Faculty Profiles

Tehrani researches multifunctional composites, at the intersection of advanced manufacturing, materials science and mechanics. Projects include additively manufactured polymer composites, metal-nanocarbon hybrid conductors, sustainable multi-material additive manufacturing, robotics composite manufacturing and graphene-based structural composites. 
 

Capsule Bio:

Prof. Tehrani’s research focuses on advanced multifunctional composites and lies at the intersection of advanced manufacturing, materials science, and mechanics. The overarching research goal of the Tehrani Group is to significantly expand the knowledge base for designing and manufacturing advanced multifunctional composites, reducing both the cost and energy consumption associated with their manufacture and intended applications. To achieve this, the group employs advanced multiscale characterization and modeling techniques to shed light on the interfacial phenomena that govern composites’ behavior at the macroscale. With this newfound understanding, the group works to develop and refine advanced manufacturing methods aimed at optimizing the interfaces within AMCs. The Tehrani Group's current research focus includes i) automated fiber placement and additive manufacturing of fiber-reinforced polymer composites, ii) multifunctional composites based on graphene, and iii) advanced electrical conductors. The research conducted by the Tehrani Group has received support from organizations such as the National Science Foundation (NSF), NASA, the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), the Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR), the Office of Naval Research (ONR), and industry.

Before joining UCSD, Professor Tehrani served as an assistant professor at the University of Texas at Austin from 2019 to 2022 and at the University of New Mexico from 2014 to 2019.

Education

Virginia Tech (VT), Ph.D. in Engineering Mechanics, 2012

University of New Mexico (UNM), M.Sc. in Mechanical Engineering, 2009

Sharif University of Technology, B.Sc. in Mechanical Engineering, 2007

Selected Honors and Awards

• Subject Expert Panelist: “Advanced Electrical Conductors”, Department of Energy (DOE) Workshops, 2021 and 2022.
• NASA Early Stage Tech Innovations Award, 2021.
• Design & Manufacturing Division Chair, American Society for Composites (ASC), 2020-present.
• National Science Foundation (NSF) CAREER award, 2019.
• Office of Naval Research Young Investigator Program (YIP) award, 2018.
• Air Force Research Lab Summer Faculty Fellowship, 2016.

Selected Publications:

• N. Heathman, P. Koirala, T. Yap, A. Emami, 
  and M. Tehrani, “In situ consolidation of carbon fiber PAEK via 
  laser-assisted automated fiber placement,” Composites Part B: Engineering, 
  249, 110405 (2023).
• P. Khanbolouki, G. C. Jayatilaka, C. Wang, and M. Tehrani, “High 
  conductivity and stability intercalated carbonaceous conductors,” Carbon 
  Trends, 9, 100229 (2022).
• M. M. Mohammadi, S. Choi, P. Koirala, G. C. Jayatikala, N. Ghousifam, H. Celio, and M. Tehrani, “Additive Manufacturing of Recyclable, Highly Conductive, and Structurally Robust Graphite Structures.” Additive Manufacturing Letters, 3, 100061, 7 pgs. (2022).
• R. Fernandes, N. van de Werken, P. Koirala, T. Yap, A. Tamijani, and M. Tehrani, “Experimental Investigation of Additively Manufactured Continuous Fiber Reinforced Composite Parts with Optimized Topology and Fiber Paths”, Additive Manufacturing, 44, 102056 (2021).
• P. Koirala, N. van de Werken, H. Lu, R. H. Baughman, R. Ovalle-Robles, and M. Tehrani, “Using Ultrathin Interlaminar Carbon Nanotube Sheets to Enhance the Mechanical and Electrical Properties of Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymer Composites”, Composites Part B, 216, 108842 (2021).
• O. Uitz, P. Koirala, M. Tehrani, and C. Seepersad, “Low-Energy and Fast Additive Manufacturing of Isotropic Parts via Reactive Extrusion”, Additive Manufacturing, 44, 101919 (2021).
• N. van de Werken, P. Koirala, D. Doyle, J. Ghorbani, and M. Tehrani, “Investigating the Hot Isostatic Pressing of an Additively Manufactured Continuous Carbon Fiber Reinforced PEEK Composite”, Additive Manufacturing, 37, 101634 (2021).
• P. Khanbolouki and M. Tehrani, “Purification, Structural Evolutions, and Properties of Carbon Nanotube Yarns Processed via Incandescent Annealing”, Carbon, 168, 710-718 (2020).
• N. van de Werken, J. Hurley, P. Khanbolouki, A. N. Sarvestani, A. Y. Tamijani, and M. Tehrani, “Design Considerations and Modeling of Fiber Reinforced 3D Printed Parts”, Composites Part B, 60: 684-692 (2019).
• N. van de Werken, M. S. Reese, M. R. Taha, and M. Tehrani, “Investigating the Effects of Fiber Surface Treatment and Alignment on Mechanical Properties of Recycled Carbon Fiber Composites”, Composite Part A 119, 38-47 (2019).