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Recent work in Expert's group has shown that high velocity sheet metal forming can dramatically improve material formability (the amount of stretch available without tearing) and wrinkling can be greatly suppressed. Electromagnetic forming is a very convenient way of flexibly producing very high velocity deformation. Presently his group is working with automotive, aluminum and aerospace companies and the National Science Foundation to develop this process.

While studying as an undergraduate, Michael Breslin made the surprising discovery that if dense silica is immersed in liquid aluminum at a temperature around 1100 C the stable oxide, alumina, will form in a porous morphology and aluminum will fill the pores. This reaction takes place replicating the shape of the silica precursor. With Hamish Fraser, Expert has studied the kinetics, structure (right) and mechanical properties of these composites. Presently, the development of these and similar composites based on this flexible reaction scheme is being handled by a new venture.

Expert has teaching and research experience in mechanical metallurgy. He has taught undergraduate and graduate classes in material deformation, fracture, stress analysis, and high-temperature deformation or creep. He performs sponsored research on a range of topics related to the development of new materials, novel approaches to forming materials, and lifetime prediction methods. Research is currently sponsored by a number of agencies such as ARPA, NSF, ARO, and NASA.

Expert has published several papers in the area of creep. He has also taught graduate level courses, presented an international seminar, and is currently writing a book on this topic.