Garam Kim, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor

Contact Info

IMI 119

West Lafayette

Dr. Garam Kim is an Assistant Professor in the School of Aviation and Transportation Technology at Purdue University. He completed his Ph.D. degree at the School of Aviation and Transportation Technology in 2021. He is an affiliated faculty member in the Composites Manufacturing and Simulation Center (CMSC) and manages the Reisbeck Advanced Composite Laboratory (RACL) with Professors R. Byron Pipes and Ronald Sterkenburg. Dr. Kim has over 10 years of experience in fiber-reinforced composite structures manufacturing, testing, and characterization. His research focuses on additive manufacturing, surface coatings, composites machining process optimization, composite structural testing, composites mechanical and thermal property analysis, and advanced composite manufacturing technologies. He has worked closely with multiple aircraft industry organizations in pursuit of industrially sponsored research and development projects. Prior to his doctoral studies, he received certification as a FAA Airframe & Power plant mechanic (A&P) and served as an aircraft maintenance technician in the Republic of Korea Air Force with J-85 and F404 engines.

Graduate Research Assistant Positions Available (2025 Fall Semester)

We are seeking a highly self-motivated Graduate Research Assistant to support research in the following areas:

(1) 3D printed tooling for fiber-reinforced composite part manufacturing
(2) Recycling/upcycling of fiber-reinforced composite materials

The ideal candidates will pursue a Ph.D. in Technology or Aviation Technology and Management at the School of Aviation and Transportation Technology, Polytechnic Institute, Purdue University.

Qualification

A bachelor’s and a master’s degree in mechanical engineering, material science engineering, aerospace engineering, technology, or related fields is required.
Interests or experiences in one or more of the following areas are preferred:
- Composite Part & Tool Design
- Composite Manufacturing Technologies
- Composites Machining
- Composites Testing and Characterization
- Composites Sustainability
- Multi-functional Composites
- Structural Simulation
Experience with CAM software (CATIA or Mastercam) and CNC operation.

How to Apply:

Please email Dr. Garam Kim, kim1652@purdue.edu with the following materials: (1) CV and (2) (unofficial) Transcripts

Research Interests

Composites Manufacturing
Composites Testing & Characterizing
Multi-functional Composites

Education History

BS in Aeronautical Engineering Technology, Purdue University
MS in Aviation and Aerospace Management, Purdue University
PhD in Technology, Purdue University

Honors and Awards

2023 - 2024 Outstanding Faculty in Discovery in SATT
ACE Award Finalist (CAMX 2023)
CAMX Award Finalist (CAMX 2023)
Best Paper Winner - Enhancing Structural Performance of Recycled Fiber-Reinforced Thermoplastic Composites Through Incorporating Composite Laminate Precuts (SPE ACCE 2023)
Best Paper Honorable Mention - Influence of Waterjet Cut Quality for Fabrication of Test Specimen on Mechanical Testing Results (SPE ACCE 2023)
2022 - 2023 Outstanding Faculty in Discovery in SATT
Best Paper Award - Compression Molding of Hybrid Continuous and Discontinuous Fiber Reinforced Thermoplastics for Enhancing Strength Characteristics (SAMPE 2023)
Best Paper Award - Application of Thermoset Polymer Coating with Ceramic Particle to Additively Manufactured Carbon Fiber Reinforced Thermoplastic Composite Tooling (SPE ACCE 2022)
Best Paper Award - Investigating the Effectiveness of a 3D Printed Composite Mold (ICAMPT 2019; XIII. International Conference on Aircraft Materials and Processing Technology)
Best Paper Award - Investigating the Fiber Content, Fiber Length, and Curing Characteristics of 3D Printed Recycled Carbon Fiber (ICCM 2019; International Conference on Composite Materials)

