David Ehrhardt

David Ehrhardt is a Research Professor in the Department of Aerospace Engineering at the Grainger College of Engineering, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. He holds a PhD in Engineering Mechanics from the University of Wisconsin-Madison (2015), and prior roles include Senior Research Engineer at the Applied Research Institute (2021–2024), Postdoctoral Researcher at the Air Force Research Lab (2016–2017), and ownership of Ehrhardt Engineering LLC (2017–2021). His research focuses on nonlinear structural dynamics, materials testing in extreme environments, and advanced optical measurement techniques for aerospace structures.

Education:

• BS Mechanical Engineering, Bradley University, 2009
• MS Mechanical Engineering, Bradley University, 2011
• PhD Engineering Mechanics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 2015

Research Interests: Ehrhardt’s work centers on structural responses under extreme loading conditions (acoustic/thermal/mechanical), model calibration using nonlinear normal modes, and experimental validation in high-speed wind tunnels (Mach 2–6). He leads the Advanced Material Testing and Evaluation Laboratory, pioneering optical techniques like stereo digital image correlation and infrared measurements to study thin panel behavior in supersonic flows.

Key Contributions: His postdoctoral work at the University of Bristol introduced novel methods to design structures with controlled nonlinear coupling. At the Air Force Research Lab, he advanced fluid-thermal-structural interaction studies, including the first experimental identification of detached nonlinear normal modes. Recent efforts include aeroelastic experiments for aerospace components under shock-dominated flows and thermal loading.

Labs & Teams: As Lab Coordinator of the Advanced Material Testing and Evaluation Lab, he oversees cutting-edge facilities for extreme environment testing, collaborating on projects involving additive manufacturing and composite materials.