Bhavani V. Sankar is a professor in the Department of Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering at the University of Florida. He received his PhD in Aeronautics and Astronautics in 1984 from Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana. After a short stint at Bradley University, Peoria, Illinois, he joined the University of Florida Department of Aerospace Engineering, Mechanics and Engineering Science in August 1986.

Dr. Sankar's area of research is in mechanics of composite materials and structures, in particular, fracture and damage. He received continued support from the NASA for his innovative studies in modeling textile structural composite materials and through-the-thickness reinforcement of laminated composites. His current efforts are in developing models for the Integrated Thermal Protection System for space and hypersonic vehicles, fracture of cellular materials and impact damage tolerance of 3D woven composites. In 2008 he was awarded the University of Florida research Foundation Professorship for his sustained research efforts and accomplishments.

In addition to his research accomplishments, Dr. Sankar has received the Bisplinghoff Memorial Award for best teaching three times during his career at Florida. He received the Teaching Incentive Program Award twice, in 1994 and 1998. He has also received the UF College of Engineering 2008-09 Doctoral Dissertation Adviser/Mentoring Award.

Dr. Sankar has published more than 250 articles including more than 100 articles in archival journals. He is the co-author of a textbook on finite element methods entitled Finite Element Analysis and Design published by Wiley & Sons.  He is a Fellow of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, Fellow and Founding Member of the American Society for Composites, and an Associate Fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics. He serves on the editorial boards of the Journal of Sandwich Materials and Structures and CMES Computer Modeling in Engineering and Sciences and he is a member of the Scientific Advisory Board- Materials Science Foundations of the Trans-Tech Publications. He has served as an Associate Editor of the AIAA Journal and also on the Editorial Board of the Journal of Composite Materials. His other awards and recognitions include: W.J. Emmons Award, 1999, Co-Author of Annual Award Paper, Association of Asphalt Paving Technologists; American Society for Composites ASC/Destech Publications Award for sustained contributions to composite materials technology; Newton C. Ebaugh Professorship (2004-2015).

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