About

David Dillard is a faculty member in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Virginia Tech, where he works extensively in the field of adhesive bonding. His expertise includes structural adhesives for aerospace, automotive, and infrastructure applications; adhesives and coatings for microelectronic applications; pressure sensitive adhesives; elastomeric adhesives and sealants; and polymeric membranes. He has authored or co-authored over 210 refereed publications and regularly teaches courses in adhesion science, polymer viscoelasticity, and sustainable energy solutions. His research involves developing test methods and predictive models to understand and estimate the performance and durability of polymeric materials, adhesives, and bonded joints, utilizing principles of fracture mechanics and viscoelasticity. In recent years, he has applied these concepts to sustainable energy products, including proton exchange membrane fuel cells and solar photovoltaic applications. Dillard has received numerous awards and honors, including being elected an ASME Fellow, receiving the Wake Medal, and the Garth L. Wilkes Interdisciplinary Faculty Scholar award. His educational background includes a Ph.D. in Engineering Mechanics from Virginia Tech, along with master's and bachelor's degrees in Engineering Mechanics from the University of Missouri-Rolla.

Research topics

• Materials science
• Composite material
• Nanotechnology
• Computer Science
• Engineering
• Chemistry
• Mechanical engineering
• Aerospace engineering
• Electrical engineering
• Thermodynamics
• Metallurgy

Selected publications

• Pull-off of finite-length elastica from Winkler foundation by applied deflection and rotation

  International Journal of Solids and Structures · 2026-05-02

  articleSenior author
  PublisherDOI

• Progress in Durability Analysis of Composite Systems

  2026-01-08

  book
  PublisherDOI

• Environmental stress cracking in polyimide composites and adhesives

  2026-01-08

  book-chapter1st authorCorresponding

  High residual stresses and minimal crosslinking in some modern high performance composites and adhesives may enhance susceptibility to environmental stress cracking in the presence of organic solvents. Cross-ply laminates of several polyimide-based composite materials are subjected to various solvents and liquids which might be encountered during aircraft service conditions. Extensive matrix microcrackingis observed for several composite / liquid combinations. Unidirectional composite specimens subjected to such liquids for various exposure conditions also show strength reductions for certain combinations. Solvent resistance of a modern high performance polyimide adhesive is also determined. The most recent versions of the polyimide show improved resistance to environmental stress cracking.

  PublisherDOI

• A Usability Study for an Online Engineering Mechanics Exercise System with Automated Feedback

  2025-01-01

  articleOpen access

  Motivated by the benefits of repeated deliberate practice, we created an interactive exercise system for use in an undergraduate engineering mechanics class that focuses on practicing learned fundamental concepts. These exercises take the form of traditional word problems commonly found in mechanics courses, involving things like selecting and solving the correct equations. They are […]

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Evaluating the Effectiveness of an Open-Source Textbook in a Large, Middle-Year Engineering Mechanics Course

  2025-08-21 · 1 citations

  article
  PublisherDOI

• A finite strain integral model for the creep behavior of vaginal tissue

  International Journal of Non-Linear Mechanics · 2024-04-10 · 2 citations

  article
  PublisherDOI

• Frictional slippage of elastomeric disks compressed between rigid platens and subjected to torsion

  International Journal of Solids and Structures · 2024-04-07 · 2 citations

  articleSenior author
  PublisherDOI

• Towards Designing an Interactive System for Accelerated Learning and Assessment in Engineering Mechanics: A First Look at the Deforms Problem-solving System

  2021 ASEE Virtual Annual Conference Content Access Proceedings · 2024-02-20

  articleOpen access

  He has worked extensively in the field of adhesive bonding, having experience in structural adhesives for aerospace, automotive, and infrastructure applications; adhesives and coatings for microelectronic applications; pressure sensitive adhesives; elastomeric adhesives and sealants; and polymeric membranes

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Contributors

  Elsevier eBooks · 2023-01-01

  book-chapter
  PublisherDOI

• Using cohesive zone models with digital image correlation to obtain a mixed mode I/II fracture envelope of a tough epoxy

  Engineering Fracture Mechanics · 2023-11-22 · 10 citations

  articleOpen accessSenior author
  PublisherOA PDFDOI

Recent grants

• Fracture of Adhesive Bonds under Mixed Mode Loading: Experiments in a Dual Actuator Load Frame and Numerical Simulations

  NSF · $468k · 2008–2012

• IMR: Development/Acquisition of a Mixed-Mode Fracture Testing Instrument for Research and Education in Adhesion Science

  NSF · $170k · 2004–2008

Frequent coauthors

• Yeh-Hung Lai

  General Motors (Poland)

  33 shared

• Raymond H. Plaut

  Virginia Tech

  33 shared

• John G. Dillard

  27 shared

• Scott W. Case

  Macquarie University

  25 shared

• H. Parvatareddy

  18 shared

• H. F. Brinson

  Virginia Tech

  18 shared

• Craig S. Gittleman

  General Motors (United States)

  16 shared

• R.C. Batra

  Virginia Tech

  15 shared

Awards & honors

• Garth L. Wilkes Interdisciplinary Faculty Scholar (2019)
• Elected ASME Fellow, American Society for Mechanical Enginee…
• Wake Medal, Society for Adhesion and Adhesives, The Institut…
• Dean's Award for Excellence in Research (2011)
• Adhesion Society’s Award for Excellence in Adhesion Science…