Student Bio: Sofie Leon
Sofie Leon
Graduate Research Fellow
B116 Newmark Civil Engineering Laboratory, MC-250
205 N. Matthews Ave.
Urbana, IL, 61801
Phone: (217) 333-0498
e-mail: leon7@illinois.edu
website: www.sofieleon.com
Education
| Graduate | |||
| Doctor of Philosophy in Civil Engineering, Computational Science and Engineering Option | Dec 2010 - Dec 2014 | ||
| Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering | |||
| University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) | |||
| Master of Science in Civil Engineering, Computational Science and Engineering Option | Aug 2008 - Dec 2010 | ||
| Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering | |||
| University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) | |||
| Undergraduate | |||
| Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering, Minor in Computer Science | Sept 2004 - June 2008 | ||
| Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering | |||
| California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo (Cal Poly) | |||
Research Interests
| Three-Dimensional Adaptive Dynamic Fracture Simulation | |
| Perform large scale simulations of three-dimensional fracture phenomenon using adaptive mesh operators | |
| Nonlinear solution schemes applied to computational mechanics problems | |
| Investigating capabilities of multiple nonlinear solvers, which are unified in a single object oriented program, to capture complex nonlinear behavior. | |
| Modeling of low temperature cracking in asphalt pavement | |
| Creating modeling software to capturing the true fracture properties of hot-mix asphalt under thermal loads. The model will be used to guide the development of a simple specification for the control of thermal cracking. | |
Publications
| Journal Publications | |||
| D. W. Spring, S. E. Leon, G. H. Paulino. “Unstructured polygonal meshes with adaptive refinement for the numerical simulation of dynamic cohesive fracture.” International Journal of Fracture. Vol. 189 No. 1, pp. 33-57, 2014. | |||
| S. E. Leon, D. W. Spring, G. H. Paulino. “Reduction in mesh bias for dynamic fracture using adaptive splitting of polygonal finite elements.” International Journal for Numerical Methods in Engineering. Vol. 100 No. 8, pp. 555-576, 2014. | |||
| S. E. Leon, E. N. Lages, C. N. de Araujo, G. H. Paulino. “On the effect of constraint parameters on the generalized displacement control method.” Mechanics Research Communications. Vol. 56, pp. 153-159, 2014. | |||
| E. V. Dave, W. G. Buttlar, S. E. Leon, B. Behnia. “IlliTC – Low Temperature Cracking Model for Asphalt Pavements.” Journal of Road Material and Pavement Design. Vol. 14 No. 2, pp. 57-78, 2013. |
|||
| S.E. Leon, G.H. Paulino, A. Pereira, I.F.M. Menezes, E.N. Lages. "A Unified Library of Nonlinear Solution Schemes."Applied Mechanics Reviews. Vol 64. No 4. 2011. | |||
| E.V. Dave, S.E. Leon, K. Park. "Thermal Cracking Prediction Model and Software for Asphalt Pavements." T&DI Congress 2011: Integrated Transportation and Development for a Better Tomorrow. pp. 667-676, 2011. | |||
| Conference Presentations and Proceedings | |||
| "A Unified Library of Nonlinear Solution Schemes." S. E. Leon, G. H. Paulino, Anderson Pereira, I. F. M. Menezes, Eduardo N. Lages. 11th US National Congress on Computational Mechanics, July 2011. | |||
| "Thermal Cracking Prediction Model and Software for Asphalt Pavements." E. V. Dave, S. E. Leon, K. Park. ASCE: First Transportation and Development Institute Congress, March 2011. | |||
| "Investigation of Low Temperature Cracking through an Improved Thermal Cracking Model." S. E. Leon, G. H. Paulino, W. G. Buttlar. 10th US National Congress on Computational Mechanics, July 2009. | |||
| Poster Presentations | |||
| "A Unified Library of Nonlinear Solution Schemes." S. E. Leon, G. H. Paulino, Anderson Pereira, I. F. M. Menezes, Eduardo N. Lages. 11th US National Congress on Computational Mechanics, July 2011. | |||
