NING PAN, Professor

Ph.D., Textile Engineering, Dong Hua University, China, 1985
Department of Textiles and Clothing / Biological and Agricultural Engineering
229 Everson Hall
Phone: 530-752-6232
Email: npan@ucdavis.edu

Current Research

Professor Pan's research in textile engineering focuses on analyzing, measuring, and improving the physical properties of fibers and fibrous structures; carbon nanotube synthesis, and nano supercapacitors and energy storage devices; biomechanics and physiology of textile-body interactions.

Theories and mathematical models are being developed to characterize the behaviors of fibrous structures including yarns, fabrics and fiber reinforced composites, enabling more accurate prediction of the physical properties of these materials in terms of the constituent fiber properties and the structural parameters. This information is valuable to fiber, textiles and composites manufacturers and users. Work on the structural characterization of fibrous materials has also provided a better understanding of the properties of products such as diapers, fabrics, papers, and non-wovens.

Nanoscale materials represent the quantum leap in advanced materials, and they offer or have the potential to offer some fascinating properties. We develop new ways to synthesis carbon nanotubes of both single and multiple walls with higher yields and better qualities. Our current research has led to patented high power storage and power release rate vastly unmatchable by the products made of conventional materials. High power and long duration battery has been an on-going project in our group.

Investigations on cloth-body interactions are critical for our understanding and improving human well being, yet are very complex to study for they require a good combination of knowledge in materials sciences, physics, computer modeling and human physiology. Our current projects include the human sensory mechanisms, skin-fabric interactions, skin-cloth microclimate dynamics, and posture steadiness and Locomotion stability of carpeted floors.

Representative Recent Publications

Du, C., and N. Pan. 2005. Growth of carbon nanotubes directly on nickel substrate. Materials Letters 57:434-438.

He, J.-H., Y. Yu, N. Pan, X.-C. Cai, J.-Y. Yu, and S.-Y. Wang. 2005. Quasistatic model for two-strand yarn spinning. Mech. Research Communication 32:197–200.

Zhang, J., J.-Y. Yu, and N. Pan. 2005. Variational principles for nonlinear fiber optics. Chaos, Solitons and Fractal 24:309–311.

Du, C., and N. Pan. 2005. Carbon nanotube thin films with ordered structures. Journal of Materials Chemistry 15:548–550.

Sun, H., and N. Pan. 2004. The shear modulus of a woven fabric. Journal of Composite Structures 67:317-322.

Sun, H., and N. Pan. 2004. On the Poisson’s ratios of a woven fabric. Journal of Composite Structures 68:505-510.

Lang, J., S. Zhu, and N. Pan. 2004. Change of yarn hairiness during winding process analysis of the trail fiber ends. Textile Research Journal 74:905-913.

Pan, N. 2004. On uniqueness of fibrous materials. Design & Nature II, Editors: Collins, M. and C. Brebbia. WIT Press, Boston. pp. 493-504.

Yang, H., S. Zhu, and N. Pan. 2004. Studying the mechanisms of TiO2 as UV blocking additives for films and fabrics by an improved scheme. Journal of Applied Polymer Sciences 92:3201-3210.

Zhong, W., and N. Pan. 2004. Stochastic modeling of tear behavior of coated fabrics. Modeling and Simulation in Materials Science and Engineering 12:293-309.

Wan, Y. Q., Q. Guo, and N. Pan. 2004. Thermo-electro-hydrodynamic model for electrospinning process. International Journal of Nonlinear Sciences & Numerical Simulation 5:5-8.

Lang, J., S. Zhu, and N. Pan. 2004. Frictional behavior of synthetic yarns during processing. Textile Research Journal 73:227-231.

Du, C., and N. Pan. 2004. Preparation of single-walled carbon nanotube reinforced magnesia films. Nanotechnology 15:227–231.

Membership in Professional Societies

Textile Institute (United Kingdom), Fellow since 1994
American Society of Mechanical Engineers, Fellow since 2004
American Association for the Advancement of Science
Fiber Society, President 2000-01

Courses Offered

TXC 162 - Textile Fabrics Performance
TXC 162L - Textile Fabrics Performance Laboratory
EMS 147/FPS 100 - Principles of Polymer Materials
EMS/PFS 250E - Mechanical Behavior of Fiber Reinforced Composites

Research Support

Lockheed Martin
National Textile Center
Mytitek
UC Discovery
California EISG