Contact Information

Primary Contact: Elizabeth (Betsy) Dumont
Associate Professor
Department of Biology
University of Massachusetts Amherst
Morrill Science Center
611 North Pleasant Street
Amherst, MA 01003-9297

Email: bdumont@bio.umass.edu
Office: 413 545-3565
Fax: 413 545-3243

My interest in finite element modeling stems from my interest in the evolution of craniofacial morphology in mammals. I use bats as model organisms because of their extreme diversity in head shape, the availability of data summarizing bite force and feeding behavior, and the selective pressure for reduced mass placed on them by flight. FEA provides a solution to the problem of visualizing patterns of stress and strain in the skulls of very small mammals that are difficult to bring into the lab. Other areas of my research include ecomorphology, plant-animal interactions, nutritional ecology, and the structure and evolution of trophic assemblages in mammals. 

Please see my lab web site (www.bio.umass.edu/biology/dumont/) for a complete description of my research program and PDFs publications.

Secondary Contact: Ian R. Grosse
Associate Professor
Department of mechanical and Industrial Engineering
University of Massachusetts Amherst
Engineering Laboratory Building
160 Governor's Drive
Amherst, MA  01003-2210

Email: grosse@ecs.umass.edu
Office: 413 545-1350
Fax: 413 545-1027

My primary research focus over the last ten years has been improving the integration of finite element analysis into engineering design. Earlier work involved development of discretization error estimation techniques and adaptive mesh refnement. This research was followed by the development of application specific, automated tools and frameworks for finite element modeling and analysis. In my current research we seek to improve the interoperability, reusability, and adaptability of engineering analysis models through the use of ontologies for representing design optimization and engineering analysis modeling knowledge. We also are keenly interested in the application of finite element modeling and analysis, and the development of associated supportive techniques and tools, to novel and challenging physical systems, such as those found in biological and biomechanical systems. Particular challenges in this domain are the highly irregular geometres of organic systems which typically must be digitally reconstructed from a stack of 2-D CT scans, understanding and modeling loading conditions and constraints, and to some extent understanding and defining material property behavior.

Please visit my web page for more information: www.ecs.umass.edu/mie/faculty/grosse.