Photo of Reuben Kraft

Reuben Kraft

Professor
Faculty Co-Hire, Institute for Computational and Data Sciences

Affiliation(s):

  • Mechanical Engineering
  • Institute for Computational and Data Sciences
  • Biomedical Engineering

320 Leonhard Building

rhk12@psu.edu

814-867-4570

Personal or Departmental Website

Research Areas:

Biomechanics and Mechanobiology; Mechanical Sciences

Interest Areas:

Computational solid mechanics, finite element analysis, numerical modeling, blast physics, high performance computing

 
 

 

Education

  • BS, Mechanical Engineering, University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC), 2003
  • MS, Mechanical Engineering, The Johns Hopkins University, 2006
  • Ph D, Mechanical Engineering, The Johns Hopkins University, 2008
  • Post-Doctoral, Mechanics, U.S. Army Research Laboratory, 2009

Publications

Journal Articles

  • Valerie Martin, Thomas Hannah, Steve Ellis and Reuben H Kraft, 2023, "Using the embedded element finite element method to simulate impact of Dyneema plates", Fibers and Polymers
  • Taylor R Zuidema, Jeffrey J Bazarian, Kyle A Kercher, Devin J Rettke, Rebekah Mannix, Reuben H Kraft, Sharlene D Newman, Keisuke Ejima, Jesse A Steinfeldt and Keisuke Kawata, 2023, "Longitudinal association of clinical and biochemical biomarkers with head impact exposure in adolescent football", JAMA Network Open
  • Ritika R. Menghani, Anil Dasans and Reuben H Kraft, 2023, "A sensor-enabled cloud-based computing platform for computational brain biomechanics", Computer Methods in Biomechanics and Biomedical Engineering
  • Salah Ramtani, Juan F Sánchez, Abdelkader Boucetta, Reuben H Kraft, Juan Jairo Vaca-González and Diego A. Garzón-Alvarado, 2023, "A coupled mathematical model between bone remodeling and tumors: a study of different scenarios using Komarova’s model", Biomechanics and Modeling in Mechanobiology
  • Songbai Ji, Mazdak Ghajari, Haojie Mao, Reuben H Kraft, Marzieh Hajiaghamemar, Matthew B. Panzer, Remy Willinger, Michael D. Gilchrist, Svein Kleiven and Joel D. Stitzel, 2022, "Use of brain biomechanical models for monitoring impact exposure in contact sports", Annals of Biomedical Engineering
  • Valerie Martin, Reuben H Kraft, Thomas Hannah and Steve Ellis, 2022, "An energy-based study of the embedded element method for explicit dynamics", Advanced Modeling and Simulation in Engineering Sciences
  • Dayo O Adewole, Laura A Struzyna, James P Harris, Ashley D Nemes, Justin C Burrell, Dmitriy Petrov, Reuben H Kraft, Issac Chen, Mijail D Serruya, John A Wolf and Kacy Cullen, 2021, "Development of optically controlled “living electrodes” with long-projecting axon tracts for a synaptic brain-machine interface", Science Advances, 7, (4)
  • Toma Marinov, Liang Yuchi, Dayo O Adewole, D. Kacy Cullen and Reuben H Kraft, 2020, "A computational model of bidirectional axonal growth in micro-tissue engineered neuronal networks (micro-TENNs)", In Silico Biology, 13, (3-4), pp. pp. 85-99
  • Adhitya V. Subramani, Phillip Whitley, Harsha T Garimella and R H Kraft, 2020, "Fatigue damage prediction in the annulus of cervical spine intervertebral discs using finite element analysis", Computer Methods in Biomechanics and Biomedical Engineering, 23, (11), pp. 773-784
  • Chanyoung Lee, Joan T Richtsmeier and Reuben H Kraft, 2019, "A coupled reaction–diffusion–strain model predicts cranial vault formation in development and disease", Biomechanics and Modeling in Mechanobiology
  • Andrés Felipe Carrera-Pinzón, Kalenia Márquez-Flórez, Reuben H Kraft, Salah Ramtani and Diego Alexander Garzón-Alvarado, 2019, "Computational model of a synovial joint morphogenesis", Biomechanics and Modeling in Mechanobiology, pp. 1--14
  • Andrzej J Przekwas, X. Gary Tan, Z J Chen, Yuyang Miao, Vincent Harrand, Harsha T Garimella, Reuben H Kraft and Raj K. Gupta, 2019, "Biomechanics of blast TBI with time resolved consecutive primary, secondary and tertiary loads", Military Medicine
