Christopher Niezrecki

Christopher Niezrecki

Distinguished University Professor; Director, Center for Energy Innovation; Co-director, Structural Dynamics & Acoustic Systems Laboratory; Co-director, Rist Institute for Sustainability and Energy

College
Francis College of Engineering
Department
Mechanical and Industrial Engineering
Phone
978-934-2963
Email
Christopher_Niezrecki@uml.edu

Expertise

Renewable energy systems, wind turbine dynamics, structural dynamic and acoustic systems, smart structures, signal processing, optical sensing, structural health monitoring, non-destructive inspection, and smart materials

Research Interests

Christopher Niezrecki’s primary research includes renewable energy systems, wind turbine dynamics, structural health monitoring and inspection, structural dynamic and acoustic systems, bio-acoustics, manatee detection, parachute systems, smart structures, digital image correlation, signal processing, and smart materials. His goals include expanding the global use of renewable energy, developing technologies that can impact the 1.1 billion people in the world who do not have access to electricity, and advancing sensing technologies to measure and monitor structural systems.

Selected Awards and Honors

  • 2021: UMASS Lowell Department of Mechanical Engineering Teaching Excellence Award
  • 2020: Distinguished University Professor – Awarded to a single faculty member from UMass Lowell per year
  • 2019-2022: Donahue Sustainability Fellow
  • 2018: Roy J. Zuckerberg Endowed Leadership Chair – Awarded to a single faculty member from all five campuses of the UMass university system every 2 years
  • 2013: Finalist in the Verizon Powerful Answers Award Competition, Palo Alto, CA, October 30, 2013
  • 2010: Recipient of a NREL (National Wind Technology Center, Arvada, CO) Summer Faculty Research Participant Program Fellowship
  • 2008: Recognized for Contribution to Service Learning at UMass Lowell
  • 2005: UMASS Lowell Department of Mechanical Engineering Teaching Excellence Award
  • 2002: H. J. Leonhardt Business Plan Competition (1st Place)
  • 2002: "Best of Florida Schools" Winner by Florida Leader Magazine, “Bright Bike”
  • 2001: TEC Business Idea Competition Winner

