Machine design; dynamics, tribology and control of rotating machinery; mechatronic systems (magnetic bearings in turbomachinery); machinery condition monitoring and fault detection; application of automatic control theory to mechanical systems for vibration reduction and stability.

Current Projects

Research Sponsors:

• Ohio Board of Regents
• NASA Glenn Research Center, Cleveland, Ohio
• Federal Mogul Corporation, Ann Arbor, MI
• Philips Medical Systems, Cleveland, Ohio
• General Electric Research & Development Center, Schenectady, N.Y.
• Allied Signal Corporation

Selected Journal Publications

1. Sawicki, J.T., Cavitation Effects on the Dynamics of Journal Bearings, International Journal of Applied Mechanics and Engineering, vol. 10, No. 3, pp. 515-526, 2005, (Special Issue dedicated to Professor Andrew Z. Szeri).

2. Rao, N. and Sawicki, J.T., Stability Analysis of a Rough Journal Bearing Considering Cavitation Effects, ASME Journal of Tribology , Vol. 127, pp. 112-119, 2005.

3. Sawicki, J.T., and Rao, N., Cavitation Effect on the Stability of a Submerged Journal Bearing, International Journal of Rotating Machinery, Taylor & Francis, 10(3): 1-6, 2004.

4. Rao, N., and Sawicki, J.T., Stability Analysis of Floating Ball Bearing, STLE - TRIBOLOGY TRANSACTIONS, Vol. 47(3), pp. 1-6, 2004.

5. Sawicki, J.T. and Rao, T., A Nonlinear Model for Prediction of Dynamic Coefficients in a Hydrodynamic Journal Bearing, International Journal of Rotating Machinery, Taylor & Francis, 10(6), 507-513, 2004.

6. Rao, N. and Sawicki, J.T., Stability Characteristics of Herringbone Grooved Journal Bearings Incorporating Cavitation Effects, ASME Journal of Tribology , Vol. 126, pp. 281-287, April 2004.

7. Sawicki, J.T., Montilla-Bravo, A., and Gosiewski, Z., Thermo-Mechanical Behavior of Rotor with Rubbing, International Journal of Rotating Machinery, Taylor & Francis, 9(1): 41-47, 2003.

8. Rao, N. and Sawicki, J.T., Dynamic Coefficients Prediction in Multi-lobe Journal Bearings Using a Mass Conservation Algorithm, STLE - TRIBOLOGY TRANSACTIONS, Vol. 46(3), pp. 414-420, July 2003.

9. Baaklini, G., Gyekenyesi, A.L., Smith, K.D., Sawicki, J.T., and Brasche, L., Tools for Engine Diagnostics under the NASA Aviation Safety Program, Materials Evaluation, Jornal of the American Society for Nondestructive Testing, Vol. 60, No. 7, pp. 878-883, 2002.

10. Yu, B., and Sawicki, J.T., Comparison of Mobility Method and Mass Conservation Method in a Study of Dynamically Loaded Journal Bearings,  International Journal of Rotating Machinery, Taylor & Francis, 8(1), pp. 71-79, 2002.

11. Rao, T., and Sawicki, J.T., Linear Stability Analysis for a Hydrodynamic Journal Bearing Considering Cavitation Effects, STLE - TRIBOLOGY TRANSACTIONS, Vol. 45(4), pp. 450-456, October 2002.

12. Sawicki, J.T., Some Advances in Diagnostics of Rotating Machinery Malfunctions, Journal of the Japan Society of Mechanical Engineers, pp. 138-144, September, 2002 (Invited Paper, International Symposium on Machine Condition Monitoring and Diagnosis, Tokyo, Japan, 25-26 September, 2002).

13. Sawicki, J.T. and Genta, G., Modal Uncoupling of Damped Gyroscopic Systems, Journal of Sound and Vibration, 244(3), pp. 431-451, Academic Press, 2001.

14. Sawicki, J.T. and Rao, T., Nonlinear Prediction of Rotordynamic Coefficients for a Hydrodynamic Journal Bearing, STLE - TRIBOLOGY TRANSACTIONS, Vol. 44(3), pp. 367-375, July 2001.

15. Sawicki, J.T., and Yu, B., Analytical Solutions of Piston Ring Lubrication Using Mass Conserving Cavitation Algorithm, STLE - TRIBOLOGY TRANSACTIONS, Vol. 43(3), pp. 419-426, July 2000.

16. Gawronski, W., and Sawicki, J.T., Structural Damage Detection Using Modal Norms, Journal of Sound and Vibration, 229(1), pp. 194-198, Academic Press, 2000.

