Damon Allen

Experience

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  University of Florida

  Jan 2003 - Jan 2008

  Research Assistant

  Designed and built experimentation equipment, including the necessary instrumentation, then wrote all software used to automate the equipment operation, data collection, and analysis for my research project. The research was on the effects of strain rate upon the shear stiffness of approximately one to one-quarter scale steel reinforced neoprene bridge bearing pads. Experiments were conducted using a quasi-static hydraulic system to provide the compression loading, a dynamic hydraulic and electrical systems that provided shear loading using displacement control, and an electrical instrumentation system that provided feed back to the software to automate the actions of the test equipment. Automation was necessary since the experiments needed to run continuously over periods ranging from three minutes to 90 days at a time. As part of the development phase of the research I also designed and constructed the climate controlled environment necessary to house the equipment. As was policy in the department at the time, I did all the analysis of the data collected using spreadsheet software and wrote up the final report and subsequent article using a WYSIWYG text editor. In the final phase of the research I was required to write a user manual covering the use of the experimental equipment since it was to be turned over to the Florida Department of Transportation. Since the format was not specified, I incorporated the manual into the operating software as a automated tutorial. Show less

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  University of Florida

  Jan 2009 - May 2009

  Adjunct Professor

  Taught the Experimentation and Instrumentation course to a class of 135 undergraduate students. This ourse included introductions to both mechanical end electrical instrumentation. I was assisted by a team of four graduate students who conducted the laboratory experiments I designed. I developed new electronics and software experiments for the students using the Arduino platform. I chose Arduino due to its low cost and active online community which could allow the students to continue with their own experimentation outside of the classroom and after the completion of the course. Show less

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  Santa Fe College

  Aug 2010 - Jan 2013

  Adjunct Professor

  Taught Physics with and without Calculus and introduced laboratory experiments designed to demonstrate physical properties and principles of physics. I also contributed to the collection of experiments available for student use by developing my own laboratory experiment that allowed students to measure the rotational moment of inertia of objects using only a stopwatch and a ramp.

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  University of Florida

  Aug 2013 - Apr 2021

  Teaching classes in Structures, Temporary Structures, and Construction Materials. The last two courses have both been in classroom and online environments. The use of the online environment required development of stand alone web based delivery system. The web-based content was leveraged to implement flipped classroom teaching. Additionally, the Temporary Structures course includes a hands-on laboratory experience for the students that includes the construction of formwork for a concrete wall and demonstration of construction techniques. For that same class I wrote software that automatically produces both randomly generated assignments, handouts, and tests, plus all the corresponding solutions. The solutions include dynamically generated derivations that enables students to identify the errors in their work. Show less Participant on a team of researchers developing a new instrument designed to measure ion spectroscopy in the infrared range of the electromagnetic spectrum. My primary activities were automating the collection and analysis of data, including automating physical activities to reduce the number of students required to operate the equipment. The reduction of students from three to one allowed for more regular data collection. I also implemented two new types of experiments, allowing for exploration of new avenues of research. During my first week involved with the project, I reduced the time it took to analyze the approximately 20,000,000 data points collected for each experiment from one day to approximately 30 seconds while dramatically improving the level of accuracy by writing an analysis software package. My activities also included working with researchers to extend the level of control over the test equipment by replacing manual electrical controls with digital versions of the instrumentation software. Show less Taught the Timber Design course to graduate and undergraduate students. The course included a class project that required the students to design the envelope of a timber warehouse. The design process started with calculating the wind loading on the structural envelope based on the location, exposure type, and type of facility. The project included roof and wall sheathing, supporting joists, glue-laminated beams and columns, stud wall framing, including the design of shear walls. All parts of the design required the specification of the appropriate fasteners, from the nailing schedule of the sheathing to the anchor bolts holding down the stud wall and glue-laminated column. Show less

  • Adjunct Professor

    Jan 2015 - Apr 2021

  • Researcher

    Jan 2017 - Aug 2018

  • Adjunct Professor

    Jan 2013 - Aug 2018

  • Software developer

    Aug 2010 - Aug 2015

  • Adjunct Professor

    Aug 2013 - Dec 2013
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  Ellis Manufacturing Company

  Jan 2016 - Dec 2023

  Consultant

  Working with a construction equipment manufacturing company’s vice-president of sales of to develop web applications that provide guidance in the selection and usage of their products. In general, the applications provide automated engineering analysis based on the specific use case of the client.