Selected Publications

  • Poozesh, P. Sabato, A., Sarrafi, A., Niezrecki, C., Avitabile, P., and Yarala, R., “Multi-Camera Measurement System to Evaluate the Dynamic Response of Utility-Scale Wind Turbine Blades,” Wind Energy (WE-19-0397), Accepted March 14, 2020.
  • Beale, C., Niezrecki, C., and Inalpolat, M., “An adaptive wavelet packet denoising algorithm for enhanced active acoustic damage detection from wind turbine blades," Mechanical Systems and Signal Processing, Volume 142, August 2020; https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ymssp.2020.106754. 
  • Beale, C., Inalpolat, M., Niezrecki, C., and Willis, D. J., "Passive acoustic damage detection of structural cavities using flow-induced acoustic excitations." Structural Health Monitoring, Vol. 19(3) 751–764, 2020.
  • Joffre, D., Niezrecki, C., and Avitabile, P., “Array directivity enhancement by leveraging angle-dependent scattering,” The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America 147, 1673,  2020; https://doi.org/10.1121/10.0000845
  • Solimine, J., Niezrecki, C., and Inalpolat, M., "An experimental investigation into passive acoustic damage detection for structural health monitoring of wind turbine blades," Structural Health Monitoring, January 3, 2020; https://doi.org/10.1177/1475921719895588
  • Inalpolat, M., Niezrecki, C., “Acoustic Sensing Based Operational Wind Turbine Blade Monitoring,” Journal of Physics-Conference Series, Journal of Physics: Conference Series 1452.1 (2020): 012050.
  • Beale, C., Inalpolat, M., and Niezrecki, C., "Active acoustic damage detection of structural cavities using internal acoustic excitations." Structural Health Monitoring, manuscript ID: SHM-18-0318, https://doi.org/10.1177/1475921719835761, pp.1-18, 2019.
  • Chen, S., Sabato, A., Niezrecki, C., Avitabile, P., and Huber, T., “Characterization and modeling of the acoustic field generated by a curved ultrasound transducer for non-contact structural excitation,” Journal of Sound and Vibration, 432, pp. 33-49, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsv.2018.06.028, 2018.
  • Martin, R., Sabato, A., Giles, R., Schoenberg, A., and Niezrecki, C., “Comparison of nondestructive testing techniques for the inspection of wind turbine blades' spar caps,” Wind Energy, Vol. 21, pp. 980-996,   http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/we.2208, May, 2018.
  • Sarrafi, A., Mao Z., Niezrecki, C., and Poozesh, P., "Vibration Based Damage Detection in Wind Turbine Blades Using Phase-Based Motion Estimation and Motion Magnification," Journal of Sound and Vibration, Volume 421, pp. 300-318, 2018.
  • Willis, D. J., Niezrecki C., Kuchma, D., Hines, E., Arwade, S., Barthelmie, R. J., DiPaola, M., Drane, P. J., Hansen, C. J., Inalpolat, M., Mack, J. H., Meyers, A. T., and Rotea, M., “Wind Energy Research: State-of-the-Art and Future Research Directions," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 125(C), DOI: 10.1016/j.renene.2018.02.049, pp. 133-154, February, 2018. 
  • Reagan, D., Sabato, A., and Niezrecki, C., “Development of an unmanned aerial vehicle for structural health monitoring of bridges using digital image correlation”, Structural Health Monitoring, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/1475921717735326, 17.5, 1056-1072, 2018. 
  •  Asl, M., Niezrecki, C., Sherwood, J., and Avitabile, P., “Experimental and theoretical similitude analysis for flexural bending of scaled-down laminated I-beams. Composite Structures, Volume 176, 15, Pages 812-822, September 2017.
  • Poozesh, P., Sarrafi, A., Mao Z., and Niezrecki, C., “Modal Parameter Estimation from Optically-Measured Data Using a Hybrid Output-Only System Identification Method,” Measurement, Volume 110, Pages 134-145, November, 2017.
  • Poozesh, P., Sarrafi, A., Niezrecki, C., Mao, Z., and Avitabile., P., “Feasibility of Extracting Operating Shapes Using Phase-Based Motion Magnification Technique and Stereo-Photogrammetry,” Journal of Sound and Vibration, Volume 407, Pages 350-366, October, 2017. 
  • Asl, M., Niezrecki, C., Sherwood, J., and Avitabile, P., “Similitude analysis of thin-walled composite I-beams for subcomponent testing of wind turbine blades,” Journal of Wind Engineering, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/0309524X17709924, article first published online: June 7, 2017.
  • Asl, M., Niezrecki, C., Sherwood, J., and Avitabile, P., “Vibration Prediction of Thin-Walled Composite I-beams using Scaled Models,” Thin-Walled Structures, Volume 113, April, Pages 151-161, 2017.
  • Sabato, A. and Niezrecki, C., “Feasibility of Digital Image Correlation for railroad tie inspection and ballast support assessment,” Measurement (2017), doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.measurement.2017.02.024, Vol. 103, February 2017.
  • Sabato, A., Niezrecki, C., and Fortino, G., “Wireless MEMS-based accelerometer sensor boards for structural vibration monitoring: a review,” IEEE Sensors Journal, Vol. 17, No. 2, 2017.
  • Poozesh, P., Baqersad, J., Niezrecki, C., Avitabile, P., Harvey, E., and Yarala, R., "Large-Area Photogrammetry Based Testing of Wind Turbine Blades," Journal of Mechanical Systems and Signal Processing, Vol. 86, Part B: P. 98-115, 2017, Doi.Org/10.1016/J.Ymssp.2016.07.021, 2016.
  • Poozesh, P., Aizawa, K., Niezrecki, C., Baqersad, J., Inalpolat, M., and Heilmann, G., "Structural Health Monitoring of Wind Turbine Blades Using Acoustic Microphone Array," Structural Health Monitoring, P.1-15, 2016, Doi: 10.1177/1475921716676871, 2016.
