Sean Eckstein, M.S. Student

 research-gate-logo linkin   

Research Interest

Sean’s research focuses on developing novel impact-mitigating structures using additive manufacturing of multilayer and composite materials to maximize their impact efficacy for loading scenarios under a wide range of strain rates. Novel FRP additive manufacturing technologies and new tailorable-properties foams enable the development of protective structures with tunable mechanical behaviors. Therefore, Sean will explore printable fiber-reinforced polymer matrix composites and customizable polyurea foams to develop shock-tolerant and impact-resistant protective structures for biomechanical applications. He will leverage our state-of-the-art manufacturing and characterization approaches at broad spatiotemporal scales.

Education

  • B.S. Mechanical Engineering, San Diego State University – San Diego, CA – December 2022.

Experience

  • Teaching Assistant, SDSU Mechanical Engineering Department, San Diego State University, September 2022 – December 2022.
  • Engineering Intern, Product Development – Studio Red, Palo Alto, CA, January 2022 – August 2022.

Publications

  • Eckstein, Sean, Sophia Benkirane, and George Youssef. “3D-Printed Carbon Fiber Meta-Skins for Impact Mitigating Sandwich Structures.” Additive Manufacturing Letters (2025): 100337.
  • Youssef, George, Sean Eckstein, Anushka Sarode, and Behrad Koohbor. “Tensile Behavior of Density-Graded Elastomeric Polyurea Foams: Interfacing Effects.” ACS Applied Engineering Materials (2025).
  • Eckstein, Sean, and George Youssef. “Impact Efficacy of Sandwich Structures with Additively Manufactured Skins and Elastomeric Foam Cores.” Composites Part B: Engineering (2025): 112728.
  • Youssef, George, Anil Singh, Sean Eckstein, Ansel Flanagan, and Paul Kauvaka. “Flexural response of 3D printed continuous carbon fiber reinforced photocurable polymer composites.” Polymer Composites(2024).

Conference Presentations

  • “Assessing Impact Efficacy of Sandwich Structures with 3D Printed Composite Skins and Foam Cores” Sean Eckstein, George Youssef. 2025 SEM Annual Conference on Experimental and Applied Mechanics.
  • “Assessing Impact Efficacy of Novel Additively Manufactured Sandwich Structures.” Sean Eckstein, George Youssef, Paul Kauvaka. American Society for Composites 39th Annual Technical Conference, 2024.