MSc Researcher — Sabancı University

İbrahim Bahadır

Full-field Damage Monitoring · Composite Structures · Experimental Mechanics

Sabancı University, Istanbul, Turkey

Advisor: Assoc. Prof. Dr. Adnan Kefal

I develop experimental frameworks for crack propagation monitoring and damage characterization in composite laminates, combining Digital Image Correlation, Acoustic Emission, and Smoothing Element Analysis into model-free, full-field methodologies.

Digital Image Correlation Acoustic Emission Composite Laminates Damage Mechanics Smoothing Element Analysis Structural Health Monitoring Fracture Mechanics

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About Me

Experimental Researcher in Composite Damage Mechanics

I am a researcher at the Computational Mechanics and Engineering Optimization (CMEO) Lab at Sabancı University, where I completed my Master's thesis under the supervision of Assoc. Prof. Dr. Adnan Kefal.

My research focuses on developing model-free, full-field experimental frameworks for monitoring crack propagation and damage evolution in fiber-reinforced composite laminates. I combine Digital Image Correlation (DIC), Acoustic Emission (AE), and Strain Gauge measurements with novel post-processing approaches — including Smoothing Element Analysis (SEA) — to extract damage indicators without relying on finite element simulations or constitutive damage laws.

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TÜBİTAK 1001 Project (222M196)
Researcher in "Development and Experimental Application of Innovative Inverse Analysis Methods for Crack Propagation Tracking and Multi-Scale Structural Health Monitoring of Composite Structures" (PI: Assoc. Prof. Dr. Adnan Kefal). Contributing to computational and experimental mechanics in particle kinematics-based inverse analyses (since Nov 2024).

My work has been submitted to Composite Structures (Elsevier) and the International Journal of Damage Mechanics (SAGE), both as first author, with 3 co-authored works in Structural Control and Health Monitoring (Wiley), conference proceedings (EWSHM 2026), and a forthcoming journal manuscript.

Explore My Research

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MSc — Manufacturing Engineering

Sabancı University · Istanbul, Turkey
Advisor: Assoc. Prof. Dr. Adnan Kefal
CMEO Lab · Sep. 2024 – July 2026

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BSc — Naval Architecture & Marine Engineering

Istanbul Technical University (ITÜ) · Istanbul, Turkey
Sep. 2019 – June 2023

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Research Expertise

DIC · Acoustic Emission · FBG Sensors · Strain Gauge · Smoothing Element Analysis · Inverse FEM · Full-field Strain Mapping · Composite Laminates

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TÜBİTAK 1001 Project (222M196)

Researcher on computational and experimental mechanics for crack tracking & SHM in composite structures · Sabancı University

Featured Research

Current Publications

Composite Structures · Elsevier

Under Review — 2026

Full-field crack propagation monitoring in composite laminates using DIC and Smoothing Element Analysis

A dual-stage SEA-assisted DIC framework for full-field crack propagation monitoring, featuring a normalized gradient-enhanced localization index developed without finite element models or constitutive damage laws.

DIC SEA Gradient-Enhanced Index Crack Localization

Dual-stage SEA applied at displacement regularization and equivalent-strain smoothing
Model-free crack localization — no FEM or damage constitutive law required
Validated on 7 distinct composite laminate configurations

Int. Journal of Damage Mechanics · SAGE

Under Review — 2026

Integrated multi-instrument analysis for damage characterization in pre-cracked composite laminates

An integrated experimental framework combining DIC, Acoustic Emission, and strain gauge measurements with a stage-wise interpretation strategy to distinguish progressive crack growth from abrupt fracture transitions.

DIC Acoustic Emission Strain Gauge Stage-wise Analysis

Full-field + temporal + local mechanical evidence correlated simultaneously
Distinguishes progressive, delayed, and abrupt fracture transitions
7 crack orientations and stacking sequences evaluated

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