Profile Photo: Benjamin Caldwell, Ph.D.

Benjamin
Caldwell, Ph.D.

Phone: 903.233.3200
Email: OfficeoftheProvost@letu.edu

  • Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs

  • Professor of Mechanical Engineering


EDUCATION

  • Ph.D., Mechanical Engineering, Clemson University, 2011
  • M.S., Mechanical Engineering, Clemson University, 2009
  • B.S., Mechanical Engineering, Clemson University, 2007

RESEARCH PROJECTS

  • National Science Foundation: Creativity in Engineering Design 
  • National Science Foundation: Enhancing student learning through automated tutoring 

CURRENT RESEARCH INTERESTS

  • Mechanical engineering design methodology
  • Creativity and ideation in engineering design
  • Engineering education

COURSES TAUGHT

  • ENGR 3813: Engineering Design Methodology
  • MEGR 2013: Statics
  • MEGR 2023: Dynamics
  • MEGR 3323: Mechanics of Materials
  • MEGR 3413: Mechanisms and Kinematics
  • MEGR 5983: Advanced Design Methodology
  • HNRS 3111: Designing for Cultural Transformation
  • LETU 1101: Cornerstones for Life and Learning

Journal Articles
  • Caldwell, B.W. and Halupa, C.M., 2015, "Exploring Video-Intensive Delivery in An Online and Face-to-Face Statics Course," Journal of Online Engineering Education, 6(1).
  • Halupa, C.M., and Caldwell, B.W., 2015, "A Comparison of Two Engineering Statics Courses: Traditional Lecture-based and Lecture-based with Online Supplemental Video," International Journal of Higher Education, 4(1).
  • Caldwell, B.W., Namouz, E.Z., Richardson III, J.L., Sen, C., Rotenburg, T., Mocko, G.M., Summers, J.D., and Obieglo, A., 2013, "Automotive Lightweight Engineering: A Method for Identifying Lazy Systems," International Journal of Vehicle Design, 63(4).
  • Caldwell, B.W., Thomas, J.E., Sen, C., Mocko, G.M., Summers, J.D., 2012, "The Effects of Language and Pruning on Function Structure Interpretability," Journal of Mechanical Design, 134(6).
  • Caldwell, B.W., and Mocko, G.M., 2011, "Validation of Function Pruning Rules through Similarity at Three Levels of Abstraction," Journal of Mechanical Design, 134(1).
  • Caldwell, B.W., Sen, C., Mocko, G.M., Summers, J.D., 2011, " An Empirical Study of the Expressiveness of the Functional Basis," Artificial Intelligence for Engineering Design, Analysis & Manufacturing (AI-EDAM), 25, pp. 273-287.
  • Sen, C., Caldwell, B.W., Summers, J.D., and Mocko, G.M., 2010, "Evaluation of the Functional Basis using an Information Theoretic Approach," Artificial Intelligence for Engineering Design, Analysis & Manufacturing (AI-EDAM), Design Computing and Cognition Special Issue, 24(1).

Refereed Conference Papers
  •  
    • Viswanathan, V.K., Hurt, J.T., Hammond, T.A., Caldwell, B.W., Talley, K.G., Linsey, J.S., 2020, “Impact of a Sketch-based Tutoring System at Multiple Universities,” 2020 ASEE Annual Conference, Online.
    •  
    • Weaver, M.B., Caldwell, B.W., Sheafer, V., 2019, “Interpreting Measures of Rarity and Novelty: Investigating Correlations Between Relative Infrequency and Perceived Ratings,” ASME International Design Engineering Technical Conferences, Anaheim, California.

