James B. Spicer


		Faculty

James B. Spicer
Professor of Materials Science and Engineering

Postdoctoral Fellow, National Institute of Standards and Technology, 1991-1993

Ph.D. Materials Science and Engineering, The Johns Hopkins University, 1991

B.S. Physics, Southern Methodist University, 1985

B.S.M.E. Mechanical Engineering, Southern Methodist University, 1985



Phone: 410-516-8524	Fax: 410-516-5293	E-mail: spicer@jhu.edu

Professor Spicer's research interests involve materials process monitoring and control, high-temperature characterization of materials, and intelligent materials. In these areas, he applies advanced optical and ultrasonic sensor techniques to provide information about the materials system under study. For materials process monitoring and control, sensor information gathered during the production process can be used to modify the process, thereby producing the desired materials properties economically. For intelligent materials, the sensor may be part of the material itself so that its integrity and performance may be monitored directly during use.

Research in these areas generally involves the study of laser interactions with materials and examines ultrasonic wave generation and propagation in materials in both liquid and solid states. Recent research in process monitoring employed laser ultrasonic techniques to study microstructural evolution in steel alloys to temperatures exceeding 1000o C. Similar studies of microstructural evolution in ceramic materials at high temperatures will be used to refine current process models. In addition, Prof. Spicer is developing laser ultrasonic techniques to measure and characterize sub-micron scale structures. Using these techniques, ultrasonic imaging of microelectronic and micromechanical devices may be performed in a completely non-intrusive manner.

Research conducted under Prof. Spicer is experimentally based with a detailed understanding of underlying physical principles. Concise theoretical treatments help guide experimental work.


		Selected Publications Wetsel, Jr., G.C. and J.B. Spicer. "Nonlinear Effects in Photothermal Optical Beam Deflection Imaging." Can J Phys 9, no. 64(1985): 1269. Spicer, J.B., A.D.W. McKie, and J.W. Wagner. "Quantitative Theory for Laser Ultrasonic Waves in a Thin Plate." Appl Phy Lett 18, no. 57(1990): 1882. Spicer, J.B. and J.W. Wagner. "Comprehensive Modeling of Laser Ultrasonic Waveforms for Materials Characterization." In Acousto-Optics and Acoustic Microscopy, edited by S.M. Gracewski and T. Kundu, AMD, vol. 140, 163. New York: American Society of Mechanical Engineers, 1992. Spicer, J. B. and D. H. Hurley. "Epicentral and Near Epicenter Surface Displacements on Pulsed Laser Irradiated Metallic Surfaces." Appl Phys Lett 68, no. 25(1996): 3561.		Candy, J. V., Thomas, G. H., D. J. Chinn, and J. B. Spicer. "Laser Ultrasonic Signal Processing: A Model Reference Approach." J Acoust Soc of Am 100, no. 1(1996): 278. Spicer, J. B., J. L. Champion, R. Osiander, and J. W. M. Spicer. "Time-Resolved Thermographic and Time-Resolved Shearographic NDE Methods for Graphite-Epoxy/Honeycomb Composite." Materials Evaluation 54, no. 10(1996): 1210. Hurley, D. H., J. B. Spicer, R. J. Conant, and K. L. Telshow. "Determination of the Optical Absorption Coefficient via Analysis of Laser Generated Plate Waves." IEEE Transactions on Ultrasonics, Ferroelectrics and Frequency Control 44, no. 4(1997): 902. Spicer, J. B. "In-Situ Laser-Ultrasonic Monitoring of Stainless Steel Microstructural Evolution during Heat Treatment." High Temperature and Materials Science 37(1997): 1. Spicer, J. B. and S. L. Wallace. "Laser Ultrasonic Monitoring of Aluminum Alloy Microstructural Evolution." Submitted for publication J Materials Science, June 1997. Hurley, D. H. and J. B. Spicer. "Line-Source Representation for Laser-Generated Ultrasound in an Elastic Transversely Isotropic Half-Space." Submitted for publication J Acoust Soc of Am, October 1997.