Sunny Karnani

Graduate Student Researcher

Education:

Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering - University of California, Irvine - In Progress
Masters of Science in Mechanical Engineering - University of California , Los Angeles -2008
Emphasis in Solid/Structural Mechanics
Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering - University of California , Irvine - 2006
Emphasis on miniature IC engines

Honors and Awards:

Pi Tau Sigma - National Engineering Honor Society
2003 UROP FELLOW Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program
2005 SURP FELLOW Summer Undergraduate Research Program

Research:

Lasers, Flames, and Aerosols Laboratory, University of California , Irvine CA September, 2007 - Present

- Currently studying the effects of electric field on small flames

Active Materials Lab - University of California , Los Angeles, 2006-2007

- Design, fabrication, and testing of carbon fiber-reinforced polymers with embedded fiber Bragg

grating sensors to conduct real-time strain measurement for aerospace structures.

- Developed an opto-coupled thermosensor based on shape-memory effect.

Lasers, Flames, and Aerosols Laboratory, University of California , Irvine CA June, 2004 - August 2006

- Developed and tested a miniature internal combustion engine dynamometer

- Programmed LabView interface for miniature ICE dynamometer

Teaching Experience: COSMOS Laboratory instructor for the Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Cluster 4 week summer course for pre-college students,

July2004; July 2005; July 2006; July 2008

Misc.

- Languages: C++, FORTRAN 77

- Applications: LabView, Solidworks, Unigraphics NX, MSC Patran/Nastran, MatLab, CO MSOL

- Material Processing/Testing: Arbor Mill, Lathe, Instron 8516 Load Test Machine, Composite Fabrication

Recent Publications:

Karnani,S., Bennett, M., Dunn-Rankin, D. (2008) Electrical Properties of Small Diffusion Flames, Paper 08S-4,

Western States Section/The Combustion Institute Spring Meeting, University of Southern California , March 17-18.

K.P. Mohanchandra, S. Karnani, M. C. Emmons, W. L. Richards, and G. P. Carman.(2008) Thin

Film NiTi coatings on optical fiber Bragg sensors, Applied Physics Letters 93,

K.P. Mohanchandra, M. C. Emmons, S. Karnani, G. P. Carman and W. L. Richards.(2008) Response of

Optical fiber Bragg sensors with a thin film shape memory alloy coating, PaperSMASIS08-455,

ASME2008 Conference on Smart Materials, Adaptive Structures & Intelligent Systems, Ellicott City , MD , March 28-30.

M.C. Emmons, S. Karnani, S. Trono, K. P. Mohanchandra, G. P. Carman and W. L.Richards. (2008)

Characterization of optical fiber Bragg gratings as strain sensors considering load direction, Paper SMASIS08-453,

ASME2008 Conference on Smart Materials, Adaptive Structures & Intelligent Systems, Ellicott City , MD , March 28-30.

Pompa ,J., Karnani, S., and Dunn-Rankin, D. (2006) Effects of Cooling Techniques on Flame Propagation in a

Centimeter-Scale Four-Stroke Engine, Paper 06S-24, Western States Section/The Combustion Institute Spring Meeting,

University of Idaho , Boise , March 27-28.

Pompa,J., Karnani, S., Mulroney, A., Leal, A., and Dunn-Rankin, D. (2005) Effects of Hydrogen

Addition on Combustion in a Miniature Four-Stroke Engine, Paper 05-F27, Proceedings of the

Western States Section/The Combustion Institute Fall Meeting, Stanford , CA , October17-18.

Pompa, J., Karnani, S., Mulroney, A., Leal, A., and Dunn-Rankin, D. (2005) Emissions Levels of

A Centimeter Scale Four-Stroke Engine, XVth International Symposium on Alternative Fuels, San

Diego , CA , September 26-28.

A complete list of publications can be found here.

For a copy of my complete resume please email me at skarnani@gmail.com