RESEARCH INTERESTS

• Human body modeling


• Vehicle system dynamic and control


• Automotive, railway and heavy vehicle systems


• Multi objective optimization using genetic algorithm and neural networks


• Smart Materials (MRF: Magnetorheological Fluids) applications in vehicle systems (MRD: Magnetorheological dampers)

EDUCATION

• 2006 - 2009: M.S. Mechanical Engineering Department (Automotive Engineering), Iran University of Science and Technology, Tehran, Iran, Thesis Title: "Biomechanical Modeling of the Human Body Exposed to Vibrations in order to Assess Ride Comfort Parameters"


• 2001 - 2006: B.S. Mechanical Engineering Department, Sharif University of Technology, Tehran, Iran, Thesis Title: "Developing A Computer Program for Design and Optimization of All Types of Coil Springs Using Genetic Algorithm"

HONORS & AWARDS

• Spring 2008: Participating in the national Design of Electric Cars competitions as a member of Iran University of Science and Technology, Tehran, Iran


• Fall 2006: Scholarship from Iran Khodro Industrial Group (The largest automotive manufacture company in the Middle East): http://www.IKCO.com


• Fall 2006: Being ranked 7th among about 6000 participants in the National Graduate Study Exam in the field of Automotive Engineering, and entering the graduate program of the first ranked school of Automotive Engineering in the Middle East.


• Summer 2005: Participating in the international ROBOCUP competitions as a member of Sharif University of Technology's Humanoid Robot Team


• Fall 2001: Being ranked 63rd among about 450,000 participants in the National University Entrance Exam, and entering Sharif University of Technology's Mechanical Engineering undergraduate program


• 1996 - 2000: Being ranked 1st in high school

INVENTION

• A. Afkar, H. Ahmadi, "Design and Optimization of All Types of Coil Springs Using Genetic Algorithm", Registration No. 66573, Iran, 2010.

PUBLICATIONS

• A. Afkar, Y. AmiriRad and J. MarzbanRad, "SemiActive Control of a Full Heavy Vehicle Model Including Seat Suspension with an MR Damper and Human Body in Order to Improve Ride Comfort", (Under preparation for the International Journal of Heavy Vehicle Systems)


• A. Afkar, Y. AmiriRad and J. MarzbanRad, "A Comparison of Selecting Different Control Strategies for Implementing Semi Active Control of a Seat Suspension with an MR Damper and Human Body Model", (Under preparation for The Journal of Sound and Vibration)


• A. Afkar, Y. AmiriRad and M. T. Ahmadian, "Dynamic behavior analysis of a Fencing weapon to optimize the Flick attack", (Invited to publish in SPORTS TECHNOLOGY: http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals/RTEC)


• A. Afkar, H. Samimi, "Jumble of Heuristic Notions", Submitted to International Journal of Innovative Computing, Information and Control (IJICIC). (Under review)


• A. Afkar, S. Bayat and M. T. Ahmadian, "Multi Objective Optimization of a Passenger Occupied Seat with Suspension system Exposed to Vertical Vibrations using Genetic Algorithm in order to Improve Ride Comfort", Submitted to International Journal of Innovative Computing, Information and Control (IJICIC). (Under review)


• A. Afkar, S. Bayat and A. H. Kakaee, "Sensitivity Analysis of Air Mass Flow Rate through Underhood by Simulation of Flow from Front Grille to Undertray", Submitted to Computers and Fluids, An International Journal of Computers and Fluids. (Under review)


• A. Afkar, Y. AmiriRad and J. MarzbanRad, "Calculation and Optimization of Seated Human Body Biomechanical Model Parameters Exposed to Vertical Vibration Using GA Method", Submitted to Industrial Health, An International Scientific Journal of Occupational Health and Safety. (Under review)


• A. Afkar, M. Emami, H. Zohoor and S. Sohrabpour, "A New Method for Solving Constrained Systems Using D'Alembert's Principle", Submitted to Nonlinear Dynamics, An International Journal of Nonlinear Dynamics and Chaos in Engineering Systems. (Under review)


• A. Afkar, Y. AmiriRad and J. MarzbanRad, "Modeling and semi active vertical vibration control of a GA optimized 7DoF driver model using an MR damper in a seat suspension system", First International Conference IMPACT 2010, 22-24 March 2010, Djerba, Tunisia. (Accepted)


• A. Afkar, Y. AmiriRad and J. MarzbanRad, "A Biomechanical Seven DOF Model as a Seated Human Exposed to Vertical Vibration Using Genetic Algorithm", International Advanced of Technology Congress (ATCi), PWTC, Conference on Spatial and Computational Engineering, Malaysia, November 3-5, 2009. (Also accepted for publish in Special Issue in Science Publication Journal: http://www.scipub.org/scipub/journals.php)


• A. Afkar, Y. AmiriRad and J. MarzbanRad, "Semi-Active Vibration Control Of A Human Body Model With MR Damper In Seat Suspension Exposed To Speed Hump", International Advanced of Technology Congress (ATCi), PWTC, Conference on Spatial and Computational Engineering, Malaysia, November 3-5, 2009. (Also accepted for publish in Special Issue in Science Publication Journal: http://www.scipub.org/scipub/journals.php)


• A. Afkar, Y. AmiriRad, S. Bayat and J. MarzbanRad, "Investigation of Comfort Standard of the Human Body Exposed to Whole Body Vibrations and Their Comparison", The second International Conference on HSE (Health, safety, Environment), Tehran, Iran, November 1-2, 2009.