Publications and Presentations

Journal article

Kim, G., Su, R., Lee, H., Tackett, D., Barocio, E., Ropp, TD., & Pipes, RB. (2024) Manufacturing of stretchable wavy-patterned fiber-reinforced elastomer composites and its behaviors under tensile loading conditions. SAMPE Journal, 60(5).
Kim, G., Lee, H., Arnold, K., & Rodriguez, J. (2024) Reusing uncured Fiber-reinforced thermoset composite Prepreg waste with water-soluble PVA backing film. Sustainable Materials and Technologies, e01016.
Barocio, E., Hicks, J., Kim, G., Favaloro, A., Ghosh, G., Goodsell, J., & Pipes, RB. (2024) Validation of shape change predictions for stamp forming of carbon fiber thermoplastic composite laminates. Composites Part B: Engineering, 275, 111325.
Kim, G., Kulkarni, S., Lee, H., & Denos, B. (2023) Step and scarf joint elastic and failure behavior comparison under tensile and flexural loading. Journal of Reinforced Plastics and Composites, 07316844231210141.
Barocio, E., Eichenhofer, M., Kalman, J., Fjeld, LM., Kirchhoff, J., Kim, G., & Pipes, RB. (2023) Fiber reinforced thermoplastics: Compression molding of hybrid continuous and discontinuous
Futch. T, Kim, G., & Sterkenburg, R. Investigating the effects that alternative turbine engine fuels have on the mechanical properties of carbon-fiber/epoxy composite. Mechanics of Composite Materials.
Futch. T, Kim, G., & Sterkenburg, R. Investigating the effects that alternative turbine engine fuels have on the mechanical properties of carbon-fiber/epoxy composite. Mechanics of Composite Materials.
Kim, G., Barocio, E., Tsutsui, W., Wang, P., Dubikovsky, S., Pipes, RB. & Sterkenburg, R. (2021). Enhancing surface characteristics of additive manufactured fiber reinforced thermoplastic mold using thermoset coating with ceramic particles. Surface and Coating Technology.
Gao, J., Kedir, N., Kirk, CD., Hernandez, J., Wang, J., Paulson, S., Zhai, X., Horn, T., Kim, G., Fezzaa, K., De Carlo, F., Shevchenko, P., Tallman, T., Sterkenburg, R. & Chen, W. (2021). High-speed synchrotron X-ray phase-contrast imaging for evaluating microscale damage mechanisms and tracking cracking behaviors inside cross-ply GFRCs. Composites Science and Technology,210.
Kim, G., Barocio, E. Sterkenburg, R. (2021). Enhancing part demolding characteristics of additively manufactured fiber-reinforced polymer composite tools via surface coating. Additive Manufacturing.
Gao, J., Kedir, N., Kirk, C., Hernandez, J., Wang, J., Paulson, S., Zhai, X., Horn, T., Kim, G., Gao, J., Fezzaa, K., De Carlo, F.R., Shevchenko, P., Tallman, T., Sterkenburg, R., Palmese, G. & Chen, W. (2020). Real-time damage characterization for GFRCs using high-speed synchrotron X-ray phase contrast imaging. Composites Part B: Engineering.
Gao, J., Kirk, C., Kedir, N., Paulson, S., Hernandez, J., Gao, J., Zhai, X., Wang, J., Horn, T., Kim, G., De Carlo, F.R., Shevchenko, P., Tallman, T., Palmese, G., Sterkenburg, R. & Chen, W. (2020). A method for characterization of multiple dynamic constitutive parameters of FRCs. Composites Science and Technology.
Kim, G. & Sterkenburg, R. (2021). Investigating what effects aviation fluids have on the flatwise compressive strength of Nomex R honeycomb core material. Journal of Sandwich Structures and Materials, 23 (1), 265-382.
Zhou, F., Tsai, J., Jo, S., Kim, G., Lee, P., & Jun, M. (2020). In-situ monitoring of solidification process of PVA solution by fiber optic sensor technique. IEEE Sensors Journal, 21 (5), 6170-6178.
Kim, G., He, Y., Kulkarni, S., & Sterkenburg, R. (2020). The influence of aircraft fluid ingression on tensile properties of aramid fiber composites. Advanced Composite Materials.
Kim, G., Dubikovsky, S., Wang, PH., & Sterkenburg, R. (2020). Open-ended capstone project: designing and manufacturing of a low-cost carbon fiber reinforced composite suborbital rocket payload housing using a 3D printed core. International Journal of Aviation, Aeronautics, and Aerospace, 7 (2).
Kim, G., Denos, R., & Sterkenburg, R. (2020). Influence of different piercing methods of abrasive waterjet on delamination of fiber reinforced composite laminate. Composite Structures, 240.
Wang, P., Kim, G., & Sterkenburg, R. (2019). Investigating the effectiveness of a 3D printed composite mold. International Journal of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering,13 (11),684-688.
Wang, P., Sterkenburg, R. Kim, G., & He, Y., (2019). Investigating the fiber content, fiber length, and curing characteristics of 3D printed recycled carbon fiber. International Journal of Materials and Metallurgical Engineering, 13 (4), 161-164.
Kim, G., Barocio, E., Pipes, R. B., & Sterkenburg, R. (2019). 3D printed thermoplastic polyurethane bladder for manufacturing of fiber reinforced composites. Additive Manufacturing, 29, 100809.
Kim, G., Sterkenburg, R., & Tsutsui, W. (2018). Investigating the effects of fluid intrusion on Nomex R honeycomb sandwich structures with carbon fiber facesheets. Composite Structures, 206, 535-549.
Nie, Y., Parab, N. D., Chu, J. M., Kim, G., Sun, T., Fezzaa, K., Sterkenburg, R., & Chen, W. W. (2018). Dynamic crack propagation from a circular defect in a unidirectional carbon fiber reinforced plastic composite. Journal of Composite Materials, 52 (25), 3539-3547.
Kim, G. & Sterkenburg, R. (2017). Introducing reverse engineering technologies in an aeronautical engineering technology curriculum. ATEC Journal, 39 (2), 12-18.

