I. NAME -- JOHN J. Jack LESKO

II. DATE OF BIRTH July 27, 1963

III. ACADEMIC RANK Associate Professor (Full-time)

IV. RESEARCH INTERESTS

Mechanics of polymer and composites, strength, life, and durability; Hygrothermal mechanical damage, degradation, and corrosion of materials; Fire response of materials; Composites structural design and reliability; Processing and design of low cost composites; Adhesion mechanics and bond design

V. DEGREES WITH FIELDS, INSTITUTION AND DATE

  • B.S., Mechanical Engineering, University of Maryland, 1987
  • M.S., Engineering Science & Mechanics, Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University, 1991
  • Ph.D., Engineering Science & Mechanics, Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University, 1994

VI. WORK EXPERIENCE

Associate Professor, (Tenured), August 2000 - Present

Assistant Professor, August 1995 – August 2000

     Engineering Science & Mechanics Dept., Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia

 

Research Associate/Visiting Assistant Professor, August 1994 - August 1995

     Engineering Science & Mechanics Dept., Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia

 

Senior Graduate & Graduate Research Assistant, August 1989 - August 1994

     Engineering Science & Mechanics Dept., Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia

 

Structural Test Engineer, GS 11.2, June 1987 - August 1989

     David Taylor Research Center, US Navy (Now NSWC), Carderock, Maryland

 

Research & Engineering Consultant, April 1988 - Present

NASA: Load-Torque-Moment sensor design for mock shuttle manipulator arm.

Durability Inc.: Component flaw investigation, and test design.

Ciba-Vision:  Visco-Mechanical response of contact lenses.

Eastman Chemicals: Fiber matrix interfaces for Carbon/PET composites.

Smith & Nephew, Inc.: Analysis of bone cement creep, and ENT prosthetics.

Monnet, Hayes, Bullis, Thompson & Edwards: Professional witness for

the plaintiff, settled based on expert report, no deposition or trial appearance.

Strongwell Corp.: Stress analysis of FRP composite structures.

Pentair:  Development of test protocol for composite pressure vessels

Franke, Schultz & Mullen:  Professional witness for the Defendant (Strongwell, Corp.)

VII.  PROFESSIONAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS

·        Co-lead the design and construction of the 40’ span FRP Bridge over Dickey Creek, Sugar Grove Virginia – completed September 2001

·        Collaborative development and installation of a FRP deck test facility at the Weigh Station on Interstate 81, Troutville, Virginia - November 1999.

·        Development of a design manual for the implementation of Strongwell, Corp.’s 8 & 36” deep double web FRP pultruded structural member (EXTREN 8”  & 36” DWB) for highway bridges.

·        Lead the collaborative design and construction of Virginia’s 1st (the US’s 3rd) fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) composite vehicular bridge with the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) – July 1997  ( www.vt.edu:10021/eng/esm/jlesko/tcb/tcb.html )

·        Development of the Summer Externship in Engineering and Science (SEES).  The SEES program provides high school age at-risk youth a research and learning in engineering and science experience during a summer month at Virginia Tech.  Two youths have completed the program initially offered in 1998 as part of the educational component of the NSF CAREER Award.

·        Co-developed and executed a NSF sponsored workshop on “Promoting Child Learning in Math Science & Engineering:  Foundations for Professional Careers,” with my trusted colleague Prof. Mark Benson of Family and Child Development, Virginia Tech.  This interdisciplinary workshop brought together Engineering College Deans, Education Professionals, Sociologists, Psychologists, Engineers, Scientists and Mathematicians to provide the NSF with input for the development of future research agendas in the area related to learning experiences and their influence on the transition of the child to the workforce. 

·        Deputy Director of a $2.7 million NSF grant on IGERT (Integrated Graduate Education and Research Training) ( http://www.macro.vt.edu/IGERT/ ) program on Macromolecular Science & Infrastructure Engineering.  This program will focus on Interdisciplinary education of scientist and engineers to enhance the polymer composites and adhesive technologies in the civil infrastructure. 

·        Secured and completed over $6 million ($4 million in individual expenditures over 8 years) in public and industrial programs in applied and fundamental collaborative research involving interdisciplinary subject:

§         The development and use of advanced materials in aerospace, low cost housing, transportation and highway bridge structures

§         The fundamental assessment and mechanistic prediction of polymer and FRP material durability and fire response

§         The development of composites and polymers for fuel cell applications. 

·        Author of 35+ journal articles, 45+ referred conference articles and 37 other conference papers. 

·        Presided over the award of 16 Masters of Science degrees and 4 Doctoral degrees.  These graduates have gone on to distinguish themselves in various industrial careers and won several awards for their engineering and scientific contributions.

·        Sabbatical with W. Brandt Goldsworthy & Associates Inc. and the Material Science Department at Univ. of Southern California during the 2001-2002 academic year working in the area of structural analysis and pultrusion manufacturing and sandwich structures and design

VIII. SELECTED PUBLICATIONS 

H. Oyama, J.J. Lesko, & J.P. Wightman, “Inter-diffusion at the Interface Between Poly(vinylpyrrolidone) and Epoxy,” Journal of Polymer Science, Vol. 35, 1997, pp. 331-346.

