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D. Alan Tree
Professor and Associate Dean for
Research
TEACHING INTERESTS:
Alan became a faculty member in 1990 after the completion of his
doctorate at the University of Illinois. He has worked in West Germany and
conducted part of his graduate studies at the University of Kassel in central
Germany where his interest and fluency in the German language paid off well.
He enjoys teaching any subject related to polymers, fluid mechanics or
thermodynamics. Recently, he has taught the core course in Materials Science,
the junior-level thermodynamics, and his specialty course in Polymer
Processing.
RESEARCH INTERESTS:
Polymer Engineering and Science
Alan's
research interests are aimed at optimizing the
potential of polymers in our society. In
particular he has been interested in the
conversion of common polymers such as polyethylene
to high strength materials which rival metals in
their mechanical properties. He has also worked
closely with industry to model polymer film, paper
and metal foil handling operations. Many of his
experiments exploit the physics of light as a
non-intrusive means of probing polymeric melt
flows. These studies have important implications
for energy conservation, plastics recycling and
the reliability of products.RECENT PAPERS:
1.
Mendes, L. J., T.-C. Tsai, K. A. High, M. S. High, D.
A. Tree, "A Model of Processing-Induced Microstructure
Formation in Polymeric Materials," J. Polym. Sci.:
Part B: Polym. Phys. 37 2571-2585 (1999).
2. Guan, X., M.
S. High and D. A. Tree, "Viscoelastic Effects in
Modeling Web Handling Systems: Unsteady State
Analysis," Journal of Applied Mechanics 65 234 (1998).
3. Guan, X., M.
S. High and D. A. Tree, "Viscoelastic Effects in
Modeling Web Handling Systems: Steady State Analysis,"
Journal of Applied Mechanics 62 908 (1995).
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