Mehrdaad Ghorashi, PE

Professor of Mechanical Engineering

207-780-5166

mehrdaad.ghorashi@maine.edu

133 John Mitchell Center, Gorham Campus

Education

PhD (Mechanical Engineering) Carleton University, 2009
MSc (Economic and Social Systems Engineering) Institute for Research in Planning and Development, 1998
PhD (Mechanical Engineering) Sharif University of Technology, 1994
MSc (Mechanical Engineering) Sharif University of Technology, 1989
BSc (Mechanical Engineering) Sharif University of Technology, 1987

Research Interests

Professor Ghorashi's research activities have been on the following topics:

Vibration Analysis and Control of Mechanical Systems

Application of Shape Memory Alloys as Actuators

Nonlinear Rigid Body Dynamics (with applications in ships and helicopter blades)

Static and Rotational Dynamics of Composite Beams

Limit State Analysis and Metal Forming

Department of Engineering College of Science, Technology, & Health

Dr. Ghorashi has been a Professional Engineer (P.Eng.) in the Province of Ontario, Canada (in 2005-2011) and he is currently a Professional Engineer (P.E.) in the State of Maine, U.S. (since 2012). He has served as a certified Program Evaluator (PEV) for the Accreditation Board of Engineering and Technology (ABET) on behalf of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) in the 2014-2019 review cycles. In 2023, he joined the Subgroup on External Pressure in ASME’s Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code Committee (BPVC_II). He is also a member of the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES) PE Mechanical (in Machine Design and Materials) and the NCEES FE Mechanical committees.

Dr. Ghorashi started his professional career in industry while he was a graduate student. He worked at the Indamine Shock Absorber Mfg. Co. and the Iran Vanet (Mazda) Car Mfg. Co., in Tehran for a total period of eight years. In these companies, he served as the manager of the Quality Control Department and the manager of the Research and Development Department, respectively.

In 1995, after earning his first Ph.D. (on dynamics of structures under moving loads), Dr. Ghorashi joined the Mechanical Engineering Department of Sharif University of Technology as an Assistant Professor and in 2001 he was promoted to the Associate Professor rank. 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. After returning to Iran for a year, in 2004, Dr. Ghorashi moved to Canada. In 2006, at Carleton University in Ottawa, he was honored by receiving the Best Professor Award from the Carleton Student Engineering Society. In the same year, he enrolled for a second Ph.D. (this time on dynamics of nonlinear rotating composite beams with embedded actuators) and graduated in 2009. He then published a book, mainly based on this endeavor, by Springer in 2016.

Dr. Ghorashi joined the Department of Engineering at USM as its first full-time mechanical engineering faculty member in 2009. There, together with his research and teaching activities, he has been involved in service undertakings including membership of the Research Council, the Faculty Senate Executive Committee, and the Core Curriculum Committee.

Dr. Ghorashi has received the following SolidWorks certificates from Dassault Systèmes : CSWA, CSWA-S (simulation), CSWA-SD (sustainable design), CSWP, and CSWP-S (simulation). He is also a SolidWorks Accredited Educator.

Besides his education and research in Mechanical Engineering, Dr. Ghorashi has earned an MSc in Economic and Social Systems Engineering from the Institute for Research in Planning and Development in Tehran. His main subject of research in this area has been Overlapping Generations Model and Micro-based Macro-economics. Finally, Dr. Ghorashi has been active in supporting civil rights movements, as explained below:

‘Woman, Life, Freedom’: Professor stands in solidarity with Iranian protesters

Q&A with Professor Mehrdaad Ghorashi about mass protests across Iran

Selected Publications

Book: M. Ghorashi, 2016, Statics and Rotational Dynamics of Composite Beams, Springer.

Additional Publications

Refereed Papers:

Mehrdaad Ghorashi, 2022, New insights on the Falling Ladder Problem, Meccanica (Springer Nature), https://rdcu.be/cR0W5.
Ali Ghorashi and Mehrdaad Ghorashi, 2020, Theoretical and Computational Analysis of the Falling Ladder Problem, SN (Springer Nature) Computer Science, https://doi.org/10.1007/s42979-019-0019-7.
M. Ghorashi, 2018, Nonlinear Static and Stability Analysis of Composite Beams by the Variational Asymptotic Method, International Journal of Engineering Science, Vol. 128, pp. 127-150.
M. Ghorashi, 2018, Closed-Form Solutions for the Load-Carrying Capacity of Annular Plates, International Journal of Mechanical Sciences, Vol. 136, pp. 313-320.
M. Davis, and M. Ghorashi, 2018, A Holistic Approach for Deciphering the Operation of Planetary Gear Train Systems, ASEE's Journal of Engineering Technology, Vol. 35, pp. 16-25.
A. Rhazzali and M. Ghorashi, 2017, Limit Analysis of Circular Plates with Arbitrary Rotational Symmetric Loading Using Fourier Series Expansion, International Journal of Mechanical Sciences, Vol. 130, pp. 274-281.
M. Davis, and M. Ghorashi, 2016, “A Hybrid Hands-on and Simulation Method for Teaching the Operation of Automatic Transmission Systems,” ASEE Northeastern Section Conference, Kingston, RI, April 28-30, 2016. Awarded Second Place in the Best Paper Award Competition.
M. Ghorashi, 2012, “Nonlinear Analysis of the Dynamics of Articulated Composite Rotor Blades,” Nonlinear Dynamics, Vol. 67, pp. 227-249.
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.
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.
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.
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.
M. Shoeybi and M. Ghorashi, 2005, “Control of a Nonlinear System Using the Saturation Phenomenon,” Nonlinear Dynamics, Vol. 42, pp. 113-136.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
M. Ghorashi and M. Daneshpazhooh, 2001, “Limit Analysis of Variable Thickness Circular Plates," Computers & Structures, Vol. 79, No. 4, pp.461-468.
M. Ghorashi, 2001, “Load Carrying Capacity of Simply Supported Variable Thickness Circular Plates," International Journal of Engineering, Vol. 14, No.2, pp.155-162.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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).
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.
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.
E. Esmailzadeh, M. Ghorashi, and B. Mehri, 1995, “Periodic Behavior of a Nonlinear Dynamical system," Nonlinear Dynamics, Vol.7, No.3, pp.335-344.
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.
B. Mehri, and M. Ghorashi, 1994, “Periodically Forced Duffing’s Equation," Journal of Sound and Vibration, Vol.169, No.3, pp.289-295.
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.