Faculty Directory

Kirk, Dr. James A.

Kirk, Dr. James A.

Professor Emeritus of Mechanical Engineering
Mechanical Engineering
Website(s):

I started my career at the University of Maryland/College Park as Assistant Professor of ME in 1972.  I was promoted to Associate Professor of ME in 1976, and to Professor of ME in 1986. 

I retired as a Professor of Mechanical Engineering from the University of Maryland/College Park in July 1998 and I was subsequently appointed to the position of Professor Emeritus of Mechanical Engineering.

 

 

  • Applications of metal cutting to mechanical energy absorbers (aka. "Mechanical Fuse")
  • Magnetically suspended flywheels for energy storage.

  • Kirk, J.A., "Flywheel Energy Storage Part I ‑ Basic Concepts", Int. J. of Mech. Science, Vol. 19, No. 4, 1977, pgs. 223‑231.
  • Kirk, J.A., "Flywheel Energy Storage Part II ‑ Magnetically Suspended Superflywheel", Int. J. of Mech. Science, Vol. 19, No. 4, 1977, pgs. 233‑245 (with P.A. Studer).
  • Kirk, J.A., "Design of a Metal Skinning Energy Absorber for the U.S. Capitol Subway System", Int. J. of Mech. Science, Vol. 19, No. 10, 1977, pgs. 595‑602.
  • Kirk, J.A., "Metal Cutting Energy Absorbers", Machine Design, March 10, 1977, pgs. 84‑85 (with J.W. Gay).
  • Kirk, J.A., "Mechanical Energy Absorbers and Aluminum Honeycomb", Trans. ASME, Journal of Mechanical Design, Vol. 104, No. 3, July 1982, pgs. 671‑674.
  • Higgins, M.A., Plant, D.P., Ries, D.M., Kirk, J.A., and Anand, D.K., "Flywheel Energy Storage for Electric Utility Load Leveling," Proceedings of the 26th Intersociety Energy Conversion Engineering Conference, August 4-9, 1991, Boston, Massachusetts, pgs. 209-214.
  • Wells, S.P., Pang, D.C., and Kirk, J. A., “The Design, Manufacture, and Testing of a Composite Flywheel for Energy Storage”, Mechanics in Materials Processing and Manufacturing, ASME Publication AMD-Vol. 194, pgs. 397-404, November 1994.

Doyenne Reliability Engineering Program

A fellowship for Mozambican women to pursue graduate education in Reliability Engineering at UMD

Giving Spotlight: Maria Korsnick

Alumna Maria Korsnick (B.S. nuclear engineering ’86) contributes to the Marvin Roush Fellowship in Risk and Reliability.

Kailkhura and Vathsavai Win Best Consortium Student Presentation Award, Spring 2019

Research sponsors voted theirs best out of 15 presentations.

Human-Powered Submarine Team Takes First Place at 7th International Submarine Races

Held June 23rd through June 27th, 2003 at the Carderock Division of the Naval Surface Warfare Center.