STUDENT RECOGNITION
Andrew Crandall
Mr. Andrew Crandall is a doctoral student in the Department
and testing, and says that his dream job would be to work for
of Mechanical Engineering at Texas A&M University. His focus is
a small firm that would allow him to develop propulsion hard-
rotordynamics, a specialized branch of structural dynamics con-
ware from the beginning stages to the end.
cerned with the behavior and analysis of rotating machinery.
After studying structural dynamics and receiving his
ed in the aerospace applications of turbomachinery. He hopes
B.S. and M.S. degrees in mechanical engineering at Purdue
to see hardware that he designed fly in space. Last summer he
University, Andrew discovered the closely related subject of
had the opportunity to participate in a study which investigat-
rotordynamics. Since his aspiration is jet engines, rocket pro-
ed how average people (non-astronauts) react to the acceler-
pulsion development, and anything that spins or vibrates, a
ations experienced during a suborbital spaceflight, particularly
Ph.D. in rotordynamics seemed like a good marriage for his ex-
during ascent and reentry. The study took place in a centrifuge
isting skill set and specialized knowledge that he would need
(a device which rotates at various speeds to impart centrifugal
to reach his career goals.
force on a subject) at the NASTAR Center in Southampton, PA.
While familiarizing himself with experimental research
While humans normally experience 1g acceleration walking
in rotordynamics he came across many references to Dr. Dara
around Earth, Andrew experienced 6g through the chest and
Childs, Leland T. Jordan Chair Professor, Regents Professor, and
4g head-to-toe in the centrifuge. Andrew explained that the
Director of the Texas A&M Turbomachinery Laboratory. After a
head-to-toe acceleration forces blood away from the brain and
cursory study of Dr. Childs’ work, especially his support of the
he had to perform a strain maneuver to prevent tunnel vision.
Space Shuttle main engine turbopump development, Andrew
Andrew said he would like to be an astronaut, but he would
decided the A&M Turbomachinery Lab was a very good fit.
prefer working on the moon or Mars over floating in space.
“I have been at the Turbomachinery Laboratory since January
2013 and I am privileged to work for Dr. Childs, and his very intelligent and experienced students and engineers,” says Andrew. “I find my research personally enriching and enjoyable,
Andrew is an aviation buff and is particularly interest-
“If I can do it, anyone can do it.”
in no small part due to the knowledge, patient guidance, and thoroughly entertaining anecdotes that Dr. Childs provides.”
Pursuing a Ph.D. has been enriching and satisfying for Andrew.
Andrew explained that Dr. Childs is easily accessible, he al-
He discovered that many of the undergraduate courses that
lows his students to manage and pace their own projects, and
he felt were uninteresting and boring actually are useful in the
that his “old man stories” as Dr. Childs’ calls them, are usually
laboratory now. He explained that he needed that undergrad-
rocket related.
uate knowledge to understand how to function in the Turbo
The most exciting part of his research at the Turbo Lab
Lab as a Ph.D. student. Andrew’s encouragement to other stu-
is seeing the design that was created unfold with the actual
dents interested in a doctorate program is “If I can do it, any-
parts that are used to build it. His lab group designed a ma-
one can do it. Getting a Ph.D. degree builds upon your under-
chine for measuring the stiffness and damping coefficients of
graduate experience, and you’re not starting from scratch.”
a thrust bearing. He is passionate about designing, building,
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