Tim PattersonAssistant Professor School of Mechanical Engineering Ph.D., Georgia Institute of Technology, 1991

Timothy F. Patterson received his Bachelor's in Mechanical Engineering degree from the University of Lowell (now University of Massachusetts at Lowell). After graduating, he worked at Johnson Space Center providing engineering support for Space Shuttle operations. He then returned to academia and earned a Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Northeastern University. The research for his degree was performed at the U.S. Army Natick Research and Development Center and focused on simulation, design and testing of airdrop platforms. After graduating he spent a year and a half working for Northrop Corporation developing control systems for pilotless aircraft. He then entered the PhD program in Engineering Science and Mechanics at Georgia Tech. The research was funded through a NASA fellowship and focused on characterizing the compliance and stiffness properties of deformable bodies with specific applications to robotics. He graduated in 1991 and began work at IPST as a research engineer in 1993. He joined the faculty at IPST in the fall of 2000.

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Research Summary

Dr. Patterson's research is focused on operations associated with the paper machine, specifically, pressing and drying with some work in stock preparation and forming. The work involves a broad application of mechanical engineering principles to new process development, process optimization, new equipment development and equipment optimization. The disciplines utilized include heat transfer, fluid mechanics, thermodynamics, machine design, mechanics of materials, and instrumentation. Both experimental and theoretical approaches are used. Recent projects have included; infrared heating and drying, microwave drying, acoustic separation technologies, pneumatically enhanced pressing, and web transfer.