     

    Weaver, M.B., Bennetts, C., Caldwell, B.W., 2018, “Rate of Variety and its Relation to Creativity Factors,” ASME International Design Engineering Technical Conferences, Quebec City, Canada.
  • Cheeley, A., Weaver, M.B., Bennetts, C., Caldwell, B.W., Green, M.G., 2018, “A Proposed Quality Metric for Ideation Effectiveness,” ASME International Design Engineering Technical Conferences, Quebec City, Canada.
  • Bennetts, C., Cheeley, A., Caldwell, B.W., and Green, M.G., 2017, “Comparing Facets of Divergent Thinking in Engineering Freshmen and Upperclassmen,” ASME International Design Engineering Technical Conferences, Cleveland, OH.
  • Johnson, T.A., Cheeley, A., Caldwell, B.W., and Green, M.G., 2016, “Comparison and Extension of Novelty Metrics for Problem-Solving Tasks,” ASME International Design Engineering Technical Conferences, Charlotte, NC.
  • Johnson, T.A., Caldwell, B.W., and Green, M.G., 2015, “Investigating Spontaneous Flexibility in Concept Generation,” ASME International Design Engineering Technical Conferences, Boston, MA.
  • Green, M.G., Caldwell, B.W., Helms, M., Linsey, J.S., and Hammond, T.A., 2015, “Using Natural Sketch Recognition Software to Provide Instant Feedback on Statics Homework (Truss Free Body Diagrams): Assessment of a Classroom Pilot,” 2015 ASEE Annual Conference, Seattle, WA.
  • Caldwell, B.W., Halupa, C.M., 2014, “A Pilot Study of an Online Accelerated Statics Course with Intensive Video Delivery,” 2014 ASEE Annual Conference, Indianapolis, IN.
  • Caldwell, B.W., Ramachandran, R., Mocko, G.M., 2012, “Assessing the Use of Function Models and Interaction Models through Concept Sketching,” ASME International Design Engineering Technical Conferences, Chicago, IL.
  • Ramachandran, R., Caldwell, B.W., Mocko, G.M., 2011, “A User Study to Evaluate the Function Model and Function Interaction Model for Concept Generation,” ASME International Design Engineering Technical Conferences, Washington, DC.
  • Caldwell, B.W., Mocko, G.M., 2010, “Functional Similarity at Varying Levels of Abstraction,” ASME International Design Engineering Technical Conferences, Montreal, Canada.
  • Schultz, J.C., Sen, C., Caldwell, B.W., Mathieson, J.L., Summers, J.D., 2010, “Limitations to Function Structures: A Case Study in Morphing Airfoil Design,” ASME International Design Engineering Technical Conferences, Montreal, Canada.
  • Caldwell, B.W., Mocko, G.M., and Fadel, G.M., 2010, “A Representation of Artefacts and Interactions to Supplement Function,” Eighth International Symposium on Tools and Methods of Competitive Engineering (TMCE 2010), Ancona, Italy.
  • Sen, C., Caldwell, B.W., Summers, J.D., Mocko, G.M., 2009, “Topological Information Content and Expressiveness of Function Models in Mechanical Design,” ASME International Design Engineering Technical Conferences, San Diego, California.
  • Caldwell, B.W., Rotenburg, T., Price, Y.N., Summers, J.D., Mocko, G.M., 2009, “Automotive Lightweight Engineering: A Detailed Evaluation of the Laziness of an Interior Console,” ASME International Design Engineering Technical Conferences, San Diego, California. (*Note: this paper was withdrawn from the conference proceedings after being accepted due to the industry sponsor’s desire to patent the process)
  • Price, Y.N., Rotenburg, T., Caldwell, B.W., Sen, C., Namouz, E., Richardson, J., Summers, J.D., Mocko, G.M., 2009, “Automotive Lightweight Engineering: Laziness Identification Process,” ASME International Design Engineering Technical Conferences, San Diego, California. (*Note: this paper was withdrawn from the conference proceedings after being accepted due to the industry sponsor’s desire to patent the process)
  • Caldwell, B.W., and Mocko, G.M., 2008, “Towards Rules for Functional Composition,” ASME International Design Engineering Technical Conferences, Brooklyn, New York.
  • Caldwell, B.W., and Mocko, G.M., 2008, “Product Data Management in Undergraduate Education,” ASME International Conference on Computers and Information in Engineering, Brooklyn, New York.
  • Caldwell, B.W., Sen, C., Mocko, G.M., Summers, J.D., Fadel, G.M., 2008, “Empirical Examination of the Functional Basis and Design Repository,” Third International Conference on Design Computing and Cognition, Atlanta, GA.