Sandia Energy > Programs > Renewable Energy > Wind Energy > Staff > Ernesto Camarena Ernesto Camarena, PhD Research & Development Aeronautical Engineer BiographyErnesto Camarena obtained his PhD in aeronautics and astronautics from Purdue University in 2019. There he developed multiscale structural mechanics methodology for piezoelectric composites. That same year, he joined the Wind Energy Design and Experimentation department, where he now leads the micromechanical modeling effort in the Carbon Fiber Material Design project. Noteworthy physics include nonlinear microbuckling, plasticity, and cohesive fiber-matrix interfaces. He also supports the Big Adaptive Rotor project by improving the capabilities of the department’s structural analysis tools. His recent activities have allowed for global and local buckling as well as composite failure and fatigue to be accounted for during wind blade optimizations.