Muath Bani-Hani

University at Buffalo, State University of New York

Papers

Total Citations

H-Index

About

Muath Bani-Hani is a researcher whose work lies at the intersection of structural optimization, smart materials, and bio-inspired robotics. His primary research focuses on the analytical and experimental development of self-assembling, swimming structures that mimic biological locomotion. His most cited paper, "Analytical structural optimization and experimental verifications for traveling wave generation in self-assembling swimming smart boxes" (2015, 23 citations), presents a pioneering approach to vibration analysis and structural optimization. In this work, Bani-Hani demonstrates how piezoelectric patches can be strategically utilized to generate traveling waves along a morphing structure, enabling it to swim. By optimizing the third longitudinal mode shape, his research bridges the gap between theoretical modeling and practical, self-propelled systems. This contribution is notable for its integration of analytical optimization with experimental validation, offering a foundation for autonomous, soft robotic swimmers. Bani-Hani’s work is impactful for its innovative use of smart materials to achieve controlled, wave-like motion, advancing the fields of adaptive structures and bio-inspired engineering.