Dr. Sudhakar Vadiraja, Ph.D., P.E.
Department of Metallurgical and Materials Engineering

Sudhakar Vadiraja

Tenured Professor

Montana Tech Research Thrust: Biomaterials

Dr. Sudhakar Vadiraja is a Freeport-McMoRan Professor at Montana Tech, working since January 2008. He earned his Ph.D. degree (Materials Engineering) from Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore and Master’s degree in Materials/Metallurgical Engineering from Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur. He obtained his bachelor’s degree in Materials/Metallurgical Engineering from Karnataka Regional Engineering College (now known as NITK), Surathkal. 

Dr. Sudhakar Vadiraja is a Tenured full-time Professor in the Department of Metallurgical and Materials Engineering at Montana Technological University. He earned his Ph.D. degree (Materials Engineering) from Indian Institute of Science-Bangalore, Master’s degree in Materials/Metallurgical Engineering from Indian Institute of Technology- Kanpur, and bachelor’s degree in Materials/Metallurgical Engineering from National Institute of Technology-Surathkal. Dr. Vadiraja has 24 years of teaching, 11 years of industry including aircraft and automotive sectors, and 2 years of postdoctoral research experience. He has 95 peer-reviewed research publications/presentations in international journals/conferences. Dr. Vadiraja is a licensed Professional Engineer (P.E.) in the state of Montana since 2010, having passed the P.E. exam in the first attempt.

Curriculum Vitae
LinkedIn

1996      Ph.D. Materials Engineering, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore

1991      M.Tech. Metallurgical & Materials Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur

1981      B.Tech. Metallurgical & Materials Engineering, National Institute of Technology, Surathkal

Professional Registration

29 Oct. 2010 - Present      Registered P.E. in Montana: License # 20027 

2018–Present     Tenured Full Professor, Montana Tech, Butte, MT

2012–2018          Associate Professor, Montana Tech, Butte, MT

2008–2012          Assistant Professor, Montana Tech, Butte, MT

2002-2007           Professor Titular, University of the Americas, Puebla, Mexico

2000-2001           Assistant Professor, Central Michigan University, Mount Pleasant, MI

1999-2000           Assistant Professor, Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, MI

1997-1999           Postdoc., Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore

1994-1996           R&D Manager, Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd., Bangalore

1987-1989           R&D Metallurgist, Cosmic Industrial Laboratories Ltd., Bangalore

1984-1986           R&D Metallurgist, IDL Chemicals Ltd., Bangalore & Hyderabad

1982-1984           R&D Metallurgist, Grindwell Norton Ltd., Bangalore

1981-1982           Graduate Trainee Engineer, Kirloskar Oil Engines Ltd., Pune

Research Interests & Expertise

  • Biomaterials
  • Fatigue and Fracture​
  • Failure Analysis
  • Materials Processing
  • Mechanical Behavior
  • Additive Manufacturing & Characterization

  • Ronald White (PI), Peter Lucon, K.V. Sudhakar, Nathan Huft, Gloyd Simmons, Additive Manufacturing, ARL.
  • Ronald White (PI), Bruce Madigan, K.V. Sudhakar, David Hobbs, Jeff Braun, Innovations in Materials Processing and Additive Manufacturing, Year 4 ARL project.
  • Ronald White (PI), Bruce Madigan, K.V. Sudhakar, David Hobbs, Jeff Braun, Innovations in Materials Processing and Additive Manufacturing, Year 3 ARL project.
  • Ronald White (PI), Bruce Madigan, K.V. Sudhakar, David Hobbs, Jeff Braun, Innovations in Materials Processing and Additive Manufacturing, Year 2 ARL project.
  • Ronald White (PI), Bruce Madigan, K.V. Sudhakar, David Hobbs, Jeff Braun, Innovations in Materials Processing and Additive Manufacturing, Year 1 ARL project.
  • Ronald White (PI), K.V. Sudhakar, Ethan Wood, Investigating mechanical behavior of beta-titanium alloys for Military and Biomedical applications, ARL project.
  • K.V. Sudhakar (PI), Characterization and comparison of Beta-titanium (β-Ti) alloys for biomedical applications.

Google Scholar Profile

 

Journal Articles
  • Stephen A. C. Hanson and Sudhakar Vadiraja, “Mechanical and Microstructural Behavior of Tempered CPM 3V High-Density Sintered Tool Steel”, Crystals (Special Issue-Advances in High Strength Steels), 2022, 12(11), 1670; https://doi.org/10.3390/cryst12111670
  • Penn Rawn and Sudhakar Vadiraja, “Effect of Energy Density and Build Orientation on Microstructure of Additive Manufactured Stainless Steel”, European Journal of Materials Science and Engineering, 4(3), 2019, 103-113.
  • Stephen Broddy and K.V. Sudhakar, “Corrosion Inhibition: Investigation of Lanolin Coating on the Corrosion Characteristics of Low Carbon Steel in Simulated Sea Water”, Protection of Metals and Physical Chemistry of Surfaces (Springer), 53(6), 2017, 1125-1130.
  • K.V. Sudhakar and Ethan Wood, "Superplastic Titanium alloy: Evaluation of Mechanical Properties and Fracture behavior", Journal of Materials, Article ID 2309232, 2016.
  • Jyhwen Wang, Huanlin Zhu, K.V. Sudhakar, Angie Hill Price, "Influence of equal-channel angular extrusion on impact toughness of aluminum and brass at room and low temperatures", International Journal of Mechanical and Materials Engineering (Springer Publications), 9(1), 2014, 1-10.
  • K.V. Sudhakar, J.C. Cisneros, Hector Cervantes, and Cosme Gomez Pineda, “Machining Characteristics and Fracture Morphologies in a Copper-Beryllium (Cu-2Be) Alloy”, ASM International Journal of Materials Engineering and Performance, Feb. 15(1), 2006, 117-121.
  • K.V. Sudhakar and Joel Cruz Paredes, “Failure Mechanisms in Motor Bearings”, Engineering Failure Analysis (Elsevier Science Publications), 12(1), Feb. 2005, 35-42.
  • K.V. Sudhakar, "Fatigue Behavior of a High Density Powder Metallurgy Steel," International Journal of Fatigue (Elsevier Science Publications), 22(9), Oct. 2000, 729-734.

2022 Montana Tech Faculty Merit Award for outstanding Teaching & Research, Montana Technological University, MT.
2016 Montana Tech Faculty Merit Award for outstanding Teaching & Research, Montana Technological University, MT.
​2004-2007 National Research Scholarship Award (#30955) of Mexico Research System.
2001 Outstanding Faculty Research Award​, Central Michigan University, MI.
1992-94 Indian Government Scholarship for Research (Ph.D.).
1989-91 National GATE Scholarship for Postgraduate studies (M.Tech.).

Professional Member (#707643) of ASM (American Society for Materials)

Professional Member (#474620) of TMS (The Minerals, Metals & Materials Society)

Professional Member (#187419) of AIST (Association for Iron & Steel Technology)

Professional Member (#1217771) of ACerS (The American Ceramic Society)

Life Member (# L0853) of Materials Research Society of India (MRSI) Limited

Life Member (# 24632) of Indian Institute of Metals (IIM)

  • Cricket
  • Tennis
  • Soccer
  • Music
  • Historic Monuments
Connect with Dr. Vadiraja.

I look forward to speaking with you.

Engineering Building 218
Montana Tech
(406) 496-4267
KVSudhakar@mtech.edu
Send an email.