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Lawrence N. Virgin

Professor in the Thomas Lord Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science
Thomas Lord Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science
3393 Fciemas Building, Box 90300, Durham, NC 27708
3393 Fciemas, Duke Box 90300, Durham, NC 27708

Research Interests


Study of the behavior of nonlinear dynamical systems, including the investigation of the fundamental nature of nonlinear systems based on a mathematical description of their underlying equations of motion and the application of recent results from nonlinear dynamical systems theory to problems of practical engineering importance, especially in aerospace engineering.

Selected Grants


Interrogation (probing) of Configuration Space in Buckled Structures

ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by Air Force Office of Scientific Research · 2023 - 2026

Probing and Disturbance Sensitivity: A New Approach to Imperfection-Sensitive Buckling

ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by National Science Foundation · 2019 - 2023

Collaborative Research: Geometry of escape dynamics in structural mechanics

ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by National Science Foundation · 2015 - 2019

Nonlinear Dynamics and Global Stability of Aircraft Structures

ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by Rice University · 2013 - 2017

The 2016 Dynamics Days Conference

ConferencePrincipal Investigator · Awarded by National Science Foundation · 2015 - 2016

New Features In Non-Smooth Dynamical Systems: Experiments And Analysis

ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by National Science Foundation · 2009 - 2013

Vibration and Buckling Characteristics of J-2X Rocket Nozzles

FellowshipPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by National Aeronautics and Space Administration · 2009 - 2012

Non-linear Dynamics of Traveling Wave Magnetophoresis for Applications in Colloidal Separation

ResearchCo Investigator · Awarded by National Science Foundation · 2008 - 2012

Snap-Through And Continuation

ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by Air Force Office of Scientific Research · 2009 - 2011

Equipment in Support of Broadband Energy Harvesting

EquipmentCo-Principal Investigator · Awarded by Office of Naval Research · 2010 - 2011

Acoustic-Structure Interaction in Rocket Engines

FellowshipPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by National Aeronautics and Space Administration · 2005 - 2008

To Support Computational Platforms for Practical Learning Instructional & Support of Student Project Capabilities

Institutional SupportPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by Lord Foundation of North Carolina · 2007 - 2008

REU Supplement: A Novel Type of Vibration Isolator Utilizing Buckled Structures

ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by National Science Foundation · 2004 - 2006

A Novel Type of Vibration Isolator Utilizing Buckled Structures

ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by National Science Foundation · 2003 - 2006

A Buckling Demonstration Model

ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by Lord Foundation of North Carolina · 2002 - 2005

Numerical and Experimental Models of Dry Friction Damping in Aeroelastic Structures

ResearchCo-Principal Investigator · Awarded by Air Force Office of Scientific Research · 2002 - 2005

Dynamic Characteristics and Damage Detection in Buckled Square Solar Sail Structures

FellowshipPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by National Aeronautics and Space Administration · 2002 - 2005

Computational Methods for Predicting the Performance of Long Flexible Booms

ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by National Aeronautics and Space Administration · 2004 - 2004

Development of the Duke/Bath Coop

Institutional SupportPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by Lord Foundation of North Carolina · 2000 - 2003

Dynamic Structural Modeling and Testing of Thin-Film Structures Used in Solar Thermal Propulsion

ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by National Aeronautics and Space Administration · 2000 - 2003

A New Approach to Damage Detection In Structures Incorporating Fiber Optic Sensors

ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by Office of Naval Research · 2002 - 2003

Dynamics and Control of Nonlinear Fluid-structure Interaction

ResearchCo-Principal Investigator · Awarded by Air Force Office of Scientific Research · 1999 - 2002

Nonlinear Differential Equations, Mechanics and Bifurcation

ConferencePrincipal Investigator · Awarded by Army Research Office · 2002 - 2002

On the Response and Stability of Periodic Systems

ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by Army Research Office · 1999 - 2002

An Investigation of the Geometrical Sealing Properties of Inflatable Structures Used for Space Solar Power Generation

ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by National Aeronautics and Space Administration · 2000 - 2002

Development of Classroom/Laboratory Real-time Interaction

EquipmentPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by Lord Foundation of North Carolina · 2001 - 2002

Development of an Integrated Multimedia Approach to Enhance Scholarly Activity

Institutional SupportPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by Lord Foundation of North Carolina · 1999 - 2002

Acquisition of a Point-to-Point Laser Doppler Vibrometer Measurement System

EquipmentPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by Air Force Office of Scientific Research · 2001 - 2002

Topics in Modal Testing Research

FellowshipPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by National Aeronautics and Space Administration · 1997 - 2000

Nonlinear Dynamics and Control of Wings and Panels

ResearchCo-Principal Investigator · Awarded by Air Force Office of Scientific Research · 1996 - 1999

Topics in Modal Testing Research

ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by National Aeronautics and Space Administration · 1997 - 1999

Nonlinear Dynamics: An Experimental Mechanics Perspective

ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by Lord Foundation of North Carolina · 1997 - 1998

Nonlinear Dynamics and Control in Aeroelasticity

ResearchCo-Principal Investigator · Awarded by Air Force Office of Scientific Research · 1994 - 1996

A Model Investigation of the Steady State and Evolved Nonlinear Responses of an Acoustically Excited, Thermally Buckled Panel

FellowshipPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by National Aeronautics and Space Administration · 1993 - 1996

Studies in Nonlinear Vibrations, Dynamics and Applications

ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by Army Research Office · 1992 - 1995

A Model Investigation of the Steady-State and Evolved Non-Linear Responses of an Acoustically Excited Thermally Buckled Panel

FellowshipPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by National Aeronautics and Space Administration · 1992 - 1995

RIA: Control of Chaotic Impacting Oscillators

ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by National Science Foundation · 1992 - 1995

Establishment of an Animation and Visualization Section in the Nonlinear Dynamics Laboratory

EquipmentPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by Lord Foundation of North Carolina · 1994 - 1994

Studies in Nonlinear Vibrations, Dynamics, and Applications

ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by Army Research Office · 1992 - 1994

Studies in Non-Linear Vibrations, Dynamics, and Applications

ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by Army Research Office · 1992 - 1994

A Modal Investigation of the Steady-state and Evolved Nonlinear Responses of an Acoustically Excited, Thermally Buckled Panel

FellowshipPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by National Aeronautics and Space Administration · 1992 - 1994

Control of Chaotic Impact Oscillators

ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by National Science Foundation · 1992 - 1994

Aeroelastic Turbulence and High-Dimensional Chaos

ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by Air Force Office of Scientific Research · 1992 - 1993

Periodic Impact Oscillators

ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by Lord Foundation of North Carolina · 1991 - 1992