Education

• Ph.D., Purdue University 1974
• M.S., University of Wisconsin 1969
• B.S., Mississippi State University 1958

Experience Record

• 1985-Present,  Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS
• 1978-1985,  Associate Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS
• 1978-1981,  (Summers) Consultant, Marine Gears, MS
• 1975-1978,  Assistant Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS
• 1976-1977,  (Summers) NASA, AL
• 1974-1975,  Sr. Research Engineer, Research Division, Caterpillar, IL
• 1971-1974,  Grad. Assistant, Mechanical Engineering, Purdue Univ., IN
• 1969-1971,  Instructor, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS
• 1958-1969,  Project Engineer II, Allis Chalmers, WI
• 1956-1957,  (Summers) Summer Student, Tennessee Valley Authority, TN
• 1959             PFC E2, U.S. Army, Fort Leonardwood, MO

Specialty Areas

        Mechanical Design, Vibrations, Dynamic Systems, Vehicle Design, Transmission Design.

Research Summary

Dr. Jones' research is in mechanical design with emphasis on: vibrations, modeling dynamic systems, gear design, stress analysis and product development.

Dr. Jones is a member of ASME, AGMA and SAE. He has accepted invitations to speak in China and Mexico.

Research Activities

Mechanical Design Research.  Mechanical design utilizes a broad spectrum of engineering science and technology to bring a product to production. These include invention of the concept, dynamic modeling to predict performance, sizing by stress analysis, design of components (e.g., gears, shafts, etc.) and product testing. The following paragraphs indicate research experience in these areas.

Dynamic modeling of machines allows the prediction of performance and cost. A Fork Lift Truck (Caterpillar) model compares the sensitivity of productivity (load cycles per unit time) to change in each design variable. An automotive window mechanism model and a windshield wiper mechanism model (United Technologies) allow evaluation of dynamic performance and dynamic loading.

Stress analysis provides guidance for material distribution. An 18 link recliner chair mechanism (Supersagless) may experience failure due to buckling and joint wear, while the refractory of a reactor wall lining (Chevron) experiences stress due to thermal gradients. Experimental stress analysis as well as the Finite Element Method are used when classical strength of materials methods fail.

Transmission design for a marine vessel, which includes the design of shafts, selection of bearings, the design of keys and shrink fitted joints, the design of gears and the selection of seals provides a system type of problem. The American Gear Manufacturers Association's (AGMA) 6033 and 6032 Standards for Marine Units were developed to govern the design of marine gears. (These two AGMA Standards have been completed by the Marine Units Committee since 1980.) Several transmission designs (Haley Marine Gears) have been analyzed.

Torsional vibration analysis of power trains is required to assure reliable performance over the operating speed range. (Over 100 vessels have been analyzed.) A torsional vibration damper is often used to isolate and dampen torsional vibrations. In order to evaluate the drive train vibrations, the torsional stiffness and damping of the damper must be determined. (Elastic couplings and clutches (Haley Marine Gears) have been measured for dynamic stiffness and damping.)

Vehicle design is also a system type of design problem and includes significant human factors. The design of agricultural tractors (Allis Chalmers), SAE MiniBaja and SAE Formula cars by students, and a riding lawn mower (Maxim), are examples of significant experiences.

Product testing plays a key roll in the development of new products. A mechanism with strain gages (Hanson Scale, Div. of Sunbeam), vibration measurements of valves (Fabri Valve, Div. ITT Grinnell), tests of plastic pallets (DCV), seat stand tests (Sun-Air Products), etc., provide examples of testing for product evolution.

Selected Recent Publications

"Structural Effects of Perlite Compaction on Cryogenic Storage Vessels Subjected to Thermal Cycles and Vibrations", Issa, C. A., Peters, J. F., and Jones, E. W., International Journal of Pressure Vessels and Piping, Vol. 64, No. 1, 1995, Elsevier Science Ltd., Oxford, UK.

"Torsional Vibration Analysis", Jones, E. W., Haley, E. R., Li, F., and Walker, L., Invited Paper at Propulsion '95, New Orleans, LA, October 30-31, 1995.

"Finite Element Analysis for Heat and Mass Transfer During Wood Drying," Wood and Fiber Science, Volume 26, No. 2, Gui, Young Q., Jones, E. William, Taylor, Fred W., Issa, Camille A., April 1994.

"Fatigue Analysis of Shafts for Marine Gear Boxes," AGMA94FTM2, Fall Technical Meeting of American Gear Manufacturers Association, Jones, E. W., Shen, Anying, Brown, R. E., October 1994.

"Torsional Vibrations and the Design of Marine Gear Systems," 2nd Seminar for Gear Users and Manufacturers, CIATEQ, Queretaro, Mexico, August 1993.