Yongho Sohn Pegasus Professor
He is Also:
Associate Director of AMPAC Materials Characterization Facility
"The level of efficiency in our materials determines and drives the development of society overall."
Research
Sohn is dedicated to making new and better materials for everything from automobile and airplanes to nuclear and electrical power plants. While his topics of research are diverse in terms of applications, the overall goal is to provide a fundamental understanding of thermodynamics and kinetics, as well as practical solutions. Sohn’s research focuses on the development, testing and characterization of materials subjected to extreme temperatures and stresses, with an emphasis on metallic alloys, metal matrix composites and protective ceramic coatings for metallic components.
Societal Impact
The 1986 NASA space shuttle Challenger explosion was a major influence to Sohn’s field of study. The disaster led him a lifelong quest to advance the knowledge of materials science and engineering. Today, he takes great pride in the lab activities that offer essential tools to educate and train the next generation of engineering students. Sohn and his research team work to provide the U.S. military with technology that will contribute to the readiness and safety of soldiers worldwide, as well as 3-D printing technology to create critical metal components on-demand and in the field.
Graduate Students and Achievements
Advising four Ph.D. students and two post-doctoral scholars. His former students are now materials scientists and engineers for employers that include Lockheed Martin, Siemens, Mitsubishi Hitachi Power Systems and U.S. Army Research Laboratory.
Education
Ph.D. in Materials Science and Engineering, Purdue University
MS in Materials Science and Engineering, Worcestor Polytechnic Institute
BS with Honors in Mechanical Engineering, Worcestor Polytechnic Institute
Current Projects
Sohn and his group are currently researching failure mechanisms, non-destructive inspection (NDI) techniques, and improved durability/reliability of thermal barrier coatings (TBCs). He also oversees a multicomponent diffusion (under multiple gradients) research program and is investigating metal matrix composites by incorporating nanostructured materials.
Courses He Teaches
EGN 3365: Structure and Properties of Materials
EGN 3365H: Honors Structure and Properties of Materials
EMA 3012C: Experimental Techniques in Materials and Mechanics
EMA 4102: Thermodynamics and Kinetics of Materials
EMA 5104: Intermediate Structure and Properties of Materials
EMA 5317: Kinetics of Materials
EMA 5705: High-Temperature Materials
EMA 6126: Physical Metallurgy
EMA 6136: Diffusion in Solids
Laboratory
Materials and Coating for Extreme Environment (MCEE)
Lab Equipment and Capabilities:
SLM 125HL Selective Laser Melting Additive Manufacturing Unit
Centorr 5BJ Arc Melting Furnace with Drop-Cast Capability
DYIF Gas Atomization System with Induction Melting Furnace (1650ºC)
Several High-Temperature Furnace (600~1700ºC) with Environmental Control and Vertical Cycling Capability
Hysitron PI Premium NanoIndentor System
Beckman-Coulter LS 13 320 Laser Diffraction Particle Size Analyzer
Perkin-Elmer and TA Instrument Thermal Analysis Instruments (TGA, DSC, DMA, DTA)
Discoveries/Publication Highlights
Sohn has 3,784 citations and an h-index of 33.
In the News
January 8, 2018 – UCF Today: Armed Services Turn to UCF for Help with New Technology
Awards/Grants
Highlights include:
Lockheed Martin Professorship, College of Engineering and Computer Science, University of Central Florida, August 2018 – July 2023.
UCF Research Incentive Award, 2017
UCF Pegasus Professorship, 2016
Outstanding (Alumni) Materials Engineer, School of Materials Engineering, Purdue University, 2016
Fellow of ASM International (FASM), ASM International, Class of 2015
UCF Teaching Incentive Program Award, 2013
UCF Research Incentive Award, 2012
UCF Faculty Excellence Award (Full-Professor Level) in Research, 2011
National Science Foundation CAREER Award and Grant, Division of Materials Research, 2003-2008