Faculty Highlight: Ashraf Bastawros
Author: John Burnett-Larkins
T.A. Wilson Professor of Aerospace Engineering Ashraf Bastawros brings a research and teaching focus on aerospace structures and materials to the department, with specific emphasis on characterization of failure modes in advanced material systems, especially in micro and nano scales.
His work incorporates identifying deformation mechanisms at the interface of different phases of composite materials. Much of his work deals with ice accretion on different engineered surfaces.
In 2021 his significant efforts were noted when he was named a Fellow of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), a recognition of distinction for outstanding achievements in engineering.
His research is supported with $13M in funding from a number of different federal agencies and industrial outlets.
Bastawros’ expertise has also been far-reaching in education of engineering students. He has built micro and nanoscale mechanics testing facilities with state-of-the-art analytical equipment in his Howe Hall laboratory. This aids both undergraduate and graduate students in understanding contemporary methods and technological advances in research and testing. He has introduced a formal structure for undergraduate student curriculum in composite structure and has also re-developed the graduate student curriculum in his specialty areas. He has mentored 22 master’s students and 15 Ph.D. students.
Bastawros came to Iowa State in 1999 after receiving a B.S. and M.S. in mechanical engineering at Cairo University, and an M.S. in applied mathematics and Ph.D. in engineering at Brown University. He also performed post-doctoral research at Harvard University.
ASME is a global engineering organization promoting the art, science, and practice of multidisciplinary engineering and allied sciences around the world through research, standards, professional development and more. It has more than 110,000 members in more than 150 countries. Only three percent of ASME members have achieved the rank of Fellow. The honor is conferred by ASME members and Fellows.