Profile

Education

• Ph.D., Georgia Institute of Technology, 1999
• M.S., Georgia Institute of Technology, 1996
• M.S., Diplome d´Ingenieur E.P.F., Sceaux, France, 1995

Research Areas and Descriptors

• Engineering education, wave propagation in solids, mechanics of materials and nondestructive evaluation

Background

Began at Tech in August 2006 as Academic Professional. Prior, she was Associate Professor in the Department of Aerospace Engineering at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, in Prescott, Arizona.

Research

Dr. Valle is interested in the nondestructive evaluation (NDE) of advanced materials (composites, thin film bonds, etc) using linear and nonlinear ultrasonics with computational modeling, especially the finite element method. The goal is to be able to predict, through the behavior of ultrasound as it propagates inside a damaged structure, the location, nature, and severity of the damage.

Dr. Valle is also interested in engineering education and, as a subset, the issues of women and minorities in engineering education. She is currently working on a research project sponsored by the National Science Foundation to implement computer-based manipulatable models within a foundational course in Statics for learning the engineering approach to problem solving, which is characterized by model-based reasoning. An approach to teaching and learning Statics that effectively scaffolds students' efforts at model building and connects abstract problems with multiple real-world applications will benefit all students, and particularly, help to promote diversity in engineering.