Leigh S McCue-Weil

Associate Professor

Research Expertise

Dynamics and Control
Ocean Engineering

Professional History

ASEE-ONR Summer Faculty Researcher at the Naval Surface Warfare Center, Carderock Division, Hydromechanics Department, Seakeeping Division (2005, 2006)

Awards and Honors

• PECASE Award
• 2008 NSF CAREER Grant Recipient
• 2008 ONR YIP Grant Recipient
• 2007 Outstanding New Assistant Professor, VT College of Engineering Dean's Awards
• 2005&2006 ASEE/ONR Summer Faculty Program

Research Interests

Dynamic deck motion limits

Development of new approaches and evaluation criteria for dynamic deck motion limit systems used in sea-based aviation operations. This research has the potential to improve the safety and/or the operating envelope for the launch and recovery of helicopters and other craft.

Statistical approaches to dynamical analysis

Probabilistic methods present a logical and valuable tool when considering a range of initial conditions over which to conduct simulation or experimentation. For a nonlinear system in multiple degrees of freedom, precise application of statistical methods and appropriately weighting the likelihood of encountering differing initial conditions results in improved accuracy with a more physical result.

Nonlinear and chaotic vessel dynamics

As military and commercial applications drive the marine industry towards innovation in hull design, particular research interest has grown from the need to reconcile speed and stealth with safety and stability. Dr. McCue's particular research focuses have included coupling mathematical approaches, such as Lyapunov and finite-time Lyapunov exponents, with numerical simulation of ship dynamics to detect chaotic vessel behavior. Capsize and other vessel instabilites are studied using these techniques with the intent of developing real-time on-board tools of use to designers and vessel captains alike. Additionally, Dr. McCue's research group has been working to apply Melnikov methods, traditionally limited to single degree of freedom roll models due to the requirement of small damping and forcing, to a broader range of ship phenomena.

Parametric rolling

In addition to the capsize problem, Dr. McCue has conducted research on parametric rolling, a dangerous instability known to cause unexpectedly large increases in roll motions over short time periods. Parametric roll is typically encountered in head or following seas, that is, not at headings one typically anticipates large roll. Dr. McCue's most recent research in this area focused upon the possibility of parametric roll for tumblehome hulls. This analytical and numerical research presented key conclusions to help designers understand the implications of topsides shape on parametric roll prior to conducting costly experiments and/or encountering a potentially dramatic at sea occurrence.