faculty.Henri Gavin

Henri Gavin, W. H. Gardner Jr. Associate Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Director of Undergraduate Studies

Henri Gavin received his bachelor's degree in civil engineering from Princeton University and his M.S. and Ph.D. degrees from the University of Michigan. After a postdoctoral year at Michigan as a research fellow, he joined the Duke faculty as an assistant professor of civil engineering in 1995.

Dr. Gavin's research interests are in the areas of structural dynamics, structural control, and related applications of controllable materials, especially the use of electrorheological and magnetorheological dampers for structural vibration suppression. This work encompasses rheology, non-Newtonian fluid mechanics, visco-elasticity, non-linear structural dynamics, and multivariable control. His research is sponsored primarily by NSF (Earthquake Hazard Mitigation Program), the Oak Ridge Associated Universities, and the North Carolina Space Grant Consortium. His experimental facilities include a high capacity load frame and a high-fidelity seismic simulator. He also has strong professional interests in structural behavior and structural integrity assessment techniques involving non-destructive evaluation.

His strong experimental background includes the management of the structural engineering and geotechnical centrifuge laboratory at Princeton. He also has experience as a design engineer with Combustion Engineering.

The results of Dr. Gavin's research have been reported in international journals, conferences and workshops on earthquake engineering, structural control, and smart structures and high performance materials.

Dr. Gavin is the director of the Center for Applied Control and the Structural Dynamics and Seismic Response Control Laboratory.

Education

• Ph.D. Civil Engineering, University of Michigan, 1994
• M.S.E. Civil Engineering, University of Michigan, 1988
• B.S.E. Civil Engineering, Princeton University, 1986

Professional Experience

• Associate Professor, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Duke University, 2002-Present
• Assistant Professor, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Duke University, 1995-2002
• Manager Structures and Mechanics Laboratory, Princeton University 1989-1991
• Design Engineer Combustion Engineering, Windsor CT 1988

Sample Publications [complete publication list]

Gavin, H.P., "Multi-duct electrorheological dampers," Journal of Intelligent Material Systems and Structures, vol 12, no. 5, (May 2002) pp. 301-366.

Gavin, H.P., "Annular Poiseuille Flow of ER and MR materials," Journal of Rheology, vol. 45, no. 4, (July-August 2001) pp. 983-994.

Gavin, H.P., "Control of Seismically-Excited Vibration using Electrorheological Materials and Lyapunov Methods," IEEE Transactions On Control Systems Technology, vol. 9, no. 1, (2001) pp. 27-36.

Gavin, H.P. and K.J. Reilly, "Submerged Funicular Arches," Journal of Structural Engineering, vol. 126, no. 5, (2000) pp. 627-630.

Gavin, H.P., "Design method for high-force electrorheological dampers," Smart Materials and Structures, vol. 7, no. 5 (1998) pp. 664-673.

Courses Taught

• EGR 75: Mechanics of Solids
• CE 130: Structural Design and Optimization
• CE 131: Matrix Structural Analysis
• CE 200: Engineering Data Analysis
• CE 263: Multivariable Control
• CE 265: Rheology
• CE 281: Experimental Systems
• CE 283: Structural Dynamics

Honors and Awards

• Klien Family Distinguished Teaching Award, 2006
  
• ASCE Walter L. Huber Civil Engineering Prize, 2005
  
• Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, 2002
• National Academy of Engineering, Frontiers in Engineering, participant 1998
• Packard Foundation Grant, Finalist 1997
• NSF CAREER Award 1996
• Junior Faculty Enhancement Award, Oak Ridge Associated Universities 1996
• Bailey, Steele & Mildred Tuition Fellowship, The University of Michigan 1991
• Elected to associate membership of Sigma Xi, Princeton University 1986

Professional and Service Activities

• Associate Editor, Journal of Engineering Mechanics (2004-present)
  
