The School of Mechanical and Materials Engineering Seminar Series, “Naval Sandwich composites & Underwater Explosions” Presented by Dr. Nilanjan Mitra

About the event

Naval Sandwich composites & Underwater Explosions

Presented by

Dr. Nilanjan Mitra, Associate Professor, School of Mechanical and Materials Engineering, Washington State University

Abstract

Understanding material and structural response requires recreating exact loading scenarios, which is often challenging. Using naval sandwich hulls under underwater explosions as an example, this talk will cover ship design, explosion physics, shock waves, cavitation, composite deformation, interfacial delamination, monitoring techniques, mitigation strategies, and the chemistry of adhesives and resin interactions with materials.

Biography

Before joining WSU in Fall 2025, Dr. Mitra was a faculty member for nearly 20 years at Johns Hopkins University and the Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, after earning his PhD from the University of Washington. Over his career, he has graduated eight PhD students, mentored around ten postdocs across disciplines ranging from physics and chemistry to engineering, and supervised numerous master’s and bachelor’s students. His research focuses on material response under extreme conditions, including shock, radiation, electromagnetic interference, corrosion, and high or low temperatures and pressures.