John Mitchell Center

Department of Engineering
University of Southern Maine
149 John Mitchell Center,
37 College Avenue,
Gorham, Maine 04038
Phone: 207.780.5287
Fax: 207.780.5129
engineering@usm.maine.edu

Engineering

Mehrdaad Ghorashi
Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering

EducationGhorash

Professional Experience

Dr. Ghorashi started his professional work in industry while he was a graduate student. He worked in the Indamine Shock Absorber Mfg. Co and the Mazda Company in Tehran for a total period of eight years. There, he served as the manager of the Quality Control Department and the manager of the R&D Department, respectively.

In 1995, after receiving his PhD, Dr. Ghorashi became an assistant professor in the Mechanical Engineering Department of Sharif University of Technology. In 2001, he was promoted to associate professor. During his sabbatical leave in 2002-2003, he worked with Professor Daniel J. Inman in Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University on the development of smart joints using shape memory alloys. In 2004, Dr. Ghorashi moved to Canada where he worked in Carleton University as a Postdoctoral fellow. There, he also decided to earn a second PhD and graduated in 2009. In September 2009, Dr. Ghorashi joined the Department of Engineering in the University of Southern Maine.  

During his career, he has worked on a variety of research topics including,

  1. Vibration Analysis and Control of Linear and Nonlinear Systems
  2. Application of Smart Materials (Shape Memory Alloys) as Actuators and Sensors
  3. Nonlinear Rigid Body Dynamics (with applications in ships and helicopter blades)
  4. Elasto-dynamic Analysis of Composite Helicopter Blades
  5. Structural Design using Variational Asymptotic and Finite Element Methods
  6. Stress Analysis and Limit State Analysis (for Plastic Design) of Structures

Teaching

USM:

Before USM:

Professional Memberships

Member, American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), 1997-present.
Member, Association of Professional Engineers of Ontario (PEO), 2005-present.