Conference

Montrose, J. & Kim, G., Investigation of additively manufactured composite modular tooling under thermal cycling. InProceedings of SPE ACCE 2024.
Choi, & Kim, G., Optimization of fiber-reinforced composite patch repair for steel bridge girders. InProceedings of SPE ACCE 2024.
Kim, G., Investigation of performance of different threaded inserts in fiber reinforced composite laminate. InProceedings of SPE ACCE 2024.
Kim, G., Su, R., Lee, H., Tackett, D., Barocio, E., Ropp, TD., & Pipes, RB. (2024). Manufacturing of stretchable wavy-patterned fiber-reinforced elastomer composites and its behaviors under tensile loading condition. In Proceedings of the SAMPE Long Beach 2024.
Montrose, J., Kim, G., & Bacorio., E (2024). Investigation of adhesive joints for printed autoclave modular tools. In Proceedings of the SAMPE Long Beach 2024.
Barocio, E., Hicks, J., Kim, G., Goodsell, J. & Pipes, RB. (2024). Shape compensation of stamp-formed thermoplastic composites. In Proceedings of the SAMPE Long Beach 2024.
Kim, G., Barocio, E., Choi, S., Eichenhofer, M,. Kalman, J., & Pipes, RB. (2023). Enhancing structural performance of upcycled fiber-reinforced thermoplastic composites through additively manufactured continuous fiber reinforced performs. In Proceedings of the CAMX Atlanta 2023.
Choi, S., Kim, G. Barocio, E. & Lee, H. (2023). Investigation of fiber content, fiber direction, and surface characteristics of different surface angle of additively manufactured composite relative to the printing direction. In Proceedings of the CAMX Atlanta 2023.
Barocio, E., Pibulchinda. P., Kim, G., & Pipes, RB. (2023). Investigation of in-plane and out-of-plane deformation mechanisms in composite additive manufacturing. In Proceedings of the CAMX Atlanta 2023.
Choi, S., Kim, G., Lee, H., & Barocio E. (2023). Investigation of fiber content, fiber direction, and surface characteristics of different surface angle of additively manufactured composite relative to the printing direction. In Proceedings of the SPE ACCE 2023.
Lee, H., Kim, G. & Barocio, E. (2023). Ultrasonic welding optimization of continuous carbon fiber thermoplastic reinforced composite plies. In Proceedings of the SPE ACCE 2023.
Montrose, J., Kim, G. & Lee, H. (2023). Influence of waterjet cut quality for fabrication of test specimen on mechanical testing results. In Proceedings of the SPE ACCE 2023.
Kim, G., Choi, S., Lee, H., & Barocio, E. (2023). Enhancing structural performance of recycled fiber-reinforced thermoplastic composites through incorporating composite laminate precuts. In Proceedings of the SPE ACCE 2023.
Kim, G., & Barocio, E. (2024). Enhancing part demolding characteristics of additively manufactured fiber-reinforced polymer composite tools via surface coating. In Proceedings of the SAMPE Seattle 2023.
Barocio, E., Eichenhofer, M., Kalman, J., Fjeld, LM., Kirchhoff, J., Kim, G., & Pipes, RB. (2023). Compression molding of hybrid continuous and discontinuous fiber reinforced thermoplastics for enhancing strength characteristics. In Proceedings of the SAMPE Seattle 2023.
Lee, H., Kim, G. & Barocio, E. (2023). Optimization of ultrasonic welding parameters for carbon fiber reinforced thermoplastic composite plies. In Proceedings of the SAMPE Seattle 2023.
Zhang, G., Kim, G., & Lee, H. (2023). Demonstration of carbon fiber reinforced composite honeycomb core fabrication and investigation of its mechanical properties. In Proceedings of the SAMPE Seattle 2023.