17. Yu, B., Sawicki, J.T., and Dunaevsky, V., Analytical Solution of Piston Ring Pack Lubrication Problem for Truck Air Brake Compressor,  SAE Technical Publication # 1999-01-3769, 1999 (also in 2000 SAE Transactions,  Journal of Commercial Vehicles, ISBN 0-7680-0841-7)

18. Dunaevsky, V., Sawicki, J.T., Frater, J.L., and Chen, H.,  Analysis of Elastic Distortions of a Piston Ring in the Reciprocating Air Brake Compressor Due to the Installation Stresses, SAE Technical Publication # 1999-01-3770, 1999 (also 2000 SAE Transactions, Journal of Commercial Vehicles, ISBN 0-7680-0841-7).

19. Sawicki, J.T. and Padovan, J., Frequency Driven Phasic Shifting and Elastic-Hysteretic Partitioning Properties of Fractional Mechanical System Representation Schemes, Journal of the Franklin Institute, Pergamon Ltd., 336, pp. 423-433, 1999.

20. Sawicki, J.T., Padovan, J., and Al-Khatib, R., The Dynamics of Rotor with Rubbing, International Journal of Rotating Machinery, vol. 5, no. 4, pp. 295-304, Gordon and Breach Publishers, 1999.

21. Yu, B, Sawicki, J.T., Dunaevsky, V., Static and Dynamic Analysis of Bearings for Truck Brake Compressor, SAE Technical Publication # 982828, 1998 (also published in 1998 SAE Transactions, Vol. 107, Journal of Commercial Vehicles, pp. 661-668).

22. Padovan, J. and Sawicki, J.T., Non-Linear Vibrations of Fractionally Damped Systems, Nonlinear Dynamics, Kluwer Academic Publishers, 16, pp.321-336, 1998.

23. Gawronski, W.K., and Sawicki, J.T., Comments on Response Errors of Non-proportionally Lightly Damped Structures, Journal of Sound and Vibration, 210(2), pp.285-285, Academic Press, 1998.

24. Padovan, J., and Sawicki, J.T., Diophantinized Fractional Representations for Nonlinear Elastomeric Media, Computers & Structures, Vol. 66(2), pp. 613-626, 1998.

25. Sawicki, J.T., and Gawronski, W., Balanced Model Reduction and Control of Rotor-Bearing Systems, ASME Journal of Engineering for Gas Turbines and Power, Vol. 119, April 1997.

26. Gawronski, W., and Sawicki, J.T., Balanced Dissipative Controllers for Flexible Structures, ASME Journal of Dynamic Systems, Measurement and Control, Vol. 119, March 1997.

27. Padovan, J., and Sawicki, J.T., Diophantine Type Fractional Derivative Representation of Structural Hysteresis, Part I: Formulation, Computational Mechanics, Springer, Vol. 19, Number 5, pp. 335-341, April 1997.

28. Sawicki, J.T., and Padovan, J., Diophantine Type Fractional Derivative Representation of Structural Hysteresis, Part II: Fitting, Computational Mechanics, Springer, Vol. 19, Number 5, pp. 341-356, April 1997.

29. Gawronski, W., and Sawicki, J.T., Error Bounds for Non-Proportionally Lightly Damped Structures, Journal of Sound and Vibration, Academic Press, 200(4), pp. 543-550, 1997.

30. Padovan, J., Sawicki, J.T., and Leonov, A., Thermodynamic Properties of Fractional Differ-Integro Type Constitutive Relations, Journal of Thermal Stresses, 20(5), pp. 491-504, 1997.

31. Sawicki, J.T., Capaldi, R.J., and Adams, M.L., Experimental and Theoretical Rotordynamic Characteristics of a Hybrid Journal Bearing, ASME Journal of Tribology , Vol. 118, January 1997.

32. Gawronski, W., and Sawicki, J.T., Balanced Dissipative Controllers for Flexible Structures, ASME Journal of Dynamic Systems, Measurement and Control, Vol. 119, March 1997.

33. Sawicki, J.T., Adams, M.L., and Capaldi, R.J., System Identification Methods for Dynamic Testing of Fluid-Film Bearings, International Journal of Rotating Machinery, Gordon and Breach Publishers, Vol. 2, No. 4, pp. 237-245, 1996.

34. Rashidi, M., Ebiana, A., Sawicki, J. T., and Sinnadurai, R., Effects of Turbulence and Lubricant Inertia on Dynamics of Journal Bearings with Molten Zinc in Galvanizing Process, ASM Journal of Materials Engineering and Performance, Vol. 5, No. 6, pp. 710-728, 1996.

