Carter Hamilton

Dr. Carter Hamilton is an Associate Professor in the Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering at Miami University. He holds a Ph.D. in Metallurgical Engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology (1997), with prior industry experience at Lockheed Martin Aeronautics and Universal Alloy Corporation. His research focuses on Friction Stir Welding (FSW), a solid-state joining technology critical to manufacturing. Dr. Hamilton’s work explores FSW applications in aluminum and magnesium alloys, emphasizing microstructural analysis, thermal modeling, and material behavior under varied conditions.

Education: B.S. (1992), M.S. (1995), and Ph.D. (1997) in Materials/Metallurgical Engineering from Georgia Tech. He joined Miami University in 2005 after roles as Quality Manager/Plant Metallurgist and aerospace engineering practitioner.

Research emphasizes FSW’s role in joining dissimilar materials, optimizing welding parameters, and understanding post-weld aging/thermal effects. Collaborations with institutions in Poland (e.g., AGH University of Science and Technology) are evident in co-authored studies on microstructure evolution and joint integrity.

Teaching focuses on materials science, manufacturing processes, and statistical quality control. His publications span over two decades, addressing topics like FSW of Mg-Al alloy combinations, powder bed fusion quality control, and machine learning in additive manufacturing.