifting Tasks", journal Mathematical & Computational Applications, Vol. 4, No.2, pp.169-174, 1999.

  39. K.S. Anderson, "Efficient Modeling of General Multibody Dynamic Systems with Flexible Components", Computational Dynamics in Multibody Systems, Editors: M.S. Pereira, and J.A.C. Ambrosia, Kluwer Academic Press, Dordrecht, The Netherlands, 1995.

  40. K.S. Anderson, P. Hagedorn, "On the Energy Dissipation in Spacer-Dampers in Bundled Conductors of Overhead Transmission Lines," Journal of Sound and Vibration, Vol. 180, Nr. 4, pp. 539-556, 1995.

  41. K.S. Anderson, P. Hagedorn, "On the Control of Orbital Drift of Geostationary Tethered Satellites", AIAA Journal of Guidance, Control, and Dynamics, Vol. 17, Nr. 1, pp. 10-16, 1994.

  42. K.S. Anderson, "An Efficient Formulation for the Modeling of General Multi-Flexible-Body Constrained Systems", International Journal of Solids and Structures, Vol. 30, No. 7, pp. 921-945, 1993

  43. K.S. Anderson, "An Efficient Modeling of Constrained Multibody Systems for Application with Parallel Computing", Zeitschrift für Angewandte Mathematik und Mechanik, Vol. 73, No. 6, pp. 935-939, 1993.

  44. K.S. Anderson, "An Order-N Formulation for the Motion Simulation of General Constrained Multi-Rigid-Body Systems", journal Computers and Structures, Vol. 43, Nr. 3, pp. 565-579, 1992.

  45. K.S. Anderson, "An Order-N Formulation for the Motion Simulation of General Multi-Rigid-Body Tree Systems", journal Computers and Structures, Vol. 46, Nr. 3, pp. 547-559, 1991.

  46. O. Kopmaz and K.S. Anderson, "Identification of Nodal and Antinodal Lines Locations of Plates with Virtual Elements", Journal of Mathematical Modeling and Scientific Computing, vol. 10, 2000.

    see also Computational Dynamics Laboratory

    Mechanical, Aeronautical, and Nuclear Engineering
    at Rensselaer


    faculty