Dr. Thacker has worked extensively in the development and implementation of advanced probabilistic methods, application of probabilistic methods to high-consequence engineering problems, and model verification and validation methodologies for computational solid mechanics. He has over 100 publications in these general areas.

During his career at Southwest Research Institute, Dr. Thacker has led or contributed to a diverse range or projects. He currently serves as the Project Manager of a large multi-year effort for Los Alamos National Laboratory to develop advanced reliability prediction methods and model validation methodology for stockpile certification. In support of the NASA Space Shuttle Return-to-Flight effort, he is involved with the development of a probabilistic debris (foam) transport model that can be used to predict the probability of critical damage to the Shuttle's leading edge and tile. In a project for the Naval Air Warfare Center, Dr. Thacker is contributing to the development of a probabilistic cervical spine injury model. He managed a large multi-year project for the Defense Threat Reduction Agency that developed a model to predict the vulnerability of underground structures subject to ground shock loading. As part of a related project for the Air Force Research Laboratory, he developed a probabilistic tunnel model that considered coupled rock comminution, weapon fragmentation, and airblast failures.Dr. Thacker was a key contributor for nearly 10 years on the NASA project entitled "Probabilistic Structural Analysis Methods (PSAM) for Select Space Propulsion System Components" from which NESSUS® software was initially developed. Dr. Thacker has instructed at the Probabilistic Analysis and Design annual short course since its inception in 1989.

Dr. Thacker is the Director of the Materials Engineering Department, which includes programs in surface engineering, material characterization, environmental performance of materials, mechanical testing, and material reliability and integrity. He also serves as the Acting Manager of the Reliability and Materials Integrity Section, which has extensive capabilities in the development and application of advanced software for uncertainty modeling, component life prediction, structural integrity assessment, and probabilistic engineering analysis.

Professional Chronology

General Dynamics/Electric Boat Division: 1984-8; Southwest Research Institute: 1988-[research engineer, 1988-90; senior research engineer, 1990-8; principal engineer, 1998-2001; manager, 2001-5; director, 2005-present].

Honors & Awards

NESSUS® R&D 100 Award (2005); AIAA Sustained Service Award (2005); NASA Engineering Safety Center Group Achievement Award (2004); General Chair, AIAA Structures, Structural Dynamics and Materials (SDM) Conference (2005); SEM Uncertainty Quantification and Model Validation Technical Committee (Member, 2005-present); AIAA Non-Deterministic Approaches Working Group (Chair, 2004-2007; Member, 2007-present); Technical Chair, AIAA SDM Conference (2003); AIAA Structures Technical Committee (Chair, 2003-2004); ASCE Probabilistic Methods Committee (Member, 1999-2003); ASME PTC 60 Standards Committee for Verification and Validation of Computational Solid Mechanics (Member, 2002-2007; Vice Chair, 2007-present).

Memberships

AIAA (Associate Fellow), ASCE (Senior Member), ASM (Member), USACM (Member), SEM (Member), IACMAG, NSPE, Tau Beta Pi, Chi Epsilon

Publications/Presentations

2008
Riha, D.S., B.H. Thacker, L.J. Huyse, M.P. Enright, C.J. Waldhart, W.L. Francis, D.P. Nicolella, S.J. Hudak Jr., W. Liang, and S.K. Fitch. Applications of Reliability Assessment for Aerospace, Automotive, Bioengineering, and Weapons Systems.

2007
Huyse, L.J., C.J. Waldhart, D.S. Riha, B.H. Thacker, C.E. Larsen, R.J. Gomez, and P.C. Stuart. Space Shuttle Debris Impact Assessment: Probabilistic Analysis and Model Verification and Validation. Presented at the 48th AIAA/ASME/ASCE/AHS/ASC Structures, Structural Dynamics, and Materials Conference, Waikiki, HI, USA, 2007.
[Proceedings]

Riha, D.S., B.H. Thacker, L.J. Huyse, M.P. Enright, C.J. Waldhart, W.L. Francis, D.P. Nicolella, S.J. Hudak Jr., and W. Liang. Design Reliability Applications for the Aerospace, Automotive and Ship Industries.