• Director of Undergraduate Studies (2003-2006)
• Member, Web-based Homework Committee (2002-present)
• Secretary, Pratt School of Engineering Faculty Council (2001-2002)
• Member, Pratt School of Engineering Faculty Council (2000-2002)
• Member, Pratt School of Engineering Infrastructure Working Group (1999-2000)
• Member, Pratt School of Engineering Building Committee (1999-present)
• Consultant, Free Electron Laser Laboratory Vibration Study (1999)
• Member, Fundamentals of Engineering Exam review lecture series (1997-present)
• Chair, CEE Department Faculty Core-Course Committee (2002-present)
• Chair, CEE Department Faculty Awards Committee (2001-present)
• Member, CEE Department Faculty Search Committee (2000-2001)
• Member, CEE Department Undergraduate Curriculum Review Committee (1997-1998)
• Member, CEE Department Faculty Search Committee (1998-1999)
• Undergraduate Research Faculty Advisor to Seven Undergraduates (1996-present)
• Faculty undergraduate academic advisor (1996-present)
• Faculty Secretary, Dept. of Civil & Environmental Engineering (1995-1997)
• Secretary, ASCE Committee on Structural Control (2002-present)
• Member, ASCE Committee on Structural Control (1999-present)
• Co-coordinator, Benchmark Problem on Seismic Isolation (1999-present)
• Program Committee, SPIE, Smart Systems for Bridges, Structures, and Highways (1998-present)
• Member, ASCE Engineering Mechanics Committee on Dynamics (1996-present)
• Member, ASCE Engineering Mechanics Committee on Experimental Analysis and
• Instrumentation (1995-present)
• Member, American Society of Civil Engineers, Structural Engineering Institute
• Member, Earthquake Engineering Research Institute
• Member, Sigma XI
• Member, Society for Experimental Mechanics
• Member, Structural Engineering Institute
• Reviewer for Advances in Structural Engineering, AIAA Journal, Army Research Office, ASCE Journal of Engineering Mechanics, ASCE Journal of Structural Engineering, ASME Journal of Vibration and Acoustics, American Control Conference, Civilian Research and Development Foundation, Computer-Aided Civil and Infrastructure Engineering, Computers and Structures, Earthquake Engineering and Structural Dynamics, Earthquake Spectra, Experimental Mechanics, IEEE Transactions on Control Systems Technology, International Journal of Solids and Structures, Journal of Guidance, Control, and Dynamics, Journal of Intelligent Material Systems and Structures, Journal of Smart Structures and Materials, Journal of Wind Engineering and Industrial Aerodynamics, National Science Foundation, Prentice-Hall, Soil Dynamics and Earthquake Engineering, Structural Engineering and Mechanics, U.S. Civilian Research and Development Foundation (CRDF)

Current and Ongoing Research

• Laursen, T.A., H.P. Gavin, and L.N. Virgin "Numerical and Experimental Models of Dry Friction Damping in Aeroelastic Structures," Air Force Office of Scientific Research
• Gavin, H.P. and A. Zaicenco, "Reliability of Advanced Base-Isolation for the Protection of Critical Facilities from Earthquake Hazards," Civilian Research & Development Foundation
• Gavin, H.P., J.E. Dolbow, R.L. Clark, E.H. Dowell, and TA Laursen, "WEAVE: Web-based Educational framework for Analysis, Visualization, and Experimentation," NSF: Course, Curriculum, and Laboratory Improvement.
• Gavin, H.P. and J.E. Dolbow, "Web-based Educational framework for Analysis, Visualization, and Experimentation," Duke University Center for Instructional Technology.
• Gavin, H.P. and J.E. Dolbow, "Instructional Network for Visualization, Analysis and Remote Experimentation," Duke University President's Fund for Educational Initiatives.
• Gavin, H.P., "Large-scale Hybrid Semi-active/Passive Base Isolation," NSF: US/Japan Program on Earthquake Disaster Mitigation.