M. Hadi Hafezi
Lecturer Loyola Marymount University
Biography
Passion is one of my greatest strengths. It fuels my ability to motivate teams, drive meaningful outcomes, and cultivate a culture of purpose and accountability. I have taken the time to understand my strengths and how to apply them effectively, allowing me to deliver consistent results and lead with clarity and confidence.
Known for my precision, reliability, and strategic mindset, I am trusted to execute with excellence and integrity. I approach every challenge as an opportunity to learn, improve, and empower others. I am deeply curious about the world and intentional in challenging assumptions that limit progress. I believe that empathy and understanding are powerful forces for building stronger teams and better organizations.
Throughout my career, I have achieved milestones that reflect both professional accomplishment and personal growth. Looking ahead, I remain committed to continuous development — learning from peers, sharing insights, and leading with purpose. Driven by curiosity and conviction, I am dedicated to advancing meaningful change and inspiring those around me to reach their highest potential.
Education
University of Arizona
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)
Engineering Mechanics and Mechanical Engineering
2017
University of California, Berkeley
Master of Information and Data Science in Information and Data Science
Data Science
2025
Social
Areas of Expertise
Industry Expertise
Affiliations
- Advisory Board ASME Journal of Nondestructive Evaluation, Diagnostics and Prognostics of Engineering Systems (JNDE)
Languages
- English
- Farsi
Availability
- Keynote
Research Focus
Peridynamics
My research expertise focuses on modeling crack propagation using peridynamic theory. This work contributes to the advancement of reliable, physics-based fracture modeling tools for analyzing complex engineering structures.
Research Grants
Advanced Manufacturing - A Scalable Peridynamic Framework for Modeling Crack Propagation and Impact Phenomena in Composite Structures
National Science Foundation's (NSF) Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR)/Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) program.
2021-04-26
Won the National Science Foundation (NSF) Project Pitch and received an invitation to submit a full Phase I SBIR proposal for our innovative small business technology. Transitioned to corporate employment before proposal submission.
Courses
MECH 515—Composites
This course introduces the basic concepts, definitions, and analytical approaches for predicting the behavior of composite materials based on constituent properties. It covers anisotropic elasticity, laminate analysis, strength of laminates, failure theories, bending, buckling, and vibration of composite plates. Applications include structural analysis using finite-element computer codes. Expanded topics include constitutive equations for unidirectional and multidirectional lamina/laminates via micromechanical and macromechanical approaches, thermal/moisture-induced effects, failure prediction, design methodology, and experimental characterization/testing of composites.
Here are the top journals specializing in composite materials:
1. Composites Part B: Engineering
2. Composites Part A: Applied Science and Manufacturing
3. Composites Science and Technology
4. Composite Structures
Articles
Peri-ultrasound modeling for surface wave propagation
UltrasonicsMohammad Hadi Hafezi , Tribikram Kundu
2018-03-01
The interaction between surface wave and a surface breaking crack is studied using a novel fast modeling tool called peri-ultrasound that can model both linear and nonlinear ultrasonic response. This modeling approach is based on peridynamic theory. In this study, the surface wave is modeled by applying a triangular pulse excitation function on the surface of a large structure. The particle movements are simulated on both sides of the surface crack to investigate transmitted and reflected fields. This investigation shows that: (1) the computed amplitude spectra of the Rayleigh wave agrees with the experimental observation; and (2) the structure containing a surface breaking crack shows noticeable increase in its nonlinear behavior. The computed results have been also verified against the analytical solution for a half-plane problem made of homogenous, isotropic, linear elastic material (Lamb’s Problem).