2006
Francis, W.L., A.R. Rath, D.E. Moravits, G. Paskoff, B. Shender, B.H. Thacker, and D.P. Nicolella. Probabilistic Response of a Validated and Verified Parametric Cervical Spine Finite Element Model. Presented at the ASME Summer Bioengineering Conference, Amelia Island, Florida, June 2006.

Hudak Jr., S.J., L.J. Huyse, G.G. Chell, Y.-D. Lee, D.S. Riha, B.H. Thacker, R.C. McClung, B.M. Gardner, and J.B. Pleming. A Probabilistic Fracture Mechanics Assessment of the Orbiter LH2 Feedline Flowliner in Support of Return-to-Flight. Proceedings of the 2006 Aging Aircraft Conference, Atlanta, Georgia, March 2006.

View All Publications

Recent Projects

Probabilistic Cervical Spine Injury Analysis
Develop a methodology and computational tool for performing finite element-based probabilistic cervical spine injury analysis.

Probabilistic Blast Containment Vessel Analysis
Evaluate the reliability of blast containment vessels subject to dynamic pressurization and fragment impact.

Probabilistic Tunnel Vulnerability Analysis
Develop a probabilistic hillside tunnel vulnerability model to identify the optimum targeting location considering functional failure due to rock commonition, airblast and fragmentation.

Probabilistic Fracture Mechanics Analysis of Space Shuttle Flowliner
Develop deterministic and probabilistic fracture mechanics models to quantify the reliability of the space shuttle main engine flowliner.

Probabilistic Structural Analysis of Deep Tunnels
Develop probabilistic structural analysis methods and computational tools to assess the effect of uncertainties in loads, geologic properties, and initial conditions on the survivability and vulnerability of underground tunnels subject to near surface blast loading.

Probabilistic Structural Analysis Methods for Space Propulsion Components
Develop probabilistic structural analysis methods and computational tools to evaluate the reliability and risk of space propulsion system components such as turbine blades, transfer ducts, and liquid oxygen posts.

Probabilistic Assessment of Space Shuttle Debris Transport and Impact
Probabilistic assessment of the impact and damage to the space shuttle thermal protection system components.

Stochastic Crashworthiness Analysis
Develop a stochastic frontal car crash model and perform a reliability-based redesign to improve occupant safety due to a number of vehicle failure and occupant injury metrics.

Meet Ben H. Thacker at:

Conference/Seminar	Date/Location	Attendees

XXV Structural Dynamics Conference (IMAC)	February 18 - 21, 2007 Rosen Shingle Creek Resort and Golf Club, Orlando, FL, USA	Thacker, Ben H.

48th AIAA/ASME/ASCE/AHS/ASC Structures, Structural Dynamics, and Materials Conference	April 23 - 26, 2007 Sheraton, Waikiki, Waikiki, HI, USA	Enright, Michael P. Thacker, Ben H.

Contact Information

Carl F. Popelar, Ph.D.

Mechanics and Materials

(210) 522-4213

cpopelar@swri.org

Related Terminology

probabilistic analysis

reliability analysis

uncertainty quantification

life prediction

materials integrity

risk of failure

risk assessment

biomechanics

biomaterials

NESSUS

DARWIN

NASGRO

Materials Engineering Department

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Southwest Research Institute^®(SwRI^®), headquartered in San Antonio, Texas, is a multidisciplinary, independent, nonprofit, applied engineering and physical sciences research and development organization with 12 technical divisions.

March 05, 2008

Mechanics and Materials Section Staff Profile

Our Staff: Mechanics and Materials Section

Ben H. Thacker

Director, Materials Engineering Department