J. Gavin Howe

Senior Research Engineer

B.S. in Mechanical Engineering, The Ohio State University, 1988

M.S. in Mechanical Engineering, The Ohio State University, 1990

Mr. Howe’s focus has been on ground vehicle computer simulation (off-line and real-time), component subsystem modeling, terrain modeling and characterization, and more recently flying qualities evaluation. As program manager and lead engineer he developed a new approach to rating terrain for the purposes of developing ground vehicle design specifications particularly related to durability and material fatigue.  As program manager and lead engineer he has developed the Model Post Processor (MPP), which is a Matlab-based tool for evaluating vehicle models across a range of simulation platforms.

He also developed proprietary Matlab/Simulink suspension system models for evaluating ride, handling, and stability. Mr. Howe has also worked extensively with the STI tire model and tire data fitting routines. He has more recently developed/evaluated proprietary reduced order ground vehicle handling models for light aircraft and has created tools for evaluating flying qualities for flight/simulator test and simulation results. Prior to joining STI, Mr. Howe worked for the Transportation Research Center under contract to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NTHSA).  Mr. Howe supported the Crashworthiness, Office of Defects Investigation, and Crash Avoidance groups. While working in the Crash Avoidance group, Mr. Howe’s primary focus was on rollover studies. Mr. Howe is a member of the Society of Automotive Engineers.

Honors and Awards

• Most Outstanding SAE Technical Paper, SAE Commercial Vehicle Engineering Congress and Exhibition, Chicago, IL, October 26-28, 2004.

Selected Bibliography

J. G. Howe, D. Lee, J. P. Chrstos, T. T. Myers, R. W. Allen, D. J. Gorsich, and A. Reid, “Analysis of Potential Road/Terrain Characterization Rating Metrics”

J. G. Howe, J. P. Chrstos, Ph.D., R. Romano, and J. O’Kins, “Development of a Vehicle Model/Simulation Evaluation Tool,” presented at SAE 2008 World Congress, Detroit, Michigan, USA, April 14-17, 2008. (SAE 2008-01-0778, STI-P-700)

J. G. Howe, D. Lee, Ph.D., J. P. Chrstos, Ph.D., O. Balling, Ph.D., T. T. Myers, R. W. Allen, D. J. Gorsich, and A. Reid, “Further Analysis of Potential Road/Terrain Characterization Rating Metrics,” presented at SAE Commercial Vehicle Engineering Congress and Exhibition, Chicago, IL, November 2, 2005. (SAE 2005-01-3562, STI-P-664)

J. G. Howe, D. Lee, Ph.D., J. P. Chrstos, Ph.D., T. T. Myers, R. W. Allen, D. J. Gorsich, and A. Reid, “Analysis of Potential Road/Terrain Characterization Rating Metrics,” SAE Transactions: Journal of Commercial Vehicles, vol. 113, no. 2, 2004. (SAE 2004-01-2640, STI-P-628)

J. G. Howe, J. P. Chrstos, Ph.D., R. W. Allen, T. T. Myers, D. Lee, Ph.D., C.-Y. Liang, Ph.D., D. J. Gorsich, and A. Reid, “Quarter car model stress analysis for terrain/road profile ratings,” International Journal of Vehicle Design (IJVD), vol. 36, no. 2/3, pp. 248-269, 2004. (STI-P-643)

J. G. Howe, D. Lee, Ph.D., C.-Y. Liang, Ph.D., J. P. Chrstos, Ph.D., T. T. Myers, R. W. Allen, D. J. Gorsich, and A. J. Scott, “Development of a Road/Terrain Characterization Rating Tool,” presented at SAE Truck & Bus Conference, Fort Worth, TX, November 10-11, 2003. (SAE 2003-01-3408, STI-P-627)

R. W. Allen, J. P. Chrstos, Ph.D., J. G. Howe, D. H. Klyde, and T. J. Rosenthal, “Validation of a Non-Linear Vehicle Dynamics Simulation for Limit Handling,” Journal of Automobile Engineering, Special Issue on Vehicle Dynamics, Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, vol. 216, no. D4, pp. 319-327, 2002. (STI-P-598)

R. W. Allen, D. Lee, Ph.D., D. H. Klyde, J. G. Howe, J. P. Chrstos, Ph.D., and T. J. Rosenthal, “Vehicle Dynamics Validation for Real-Time Simulation,” presented at Human-Centered Transportation Simulation Conference (HCTSC), Iowa City, Iowa, November 4-7, 2001. (STI-P-584)