Flexible multibody dynamics formulation using Peridynamic theory
Proceedings Volume 10600, Health Monitoring of Structural and Biological Systems XII; 106001D (2018)Mohammad Hadi Hafezi, Omid Kazemi
2018-03-27
In the nonlocal theory of peridynamic the partial derivatives that appear in the classical (local) continuum mechanics are replaced with integral equations. This is an important feature of peridynamic theory allowing it to be easily applied to problems where partial derivatives of the displacement field may not exist (e.g. sharp corners, bifurcation) inside an elastic continuum medium. Crack edge is an example where displacement field is not continuous and hence partial derivatives are undefined. In the past decade peridynamic theory has attracted researchers in modeling crack initiation and propagation, specifically phenomena like crack branching and multiple micro-crack interactions where other classical (local) theories may experience challenges. Despite its remarkable results peridynamics is still a relatively new topic and it has room for development. One area of development is coupling the peridynamics theory with the traditional multibody dynamics. This will provide a useful simulation tool in damage prediction of rotating parts such as wind turbines or helicopter rotor blades. In this paper, a coupled formulation of peridynamics and flexible multibody dynamics is presented. A floating frame of references (FFR) approach is taken to capture the large rotation and translation of a body that itself is modeled by using peridynamic theory.
Peri-ultrasound for modeling linear and nonlinear ultrasonic response
UltrasonicsMohammad Hadi Hafezi , Reza Alebrahim , Tribikram Kundu
2017-09-07
The objective of this paper is to introduce a novel fast modeling tool called peri-ultrasound for linear/nonlinear ultrasonic wave propagation modeling. This modeling approach is based on peridynamic theory. It does not require monitoring of the crack clapping phenomenon or artificially changing the stiffness of the element when two surfaces of the crack come in contact. Peri-ultrasound tool enables us to detect the material nonlinearity in very early stages of crack growth. Nonlinear ultrasonic behavior could be nicely modeled by the proposed peri-ultrasound tool. It is investigated how the material nonlinearity is affected by the presence of thin and thick cracks. From the normalized spectral plots the degree of material nonlinearity can be measured by extracting a feature called sideband peak count (SPC). Structures containing a thin crack show noticeable increase in their nonlinear behavior.
Peri-Ultrasound Modeling of Dynamic Response of an Interface Crack Showing Wave Scattering and Crack Propagation
Journal of Nondestructive Evaluation, Diagnostics and Prognostics of Engineering Systems (JNDE)Mohammad Hadi Hafezi, Tribikram Kundu
2017-09-29
A cracked structure made of two different elastic materials having a Griffith crack at the interface is analyzed when it is subjected to pure shear loading and ultrasonic loading. The waves generated by the applied load and the crack propagation resulted from the shear loading are investigated. Peri-ultrasound modeling tool is used for this analysis. A comparison between experimental results and numerical predictions shows a very good matching between the two. Furthermore, the increase in nonlinear ultrasonic response in presence of the interface crack could also be modeled by this technique. The computed results show that when the interface crack propagates, then it breaks the interface at one end of the crack and breaks the material with lower elastic modulus at the other end. The unique feature of this peridynamics-based modeling tool is that it gives a complete picture of the structural response when it is loaded—it shows how elastic waves propagate in the structure and are scattered by the crack, how the crack surfaces open up, and then how crack starts to propagate. Different modeling tools are not needed to model these various phenomena.
An assessment of a strain‐life approach for fatigue crack growth
International Journal of Structural IntegrityHadi Hafezi M, Nik Abdullah N, Correia JF, De Jesus AM
2016-11-16
Fatigue crack growth models based on elastic‐plastic stress‐strain histories at the crack tip region and strain‐life damage models have been proposed. The UniGrow model fits this particular class of fatigue crack propagation models. The residual stresses developed at the crack tip play a central role in these models, since they are applied to assess the actual crack driving force. This paper aims to assess the performance of the UniGrow model based on available experimental constant amplitude crack propagation data, derived for several metallic materials from representative Portuguese bridges. It also aims to discuss key issues in fatigue crack growth prediction, using the UniGrow model, in particular the residual stress computation and the suitability of fatigue damage rules.
