Computational Fracture Mechanics and Composites (CFMC) Laboratory

Albert Einstein

“I am enough of an artist to draw freely upon imagination. Imagination is more important than knowledge. Knowledge is limited. Imagination encircles the world.”*

William Ward

“The mediocre teacher tells. The good teacher explains. The superior teacher demonstrates. The great teacher inspires.”*

Alexandra K. Trenfor

“The best teachers are those who show you where to look, but don’t tell you what to see.”*

*Reference

Teaching Philosophy

A common theme in all of the quotes on GREAT TEACHERS is the embedded premise that our teachings could help shape the student’s horizons in specific topics but perhaps more importantly in an overall sense, thus revealing to the student the unlimited possibilities along with critical thinking. Accordingly, a Great Teacher is the one who enables the student to, “Build a solid foundation through knowledge, Dream and imagine big, Choose wisely enabled by a heighten sense of critical thinking.”

Professor Charalambides’ philosophy is not driven by a need to be thought off as a “Great Teacher.” Instead, it is singularly driven by the deep belief that an educator can make a difference and that higher education is a privilege that offers the opportunity for self-betterment and the betterment of society. As such, “student learning” should be the educator’s compass and “self-betterment” should be the student’s obligation and commitment. Such deep seeded care for student learning has been guiding Professor Charalambides’ educational engagement both as a faculty and while serving as the Chair of the Mechanical Engineering department (2002-2008).

Courses Taught

As a Teaching Assistant at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign (1981-1986)

  • Statics (Undergraduate)

As a Research Associate at the University of California, Santa Barbara (1986-1989)

  • Fundamentals of Fracture Mechanics (Graduate)

While at the Michigan Technological University (MTU)

  • EM342-Mechanics of Materials (Undergraduate)
  • EM544-Theory of Elasticity (Graduate)
  • EM550-Engineering Fracture Mechanics (Graduate)
  • EM554-Macromechanics of Composites (Graduate)
  • Awards Recieved While at MTU

While at the University of Cyprus (Sabbatical leave, Fall 2009)

  • MMK 531-Continuum Mechanics & Applied Elasticity(Graduate)
  • MMK632-Fracture Mechanics(Graduate)

At Current Institution (UMBC)

  • Undergraduate

    • ENME110-Statics
    • ENME220-Mechanics of Materials
    • ENME310-Advanced Mechanics of Materials
    • ENME465-Engineering Fracture Mechanics
    • ENME471-Finite Elements Based Design (Initially offered as new course ENME489D)
    • ENME489C-Macromechanics of Composites

  • Graduate

    • ENME677-Applied Elasticity
    • ENME678-Engineering Fracture Mechanics
    • ENME815C-Macromechanics of Composites
    • ENME815D- Finite Elements Based Design