Areas of study & research: Materials Mechanics Systems and Control Thermal and Fluid Sciences

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Curriculum Vita

Interest Areas

Dr. Griffin's general interest area is materials science. His specialties are aqueous corrosion: coatings, pipeline life prediction, and environmental cracking. In addition, he has an interest in the process of education and how that can be applied in a university setting.

Education

B.S. Pennsylvania State University 1964

Ph.D. Iowa State University 1969

Background

Dr. Griffin was trained as a metallurgist. He worked for the Department of the Army for eight years at the Watervliet Arsenal, Watervliet , NY . He has been at Texas A&M University , Mechanical Engineering since 1977. Within MEEN, he is a member of the materials group and has taught all of the materials classes within the department. Dr. Griffin has been actively involved in the area of corrosion. He has helped with a seawater test facility at Galveston , examined the corrosion under coatings, studied environmental cracking, and is currently interested in lifetime predictions of pipelines. For the past eight years, he has worked with the Foundation Coalition and helped develop freshman and sophomore program that involved active and collaborative learning. He has an interest in the learning process.

Research

• My primary area is in aqueous corrosion. Currently, I am examining the effect of grain size on corrosion rates of materials that has been severely deformed.
• We are also attempting to predict pipeline lifetimes. This is a complex problem and we are only in the beginning stages of our efforts.
• I am interested in the learning process. We have been considering the use of project based learning on the ability of students to improve their understanding and ability to design.

Distinctions

•  Outstanding Paper Award, with Stephen Krause , ASU at ASEE in Materials Division, June 2003, Nashville , TN.

•  Commander's Award for Civilian Service, United States Military Academy , West Point , NY , 2002

• ASME Student Section Award for Student Relations, 1998- 1999
• Faculty Distinguished Achievement Award in Student Relations, Assoc. of Former Students, Texas A&M University , May 93
• 1992 National Association of Corrosion Engineers (NACE) Technical Achievement Award
• Departmental Advising Award, Mechanical Engineering, 1992
• Best Student Relations Award, ASME , Mechanical Engineering, 1990, 1991
• Pi Tau Sigma - Member, Pi Tau Sigma Faculty Award, Spring 1980

Recent Journal Publications

•  Griffin , R. B., and Terrill, L., “Measurement of Viscosity: Classroom Demonstration,” Journal of Materials Education, Vol. 21 (3 & 4), pp. 169- 174, 2000.

•  Krause, Stephen, Decker, J. Chris, and Griffin , Richard, “Using a Material Concept Inventory to Assess Conceptual Gain in Introductory Materials Engineering Courses,” Frontiers In Education 2003, Westminster , CO , Nov. 2003.

•  Weinstein, Jeremy and Griffin , Richard, “A Novel Approach to Integrating Design into Manufacturing, and Materials Education Through the Fabrication of a Scale Model Cannon,” Frontiers In Education, Westminster, CO, Nov. 2003.

•  Griffin , Richard, “Use of Cambridge Engineering Selector in a Materials /Manufacturing Course,” National Educators Workshop, Update 2002: Standard Experiments in Engineering Materials , Science, and Technology,

•  Krause, Stephen and Griffin , Richard, “Identifying Student Misconceptions in an Introductory Materials Engineering Class,” ASEE Nashville , TN , June 2003.

•  Griffin , Richard, Klosky, Led, Vander Schaaf, Reid, Capt., “Beams in Bending; an Instrumented Classroom Demonstrator,” National Educators Workshop, Update 2002: Standard Experiments in Engineering Materials , Science, and Technology, San Jose , CA .

•  Griffin , Richard, Terry Creasy , and Jeremy Weinstein , “Laboratory Activity Using Rapid Prototyping and Casting,” ASEE Montreal , Canada , June 2002.

•  Griffin , Richard, “Use of In-Class Laboratory Activities In Large Section Classes,” ASEE Zone 1 Conference, USMA West Point , NY , March 2002.

•  Griffin, Richard B., K. Ted Hartwig , Robert Barber, Tiffany New, and Ibrahim Kara man “Development of a Deformation Processing Laboratory,” National Educators Workshop, Update 2001: Standard Experiments in Engineering Materials , Science, and Technology,

•  Griffin , Richard B., Terry S. Creasy “The Development of a Combined Materials /Manufacturing Processes Course at Texas A&M University ,”ASEE Albuquerque , NM , June 2001.

•  Yan, J-F, White, R.E., Griffin , R.B., "Parametric Studies of the Formation of Calcareous Deposits on Cathodically Protected Steel in Seawater," Journal of the Electrochemical Society, Vol. 140, pp. 1275-1280, 1993.