Overview

Ph.D., Mechanical Engineering, 萝莉社 University
M.S., Mechanical Engineering, 萝莉社 University
B.S., Mechanical Engineering, Kettering University

Specializing in: Research, testing and certification for transportation seats and restraint systems under dynamic impact conditions.

Information

Areas of Research Interest
  • Fifteen years of experience in research testing for structural crashworthiness and injury biomechanics projects:
  • Research and development of automated methodology for evaluating ATD kinematics from accelerometer and angular rate sensor data
  • Research and development of measurement methods of ES-2re leg flail in side facing seats
  • Led experimental testing of ASSURE UAS Ground Collision project, developed transfer functions for neck shear and provided input on all applicable head and neck injury criteria
  • Experimental research testing for development and certification by analysis methods for aircraft interiors, aircraft and rotorcraft seating systems, and crashworthiness of metallic and composite structures and full-scale fuselage sections
  • Design and manufacturing of sub-system and component level testing for dynamic ATD impact and FMH testing and quasi-static component and structural testing
  • Troubleshooting, repair, and development of complex servo-hydraulic crash simulator systems and pneumatically powered launch systems, and inertia-based impact systems for full-scale, sled, and component tests
  • Twelve years of experience in software coding for data analysis and report generation.
  • Managed $10M, 2 year project for the design, construction, and installation of equipment for the specialized AVET building
Publications
  • Olivares, G., Zinzuwadia, C., Gomez, L., Huculak, R., and Kona Ravi, A., 鈥淐rashworthiness by Analysis: Vertical Drop Test and Simulation of a Composite H4000 Fuselage Section,鈥� The Ninth Triennial International Fire & Cabin Safety Research Conference, October 2019.
  • Huculak, R.D. and Lankarani, H.M., 鈥淢ethods of Evaluating ES-2 Leg Flail in Dynamic Evaluation and Certification Tests of Side-Facing Aircraft Seats,鈥� International Journal of Crashworthiness, 20:6, 613-628, 2015.
  • Huculak, R.D. and Lankarani, H.M., 鈥淯se of Euler Parameters for the Evaluation of ATD Head Trajectory from Angular Rate Sensor and Accelerometer Data in Aircraft Seat Certification Testing,鈥� International Journal of Crashworthiness, 18:2, pp. 174-182, 2013.
Professional Experience
  • 4/2011-Present | Laboratory Manager | National Institute for Aviation Research | USA
  • 10/2008-4/2011 | Research Engineer | National Institute for Aviation Research | USA
  • 3/2006-6/2008 | Research and Development Engineering Intern | Pierce Manufacturing | USA
  • 3/2005-12/2005 | Engineering Intern | First Technology Safety Systems (now Humanetics) | USA