• A. Afkar, Y. AmiriRad and J. MarzbanRad, "Vibration Isolation of a GA Optimized Biomechanical Model of a Railway Passenger Using MR Damper Seat Suspension", 2nd International Conference on Recent Advances in Railway Engineering (ICRARE-2009), Iran university of science and Technology, Tehran, Iran, September 27-28, 2009. (Also accepted for publish in International Journal of Vehicle Structures & Systems (IJVSS), In press, 2010: http://www.ijvss.maftree.org)


• A. Afkar, J. MarzbanRad, "Ride Comfort Improvement of a Car Passenger through Optimized Suspension and Seat System", 17th. Annual (International) Conference on Mechanical Engineering-ISME2009, University of Tehran, Iran, May, 2009.


• A. Afkar, J. MarzbanRad, "Developing A Novel Lumped Parameter Model of Seated Human Body through Multi Objective Optimization Using Genetic Algorithm", 6th. Annual (Student) Conference on Mechanical Engineering-STU2009, Amir Kabir University, Iran, February, 2009.


• A. Afkar, J. MarzbanRad, "Multi Objective Optimization with Genetic Algorithm Including Human Body, Seat and Suspension Model", National Conference of Mechanical Engineering-NCME2008, Islamic Azad University of Khomeinishahr, Iran, November, 2008. (the best article of the conference)


• A. Afkar, J. MarzbanRad, "Calculation of Model Parameters in Automotive Exposed to Vibrations for Evaluation of Ride Comfort", The First National Conference of Innovative in Automotive Industry, Iran University of Science & Technology, Tehran, Iran, October, 2008.

LANGUAGE SKILLS

• Native Farsi (Persian)


• Fluent English
  • TOEFL PBT: October 17th 2009
  • GRE GENERAL: October 24th 2009

WORK EXPERIENCES

• November 2008 - Present: Iran Khodro Industrial Group - Full time job in the quality planning department (conformity of production tests: Doing automotive tests such as ride, handling, braking system & ... according to international standards (E.C.E.)) at Iran Khodro Industrial Group (The largest automotive manufacture company in the Middle East): http://www.IKCO.com


• October 2007 - November 2008: Iran Khodro Industrial Group - Part time job in production engineering department of cylinder head and block machining (the largest machining plant in the Middle East) at Iran Khodro Industrial Group

TEACHING EXPERIENCES

• Fall 2009: Teaching "Vehicle system dynamics" course at Iran Khodro Industrial Group


• Spring 2008: Teaching Assistant (TA), "Control" and "Vibrations" courses at Automotive Engineering Department, Iran University of Science and Technology, Tehran, Iran


• Fall 2008: Teaching Assistant (TA), "Dynamics" and "Control" courses at Automotive Engineering Department, Iran University of Science and Technology, Tehran, Iran

TECHNICAL SKILLS

• Programming Languages
  • C/C++


• Design, Modeling & Graphics Software
  • AutoCAD & Mechanical Desktop, Pro/Engineer, Solid Works, 3D Studio MAX, Catia


• Mathematics & Simulation Software
  • MATLAB & SimuLink (plus Fuzzy Logic, Control System, Genetic Algorithm & Neural Network toolboxes), ADAMS (plus ADAMS Car & ADAMS Railway), Mathematica


• Finite Element Analysis Software
  • ANSYS, ABAQUS


• Familiar with electronics, computer hardware, interfacing with computers and data acquisition

REFERENCES

• Dr. Javad MarzbanRad, Ph.D.
  • Associate Professor, School of Automotive Engineering, Iran University of Science and Technology
  • Email: marzban@iust.ac.ir , Phone: (+98 21) 7724 0540-50 (3981) or (+98 912) 108 3011


• Dr. Mohammad Taghi Ahmadian, Ph.D.
  • Professor, School of Mechanical Engineering, Sharif University of Technology
  • Email: ahmadian@sharif.edu , Phone: (+98 21) 6616 5503


• Dr. Mohammad Hassan Shojaee Fard, Ph.D.
  • Professor and Chairman, School of Automotive Engineering, Iran University of Science and Technology
  • Email: mhshf@iust.ac.ir , Phone: (+98 21) 7724 0360


• Dr. Javad Akbari, Ph.D.
  • Associate Professor, School of Mechanical Engineering, Sharif University of Technology
  • Email: akbari@sharif.edu , Phone: (+98 21) 6616 5535