Dr. R. Andrew Swartz

Assistant Professor

Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering

Michigan Technological University

 

1400 Townsend Dr.

Houghton, MI 49931

 

(906) 487-2439

201D Dillman Hall

Email: raswartz@mtu.edu

[   Education    |    Research    |    Recruitment    |    Publications    |    Courses   ]
Education
 
  • Ph.D. Civil Engineering; University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
  • M.S. Electrical Engineering, Systems; University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
  • M.S. Civil Engineering; University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
  • B.S. Civil Engineering; Michigan Technological University, Houghton, MI

 
Research Interests
 

     My research interests are driven by the practice of embedded and autonomous interrogation of data collected remotely for the management and protection of both civil infrastructure assets and their occupants.  Sustainable management of civil infrastructure systems requires not only the collection of relevant data, but also a means of conditioning and interpreting these data such that they can be of use for making decisions regarding both performance and structural health.  Novel sensor designs with embedded data processing power offer the advantage of autonomous operation.  My research interests lie in the application computationally efficient and robust embedded algorithms for monitoring and protection of civil infrastructure assets such as buildings, bridges, pipelines, wind turbines, roadways, and railroads.  My work draws upon a diverse range of fields including structural dynamics, performance monitoring, structural health monitoring, structural control, load estimation, system identification, embedded algorithms, signal processing, embedded system design, computer science, and wireless sensor technologies.

 
Graduate Student Research Assistant Opportunity
 

I am currently seeking a Ph.D. level student to work in the area of wireless structural control.  Students interested in interdisciplinary work (structural, mechanical, and electrical engineering) including control theory, wireless communication, actuators, and hardware development are encouraged to apply.  Email an application to me (raswartz@mtu.edu); the application should include a cover letter (that expresses your research interests and relevant work and/or research experience) and a resume or CV; a short list of references would also be welcome, but is optional.

 
Publications
 

Journal Publications:

  • Swartz, R. A., Zimmerman, A. T., Lynch, J. P., Rosario, J., Brady, T., Salvino, L., and Law, K. H., “Hybrid Wireless Hull Monitoring System for Naval Combat Vessels,”  Structure and Infrastructure Engineering, Taylor and Francis (in review).

  • Kim, J., Swartz, R. A., Lynch, J. P. Lee, J.-J., and Lee, C.-G., "Rapid-to-Deploy Reconfigurable Wireless Structural Monitoring Systems using Extended-Range Wireless Sensors," Journal of Smart Structures and Systems, Techno Press (accepted and in press).

  • Swartz, R. A., Lynch, J. P., Sweetman, B., Rolfes, R., and Zerbst, S., “Structural Monitoring of Wind Turbines using Wireless Sensor Networks,” Journal of Smart Structures and Systems, Techno Press (accepted and in press).

  • Swartz, R. A. and Lynch, J. P. (2009), “Strategic Network Utilization in a Wireless Structural Control System for Seismically Excited Structures,” Journal of Structural Engineering, ASCE, 135(5), pp. 597-608.

  • Flynn, E. B., Swartz, R. A., Backman, D. E., Park, G., Farrar, C. R. (2009), "Active-Sensing Lamb Wave Propagations for Damage Identification in Honeycomb Aluminum Panels," Journal of the Korean Society for Nondestructive Testing, Vol. 29, No.4, pp. 269-282 (invited).

  • Zimmerman, A. T., Shiraishi, M., Swartz, R. A., and Lynch, J. P. (2008), “Automated Modal Parameter Estimation by Parallel Processing within Wireless Monitoring Systems,” Journal of Infrastructure Systems, 14(1), pp. 102-113, ASCE.

  • Lynch, J. P., Wang, Y., Swartz, R. A., Lu, K.-C., and Loh, C.-H. (2007), "Implementation of a Closed-Loop Structural Control System using Wireless Sensor Networks," Journal of Structural Control and Health Monitoring, 15(4), pp. 518-539, Wiley.

  • Wang, Y., Swartz, R. A., Lynch, J. P., Law, K. H., Lu, K.-C., and Loh, C.-H. (2007), "Decentralized Civil Structural Control using Real-time Wireless Sensing and Embedded Computing," Smart Structures and Systems, 3(3), pp. 321-340, Techno Press.

  • Peterson, K. W., Swartz, R. A., Sutter, L. L., and Van Dam, T. J. (2001), “Hardened Concrete Air Void Analysis with a Flatbed Scanner,” Transportation Research Record, n 1775, pp. 36-43, Transportation Research Board.

Book Chapters:

  • Swartz, R. A. and Lynch, J. P. (2009), “Wireless Sensors and Networks,” in Structural Health Monitoring of Civil Infrastructure (Ed. Vistasp M. Karbhari and Farhad Ansari), Woodhead, England.

Conference Proceedings:

  • Swartz, R. A., Lynch, J. P., and Loh, C.-H. (2009), “Decentralized Damage Detection by Transfer Function Pole Migration in Dense Sensor Networks” 7th International Workshop on Structural Health Monitoring, Stanford, CA, U.S.A.

  • Swartz, R. A. and Lynch, J.  P. (2009), “Self-Tuning Control of Seismically Excited Civil Structures over a Wireless Sensor Network,” ANCRiSST 2009-The Fifth International Workshop on Advanced Smart Materials and Smart Structures Technology, Boston, MA, U.S.A.

  • Swartz, R. A., Lynch, J. P., and Loh, C.-H. (2009), “Near Real-Time System Identification in a Wireless Sensor Network for Adaptive Feedback Control,” 2009 American Control Conference, St. Louis, MO, U.S.A.

