Dr. Hafner is a mechanical engineer focused on the analysis of mechanical systems that were involved in failures or other technical issues. He has experience investigating failures or other technical issues involving plumbing systems; piping systems; heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems; fire suppression systems; vehicles; vehicle accidents; and other systems.
He is proficient in a variety of technologies including three-dimensional (3D) scanning (e.g. Laser Scanning (LiDAR)), 3D printing, CAD (Computer-Aided Design) platforms (e.g. SOLIDWORKS), and programming platforms (e.g. MATLAB).
He earned a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and conducted research focused on computational fluid dynamics during that time. He earned a doctorate and master’s degree in mechanical engineering from Purdue University where he conducted research focused on energetic materials. He has authored or co-authored 10 different journal or conference papers and holds one patent.
Areas of Expertise
Publications
- Enhanced piezoelectric performance of Al/P(VDF-TrFE) nanocomposite films for energetic sensors and ignitors, Journal of Applied Physics, Vol. 138, September 2025
- The flexoelectric properties of various polymers and energetic composites, Applied Physics Letters, Vol. 124, February 2024
- The effect of porosity on flexoelectricity in 3D printed aluminum/polyvinylidene fluoride composites, Journal of Applied Physics, Vol. 134, November 2023
- The Effect of Porosity on Flexoelectricity in Fluoropolymer/Aluminum Films, 13th U.S. National Combustion Meeting, March 2023
- Altering the Effective Burning Rate of a Propellant with Shape Memory Alloy, AIAA SCITECH 2023 Forum, January 2023
- Theoretical Conditions for Burning in Solid Propellant Slots, Propellants, Explosives, Pyrotechnics, Vol. 48, December 2022
- “Effects of flexoelectric and piezoelectric properties on the impact-driven ignition sensitivity of P(VDFTrFE)/ nAl films, Combustion and Flame, Vol. 242, August 2022
- Piezo-Energetic composite film fabrication and poling process for pressure sensor applications, 45th International Pyrotechnics Society Seminar, July 2022
- Altering the Impact-Driven Sensitivity and Ignition of PVDF-TrFE/nAl Composite Films with Piezoelectricity, 12th U.S. National Combustion Meeting, May 2021
- THE EFFECT OF A SPANWISE BODY FORCE ON SKIN-FRICTION REDUCTION AND ITS CONNECTIONS TO LOW-DRAG STATES IN TURBULENT FLOW, Proceedings of the ASME 2018 International Mechanical Engineering Congress and Exposition, November 2018
See CV for additional publications.