| "Adaptive Dynamic Fracture using Nonlinear Cohesive Zone Modeling." S. E. Leon, K. Park, R. Espinha, W. Celes, G. H. Paulino. NSF Workshop on the Emerging Applications and Future Directions of the Boundary Element Method, Akron, Ohio, September 2010. | |||
| "Adaptive Dynamic Fracture using Nonlinear Cohesive Zone Modeling." S. E. Leon, K. Park, R. Espinha, W. Celes, G. H. Paulino. Poster presentation in Summer School on Fracture, Cargese Institute of Scientific Studies in Corsica, France, June, 2010. | |||
| "Development of a Low-Temperature Cracking Analysis and Design Tool: Visual LTC." S. E. Leon, W. G. Buttlar, G. H. Paulino. Nextrans Annual Meeting, Purdue University, November 2009. | |||
Academic Appointments and Professional Experience
| Graduate Research Assistant | Aug 2008 - present | |
| Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering | ||
| University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign | ||
| Simulation Based Design Intern | May 2012 - Aug 2012 | |
| Whirlpool Corporation, St. Joseph, MI | ||
| Teaching Assistant | Jan 2014 - May 2014 | |
| Finite Element Methods | ||
| Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering | ||
| University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign | ||
| Solid Mechanics Intern/Consultant | July 2013 - Sept 2013 | |
| Sandia National Laboratory | ||
| US Department of Energy, Livermore, California | ||
| Teaching Assistant | Jan 2012 - May 2012 | |
| Finite Element Methods | ||
| Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering | ||
| University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign | ||
| Design Engineer I | June 2008 - Aug 2008 | |
| Silver and Associates, Van Nuys, CA | ||
| Undergraduate Research Assistant | Mar 2007 - June 2008 | |
| Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering | ||
| California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo | ||
| Transportation Technician | June 2006 - Mar 2007 | |
| TPG Consulting, Visalia and San Luis Obispo, CA | ||
Awards and Honors
| Excellent Teaching Assistant for Finite Element Methods, UIUC Center for Teaching Excellence | 2014 |
| Mavis Future Faculty Fellowship, UIUC College of Engineering | 2013-2014 |
| Scholars Award, Philanthropic Education Organization | 2013-2014 |
| Fellow, National Science Foundation | 2010-2013 |
| Susan E. Stutz-McDonald Scholarship, Society of Women Engineers, National Level | 2013 |
| Dissertation Travel Grant Competition Winner, UIUC Graduate College | 2012 |
| Excellent Teaching Assistant for Finite Element Methods, UIUC Center for Teaching Excellence | 2012 |
| Student Poster Competition Winner, USNCCM-11 | 2011 |
| Nextrans Student of the Year Award | 2011 |
| Best Poster Award at the NSF Workshop on the Boundary Element Method | 2010 |
| NSF Travel Award to the Summer School on Fracture in Corsica, France | 2010 |
| Structural Engineering Fellowship, Civil and Environmental Engineering Department, UIUC | 2008 - 2009 |
| Outstanding Graduating Senior: College of Engineering, Cal Poly | 2008 |
| Outstanding Woman in Engineering Nominee: Society of Women Engineers, Cal Poly | 2008 |
| Certified Engineer in Training, Certificate No: 128896 | 2007 |
| President’s Honor List, Cal Poly | 2006 - 2007 |
| SWE Scholarship: Sponsored by Bechtel Corporation | 2007 |
| SWE Scholarship: Sponsored by Bert and Candace Forbes | 2007 |
Leadership and Community Activities
| GradSWE Director | Mar 2011 - May 2013 | |
| Organize events to promote graduate women involvement in the Society of Women Engineers | ||
| Society of Women Engineers (SWE), UIUC | ||
| Girls Adventures in Math, Engineering and Science (GAMES) Structures Camp Coordinator | 2009, 2010, 2011 | |
| Developed and implemented the week-long program of activities for middle and high school girls | ||
| Women in Engineering, UIUC | ||
| Academic Director | 2007 - 2008 | |
| Raised $50,500 in donations from industry supporters for scholarships | ||
| Society of Women Engineers (SWE), Cal Poly | ||
| Career Outreach Director | 2006 - 2007 | |
| Coordinated the Fall 2006 and Spring 2007 High School Shadow events | ||
| Society of Women Engineers (SWE), Cal Poly | ||