معرفی
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ali Fethi Okyar is a faculty member at Yeditepe University's Faculty of Engineering, Department of Mechanical Engineering, where he also serves as Vice Dean. His academic career spans over two decades with previous appointments at Sabancı University as a Lecturer (Dr) and as a Research Assistant at Illinois Institute of Technology. He holds a PhD in Mechanical Engineering from Illinois Institute of Technology with a thesis on delamination and fracture in thin film systems under thermal loading.
Dr. Okyar's research spans multiple interdisciplinary fields with a strong focus on biomechanics, computational modeling, and finite element analysis. His work bridges engineering principles with biomedical applications, particularly in spinal biomechanics, soft tissue modeling, acoustic sensors, and piezoelectric energy harvesting. He has developed innovative approaches for parametric modeling of the lumbar spine and has made significant contributions to understanding muscle mechanics, particularly frog gastrocnemius contraction dynamics.
His recent publications (2022-2025) show a clear trend toward increasingly sophisticated computational modeling techniques applied to biomedical problems, with particular emphasis on digital twin technology for acoustic wave sensors, hyperelastic modeling of biological tissues, and advanced parametric approaches to spinal modeling. His work often combines experimental validation with computational approaches, demonstrating strong methodological rigor.
- Robert J Melosh Best Student Paper in Finite Element Analysis (Duke University)
- Takdir Belgesi (Harp Akademileri Komutanlığı)
- Outstanding Teaching Assistantship Award (Illinois Institute of Technology)
- Istanbul International Inventions Fair ISIF'2019 Gold Medal
Dr. Okyar has supervised numerous graduate students through their theses, with research topics spanning computational biomechanics, finite element analysis, and biomedical device design. He has been involved in multiple significant research projects, including TÜBİTAK-funded projects on biomechatronic systems and cardiovascular devices, as well as European COST projects investigating the mechanical properties of aging arteries. His current research includes the development of tunable acoustic louvers and computational analysis of piezoelectric surface acoustic wave sensors.
As an active member of professional organizations including ASME International Turkey Branch (where he served as President from 2009-2011), Turkish Acoustics Society, and Chamber of Mechanical Engineers, Dr. Okyar maintains strong connections with both national and international engineering communities. His laboratory work focuses on computational biomechanics, finite element modeling, and the development of biomedical devices and sensors.