  • Harsha Teja Garimella, Ritika Menghani, Jesse I Gerber, Srikumar Sridhar and Reuben H Kraft, 2018, "Embedded finite elements for modeling axonal injury.", Annals of Biomedical Engineering
  • Anjali V Dhobale, Oladayo Adewole, Andy Chan, Toma Marinov, Mijail Serruya, Reuben H Kraft and D. Kacy Cullen, 2018, "Assessing functional connectivity across 3D tissue engineered axonal tracts using calcium fluorescence imaging.", Journal of Neural Engineering, 15, (5)
  • Allison Ranslow, Ziwen Fang, Patricia De Tomas, Allan Gunnarsson, Tusit Weerasooriya, Sikhanda Satapathy, Kimberly A. Thompson and R H Kraft, 2018, "The multiaxial failure response of porcine trabecular skull bone estimated using microstructural simulations", American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) Journal of Biomechanical Engineering, 140, (10)
  • Shruti Motiwale, Adhitya V. Subramani, Alex Zhou and R H Kraft, 2018, "A non-linear multi-axial fatigue damage model for the cervical intervertebral disc annulus", Advances in Mechanical Engineering, 10, (6)
  • Harsha T Garimella, Reuben H Kraft and Andrzej J Przekwas, 2018, "Do blast-induced skull flexures result in axonal deformation?", PLOS One, 13, (3)
  • Mijail D. Serruya, James P. Harris, Dayo O. Adewole, Laura A. Struzyna, Justin C. Burrell, Ashley Nemes, Dmitriy Petrov, Reuben H Kraft, H. Isaac Chen, John A. Wolf and D. Kacy Cullen, 2017, "Engineered axonal tracts as "living electrodes" for synaptic-based modulation of neural circuitry", Advanced Functional Materials, pp. 1701183–n/a
  • Harsha T Garimella and Reuben H Kraft, 2017, "A new computational approach for modeling diffusion tractography in the brain", Journal of Neural Regeneration Research, 12, (1)
  • H T Garimella and R H Kraft, 2016, "Modeling the mechanics of axonal fiber tracts using the embedded finite element method", International Journal for Numerical Methods in Biomedical Engineering, 33, (5), pp. 1–21
  • R A Fielding, A J Przekwas, X G Tan and R H Kraft, 2015, "Development of a lower extremity model for high strain rate impact loading", International Journal of Experimental and Computational Biomechanics, 3, (2), pp. 161-186
  • C X Lee, J T Richtsmeier and R H Kraft, 2015, "A computational analysis of bone formation in the cranial vault in the mouse", Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology, 3, (24)
  • Jeffrey J. Swab, Jason Tice, Andrew A. Wereszczak and Reuben H Kraft, 2014, "Fracture toughness of advanced structural ceramics: Applying ASTM C1421", Journal of the American Ceramic Society, pp. pp. 1-9
  • J D Clayton, Reuben H Kraft and R B Leavy, 2012, "Mesoscale modeling of nonlinear elasticity and fracture in ceramic polycrystals under dynamic shear and compression", Journal of Solids and Structures, 49, (18), pp. 6
  • Reuben H Kraft, P J Mckee, A M Dagro and S T Grafton, 2012, "Combining the finite element method with structural connectome-based analysis for modeling neurotrauma: Connectome neurotrauma mechanics", PLoS Computational Biology, 8, (8), pp. e1002619
  • Reuben H Kraft and J F Molinari, 2008, "A statistical investigation of the effects of grain boundary properties on transgranular fracture", Acta Materialia, 56, (17), pp. 10
  • Reuben H Kraft, J F Molinari, K T Ramesh and D W Warner, 2008, "Computational micromechanics of dynamic compressive loading of a brittle polycrystalline material using a distribution of grain boundary properties", The Journal of Mechanics and Physics of Solids, 56, pp. 23
  • Thomas Hannah, Reuben H Kraft, Valerie Martin and Steve Ellis, , "Impact of imperfect Kolsky bar experiments across different scales using finite elements", Journal of Verification, Validation and Uncertainty Quantification
  • Thomas Hannah, Brian Shuster, Zachary Baker, Steve Ellis and Reuben H Kraft, , "Miniature Kolsky Bar Experiment Techniques Applied to UHMWPE Composite Analysis", Journal of Dynamic Behavior of Materials

