Matt Barsotti

Matt Barsotti joined Protection Engineering Consultants in 2007, and he has 20 years of applied research, engineering, and data science experience. He currently leads the company’s efforts in engineering analytics, a focus area at the intersection of first-principles engineering analysis and cutting-edge data science. Matt’s technical interests span a broad range of disciplines, including modeling and simulation, data science, algorithm development, material characterization, large scale testing, debris modeling, etc. He routinely leads projects by assembling, managing, and collaborating with interdisciplinary teams of engineers and scientists from disparate fields. His clientele has included DARPA, National Academy of Science TRB/ACRP, DOS, US Army, US Air Force, US Marine Corps, DTRA, MDA, ERDC, TSWG, etc.

Since joining PEC, Matt has worked on a broad range of advanced research and development efforts. He has extensive experience in numerical modeling of soil materials subjected to high rate and explosive loads. His novel work resulted in a generalized sandy soil model capable of making high accuracy predictions for a broad range of explosive test cases with arbitrary degrees of pre-compaction and moisture content. He has developed multiple fast-running models (FRMs) for several applications, including explosively-loaded bridge cables, aircraft tire overruns in compressible soil media, glass and concrete fragment flyout, ground shock propagation, etc. He is a leading expert in the niche field of Engineered Materials Arrestor Systems (EMAS), which are installed at civil airports and employ crushable foam materials to arrest aircraft during emergency overruns.

His present efforts focus on cutting edge areas of development. In the area of artificial intelligence, he is developing software to automate the construction of physics-based models using genetic programming, which can evolve and discover equations that capture the underlying physics of various problems. In data analytics, he has led the development of improved statistical algorithms for modeling debris created during explosion events. And in testing, he is leading a development effort to employ high-powered laser ablation to test metals at very high strain rates.

Other areas of prior work have included • Machine Learning • Genetic Programming • Laser Ablation Testing • Spectral Analysis • Fast Running Models • Land Mine and Improvised Explosive Device (IED) • Penetration Mechanics • Pipeline Vulnerability • Bridge Cable Armor • Glass Hazard Analysis • Transparent Armor Spall • Eye Injury • Low Friction Vehicle Counter-mobility • Bolted Connection Modeling • Steel Triaxiality Modeling • Fluid Modeling • Tire Modeling • Armored Vehicle Floor System Design • Crushable Foam Modeling • Ground Vehicle Stability Analysis • Concrete and Glass Fragmentation Modeling • Underwater and Deeply Buried Explosions • Explosively Formed Metal Structures • Glass Foams • Helmet Material Analysis • Polymer Materials • Auxetic Materials.

Education

• M.S. in Mechanical Engineering | University of Texas at San Antonio | 2008
• B.E. with a Mechanical Emphasis | John Brown University | 2000 | Summa Cum Laude

Selected Publications

• Krouse, C., Musgrove, G., Kantrales, G., Barsotti, M., Schoenheit, A., Vandergriff, T. (2019) “Wind Tunnel Testing of Low Solidity Wire Mesh Screens for Large Object Filtration.” Proceedings of ASME Turbo Expo 2019. Phoenix, Arizona.
• Barsotti, M., Jones, C., Hadjioannou, M., Puryear, J. (2018) “Engineered Material Arresting System and Methods for Forming Same.” United States Patent 2018/0251233 A1.
• Barsotti, M., Rasico, J., O’Hare, E., Sammarco, E., Gerst, D., Newman, C. (2017) “Accurate Land Mine Modeling Using FEM & SPH with Modified Smoothing Length.” Proceedings of Ground Vehicle Systems Engineering and Technology Symposium. Novi, MI.
• Bewick, B., Rolater, G., Bui, J., Barsotti, M., Ziemba, A., Sanai, M., Laney, C. (2017) “Fragmentation of Solid Materials Using Shock Tube, Part 1: First Test Series in a Small-Diameter Shock Tube,” Defense Threat Reduction Agency, Report DTRA-TR-17-21. Fort Belvoir, VA, 2017.
• Barsotti, M., Sammarco, E., Stevens, D. (2016) “Comparison of Strategies for Landmine Modeling in LS-DYNA with Sandy Soil Material Model Development.” Proceedings from 14^th International LS-DYNA User’s Conference.
• Stevens, D., Barsotti, M. (2016) “Modeling of Landmine Loading of Armored Vehicles and Extension to Field Testing Assessment.” Proceedings from Ground Vehicle Systems Engineering and Technology Symposium. Novi, MI.
• Hadjioannou, M., Stevens, D., Barsotti, M. (2016) “Development and Validation of Bolted Connection Modeling in LS-DYNA for Large Vehicle Models.” Proceedings from 14^th International LS-DYNA Users Conference. Detroit, MI.
• Bewick, B., Barsotti, M., Marchand, K., Sanai, M., Ziemba, A. (2015) “Fragmentation Due to Overloaded Construction Facades.” Proceedings of the 3^rd International Conference on Protective Structures. Newcastle, Australia.
• Puryear, J., Barsotti, M., Stevens, D., Williamson, E., Sammarco, E., Chiarito, V. (2013) “Modeling of Blast-Loaded Steel Cables.” Proceedings of the 15^th International Symposium for the Interaction of Munitions with Structures. Potsdam, Germany.
• Barsotti, M., Puryear, J., Stevens, D., Alberson, R., McMahon, P. (2012) “Modeling Mine Blast with SPH.” Proceedings of the 12^th International LS-DYNA Users Conference. Detroit, MI.
• Barsotti, M. (2011) “Comparison of FEM and SPH for Modeling a Crushable Foam Aircraft Arrestor Bed.” Proceedings of the 11^th International LS-DYNA Users Conference. Detroit, MI.
• Barsotti, M., Puryear, J., Stevens, D. (2009). “ACRP Report 29: Developing Improved Civil Aircraft Arresting Systems.” Transportation Research Board of the National Academies. Washington, DC.
• Barsotti, M. (2008). “Optimization of a Passive Aircraft arrestor with a Depth-Varying Crushable Material Using a Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics (SPH) Model.” Thesis at University of Texas, San Antonio, Published by ProQuest.
• Ammerman, D., Stevens, D., Barsotti, M. (2005) “Numerical Analyses of Locomotive Impacts on a Spent Fuel Truck Cask and Trailer.” Proceedings from ASME 2005 Pressure Vessels and Piping Conference. Denver, CO.