Dr. Kuldeep Yadav | Fracture Mechanics | Best Researcher Award

Research Scholar at Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi

Dr. Kuldeep Yadav is a dynamic researcher specializing in Additive Manufacturing, Shock and Impact Mechanics, and Advanced Composite Materials. Born on December 14, 1993, he earned his Ph.D. in Applied Mechanics from the prestigious Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi under the mentorship of Prof. Vikrant Tiwari. His research delves into high-strain-rate material behavior, digital image correlation, and fracture mechanics, with significant contributions to experimental and computational mechanics. Dr. Yadav has developed unique experimental facilities, including a tensile-SHPB and a double-stage shock tube, and has authored multiple impactful publications and a patent. A hands-on engineer and scientist, he bridges numerical simulations with real-world mechanical systems, often utilizing advanced tools such as ABAQUS, MATLAB, and high-speed imaging systems. His passion for materials science and structural resilience is driven by a vision to innovate in aerospace, defense, and automotive sectors. He continues to contribute as a thought leader in experimental mechanics and composite structures.

Publication Profile

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🎓 Education

Dr. Kuldeep Yadav holds a Ph.D. in Applied Mechanics (2017–2024) from IIT Delhi, where he worked on mechanical characterization and shock response of Aluminium 2014-T6 and additively manufactured composites. He earned his M.Tech. in Applied Mechanics from MNNIT Allahabad (2015–2017), graduating second in his class with a dissertation focused on ballistic impact response of Kevlar fabrics. Prior to that, he completed his B.Tech. in Mechanical Engineering from YMCA University of Science and Technology, Faridabad, with a solid CGPA and a foundational understanding of design and mechanics. His academic journey began with exceptional performance in intermediate and high school, earning top honors in both (91.8% and 87.2% respectively). With consistently high performance, GATE qualifications, and competitive fellowships from MHRD, Dr. Yadav’s academic background has laid a strong foundation for his contributions to experimental solid mechanics, finite element analysis, and advanced composite research.

💼 Experience

Dr. Yadav brings in-depth academic and hands-on experimental experience in mechanical and materials engineering. At IIT Delhi, he led the design and fabrication of advanced testing setups, including a tensile split-Hopkinson Pressure Bar (SHPB) and a double-stage shock tube. He has worked on material characterization of aluminium alloys under quasi-static and dynamic loading conditions and extensively studied additively manufactured composites using carbon and Kevlar fibers. His expertise includes inter-laminar fracture behavior, impact analysis, and shock loading evaluations with customized simulations using ABAQUS (VUMAT). He also contributed significantly to the ballistic and shock response modeling of Kevlar fabrics during his M.Tech. at MNNIT. Skilled in CAD (CATIA, SolidWorks), FEA (ABAQUS, ANSYS), CFD, and high-speed imaging systems, Dr. Yadav has effectively combined experimental design, numerical modeling, and programming. His research experience positions him as an expert in high-strain-rate mechanics and multi-material interaction.

🏅 Awards and Honors

Dr. Kuldeep Yadav has been the recipient of several prestigious awards and scholarships throughout his academic journey. He was awarded the EarlyDoc Fellowship (June–August 2024) by IIT Delhi’s Industrial Research and Development (IRD) unit, recognizing his doctoral research contributions. During his Ph.D. (2017–2022), he was a Government of India Fellow, supported by the Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) for five years. Similarly, for his M.Tech. (2015–2017), he earned another MHRD Fellowship, reflecting his consistent academic excellence. He secured the 2nd position in his M.Tech. program at MNNIT Allahabad. Dr. Yadav also qualified the GATE exam three consecutive times (2014, 2015, 2016), with stellar percentiles—94.54, 97.88, and 91.91 respectively. Earlier in his education, he received National Merit Scholarships for outstanding scores in both 10th and 12th grades. These accolades underscore his dedication, excellence, and consistent performance in engineering research and academics.

🔬 Research Focus

Dr. Yadav’s research spans multiple core areas of applied mechanics, focusing on Additive Manufacturing, Shock and Impact Mechanics, and Dynamic Material Behavior. He has explored the quasi-static and high-strain-rate response of advanced materials like AA2014-T6 aluminium and FDM-printed composites reinforced with Kevlar and carbon fibers. His work includes the inter-laminar fracture behavior (mode I and II) of composites, development of shock tubes, and simulation using VUMAT-based ABAQUS models. He has uniquely combined Digital Image Correlation (DIC) with BOS techniques for dynamic visualization and analysis of shock effects. In defense and aerospace contexts, his investigations into ballistic impacts, delamination, void effects, and reinforcement mechanisms have provided fresh insights. Additionally, his novel hybrid composite configurations and sandwich structures demonstrate his ability to engineer tailored materials for energy absorption and damage resistance. His research is characterized by a strong experimental foundation enhanced by advanced numerical modeling.

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