Refereed Journal Publications

  1. M. Ghorashi and F. Nitzsche, 2009, “Nonlinear Dynamic Response of an Accelerating Composite Rotor Blade using Perturbations,” Journal of Mechanics of Materials and Structures, Vol. 4, pp. 693-718.  
  2. M. Ghorashi and F. Nitzsche, 2008, “Steady State Nonlinear Dynamic Response of a Composite Rotor Blade Using Implicit Integration of Intrinsic Equations of a Beam,” International Review of Aerospace Engineering, Vol.1, pp. 225-233.
  3. H. Salarieh and M. Ghorashi, 2006, “Free Vibration of Timoshenko Beam with Finite Mass Rigid Tip Load and Flexural Torsional Coupling,” International Journal of Mechanical Sciences, Vol. 48, pp. 763-779.
  4. M. Shoeybi and M. Ghorashi, 2006, “Nonlinear Vibration Control of a System with Dry Friction and Viscous Damping Using the Saturation Phenomenon,” Nonlinear Dynamics. Vol. 45, pp. 249-272.
  5. M. Shoeybi and M. Ghorashi, 2005, “Control of a Nonlinear System Using the Saturation Phenomenon,” Nonlinear Dynamics, Vol. 42, pp. 113-136.
  6. H.M. Navazi and M. Ghorashi, 2005, “Comments on Non-linear Free Vibration Analysis of a String under Bending Moment Effects using the Perturbation Method,” Journal of Sound and Vibration, Vol. 285, No.1-2, pp. 511-511.
  7. T. Hesse, M. Ghorashi and D.J. Inman, 2004, “Shape Memory Alloy in Tension and Compression and its Application as Clamping Force Actuator in a Bolted Joint, Part 1 Experiment,” Journal of Intelligent Material Systems and Structures, Vol. 15, No. 8, pp. 577-587.
  8. M. Ghorashi and D.J. Inman, 2004, “Shape Memory Alloy in Tension and Compression and its Application as Clamping Force Actuator in a Bolted Joint, Part 2 Theory,” Journal of Intelligent Material Systems and Structures, Vol. 15, No.8, pp. 589-600.
  9. M. Aryanpour and M. Ghorashi, 2002, “Load Carrying Capacity of Circular and Annular Plates Using an Arbitrary Yield Criterion,” Computers & Structures, Vol. 80, No. 23, pp. 1757-1762.
  10. M. R. Rastegar and M. Ghorashi, 2001, “Discussion on Optimum Design of Vibration Absorbers for Structurally Damped Timoshenko Beams,” ASME Journal of Vibration and Acoustics, Vol. 123, No. 4, pp. 548-549.
  11. M. Aryanpour and M. Ghorashi, 2001, “Heave and Pitch Motions of a Ship due to Moving Masses and Forces,” Journal of Sound and Vibration, Vol. 241, No.2, pp.185-195.
  12. M. Ghorashi and M. Daneshpazhooh, 2001, “Limit Analysis of Variable Thickness Circular Plates," Computers & Structures, Vol. 79, No. 4, pp.461-468.
  13. M. Ghorashi, 2001, “Load Carrying Capacity of Simply Supported Variable Thickness Circular Plates," International Journal of Engineering, Vol. 14, No.2, pp.155-162.
  14. M. Ghorashi, June 2000, “Optimal Sequence of Inter-generational Borrowing and Lending Leading to the Escape from Poverty Trap Through an Invisible Hand," Computational Economics, Vol. 15, No. 3, pp. 251-272.
  15. M. Ghorashi, 1999, “Comments on Non-stationary Responses of a Non-linearly Coupled Pitch-Roll Ship Model under Modulated Excitation," Journal of Sound and Vibration, Vol.228, No.3, pp.701-702.
  16. M. Aryanpour and M. Ghorashi, 1999, “Comments on an Exact Solution for a Simplified Model of the Heave and Pitch Motions of a Ship Hull due to a Moving Load and a Comparison with Some Experimental Results," Journal of Sound and Vibration, Vol.227, No.5, pp.1119-1121.
  17. B. Mehri , G. Nakhaie Jazar, and M. Ghorashi,1997,  "Periodic Response of Nonlinear Third Order Systems with One Degree of Freedom," Iranian Journal of Science & Technology,  No. 27,  pp. 37-44.
  18. E. Esmailzadeh and M. Ghorashi, 1997, “Vibration Analysis of a Timoshenko Beam Subjected to a Traveling Mass," Journal of Sound and Vibration, Vol.199, No.4, pp.615-628.
  19. E. Esmailzadeh, M. Ghorashi, and A. R. Ohadi, 1996, “Analysis of Pre-loaded Bolted Joints under Exponentially Decaying Pressure," ASME Journal of Pressure Vessel Technology, Vol.118, No.4, pp.393-398. (The second author’s name has been wrongly printed Chorashi, but in an erratum on page 231 of the May 1997 issue this mistake has been resolved).
  20. E. Esmailzadeh, and M. Ghorashi, 1995, “Vibration Analysis of Beams Traversed by a Moving Mass," International Journal of Engineering, Vol.8, No.4, pp.213-220.
  21. E. Esmailzadeh, and M. Ghorashi, 1995, “Vibration Analysis of Beams Traversed by Uniform Partially Distributed Moving Masses," Journal of Sound and Vibration, Vol.184, No.1, pp.9-17.
  22. E. Esmailzadeh, M. Ghorashi, and B. Mehri, 1995, “Periodic Behavior of a Nonlinear Dynamical system," Nonlinear Dynamics, Vol.7, No.3, pp.335-344.
  23. M. Ghorashi, 1994, “Limit Analysis of Circular Plates Subjected to Arbitrary Rotational Symmetric Loadings," International Journal of Mechanical Sciences, Vol.36, No.2, pp.87-94.
  24. B. Mehri, and M. Ghorashi, 1994, “Periodically Forced Duffing’s Equation," Journal of Sound and Vibration, Vol.169, No.3, pp.289-295.
  25. B. Mehri, and M. Ghorashi, 1992, “Conditions for Existence of Periodic Solutions for Hill’s Equation," ZAMM (Zeitschrift fur angewandte Mathematik und Mechanik), Vol.72, No.6, pp.T590-T593.

Honors and Awards