Kelsen LaBerge, Ph.D.

Biography

Kelsen LaBerge, PhD joined the faculty of the College of Aeronautics and Engineering in the fall of 2018 as an Associate Professor for Aerospace Engineering. She currently teaches Introduction to Engineering Analysis using MATLAB® as well as the engineering Statics and Dynamics courses. As a non-tenure track professor, Dr. LaBerge is able to focus mainly on teaching, though starting in January of 2020 she has also taken on the role of Program Coordinator for Engineering Technology.

Prior to joining the Kent State faculty, Dr. LaBerge has a research position with the US Army Research Laboratory as a civilian. In this position, she worked closely with both Army and NASA engineers performing research in the area of rotary-wing drive systems. Her expertise focuses mainly on the areas of mechanical component diagnostics and hybrid (composite/steel) gears. Dr. LaBerge has also been involved in the build-up of several experimental research facilities and participated as a government reviewer on various technology demonstration programs.

Dr. LaBerge earned her doctorate in mechanical engineering from Case Western Reserve University in January of 2009 for conducting a feasibility study of a new method of detecting cracks in drivetrain shafts. She holds a bachelor of science in mechanical engineering from Ohio Northern University.

Education

Doctor of Philosophy in Mechanical Engineering, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 2009.
Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering, Ohio Northern University, Ada, OH 2004 with minors in Computer Science and Applied Math.

Research Methods

Lubrication of Machines Using Heat Activated Polymers, U.S. Patent Application 15/846,460, Dec, 2017. Continuous Fiber Composite Power Transfer Structures, U.S. Provisional Patent Application 62634448, 23 Feb, 2018.

Publications

K. E. LaBerge, J. Johnston, R. F. Handschuh, G. D. Roberts, “Evaluation of a Variable Thickness Hybrid Composite Bull Gear,” presented at the American Helicopter Society’s 74th Annual Forum, Phoenix, AZ, May 15-17, 2018. (PENDING)
M. Stevens, M. J. Valco, K. E. LaBerge, “Two-Speed Rotorcraft Research Transmission Power-Loss Associated with the Lubrication and Hydraulic Rotating Feed-Through Design Feature,” presented at the American Helicopter Society’s 74th Annual Forum, Phoenix,
K. E. LaBerge, S. P. Berkebile, R. F. Handschuh, G. D. Roberts, “Hybrid Gear Performance Under Loss-of-Lubrication Conditions,” presented at the American Helicopter Society’s 73rd Annual Forum, Ft. Worth, Texas, May 9-11, 2017.
K. E. LaBerge, R. F. Handschuh, G. D. Roberts, S. Thorp, “Performance Investigation of a Full-Scale Hybrid Composite Bull Gear,” presented at the American Helicopter Society’s 72nd Annual Forum, West Palm Beach, FL, 17-19 May 2016.
K. E. LaBerge, “Vibration Comparison Between Conventional and Hybrid Angular Contact Bearings,” in Proceedings of the 16th Australian International Aerospace Congress, Melbourne, Australia, Feb. 2015.
R. F. Handschuh, K. E. LaBerge, S. DeLuca, and R. Pelagalli, “Vibration and Operational Characteristics of a Composite-Steel (Hybrid) Gear,” NASA Glenn Research Center/US Army Research Laboratory, Cleveland, OH, Technical Report NASA/TM-2014-216646; ARL-
K. E. LaBerge, E. A. Ames, and B. D. Dykas, “Detection of Naturally Occurring Gear and Bearing Faults in a Helicopter Drivetrain,” US Army Research Laboratory, Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD, Technical Report ARL-TR-6795, Jan. 2014.
A. Hood, K. E. LaBerge, D. G. Lewicki, D. J. Pines, J. Fetty, and R. T. Ehinger, “Vibration Based Sun Gear Damage Detection,” in Proceedings of the ASME 2013 Power Transmission and Gearing Conference, Portland, OR, August 2013.
D. B. Stringer, K. E. LaBerge, C. J. Burdick, and B. A. Fields, “Natural Fatigue Crack Initiation and Detection in High Quality Spur Gears,” presented at the American Helicopter Society 68th Annual Forum, Ft. Worth, Texas, May 2012.
B. D. Dykas, D. B. Stringer, and K. E. LaBerge, “Evaluation Methodology for Surface Engineering Techniques to Improve Powertrain Efficiency in Military Vehicles,” Technical Report ARL-TR-6028, June 2012.
S. Shon, A. Kahraman, K. E. LaBerge, B. D. Dykas, and D. B. Stringer, “Influence of Surface Roughness on Traction and Scuffing Performance of Lubricated Contacts for Aerospace and Automotive Gearing,” presented at the ASME/STLE 2012 International Joint Tr
D. B. Stringer, B. D. Dykas, K. E. LaBerge, A. J. Zakrajsek, and R. F. Handschuh, “A New High-Speed, High-Cycle, Gear-Tooth Bending Fatigue Test Capability,” presented at the 67th American Helicopter Society Annual Forum, May 2011. (Also available publicl
J. S. Kiddy, P. D. Samuel, D. G. Lewicki, K. E. LaBerge, R. T. Ehinger, and J. Fetty, “Fiber Optic Strain Sensor for Planetary Gear Diagnostics,” presented at the 67th Annual Forum and Technology Display sponsored by the American Helicopter Society, Virgi
D. G. Lewicki, K. E. LaBerge, R. T. Ehinger, and J. Fetty, “Planetary Gearbox Fault Detection Using Vibration Separation Techniques,” presented at the 67th American Helicopter Society Annual Forum, Virginia Beach, VA, May 2011. (Also available as NASA/TM-
K. E. LaBerge, “Exploratory Research on a Method for Detecting Shaft Radial Cracks: Severity, Location, and Feasibility,” Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, Jan 2009.

Affiliations

Vertical Flight Society (Propulsion Committee Chair 2019-2020
Propulsion Committee Deputy Chair (2018-2019))
Order of the Engineer (2004)
Tau Beta Pi (2003)

Awards/Achievements

Memorandum of Appreciation from the Deputy Commander of the Army Aviation Applied Technology Directorate (11/2010)
Case Western Reserve University’s Graduate Dean's Instructional Excellence Award (2006)