Awards and Professional Activities

• Advisor of Modern Control Design Project - won nationwide 4^th place in 1996 Comparative Motion & Control Design Engineering Contest, ASME Systems and Design Group (student Jeff Svec, award $3,000.00)
• NASA Glenn Research Center Certificate of Recognition for Research Contributions, 1997
• CAMP (Cleveland Advanced Manufacturing Program) Recognition for successful completion of CAMP Applied Research Program, December 1998.
• OUTSTANDING ENGINEERING EDUCATOR OF OHIO AWARD, Ohio Society of Professional Engineers, 2001
• FELLOW, American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME)
• University Distinguished Faculty Award for Research, 2004
• Dr. Jennie S. Wang Award for Faculty Excellence, 2004
• Smart Structures/NDE BEST PAPER Award, Smart Structures & Materials NDE for Health Monitoring and Diagnostics, SPIE, San Diego, CA, 2003
• Member, Society of Tribologists and Lubrication Engineers (STLE)
• Vice Chair, STLE Technical Committee for Bearings & Bearing Lubrication
• Member of American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA)
• ASME/ABET Mechanical Engineering Program Evaluator, since 2003
• Organized many conference sessions on dynamics, tribology and control of rotating machinery
• Technical Editor, IEEE/ASME Transactions on Mechatronics, 2003 - 2004
• Editorial Board Member, Journal of Applied Mechanics and Engineering, Spring 2000-present
• Faculty advisor of ASME Student Section at CSU, 1993 - present

Education and Experience

 EDUCATION

Case Western Reserve University, The Case School of Engineering, Cleveland, Ohio

Ph.D., Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering, Aug. 1992

 

Gdansk University, Gdansk, Poland

M.S., Applied Mathematics, Nov. 1986

 

Gdansk University of Technology, Gdansk, Poland

M.S., Mechanical Engineering, April 1980

 

EXPERIENCE

• Director, Center for Rotating Machinery Dynamics and Control (RoMaDyC)
• D.E. Bently and A. Muszynska Endowed Chair in Rotating Machinery, 2004 - present
• Professor, Cleveland State University, 2001-present
• Associate Professor, Cleveland State University, 1997-01
• Assistant Professor, Cleveland State University, 1993-97
• Director, Rotor-Bearing Dynamics & Diagnostics Laboratory, 1997-2006
• Summer  Faculty Fellow, NASA Glenn Research Center, Summers 1997, 1999-2005
• Sr. Rotor-Bearing Dynamics Research Engineer, Turbo Research, Inc., Lionville, PA, Summer 93
• Visiting Assistant Professor, Cleveland State University, Spring 1993
• Research Associate, Case Western Reserve University, Fall 1992
• Graduate Research Assistant, Case Western Reserve University, 1989-1992
• Research Engineer, Institute of Fluid-Flow Machinery, Polish Academy of Sciences, Gdansk, Poland, 1981-88Design Engineer, Turbine Control Division, ZAMECH, Elblag, Poland, 1980

Graduate Students

Present Students

1. Andreas Johansson
2. Kumar Nale
3. Jeremy Pettinato
4. Robert Tekesky
5. Wes Newman
6. Paul Weisheit
7. Yousef Qaroush

Previous Students

1. Ismail Mapara,  “Balanced Modeling and Control of Mechanical Systems”, Master of Science, October 1995.
2. Alan W. Hewston, “Attitude Control Subsystem for the Advanced Communications Technology Satellite”, M.S. Thesis, June 1996.
3. Rabih Al-Khatib, “Parametric Study of Rubbing in Rotating Machinery”, Master of Science, December 1997.
4. Peter D. Spencer, “A Review of Bond Graph Analysis for the Modeling of Dynamic Physical Systems within one or more Energy Domains”, Master of Science, May 1997.
5. Kenneth R. Bischof, “Theoretical and Experimental Studies in Flexible Rotor-Bearing Systems”, Master of Science, June 1998.
6. Biao Yu, “Lubrication Analysis in the Design of Reciprocating Machinery”, Doctoral Dissertation, November 1999.
7. Michael Hurrell, "Modeling and Control of Magnetically Levitated Flexible Rotors", Master of Science, April 2000.
8. Michael Engesser, “Development and Analysis of a New Hydrodynamic Spindle Support to Improve Manufacturing Performance of Precision Grinding Machines”, Doctoral Dissertation,  April 2000.
9. Azzam Quari, ”Thermo-Mechanical Behavior of Rotors with Rubbing,” Master of Science, June 2001.
10. Kenneth R. Bischof,  “Dynamics and Control of Magnetically Levitated High-Speed Rigid Rotor to Produce N-waved Orbits,“ Doctoral Dissertation, June 2002.
11. Subose Pai, “Development and Implementation of an Accurate Orbit Control of a Rigid Rotor Suspended in Active Magnetic Bearings,” Master of Science, February 2004.
12. Yongfen Gao, "Dynamics and Stability Analysis of Jeffcott Rotor with Rubs", Master of Science, July 2004.
13. Rahul Kallurwar, “Modeling and Performance Characteristics of Magnetically Suspended Machine Tool Spindle,” Master of Science, March 3, 2005.
14. Xi Wu, “Vibration-Based Crack-Induced Damage Detection of Shaft-Disk Systems,” Doctoral Dissertation, April 2005.
15. Albert Juhasz,  “Analysis and Numerical Optimization Modeling of Closed Cycle Gas Turbine Space Power Systems with Nuclear Heat Sources,” Doctoral Dissertation, April 2005.