Conference Proceedings

  • Thomas Hannah, Reuben H Kraft, Valerie Martin and Steve Ellis, 2023, "Impact of imperfect Kolsky bar experiments across different scales using finite elements", Proceedings of the 2022 American Society of Mechanical Engineers Congress and Exposition, (IMECE2022-96816)
  • Valerie Martin, Thomas Hannah, Steve Ellis and Reuben H Kraft, 2023, "Towards verification and validation of modeling Dyneema using the embedded finite element method", Proceedings of the 2022 American Society of Mechanical Engineers Congress and Exposition, (IMECE2022-96784)
  • Thomas Hannah, Reuben H Kraft, Valerie Martin and Steve Ellis, 2021, "Implications of statistical spread to experimental analysis in a novel miniature Kolsky bar", Proceedings of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers Congress and Exposition, (IMECE2020-23976)
  • Shruti Motiwale, Vikram V Subramani, Xianlian Zhou and Reuben H Kraft, 2016, "Damage prediction for a cervical spine intervertebral disc", Proceedings of the 2016 American Society of Mechanical Engineers Congress and Exposition, Volume 3: Biomedical and Biotechnology Engineering
  • Ziwen Fang, A N Ranslow and Reuben H Kraft, 2016, "Computational micromechanics of trabecular porcine skull bone using the material point method.", Proceedings of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers Congress and Exposition, Volume 3: Biomedical and Biotechnology Engineering, (IMECE2016-67748), pp. V003T04A044; 9 pages
  • A N Ranslow, Reuben H Kraft, Ryan Shannon, Patricia De Tomas-Medina, R Radovitsky, Aurelie Jean, Martin Pierre Hautefeuille, Brian Fagan, Kimberly A. Ziegler, Tusit Weerasooriya, Ann Mae Dileonardi, Allan Gunnarsson and Sikhanda Satapathy, 2016, "Microstructural analysis of porcine skull bone subjected to impact loading", Proceedings of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers Congress and Exposition, Volume 3: Biomedical and Biotechnology Engineering, (IMECE2015-51979), pp. V003T03A057; 10 pages
  • Allison N Ranslow and Reuben H Kraft, 2016, "The development of a “fuzzy” yield envelope for trabecular porcine skull bone using numerical simulations", Proceedings of the 2016 Summer Biomechanics, Bioengineering and Biotransport Conference (SB3C2016)
  • Chanyoung Lee and Reuben H Kraft, 2016, "A coupled reaction-diffusion-strain model for bone growth in the cranial vault", Proceedings of the 2016 Summer Biomechanics, Bioengineering and Biotransport Conference (SB3C2016)
  • S Motiwale, W Eppler, D Hollingsworth, C Hollingsworth, J Morgenthau and Reuben H Kraft, 2016, "Application of neural networks for filtering non-impact transients recorded from biomechanical sensors", IEEE, pp. 204 - 207
  • Andy Ho Wing Chan, Anjali Dhobale, Oladayo Adewole, Toma Marinov, Reuben H Kraft, D Kacy Cullen and Mijail Serruya, 2016, "Analysis of spontaneous calcium signals to infer functional connectivity within a novel “living electrode” neural construct", Proceedings of IEEE, pp. 1–2
  • Sai N Reddy, R A Fielding, Michael J Robinson and Reuben H Kraft, 2015, "A computational study of fracture in the calcaneus under variable impact conditions", Proceedings of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers Congress and Exposition, Volume 3: Biomedical and Biotechnology Engineering, (IMECE2015-51984), pp. V003T03A058; 10 pages
  • Reuben H Kraft and H T Garimella, 2015, "Embedded finite elements for modeling traumatic axonal injury", Proceedings of the Summer Biomechanics, Bioengineering and Biotransport Conference (SB3C 2015)
  • Rebecca A Fielding, X G Tan, A J Przekwas, C D Kozuch and Reuben H Kraft, 2015, "High rate impact to the human calcaneus: A micromechanical analysis", Proceedings of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers Congress and Exposition, Volume 3: Biomedical and Biotechnology Engineering, (IMECE2014-38930), pp. V003T03A009, (8 pages)
