Contact Information

Research Interests

Broadly, I am interested in the modeling and simulation of multidisciplinary, engineered systems – particularly as it applies to design problems.  Currently, I am investigating an approach for modeling systems in the early to middle phases of design.  The challenge there is that designers have relatively little information at this point in a process and the information they do have is uncertain.  Yet, the decisions they make can have a great impact on a project.  It is important to handle these decisions efficiently and effectively.  I elaborate on this and explain my modeling strategy in my Ph.D. proposal.

In my MS thesis, I address the question of how designers can perform model validation in reuse scenarios. In the most general reuse scenarios, model validation can be quite challenging.  The core challenge is one of knowledge transfer between model creators and model users.  I describe a conceptual framework that identifies this knowledge and the process through which it must flow.  I have posted a summary of my MS research here.

Recent Publications

Journal Articles

• R.J. Malak, Jr. and C.J.J. Paredis, "Using Parameterized Pareto Sets to Model Design Concepts," under review. [abstract]
  
• R.J. Malak, Jr., J.M. Aughenbaugh, and C.J.J. Paredis, "Multi-Attribute Utility Analysis in Set-based Conceptual Design," Computer Aided Design, 2008.  (Accepted for publication) [draft (pdf)]
  
• R.J. Malak, Jr., and C.J.J. Paredis, "Validating Behavioral Models for Reuse," Research in Engineering Design, 2008. 18(3) p.111-128.  [manuscript (pdf)] (The original publication is available at www.springerlink.com)
  

Conference Papers

• Malak, R.J., Tucker L., and Paredis, C.J.J. "Compositional Modeling of Fluid Power Systems using Predictive Tradeoff Models" accepted for presentation at the 2008 Bath/ASME Symposium on Fluid Power and Motion Control (FPMC 2008).
  
• R.J. Malak, Jr., L. Tucker and C.J.J. Paredis, "Composing Tradeoff Models for Multi-Attribute System-Level Decision Making" accepted for presentation at the 2008 ASME International Design Engineering Technical Conferences and Computers and Information in Engineering Conference (IDETC/CIE 2008). Paper No. DETC2008-49970.
  
• R.J. Malak, Jr., and C.J.J. Paredis, "Modeling Design Concepts under Risk and Uncertainty using Parameterized Efficient Sets" in Proceedings of the  2008 SAE World Congress & Exhibition, Detroit, MI, April 13-17, 2008. Paper No. SAE 2008-01-0709. [paper(pdf)][slides(pdf)]
  
• R.J. Malak, Jr., and C.J.J. Paredis, "Using Parameterized Pareto Sets to Model Design Concepts" in Proceedings of the 2007 ASME International Mechanical Engineering Congress and Exposition (IMECE), Seattle, WA, November 11-15, 2007. [paper(pdf)][slides(pdf)]
  
• R. J. Malak, Jr., and C. J. J. Paredis, “Foundations of Validating Reusable Behavioral Models in Engineering Design Problems,” in Proceedings of the 2004 Winter Simulation Conference, R .G. Ingalls, M. D. Rossetti, J. S. Smith, and B. A. Peters, eds., Washington D.C., December 5-8, 2004. [paper(pdf)][slides(pdf)]
  
• R. J. Malak, Jr., and C. J. J. Paredis, “On Characterizing and Assessing the Validity of Behavioral Models and Their Predictions,” in Proceedings of DETC 2004, Design Theory and Methodology Conference, paper no. DETC2004/DTM-57452, Salt Lake City, UT, September 28 – October 3, 2004. [paper(pdf)][slides(pdf)]
  
• G. Mocko, R. Malak, C. Paredis, R. Peak, “A Knowledge Repository for Behavioral Models in Engineering Design,” in Proceedings of DETC 2004, Computers and Information  in Engineering Conference, paper no. DETC2004/CIE-57746, Salt Lake City, UT, September 28 – October 3, 2004. [paper(pdf)][slides(pdf)]
  

MS Thesis

• R. J. Malak, Jr. "A Framework for Validating Reusable Behavioral Models in Engineering Design," Master's Thesis, G.W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, 2005. [paper(pdf)]
  

Posters

• R. J. Malak, Jr., G. Mocko, C. Paredis, R. Peak, "Characterizing and Managing Knowledge about Behavioral Models," Presented at the 7th NASA-ESA Workshop on Product Data Exchange, Atlanta, GA, April 19-22, 2005.  [poster (pdf)]

Resources

EndNote

• EndNote9 (or higher) output style definitions appropriate for GT Thesis format: GT-Thesis.ens (last updated, Summer 2006).  Instructions: (1) right-click the above link and save the file in your EndNote9/styles/ directory, (2) open the Style Manager from within EndNote (Edit->Output Styles->Style Manager), (3) find "GT-Thesis" in the list and select the check box beside it.  Be warned: NOT COMPATIBLE WITH PRIOR VERSIONS ON ENDNOTE.
  

Non-academic Stuff

• I ran on an Ekiden relay team with some other SRLiens.  See some pictures here.
  
• Some pictures from our day volunteering for Habitat for Humanity (23 July 2005) are here.
• Donna keeps some pictures of various things we've done in her gallery.