Trevor G Aguirre

Bio

Dr. Aguirre joined Oak Ridge National Laboratory in October 2020 as an Alvin M. Weinberg Distinguished Staff Fellow in the Extreme Environments Materials Process Group at the in the Manufacturing Demonstration Facility. His research centers around processing and properties of additively manufactured ceramics, ceramic-metallic composites (cermets) and ceramic matrix composites. His research goals are to help develop the next generation of ultra-high temperature, harsh environment ceramics, composites and hybrid materials with enhanced thermal, mechanical, and oxidation performance.

He received his Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from Colorado State University in 2021, where his dissertation focused on development of bioinspired structures for lightweighting and impact attenuation applications. He has published literature in processing, ceramics, additive manufacturing, and bioinspired design. He also has interest in development of ceramic and/or metallic cellular structures. He has two patent disclosures filed since working at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. He is a member of the American Ceramic Society, ASM International, and the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers. 

Professional Experience

Current    Oak Ridge National Laboratory

Associate Research and Development Staff

Supervisor:  Dr. James W. Klett                                                                              Feb. 2023-Current

• Developing additive manufacturing (AM) strategies for 1) refractory and ultra-high temperature ceramics and ceramics composites and 2) ceramic-metallic heterogenous material composites
• Developing novel SiC-SiC-W and SiC-ZrB₂-W composites that were tested for potential use as a thermal protection system on a sounding rocket as part of the Sandia National Labs H4H campaign in October 2021.
• Developed novel method for processing of near-net-shape reaction bonded porous silicon nitride
• Finite element modeling of environmental barrier coatings (EBC) to determine the effect oxide induced stress on the cracking and delamination of the EBC.                               

                  Alvin M. Weinberg Distinguished Staff Fellow

Supervisors:  Dr. Vlastimil Kunc                                                                        Oct. 2020–July 2022,

                      Dr. James W. Klett                                                                         July 2022–Feb. 2023

• Developing additive manufacturing (AM) strategies for 1) refractory and ultra-high temperature ceramics and ceramics composites and 2) ceramic-metallic heterogenous material composites
• Developing novel SiC-SiC-W and SiC-ZrB₂-W composites that were tested for potential use as a thermal protection system on a sounding rocket as part of the Sandia National Labs H4H campaign in October 2021.
• Developed novel method for processing of near-net-shape reaction bonded porous silicon nitride
• Finite element modeling of environmental barrier coatings (EBC) to determine the effect oxide induced stress on the cracking and delamination of the EBC.

      ASTRO Scholar and Additive Manufacturing Intern

Supervisor: Dr. Amy M. Elliott                                                                             May 2019–Aug. 2019

• Development, testing, and manufacture of ceramic heat exchangers using binder jet additive manufacturing, polymer infiltration and pyrolysis, and reactive melt infiltration.
• Fabrication, characterization, and testing of ultra-high temperature ceramic composites for high temperature applications

2020          Colorado State University

Graduate Research Assistant, Ph.D

Advisor: Dr. Seth W. Donahue                                                                            Aug. 2017–July 2020

• Studied unique porous bone architectures adapted for extreme loading conditions
• Collected trabecular bone cores from dinosaur tibiae and femora to study bone adaption
• Studied and bio mimicked the velar architecture in Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep to generate novel energy absorbing structures for low velocity impact applications (helmets/shoes/vehicles)
• Mechanical testing and finite element analysis of unique trabecular bone architectures to determine structure-based strength differences

Graduate Research Assistant, M.S.

Dr. Troy B. Holland                                                                                            Aug. 2014–May 2017

• Statistical experimental design to determine optimal parameters for sintering experiments
• Designed and manufactured specialty tooling and mechanical testing fixtures
• Mechanical testing (micro- and nano-hardness, fracture toughness, and flexural strength)

2014         EVRAZ Rocky Mountain Steel Mill

Product Technology Intern,

Supervisor: Mr. Greg Garcia                                                                                May 2014–Aug. 2014

• Developed contact mechanics models to visualize subsurface stress distribution during wheel and rail contact to better understand rolling contact fatigue
• Developed a graphical tool for tracking metallurgical defect occurrences in rail
• Tensile testing and data analysis for mechanical property quantification of novel steel alloys
• Gained experience in non-destructive testing processes

2013          Transportation Technology Center (now MxV Rail)

Engineering Services Intern

Supervisor: Mr. Greg Garcia                                                                               May 2011–May 2013

• Metallographic sample preparation for grain size analysis and non-destructive analyses.
• Gained experience in non-destructive testing processes such as ultrasonic, dye penetrant, and magnetic particle testing to determine flaw size and location in rails
• Analyzed experimental data to create a wear-growth curve for trafficked railroad track

Education

2020          Colorado State University (CSU) – Fort Collins, Colorado

Doctor of Philosophy: Mech. Engr., Advisor: Dr. Seth W. Donahue, GPA: 3.57/4.00

Dissertation: Bio-inspired Design for Engineering Applications - Empirical and Finite Element Studies of Mechanically Adapted Bone Architectures

2017          Master of Science: Mech. Engr., Advisor: Dr. Troy B. Holland, GPA: 3.57/4.00

Thesis: Effects of the addition of boron-nitride nanoplatelets to hydroxyapatite: processing, testing, and characterization

2014          Bachelor of Science: Mech. Engr. GPA: 3.17/4.00

2010          Western Nebraska Community College (WNCC) – Scottsbluff, Nebraska

Associate of Science: Engineering, GPA: 3.19/4.00

Associate of Science: Mathematics, GPA: 3.19/4.00

Professional Service

Oak Ridge Chapter of ASM, International - Secretary June 2023 - June 2024

Reviewer for Applied Materials, Results in Materials, International Journal of Refractory and Hard Materials, Advances in Applied Ceramics, and Ceramics International. 

Professional Affiliations

American Ceramic Society

ASM, International

Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers

Publications