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Program: M.

S and PhD in Applied Mechanics


Department: Mechanical Engineering

Name: Anjani Prasad Yakkala


Applicant ID: 1700

STATEMENT OF PURPOSE
A desire to acquire sound theoretical concepts and technical skills by involving
myself in cutting edge research in Applied Mechanics has motivated me to pursue
graduate studies from Texas A&M University. I firmly believe that with a Masters and a
PhD degree from your university, I will be able to satisfy my objective of a research
oriented career in this field.
Right from my school studies, I developed an interest in the basic sciences and
their practical applications, which led me to pursue a career in engineering. My diligent
and methodical work helped me secure admission into the Civil Engineering Department
at IIT- Madras. Civil Engineering appealed to me because of its encompassing role in the
modern society.
The research oriented curriculum at IIT- Madras provided an excellent
opportunity to know about various fields in Civil Engineering. The application of the
concepts of Applied Mechanics to fascinating practical uses in the field of Structural
Engineering and Geo-Technical Engineering has interested me the most.
My three and half years of under-graduate studies have given me an opportunity
to gain knowledge and experience in my field of interest. I was first introduced to
Applied Mechanics through the course Mechanics of Materials. This course brought out
the fundamental tenets of structural mechanics which ignited my interest in the field of
Applied Mechanics. To further strengthen my concepts, I pursued courses on basic and
advanced Structural Analysis which enabled me to do elastic analysis of structures
using flexibility and stiffness approaches. Thus, I developed theoretical skills required to
model the behaviour of homogenous elastic materials subjected to various loads.
In my sophomore year, I attended a presentation by Dr. C. Lakshmana Rao, where
he demonstrated the peculiar behaviour of the smart material (Nitinol). I was awestruck
when the material regained its original shape from a distorted shape on heating. This
experience instilled in me a deep interest in the field of Applied Mechanics. With the
motivation to understand the mechanism involved in the process, I chose Computational
Solid Mechanics as my minor. Through the first course Fundamentals of Solid
Mechanics, I learnt about the fundamental governing equations of Applied Mechanics.
The second course Approximate Methods in Engineering Analysis equipped me with
the analytical and numerical methods used to solve the fundamental governing equations.
The third course Multi body Dynamics and Applications taught me new concepts,
which include kinematical modelling and analysis, formulation of dynamic equations of
motion and computational methods.

Program: M.S and PhD in Applied Mechanics


Department: Mechanical Engineering

Name: Anjani Prasad Yakkala


Applicant ID: 1700

Analysis and Design courses in my major provided me an opportunity to apply


the Applied Mechanics principles to real world problems. To enhance my practical
knowledge and reinforce my theoretical concepts, I undertook several projects and
assignments. Through these projects and assignments I developed analytical and
computational skills that are useful for graduate studies.
My curiosity in Applied Mechanics led me to choose the topic Control of
Buckling Using Smart Materials as my undergraduate dissertation under the guidance of
Dr. C. Lakshmana Rao, Assistant Professor in Applied Mechanics Department. The
objective of the project is to enhance the buckling strength of slender columns. The
underlying concept involved is the application of piezoelectricity property of PZT to alter
the structural behaviour of slender columns. This project not only gave me an opportunity
to work on real world problems but also gave me a valuable research experience.
As a first step towards a research oriented career in Applied Mechanics, I am
crediting two graduate level electives, Constitutive modelling in Continuum Mechanics
and Finite Element Methods next semester.
I have taken part in extra-curricular activities like debates, design competitions
and sports. As a Branch Councillor and as a member of Civil Engineering Association,
IIT Madras, I was involved in organising various academic activities and the Civil
Engineering Technical Festival. Through these activities, I have established myself as a
team player and an efficient leader. My communication skills have enabled me to convey
my ideas - technical and non-technical, effectively to a wide spectrum of people. These
qualities enable me to easily integrate myself into any research or organizational team.
During my graduate study, I intend to pursue my interest in Continuum
Mechanics. I would also like to enhance my knowledge in Mechanics of Materials,
Computational Mechanics and Structural Dynamics. After careful perusal of Texas A &
M University website, I found my research interests coherent with the current research
activities. I firmly believe that Texas A & M University with its extensive research
facilities and competent faculty would be an ideal place for me to pursue graduate
studies. Hence I seek admission for the PhD program in Applied Mechanics at Texas A &
M University with full financial aid.
I am confident that you will find me as an enterprising researcher and a diligent student.

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