Dr. Chakravartula evaluates the mechanical properties of materials from the nano-scale to the macro-scale and has particular expertise in mechanics of biomaterials. Her research has addressed composition, manufacture, and performance of natural and synthetic materials used in biomedical applications, including cartilage, hydrogels, and polyethylene. She has experience with the FDA regulatory process and with test development and test validation for biomaterials. Dr. Chakravartula recently co-authored a textbook, titled “Mechanics of Biomaterials: Fundamental Principles for Implant Design”, which focuses on the structure-property relationships of natural and synthetic biomaterials, and how these can be considered during the implant design process.
Dr. Chakravartula has experience in the gas pipeline industry, including a year-long effort to assist a large gas utility company with implementation of a plan to validate the Maximum Allowable Operating Pressure (MAOP) for its gas transmission lines. Tasks included searching and organizing over two million records related to pipeline installation and repair, developing quality control (QC) methods, performing QC activities and training contractors to provide a uniform work product. In addition, Dr. Chakravartula has assisted medical device companies in characterization of layered films and tubes and development of internal specifications for materials testing.
Prior to joining Exponent, Dr. Chakravartula worked as a research scientist at Cambridge Polymer Group, Inc., where she developed materials for implantable medical devices, identified the root cause of polymeric material failures, and developed custom testing equipment for evaluating soft materials. She also served as an adjunct lecturer at Boston University, teaching an undergraduate-level course entitled, “Mechanics of Biomaterials.”
Pruitt L, Chakravartula A. Mechanics of Biomaterials: Fundamental Principles for Implant Design. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press, 2011.
Chakravartula A, Komvopoulos K. Viscoelastic properties of polymer surfaces investigated by nanoscale dynamic mechanical analysis. Applied Physics Letters 2006; 88:131901.
Chakravartula A, Li C, Gupta S, Ando B, Pruitt L. Undergraduate students teaching children: K-8 outreach within the core engineering curriculum. Proceedings, 2006 American Society for Engineering Education Annual Conference and Exposition, p. 1310, Chicago, IL, June 18–21, 2006.
Chakravartula A, Pruitt L, Komvopoulos K, Bellare A. Nano-scale viscoelastic properties of microstructurally-modified UHMWPE. Proceedings, Society for Biomaterials 30th Annual Meeting, p. 34, Memphis, TN, April 27–30, 2005.
Zhou J, Chakravartula A, Pruitt L, Komvopoulos K. Tribological and nanomechanical properties of unmodified and crosslinked ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene for total joint replacements. ASME Journal of Tribology 2004; 126:386.
Pruitt L, Chakravartula A, Simis K, Bellare A. Nano-scale mechanical properties of microstructurally-modified UHMWPE. 7th World Biomaterials Congress, p. 1896, Sydney, Australia, May 17–21, 2004.
Chakravartula A, Zhou J, Komvopoulos K, Pruitt L. Nano-mechanical analysis of surface properties and early wear mechanisms in UHMWPE. Proceedings, Society for Biomaterials 29th Annual Meeting, p. 601, Reno, NV, April 30–May 3, 2003.
Chawan A, Chakravartula A, Zhou J, Pruitt L, Ries M, Komvopoulos K. Effects of counterface roughness and conformity on the tribological performance of crosslinked and non-crosslinked medical-grade ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene. Materials Research Society Symposium Proceedings 2002; 724:95; San Francisco, CA, April 1–5, 2002.
Presentations
Chakravartula A. Orthopaedic biomaterials: Using history to inform innovation. OMTEC, Chicago, IL, June 16, 2011
Chakravartula A. Regulatory affairs. University of California, Berkeley, February 18, 2010.
Chakravartula A. Hydrogel characterization and applications. University of California, Berkeley, December 01, 2009.
Chakravartula A. Fetch! With Ruff Ruffman “Just Toying with Ruff,” Season 3, Episode 18, aired December 2008.
Chakravartula A. Biomedical engineering: R&D in a small company. Boston University, April 18, 2008.
Chakravartula A. Biomedical engineering. Bucknell University, March 21, 2008.
Chakravartula A. Nano-scale dynamic testing for evaluation of medical polymers. Office of Science and Engineering Laboratories, Center for Device and Radiological Health, FDA, Rockville, Maryland, and the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory, October 28–29, 2004.