Roy T. R. McGrann

Associate Professor and Undergraduate Director

BA (1973), Brown University
BSME (1985), BSEE (1987), MEngr (1995), PhD (1997), University of Tulsa
Room: EB S-18
Phone (607) 777-6676
FAX: (607) 777-4620
E-mail:mcgrann@binghamton.edu

Teaching/Research Focus: Mechanical engineering design, computer-aided engineering (CAE), machine design, kinematics and dynamics of machinery, robotics, solid mechanics, mechanical metallurgy, materials dcience, project management and engineering education research and methods

McGrann's current and previous research activities include:

• evaluation of instructional techniques for teaching computer-aided engineering design (CAE/CAD) when using software design tools such as UGS Solid Edge and Pro/Engineer Wildfire;
• use of autonomous robots to improve student understanding of concepts in systems science and bioengineering, including classical control, fuzzy logic, and neural network theory;
• investigation of engineering design methodology and collaborative design (teamwork);
• prediction of mechanical life of thermal spray coatings in aerospace applications, such as, thermal barrier coatings in gas turbine engines and wear resistant coatings on landing gear;
• experimental determination of residual stresses; and
• fatigue life testing of metal machine components.

Courses that he has offered recently in mechanical engineering are in the area of CAE and engineering design. McGrann currently teaches undergraduate Computer-Aided Engineering (ME 481) and Mechanical Engineering Design (ME 392). Graduate courses that he has taught are Computer-Aided Engineering (ME 581) and Independent Study courses (ME 597), including Metal Fatigue Analysis, and Introduction to Biomaterials Engineering. From 2004-2008, he was responsible for the introductory courses for all first-year engineering students: Exploring Engineering I & II (WTSN 111 & 112).

He has also taught Kinematics and Dynamics of Machinery (ME 322), Mechanical Vibrations (ME 421), Engineering Project Management (ME 372), and Science and Engineering of Materials (ME 272) at Binghamton University, as well as Physics I & II and College Algebra at other institutions.

McGrann is interested in developing additional courses on:

• advanced computer-aided design
• machine component design
• robot kinematics and dynamics
• structural fatigue life analysis

For fifteen of the years prior to accepting his position in the Department of Mechanical Engineering in the Watson School, he was engaged in steel production and fabrication (primarily associated with the petro-chemical industry), performing production management, machine design, project engineering, engineering management and executive management. He served on several national standards committees including ASTM, ANSI/AWS and MSS committees. During this time, McGrann maintained his registration as a professional engineer (PE).

He is the campus representative for the American Society of Engineering Education (ASEE) and the faculty advisor for the student section of the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE).  In addition, he is a member of the executive committee of the Southern Tier Section of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) and the faculty adviser for the student chapter of ASME. He is also a member of several other professional societies including ERM/ASEE, RAS/IEEE, TSS/ASM-International, AWS, AAPT and SHOT.

McGrann is a member of the national engineering honor societies Tau Beta Pi and Eta Kappa Nu (EE) and also an honorary member of Pi Tau Sigma (ME).

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