UNR research wins contracts, awards

For 14 years, Faramarz Gordaninejad has been developing technology to make cars, weapons systems, and buildings safer, and last week the University of Nevada, Reno, professor was recognized for it.

Gordaninejad received the 2003 Rudolf W.

Gunnerman Silver State Award for Excellence in Science and Technology.

The award, established in 2000 by Reno inventor and industrialist Dr.

Rudolf Gunnerman, carries with it a minted medal and $25,000 prize and is awarded by the Desert Research Institute.

"I was really honored to receive the award," said Gordaninejad, a native of Iran who received both his master's degree and PhD.

from the University of Oklahoma.

Gordaninejad, who has been a professor of mechanical engineering at UNR since 1984, is developing controllable shock absorbers that provide vibration control for aircraft and cars.

His research has produced slip-differential clutches for sport utility vehicles; shock and vibration absorbers for submarine weapons systems; and highforce smart dampers for bridges and buildings to protect them from earthquakes and high winds.

Gordnaninejad said his shock absorbers consist of three elements.

One is the material inside the device.

"Fifty years ago the material, magnetorealogical material, was invented," he said.

"It can change viscosity one thousand to 10 thousand times in six milliseconds."

The material is controlled by the second component, a sensor.

The material and sensor are then encased in the third component, the device known as the shock absorber.

Last year, his work received $1 million grants from the U.S.

Navy and U.S.

Army.

For the Navy, Gordaninejad is making shock absorbers to be used in nuclear submarines, and for the Army he's working on what he calls compressible, controllable fluids for heavy payload land vehicles.

Gordaninejad's research has also led to a new spin-off from UNR, Advanced Materials and Devices Inc.

The research and development company employs three people, including Gordaninejad, who is president and CEO.