  • Baqersad, J., Poozesh P., Niezrecki, C., and Avitabile, P., "Full-Field Optical Measurement Techniques in Structural Dynamics - A Review", Mechanical Systems and Signal Processing, Special Issue: Non-Contact Measurement, doi:10.1016/j.ymssp.2016.02.011, 2016.
  • Baqersad, J., Niezrecki, C., and Avitabile, P., “A Non-Contacting Approach for Full-Field Strain Monitoring of Rotating Structures,” Journal of Vibration and Acoustics, Vol. 138, Pages 031008-031008-9, 2016.
  • Baqersad, J., Niezrecki, C., and Avitabile, P., “Numerical and Experimental Analysis of the Boundary Conditions Effects on the Dynamics of Wind Turbines,” Wind Engineering, Vol. 39, No. 4, 2015.
  • Baqersad, J., Niezrecki, C., Avitabile, P., “Full-Field Dynamic Strain Prediction on a Wind Turbine using Displacements of Optical Targets Measured by Stereophotogrammetry,” Mechanical Systems and Signal Processing, Vol. 62–63, Pages 284-295, 2015.
  • Baqersad, J., Niezrecki, C., Avitabile, P., “Extracting Full-Field Dynamic Strain on a Wind Turbine Rotor Subjected to Arbitrary Excitations using 3D Point Tracking and a Modal Expansion Technique,” Journal of Sound and Vibration, Vol. 352, Pages 16-29, 2015.
  • Lundstrom, T., Baqersad, J., and Niezrecki, C. “Monitoring the Dynamics of a Helicopter Main Rotor with High-Speed Stereophotogrammetry” Experimental Techniques, DOI: 10.1111/ext.12127, May 2015.
  • Carr, J., Baqersad, J., Niezrecki, C., and Avitabile, P., "Full Field Dynamic Strain on Wind Turbine Blade Using Digital Image Correlation Techniques and Limited Sets of Measured Data from Photogrammetric Targets," Experimental Techniques, doi: 10.1111/ext.12129, January, 2015. 
  • Niezrecki, C., Avitabile, P., Chen, J., Sherwood, J., Lundstrom, T., LeBlanc, B., Hughes, S., Desmond, M., Beattie, A., Rumsey, M., Klute, S. M., Pedrazzani, R., Werlink, R., and Newman, J., “Inspection and monitoring of wind turbine blade-embedded wave defects during fatigue testing,” Structural Health Monitoring, Vol. 13(6) pp. 629-643, 2014.
  • Lundstrom, T., Niezrecki, C., Avitabile, P., “Appropriate Rigid Body Correction of Stereophotogrammetry Measurements Made on Rotating Systems,” Experimental Techniques, DOI: 10.1111/ext.12030, June, 2013.
  • LeBlanc, B., Niezrecki, C., Avitabile, P., Chen, J., Sherwood, J. “Damage Detection and Full Surface Characterization of a Wind Turbine Blade Using Three-Dimensional Digital Image Correlation, Structural Health Monitoring, Volume 12 Issue 5-6, pp. 430 – 439, September 2013.
  • Zou, X., Wu, N., Tian, Y., Zhang, Y., Fitek, J., Maffeo, M., Niezrecki, C., Chen, J., and Wang, X. “Ultrafast Fabry–Perot fiber-optic pressure sensors for multimedia blast event measurements,” Applied Optics, Vol. 52, No. 6, pp. 1248-1254, February, 2013.  Also in Virtual Journal for Biomedical Optics (VJBO).  http://vjbo.osa.org/virtual_issue.cfm; Vol. 8, Iss. 3 — Apr. 4, 2013.
  •  Zou, X., Wu, N., Tian, Y., Niezrecki, C., Chen, J., Wang, X., “Rapid miniature fiber optic pressure sensors for blast wave measurements,” Optics and Lasers in Engineering, 51, pp. 134–139, 2013. 
  • Favini, E., Agnihotra, S., Surwade, S. P., Niezrecki, C., Willis, D., Chen, J., Niemi, E., Desabrais, K., Charette, C., and Manohar, S. K., “Sensing Performance of Electrically Conductive Fabrics and Suspension Lines for Parachute Systems,” Journal of Intelligent Material Systems and Structures, 23(17) pp. 1969-1986, June, 2012.
  • Wu, N., Zou, X., Tian, Y., Fitek, J., Maffeo, M., Niezrecki, C., Chen, J., and Wang, X., "Ultra-fast Fiber Optic Pressure Sensor for Blast Event Measurements", Measurement Science & Technology, 23, 055102, 2012.
  • Gur, B. M. and Niezrecki, C., “A Wavelet Packet Adaptive Filtering Algorithm for Denoising Manatee Vocalizations,” Journal of the Acoustical Society of America, 129 (4), April 2011, pp. 2059-2067.
  • Wu, N., Wang, W., Tian, Y., Zou, X., Maffeo, M., Niezrecki, C., Chen, J., and Wang, X., “Low-cost rapid miniature optical pressure sensors for blast wave measurements,” Optics Express, Vol. 19 Issue 11, pp.10797-10804, 2011.
  • Warren, C. P., Niezrecki, C., Avitabile, P., and Pingle, P., “Comparison of FRF Measurements and Mode Shapes Determined Using Optically-Image Based, Laser, and Accelerometer Measurements,” Mechanical Systems and Signal Processing, 25 (2011), pp. 2191–2202.
  • Helfrick, M., Niezrecki, C., Avitabile, P., and Schmidt, T., “3D Digital Image Correlation Methods for Full-Field Vibration Measurement,” Mechanical Systems and Signal Processing, 25 (2011), pp. 917–927.
  • Wang, W., Wu, N., Tian, Y., Niezrecki, C., and Wang, X., “Miniature all-silica optical fiber pressure sensor with an ultrathin uniform diaphragm,” Optics Express, Vol. 18, No. 9, pp. 9006-9014 September 2010.
  • Avitabile, P., Niezrecki, C., Helfrick, M., Warren C. P., and, Pingle, P. “Noncontact Measurement Techniques for Model Correlation, Sound and Vibration Magazine, January, pp. 8-12, 2010.

Selected Intellectual Property

  • “Foundation and Deflection Monitoring Device” U.S. Patent No. 108,808,374 B2, October 20, 2020
  • “Image Capturing System and Use of One or More Mobile Image Sensor Devices to Analyze Objects of Interest” PCT/US2019/17386 Filed: February 2019.   
  • “Manatee Warning System” U.S. Patent No. 6,845,062 B2, January 18, 2005.
  • “Cycle Illumination System” U.S. Patent No. 6,779,913 B2, August 24, 2004, Licensed the invention to Full Circle Registry through the University of Florida Research Foundation Inc., June 01, 2002. 

Selected Contracts, Fellowships, Grants and Sponsored Research

Funding for Niezrecki’s research ($20M+) has been provided through grants from numerous federal and state agencies as well as industry sponsors.