Gao, J., Kim, G. & Chen, W. (2022). Dynamic behavior of fiber-reinforced composites under triaxial compression. In Proceedings of the American Society for Composites—Thirty-Seventh Technical Conference 2022.
Gao, J., Kedir, N., Kirk, C.D., Hernandez, J.A., Wang, J., Zhai, X., Horn, T., Kim, G., Fezzaa, K., De Carlo, F.R., & Shevchenko, P. (2020). In-situ observation of dynamic damage evolution inside GFRCs through high-speed X-ray PCI. InProceedings of the American Society for Composites—Thirty-fifth Technical Conference 2020.
Wang, P., Sterkenburg, R. Kim, G., & He, Y. (2019). Investigating the void content, fiber content, and fiber orientation of 3D printed recycled carbon fiber. In Proceedings of the 2019 4th International Conference on Composite Materials and Material Engineering (ICCMME2019).
Kim, G., Denos, B., Sterkenburg, R., Wang, P., & Ahsan, S. (2019). Investigation of influence of different piercing methods of abrasive waterjet on delamination of fiber reinforced composite laminate. In SAMPE 2019 Conference, Charlotte, NC.
Sterkenburg, R., Wang, P., & Kim, G. (2018). Secondary machining operations for carbon fiber 3D printed molds. In Conference Proceedings of ICCE-26, Paris.
Kim, G., Barocio, E., Sterkenburg, R., & Wang, P. (2018). Application of 3D printed thermoplastic urethane bladder in bladder assisted composite manufacturing process. In Proceedings of the SAMPE Long Beach 2018.
Kim, G., & Sterkenburg, R. (2017). Investigating what effects traditional aviation fluids might on the compressive strength of Nomex R honeycomb core material. In Proceedings of the SAMPE Seattle 2017.
Sterkenburg, R., Kim, G., & Futch, T. (2017). Testing the effects of fluid intrusion in aircraft honeycomb structures. In Proceedings of the 2017 ICCE-25 Conference.
Kim, G., Futch, T., Sterkenburg, R., Ahsan. S,. Kilaz, G., & Kozak, B. (2017). Investigating the effects of fluid intrusion on Nomex R honeycomb structures with carbon fiber face sheets. In Proceedings of the 2017 Conference for Industry and Education Collaboration.
Kim, G., & Sterkenburg, R. (2017). Manufacturing or reparing composite parts and components using laser scanning technology. In Proceedings of the American Society for Composites 32nd Technical Conference.
Futch, T., Kim, G., Zorrilla, M., Kilaz, G., & Sterkenburg, R. (2016). Investigating the effects that alternative turbine engine fuels might have on the mechanical properties of an epoxy resin system. In Proceedings of the 2016 International SAMPE Technical Conference.

Certifications

The Purdue Certificate of Entry-Level Programming in Python
The Purdue Certificate of Foundations in College Teaching
FAA A&P Certificate
Korea Industrial Engineer Aircraft Maintenance
Korea Craftsman Aircraft Airframe Maintenance
Korea Craftsman Electricity
Korea Craftsman Aircraft Powerplant Maintenance
Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS)

Professional Affiliations

Director, Raisbeck Advanced Composite Laboratory (RACL)
Assistant Director of Manufacturing, Composites Manufacturing and Simulation Center (CMSC)
Co-Director, Composites Additive Manufacturing and Simulation (CAMS) Consortium
Member, American Society of Engineering Education (ASEE)
Member, University Aviation Association (UAA)
Member, American Composites Manufacturers Association (ACMA)
Member, Society of Advanced Materials and Process Engineering (SAMPE)