  • Wang, Y., Swartz, R. A., Zimmerman, Askin, A. C., Lynch, J. P., Law, K. H., Lu, K.-C., and Loh, C.-H. (2008), “Decentralized Wireless Structural Sensing and Control with Multiple System Architectures Operating at Different Sampling Frequencies,” Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering, San Diego, CA, U.S.A.

  • Swartz, R. A., Lynch, J. P., Sweetman, B., Rolfes, R. and Zerbst, S. (2008), “Structural Monitoring of Wind Turbines using Wireless Sensor Networks,”  Proceedings of the ESF-NSF Workshop on Sensor Networks for Civil Infrastructure Systems, Cambridge, U.K.

  • Lynch, J. P., Swartz, R. A., and Zimmerman, A. T. (2008), “Distributed Data Processing Architectures for Structural Monitoring Systems Implemented on Wireless Sensor Networks,”  Proceedings of the Fourth European Workshop on Structural Health Monitoring, Poland.

  • Swartz, R. A. and Lynch, J. P. (2008), “Damage Characterization of the Z24 Bridge by Transfer Function Pole Migration,” Proceedings the 26th IMAC Conference on Structural Dynamics, Orlando, FL.

  • Zimmerman, A. T., Swartz, R. A., and Lynch, J. P. (2008), “Automated Identification of Modal Properties in a Steel Bridge Instrumented with a Dense Wireless Sensor Network,” Proceedings of the Fourth International Conference on Bridge Maintenance, Safety, and Management, Seoul, Korea.

  • Swartz, R. A., Zimmerman, A. T., Lynch, J. P. (2007), "Structural Health Monitoring System with the Latest Information Technologies," Proceedings of the Infrastructure and Environmental Management Symposium in Yamaguchi 2007, Ube, Yamaguchi, Japan.

  • Swartz, R. A. and Lynch, J. P. (2007), “Partial Decentralized Wireless Control Through Distributed Computing for Seismically Excited Civil Structures: Theory and Validation,” 2007 American Control Conference, New York City, USA.

  • Zimmerman, A. T., Swartz, R. A., Saftner, D., Lynch, J. P., Shiraishi, M., and Setareh, M. (2007), "Parallel Data Processing Architectures for Identification of Structural Modal Properties using Dense Wireless Sensor Networks," Proceedings of the World Forum on Smart Materials and Smart Structures Technology, Chongqing, China. 

  • Wang, Y., Swartz, R. A., Lynch, J. P., Law, K. H., and Loh, C.-H. (2006), "Performance Evaluation of Decentralized Wireless Sensing and Control in Civil Structures," SPIE 14th Annual International Symposium on Smart Structures and Materials, San Diego, CA. 

  • Wang, Y., Swartz, R. A., Lynch, J.P., Law, K. H., Lu, K.-C. and Loh, C.-H. (2006). "Wireless Feedback Structural Control with Embedded Computing," Proceedings of SPIE 11th International Symposium on Nondestructive Evaluation for Health Monitoring and Diagnostics, 6177: 61770C, San Diego, CA.  [Best student paper award winner.]

  • Swartz, R. A. and Lynch, J. P. (2006), "Redundant Kalman Estimation for a Distributed Wireless Structural Control System," Proceedings of the US-Korea Workshop on Smart Structures Technology for Steel Structures, Seoul, Korea. 

  • Wang, Y., Swartz, R. A., Lynch, J. P., Law, K. H., Lu, K.-C., and Loh, C.-H. (2006), "Decentralized Real-time Velocity Feedback Control of Structures using Wireless Sensors," Proceedings of the 4th International Conference on Earthquake Engineering, Taipei, Taiwan. 

  • Wang Y., Swartz, R. A., Lynch, J. P., Law, K. H., Lu, K.-C., and Loh, C.-H. (2006), "Application of Decentralized Wireless Sensing and Control in Civil Structures," Proceedings of the US-Taiwan Workshop on Smart Structural Technology for Seismic Hazard Mitigation, Taipei, Taiwan.

  • Swartz, R. A. and Lynch, J. P. (2006), "A Multirate Recursive ARX Algorithm for Energy Efficient Wireless Structural Monitoring," Proceedings of the 4th World Conference on Structural Control and Monitoring (4WCSCM), San Diego, CA. 

  • Wang Y., Swartz, R. A., Lynch, J. P., Law, K. H., Lu, K.-C., and Loh, C.-H. (2006), "Decentralized Civil Structural Control using a Real-time Wireless Sensing and Control System," Proceedings of the 4th World Conference on Structural Control and Monitoring (4WCSCM), San Diego, CA. 

  • Wang Y., Swartz, R. A., Lynch, J. P., Law, K. H., Lu, K.-C., and Loh, C.-H. (2006), "Wireless Feedback Structural Control with Embedded Computing," SPIE 13th Annual International Symposium on Smart Structures and Materials, San Diego, CA. 

  • Swartz, R. A., Flynn, E., Backman, D, Hundhausen, R. J., and Park, G. (2006), “Active Piezoelectric Sensing for Damage Identification in Honeycomb Aluminum Panels,” Proceedings of the 24rd IMAC Conference on Structural Dynamics, St. Louis, MO.

  • Swartz, R. A., Jung, D., Lynch, J. P., Wang, Y., Shi, D., and Flynn, M. P. (2005), "Design of a Wireless Sensor for Scalable Distributed In-Network Computation in a Structural Health Monitoring System," Proceedings of the 5th International Workshop on Structural Health Monitoring, Stanford, CA.

 
Current Courses
 

CE 3202     Fall Semester 2012

     Structural Engineering I       Course Website

 

CE 5250    Spring Semester 2012

    Special Topics: System Identification     Course Website