  • H T Garimella, H Yaun, B D Johnson, Semyon Slobounov and Reuben H Kraft, 2014, "Anisotropic constitutive model of human brain with intravoxel heterogeneity of fiber orientation using diffusion spectrum imaging (DSI)", Proceedings of the 2014 American Society of Mechanical Engineers Congress and Exposition, Volume 3: Biomedical and Biotechnology Engineering, (IMECE2014-39107), pp. V003T03A011; 9 pages
  • Chanyoung Lee, Joan T Richtsmeier and Reuben H Kraft, 2014, "A multiscale computational model for the growth of the cranial vault in craniosynostosis", Proceedings of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers Congress and Exposition, (IMECE2014-38728), pp. V009T12A061; 6 pages
  • A R Makwana, A. R. Krishna, Hao Yuan, Reuben H Kraft, X Zhou, A J Przekwas and P Whitley, 2014, "Towards a micromechanical model of intervertebral disc degeneration under cyclic loading", Proceedings of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers Congress and Exposition, (IMECE2014-39174), pp. V003T03A012; 7 pages
  • R A Fielding, Reuben H Kraft, Timothy M Ryan and T D Stecko, 2014, "A micromechanics-based simulation of calcaneus fracture and fragmentation due to impact loading", Proceedings of the 11th World Congress on Computational Mechanics (WCCM XI) 5th. European Conference on Computational Mechanics (ECCM V) 6th. European Conference on Computational Fluid Dynamics (ECFD VI)
  • J Zhang, A C Merkle, C M Carneal, R S Armiger, Reuben H Kraft, E E Ward, K A Ott, A C Wickwire, C J Dooley, T P Harrigan and J C Roberts, 2013, "Effects of torso-borne mass and loading severity on early response of the lumbar spine under high-rate vertical loading", International Research Council on Biomechanics of Injury
  • Reuben H Kraft, A M Dagro, P J McKee, S T Grafton, J Vettel, K McDowell, M Vindiola and A C Merkle, 2013, "Combining the finite element method with structural network-based analysis for modeling neurotrauma", 11th International Symposium, Computer Methods in Biomechanics and Biomedical Engineering, pp. 4
  • Reuben H Kraft, M L Lynch and E W Vogel, 2011, "Computational failure modeling of lower extremities", NATO Human Factors and Medicine Panel, RTO-MP-HFM-207AC/323(HFM-207), (TP/412)
  • M Scheidler, J Fitzpatrick and Reuben H Kraft, 2011, "Optimal pulse shapes for SHPB tests on soft materials", Society for Experimental Mechanics Series, Dynamic Behavior of Materials, 1, pp. 259-268
  • J. D. Clayton and Reuben H Kraft, 2011, "Mesoscale modeling of dynamic failure of ceramic polycrystals", Proceedings of the 35th International Conference on Advanced Ceramics and Composites, 32, pp. 237-248
  • J M Vettel, D S Bassett, Reuben H Kraft and S T Grafton, 2010, "Physics-based models of brain structure connectivity informed by diffusion weighted imaging", Proceedings of the 27th Army Science Conference
  • G A Gazonas, J W McCauley, Reuben H Kraft, B M Love, J D Clayton, D Casem, D Dandekar, B Rice, I Batyrev, N S Weingarten and B E Schuster, 2010, "Multiscale modeling of armor ceramics: Focus on AlON", 27th Army Science Conference
  • M Scheidler and Reuben H Kraft, 2010, "Inertial effects in compression Hopkinson bar tests on soft materials", U.S. Army Research Laboratory, 1st Annual ARL Ballistic Technology Workshop
  • Reuben H Kraft, I Batyrev, S Lee, A D Rollett and B Rice, 2010, "Multiscale modeling of armor ceramics", Journal of the American Ceramics Society Meeting Proceedings, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., Hoboken, NJ, USA, 31
  • A A Wereszczak and Reuben H Kraft, 2003, "Flexural and torsional resonances of ceramic tiles via impulse excitation of vibration", 27th Annual Conference on Advanced Ceramics and Composites: B: Ceramic Engineering and Science Proceedings, 24, (4), pp. 207-213
  • A A Wereszczak and Reuben H Kraft, 2002, "Instrumented Hertzian indentation of armor ceramics", 26th Annual Conference on Composites, Advanced Ceramics, Materials, and Structures: A: Ceramic Engineering and Science Proceedings, 23, (3), pp. 11

