Kevin K. Liu, a graduate student at the University of California, Davis, Calif., won the 2005 student paper competition sponsored by ASTM Committee E08 on Fatigue and Fracture. Liu's paper, "The effects of laser peening on the fatigue performance of aerospace structural alloys," focuses on how this surface treatment enhances failure resistance. The results include data from programs conducted with Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory and Metal Improvement Co. about residual stress and fatigue performance of laser-peened materials.

Liu lives in Newark, Calif.

The E08 student paper competition award is given to encourage students to develop, present, and publish high quality research papers in the field of fracture and subcritical crack growth. Papers must be presented at a program sponsored or co-sponsored by the committee.

Currently working on his M.S. in mechanical engineering, with his research advised by Dr. Michael R. Hill, Liu is also a researcher in the material performance laboratory of the Mechanical and Aeronautical Engineering Dept. of the university. He is now investigating the effects of laser peening on the fretting fatigue behavior of Ti-6Al-4V. The research again involves collaboration with the Metal Improvement Co. and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory.

Liu's technical interests include mechanical design using fatigue, fracture, stress and materials analysis, and combine aspects of both mechanical engineering and material science engineering, his undergraduate majors. He received his B.S. in 2003 from the University of California, Davis. Liu is a student member of ASTM International.

Release #7278