 

N. S. Broyles, K. Verghese, S. V. Davis, H. Li, R. M. Davis, J. J. Lesko and J. S. Riffle, "Fatigue Performance of Carbon Fiber-Vinyl Ester Composites:  The Effect of Two Dissimilar Polymeric Sizings Agents," Polymer, Vol. 39, No. 15, 1998, pp. 3417-3424.

 

K.N.E. Verghese, M.D, Hayes, K. Garcia , C. Carrier , J. Wood  , J.S. Riffle, & J.J. Lesko, “Influence of Matrix Chemistry on the Short Term, Hydrothermal Aging of Vinyl Ester Matrix and Composites Under Both Isothermal and Thermal Spiking Conditions,” Journal of Composite Materials, Vol. 33, No. 20, 1999, pp. 1918-1938.

 

F. McBagonluri , K. Garcia, M. Hayes , N. Verghese , & J. J. Lesko, "Characterization of Fatigue and Combined Environment on Durability Performance of Glass/Vinyl Ester Composite for Infrastructure Applications" International Journal of Fatigue, Vol. 22, Issue 1, 2000, pp. 53-64.

 

J. D. Wood  , R. B. Plunkett , P. H. Tsang  , & J. J. Lesko, “Assessment Of Residual Composite Properties As Influenced By Thermal Mechanical Aging,” Journal of Composite Research & Technology, Vol. 22, No. 2, April 2000, pp. 82-90.

 

K. N. E. Verghese, R. E. Jensen, J. J. Lesko, & T. C. Ward, “Effects of Molecular Relaxation Behavior on Sized Carbon Fiber/Vinyl ester Matrix Composite Properties,” Polymer, Vol. 42, No. 4, 2000, pp. 1633-1645.

 

J. Senne,  J. J. Lesko, & S. Case, “A Life Prediction Methodology for Thick Section Composites Used in Civil Infrastructure,” ASTM Journal of Composite Science & Technology, Vol. 22, No. 4, October, 2000, pp. 241-248.

 

M. D. Hayes , J.J. Lesko, J. Haramis , T. E. Cousins, J. Gomez, P. Massarelli, “Laboratory and Field Testing of Composite Bridge Superstructure,” ASCE, Journal of Composites for Construction, Vol. 4, No. 3, August 2000, pp. 1-9.

 

M.D. Hayes , D. Ohanehi  , J. J. Lesko , T. E. Cousins,  & Dan Witcher, “Performance of Tube and Plate Fiberglass Composite Bridge Deck,” ASCE, Journal of Composites for Construction, Vol. 4, No. 2, May 2000, pp. 48-55.

 

C. S. Tyberg, P. Shih, K. N. E. Verghese, A. C. Loos, J. J. Lesko and J. S. Riffle, "Latent Nucleophilic Initiators for Melt Processing Phenolic-Epoxy Matrix Composites," Polymer (London), Vol.41, 2000, pp. 9033-9048.

 

C.E. Bakis, L.C. Bank, V.L Brown, E. Cosenza, J. F. Davalos, J.J.Lesko, A. Machida, S.H. Rizkalla, T.C. Triantafillou, “Fiber-Reinforced Polymer Decks for Bridge Systems,” ASCE Journal of Composites for Construction, 150th Anniversary Paper, May 2002, pp. 73-87.

 

IX. SCIENTIFIC AND PROFESSIONAL SOCIETIES OF WHICH A MEMBER

  • American Society for Testing and Materials

X. HONORS AND AWARDS

·        Virginia Tech, College of Engineering, Faculty Fellow 2003-2006

·        National Science Foundation CAREER Award, 1997, “Connecting the Engineering Profession & Society.”

·        Virginia Tech’s College of Engineering, Certificate of Teaching Excellence, 1996-97 (four selected from 340 faculty).

·        U.S. Patent No. 6,020,063 - "Composites of Thermosetting Resins and Carbon Fibers having Polyhydroxyether Sizings," J. J. Lesko, J.S.Riffle, N. S. Broyles, N. Verghese, and S. V. Davis, February 2000.

·        U.S. Patent No. 5,133,210 - “Thermal Driven Indentation System,” J.J. Lesko, & R.E. Armstrong, July 1990.

XI. OTHER ASSIGNED DUTIES PERFORMED DURING THE ACADEMIC YEAR

  • Member to the University Faculty Senate, Virginia Tech 2003-Present
  • Chair Teaching Excellence Committee, College of Engineering, Virginia Tech 1997 - Present
  • Member, ESM Executive Committee, Virginia Tech 2002-Present
  • Member to the International Editorial Board, ASCE Journal of Composites for Construction
  • Member to the International Editorial Board, International Journal of Fatigue