Other

  • Harsha Teja Garimella, Ritika Menghani, Jesse I Gerber, Srikumar Sridhar and Reuben H Kraft, 2018, "Embedded finite elements for modeling axonal injury.", engrXiv
  • A M Dagro, P J McKee, R H Kraft, T G Zhang and S S Satapathy, 2013, "A preliminary investigation of traumatically induced axonal injury in a three-dimensional (3-D) finite element model (FEM) of the human head during blast-loading"
  • J Vettel, A M Dagro, S Gordon, S Kerick, Reuben H Kraft, S Luo, S Rawal, M Vindiola and K McDowell, 2012, "Brain structure-function couplings (FY11)"
  • G A Gozonas, J W McCauley, I G Batyrev, D Casem, J D Clayton, D P Dandekar, R H Kraft, B M Love, B M Rice, B E Schuster and N S Weingarten, 2011, "Multiscale modeling of armor ceramics: Focus on AlON"
  • Reuben H Kraft and S L Wozniak, 2011, "A review of computational spinal injury biomechanics research and recommendations for future efforts"
  • J D Clayton and Reuben H Kraft, 2011, "Mesoscale modeling of dynamic failure of ceramic polycrystals"
  • Reuben H Kraft and A M Dagro, 2011, "Design and implementation of a numerical technique to inform anisotropic hyperelastic finite element models using diffusion-weighted imaging"
  • Jean M Vettel, Danielle Bassett, R H Kraft and Scott Grafton, 2010, "Physics-based models of brain structure connectivity informed by diffusion-weighted imaging"
  • J J Swab, A A Wereszczak, J Tice, R Caspe, R H Kraft and J Adams, 2005, "Mechanical and thermal properties of advanced ceramics for gun barrel applications"
  • A A Wereszczak, J J Swab and R H Kraft, 2005, "Effects of machining on the uniaxial and equibiaxial flexure strength of CAP3 AD-995 Al2O3"
  • Toma Marinov, Liang Yuchi, Dayo O Adewole, D. Kacy Cullen and Reuben H Kraft, , "A computational model of bidirectional axonal growth in micro-tissue engineered neuronal networks (micro-TENNs)", bioRxiv

Research Projects

  • February 2019 - January 2024, "CAREER: Multiscale Modeling of Axonal Fiber Bundles in the Brain," (Sponsor: National Science Foundation).

Honors and Awards

  • Outstanding Presentation Award, Penn State Center of Neural Engineering, August 2023
  • Fellow, American Society of Mechanical Engineering, October 2023
  • Best Poster Award, Penn State Center of Neural Engineering, August 2022
  • Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) Program Award, National Science Foundation, 2019
  • Shuman Early Career Professorship, Penn State University Department of Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering, 2013 - 2016
  • Presidential Early Career Awards for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE), The White House; Office of Science and Technology Policy, 2011
  • Eagle Scout, Boy Scouts of America, 1998

Service

Service to Penn State:

Service to External Organizations:

  • Organizing Conferences and Service on Conference Committees, Technical Chair (Elected), American Society of Mechanical Engineering International Mechanical Engineering Congress and Exposition (IMECE), November 2023 - November 2024
  • Organizing Conferences and Service on Conference Committees, Vice Technical Chair (Elected), American Society of Mechanical Engineering International Mechanical Engineering Congress and Exposition (IMECE), November 2022 - November 2023
  • Organizing Conferences and Service on Conference Committees, Co-Organizer, Organizer for Biological and Biomimetic Soft Materials Symposium, 2023 Mach Conference, April 2023
  • Organizing Conferences and Service on Conference Committees, Co-Organizer, Organizer for Biological and Biomimetic Soft Materials Symposium, 2024 Mach Conference, April 2024
 


 

About

With more than 60 faculty members, 330 graduate students, and 1,000 undergraduate students, the Penn State Department of Mechanical Engineering embraces a culture that welcomes individuals with a diversity of backgrounds and expertise. Our faculty and students are innovating today what will impact tomorrow’s solutions to meeting our energy needs, homeland security, biomedical devices, and transportation systems. We offer B.S. degrees in mechanical engineering as well as resident (M.S., Ph.D.) and online (M.S.) graduate degrees in mechanical engineering. See how we’re inspiring change and impacting tomorrow at me.psu.edu.

Department of Mechanical Engineering

137 Reber Building

The Pennsylvania State University

University Park, PA 16802-4400

Phone: 814-865-2519