Martin Mikulas

Martin Mikulas

Senior Research Fellow

Tel: (757) 356-1529

Email: mikulas@nianet.org​

Martin Mikulas, Senior Research Engineer,

Education

  • Ph.D., Engineering Mechanics, Virginia Tech, 1970
  • M.S., Engineering Mechanics, Virginia Tech, 1964
  • B.S., Engineering Mechanics, Virginia Tech, 1961

Research Interests

  • Aerospace structural analysis and design;
  • Deployable space structures;
  • Inflatable space structures;
  • Composite structures; and
  • Buckling analysis of cylinders.

Current Research

  • Design and analysis of large solar arrays for solar electric propulsion.
  • Analysis and design of space inflatable habitats.
  • Analysis and design of a large space robotic manipulator.

Recent Publications

  • Mikulas, Martin M. Jr, Nemeth, Michael P., Oremont, Leonard, and Jegley, Dawn C.  “Effect of Boundary Conditions on the Axial Compression Buckling of Homogeneous Orthotropic Composite Cylinders in the Long Column Range”,  52st AIAA/ASME/ASCE/AHS/ASC Structures, Structural Dynamics, and Materials Conference, April 4-7, 2011, Denver, Colorado
  • Nemeth, Michael P., Mikulas Jr., Martin M., “Simple Formulas and Results for Buckling-Resistance and Stiffness Design of Compression-Loaded Laminated-Composite Cylinders”, NASA/TP-2009-215778, August, 2009.
  • Jones, T.C., Hilary Bart Smith, Martin Mikulas, and Judith Watson, “Finite Element Modeling and Analysis of Large Pretensioned Space Structures”, Journal of Spacecraft and Rockets, Vol. 44, No. 1, Jan-Feb. 2007, pp. 183-193.
  • Mikulas, Martin, Timothy J. Collins, William Doggett, John Dorsey, and Judith Watson, “Truss Performance and Packaging Metrics,” Proceedings of Space Technology and Applications International Forum (STAIF-2006), edited by M. El-Genk, American Institute of Physics, Melville, New York, 2006.
  • Gyula Greschik, Martin Mikulas, Richard Helms, and Robert Freeland, “Strip Antenna Figure Errors Due to Support Truss Member Length Imperfections”, AIAA Paper # 2004-1601, Presented at the 45th AIAA Structures, Structural Dynamics, and Materials Conference, April 19-22, Palm Springs, CA, 2004.
  • Aaron Adler, et al, and Martin Mikulas “PowerSail: The Challenges of Large, Planar, Surface Structures for Space Applications”, AIAA Paper # 2003-1823, Presented at the 44th AIAA Structures, Structural Dynamics, and Materials Conference, April 7-10, Norfolk, VA, 2003.
  • M. M. Mikulas, and Aaron Adler “Rapid Structural Assessment for Square Solar Sails Including Edge Support Cables”, AIAA Paper # 2003-7590, Presented at the 44th AIAA Structures, Structural Dynamics, and Materials Conference, April 7-10, Norfolk, VA, 2003.
  • Mark S. Lake, Lee D. Peterson, and Martin M. Mikulas, “Space Structures on the Back of an Envelope: John Hedgepeth’s Approach to Design”, AIAA Paper # 2003-1448, Presented at the 44th AIAA Structures, Structural Dynamics, and Materials Conference, April 7-10, Norfolk, VA, 2003.
  • Thomas Murphey, David Murphy, Martin Mikulas, and Aaron Adler “A Method to Quantify the Thrust Degradation Effects of Structural Wrinkles in Solar Sails”, AIAA Paper # 2002-1560, Presented at the 43rd AIAA Structures, Structural Dynamics, and Materials Conference, April 22-25, 2002, Denver, Colorado.
  • Adler, Aaron, and Mikulas, Martin, “Application of a Membrane Finite Element Approach to Advanced Membrane Structures”, AIAA Paper # 2001-5990, Albuquerque, August 2001.
  • Thomas Murphey, Troy Meink, and Martin Mikulas, “Some Micromechanics Considerations of the Folding of Rigidizable Composite Materials”, AIAA Paper # 2001-1418, Presented at the 42nd AIAA Structures, Structural Dynamics, and Materials Conference, April 16-19, 2001, Seattle, WA.