Nico F. Declercq
Assistant Professor
Education
- Ph.D., Ghent University, Belgium, 2005
- M.Sc., Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Belgium, 2000
- B.Sc., Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Belgium, 1996
Research Areas and Descriptors
- Acoustics and Dynamics; Ultrasonic nondestructive evaluation, physical acoustics, acousto-optics, and materials characterization
Background
Dr. Declercq began at Tech in 2006 as an Assistant Professor at Georgia Tech Lorraine in Metz, France. Prior, he was with Ghent University as a Postdoctoral Fellow of the Belgian National Science Foundation.
Dr Declercq was attracted by Georgia Techs high level of research and education and by the fact that there is a Georgia Tech campus in France. Joining an international university like Georgia Tech enables him to maintain his scientific and social contacts with the U.S., Europe, and the rest of the world. The Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering and Georgia Techs campus in France form an excellent frame to further develop his research in the nondestructive evaluation of materials. Whereas previously he was mostly involved with linear acoustics and ultrasonics, his research at Georgia Tech has been extended to include nonlinear effects and to go to higher frequencies in order to study novel materials as well.
Research
Dr. Declercqs main research is situated in the field of the Ultrasonic Nondestructive Evaluation of Materials. The main goal is to investigate new materials, such as certain nano-materials, and damaged materials, such as composite parts of a modern airplane, without causing any further damage to the material. This is done by means of ultrasound. Effects caused by obstacles and inclusions within the material and also by nonlinear elasticity are studied. The information reveals details about the remaining lifetime of materials, and about the mechanical properties and constituent distribution within. The materials involved may also be piezoelectric and are often coated.
His research also includes more exotic topics such as diffraction effects on miniature corrugated surfaces on pyramids (Chichen Itza, Mexico) and ancient theaters (Epidaurus-Greece). Acousto-optics, another topic of interest is the interaction of light with sound.
Dr. Declercqs work consists of experimental work and theoretical/numerical work. He collaborates with different teams from the U.S., France, Belgium, Germany, Russia, Poland, Japan, and Mexico. A part of this international collaboration is supported by NATO.
In every branch of technology nondestructive evaluation becomes vital. This is because sophisticated materials are becoming ubiquitous and their initial quality and remaining lifetime are vital knowledge for cost effectiveness and safety reasons. Experience in this field opens possibilities for employment at quality control companies, production companies, the aviation industry, the naval industry, pipeline and oil industry, dredging industry, materials technology, medical imaging technology, etc.
Even though applications always form the driving force behind the studied objects and techniques, the main focus lays on the physics behind the observed phenomena. The combination of physics and applications and the fact that all this may be covered by a relatively small team makes this research inviting for scientists and engineers who dont want to get lost in tiny details and who want to keep control of the overall investigation and technological developments.
Distinctions
- Sigma Xi (Georgia Tech Chapter) Young Faculty Award, 2008
- International Commission on Acoustics Early Career Award, 2007
- The NOVOFER Foundation for Technical and Intellectual Creation (Hungary) International Dennis Gabor Award, 2006
- OPTIMESS 2007 (Optical Measurements Techniques for Structures & Systems) Scientific Committee Member, Leuven, Belgium, 2006
- The Tokyo Institute of Technology, Tokyo-Yokohama, Japan, Travel Award for the hundred years anniversary fund for international friendship, 2006
- Ultrasonics Guest Editor, Elsevier, 2005
- Acoustical Society of American Physical Acoustics Best Student Paper Award, Cancun, Mexico, 2002
Representative Publications
- A. Teklu, et al. 2006. Measurement of the Frequency Dependence of the Ultrasonic Parametric Threshold Amplitude for a Fluid-Filled Cavity. Journal of the Acoustical Society of America 120, 657-660.
- Nico F. Declercq, Joris Degrieck, and Oswald Leroy, 2005. Sound in Biased Piezoelectric Materials of General Anisotropy. Annalen der Physik 14(11-12), 705-722.
- Nico F. Declercq et al. 2005. Diffraction of Homogeneous and Inhomogeneous Plane Waves on a Doubly Corrugated Liquid/Solid Interface. Ultrasonics 43(8), 605-618.
- Nico F. Declercq et al. 2004. Theory of the Backward Beam Displacement on Periodically Corrugated Surfaces and Its Relation to Leaky Scholte-Stoneley Waves. Journal of Applied Physics 96(11), 6869-6877.
- Nico F. Declercq et al. 2004. A Theoretical Study of Special Acoustic Effects Caused by the Staircase of the El Castillo Pyramid at the Maya Ruins of Chichen-Itza in Mexico. Journal of the Acoustical Society of America 116, 3328-3335.
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