Hechmi Hamouda

Hechmi Hamouda is a Professor, Textile Engineering Program Directorand a Registered Professional Engineer with the state of North Carolina. He obtained his Ph.D., in Mechanical Engineering, from State University of New York at Buffalo in September 1985. He earned a Diplomed`Ingenieur Principal (M.S. & B.S.), in Mechanical Engineering, from the Ecole Nationale d`Ingenieurs de Tunis; Tunisia in July 1981.

He joined the Wilson College of Textiles after a Postdoctoral Research fellowship with the US Department of Energy. He was employed as a Graphics Programmer Analyst with the SUNYt Buffalo and as a Base Head with an Oil Drilling Company.

Research

My scholarly interests ranged initially from the formation of fibrous and composite structures to their assessment and testing that has been supported by funds from federal agencies and industry for several years. My research activities later expanded to industrial waste reduction, prevention and elimination that led to international collaborations and were funded by Milliken & Company, NSF, EPA and USAID. At the same time and in collaboration with the Textile Protection and Comfort Center (TPACC), my research work resulted in the development of a novel thermal sensing device (Pyrocal) and its associated heat transfer evaluation software that transformed an archaic DuPont’s burn assessment manikin (ThermoMan®) into a state of the art fully instrumented, life-sized manikin capable of evaluating the performance of thermal protective clothing (PyroMan). This research has continued with various funding from NIST, DuPont, NTC and NSF. The Pyrocal sensor and its related computational models for heat flux and burn assessments are extending into new applications in other fields such as the assessment of fast transient thermal energy release systems and associated airbags thermal injuries.

Other research tracks are related to reducing the environmental impact of the industry footprint: Eenergy and raw material reduction in textile processing; Use of sustainable material and products.

Ideally, I would like to combine my research efforts in bio-fibers, protective materials, environment and geotextiles nonwovens into a broader research program that would help resolve few of the global scientific and technological challenges facing us.

Academic Degrees

• Ph.D.: Mechanical Engineering, State University of New York at Buffalo, 1985
• Diplome d’Ingénieur Principal M.S. Mechanical Engineering, Ecole Nationale d’Ingénieurs de Tunis, 1981
• Diplome d’Ingénieur Principal B.S. Mechanical Engineering, Ecole Nationale d’Ingénieurs de Tunis, 1979
• Baccalauriat: Sciences & Technology, Lycée Technique de Mahdia, 1975

Publications

Highly proton conductive electrolyte membranes: Fiber-induced long-range ionic channels

Yao, Y. F., Guo, B. K., Ji, L. W., Jung, K. H., Lin, Z., Alcoutlabi, M., … Zhang, X. W. (2011), Electrochemistry Communications, 13(9), 1005–1008. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.elecom.2011.06.028

Sulfonated polystyrene fiber network-induced hybrid proton exchange membranes

Yao, Y. F., Ji, L. W., Lin, Z., Li, Y., Alcoutlabi, M., Hamouda, H., & Zhang, X. W. (2011), ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces, 3(9), 3732–3737. https://doi.org/10.1021/am2009184

Superacidic electrospun fiber-nafion hybrid proton exchange membranes

Yao, Y. F., Lin, Z., Li, Y., Alcoutlabi, M., Hamouda, H., & Zhang, X. W. (2011), Advanced Energy Materials, 1(6), 1133–1140. https://doi.org/10.1002/aenm.201100435

Effects of moisture on the thermal protective performance of firefighter protective clothing in low level radiant heat exposures

Barker, R. L., Guerth-Schacher, C., Grimes, R. V., & Hamouda, H. (2006), Textile Research Journal, 76(1), 27–31. https://doi.org/10.1177/0040517506053947

Fatigue cracking resistance of fiber reinforced asphalt concrete

Lee, S., Rust, J. P., Hamouda, H., Kim, Y. R., & Borden, R. H. (2005), Textile Research Journal, 75(2), 123–128. https://doi.org/10.1177/004051750507500206

Modeling the thermal protective performance of heat resistant garments in flash fire exposure

Song, G., Barker, R. L., Hamouda, H., Kuznetsov, A. V., Chitrpheromsri, P., & Grimes, R. (2004), Textile Research Journal, 74(12), 1033–1040. https://doi.org/10.1177/004051750407401201

Moisture effects on the thermal protective performance of firefighter turnout suits

Barker, R. L., Guerth-Schacher, C., Hamouda, H., & Grimes, R. (2002), In Textile Technology Forum: October 23, 2002, proceedings 2002, IFAI Expo 2002, October 24-26, 2002, Charlotte, N.C. USA. Roseville, MN: Industrial Fabrics Association International.

Elasticity analysis of 3D cellular matrix composites

Hamouda, H., Xu, W., Qui, Y., & Mohamed, M. (2000), In ICCE/7: seventh annual International Conference on Composites Engineering: July 2-8, 2000, Denver, Colorado. [S.l.]: International Community for Composities Engineering.

Interfacial properties effects on microcomposites deformation response: An analytical approach

Hamouda, H., Qui, Y., & Bennett, S. (2000), In ICCE/7: seventh annual International Conference on Composites Engineering: July 2-8, 2000, Denver, Colorado. [S.l.]: International Community for Composities Engineering.

Comparison of heat sensors for use in evaluating the thermal protective performance of clothing materials

Barker, R., Hamouda, H., Johnson, J., Shalev, I., & Bender, M. (1999), In Performance of protective clothing: issues and priorities for the 21st century. Seventh volume. West Conshohocken, PA: ASTM.

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Teaching

• NW 507/407 - NonWovens Characterization Methods ,
• BME467 - Mechanics of Tissues and Requirements for Implants ,
• TMS212 - Yarn, Fabric Formation and Properties ,
• TE403 - Mechanics of Fibrous Structures ,