Welcome to SMSD!
We are the Structural and Multidisciplinary Systems Design Lab (SMSD) at Queen’s University, specializing in advanced modeling (FEM) and multi-disciplinary design and optimization. Our state-of-the-art research body has extensive experience in developing and publishing novel academic research for automotive, aerospace, and defense driven applications, utilizing analytical and computational optimization techniques to develop new principles and methodologies to solve practical problems with various industrial partners.
Research News
Tim Sirola Publication in SMO - May 21st, 2023
Cameron Forward Publication in PIAM - March 30th, 2023
Rosalie Morin Publication in Structural and Multidisciplinary Optimization - October 6th, 2022
Member/Alumni News
SMSD Welcomes New Member - April 19th, 2023
Melissa Young Defends Thesis - February 13th, 2023
Owen Pintar Defends Thesis - February 13th, 2023
Professor
McLaughlin Hall, Room 305
Queen's University
Kingston, Ontario, Canada, K7L 3N6
Phone: (613) 533-3077
Fax: (613) 533-6489 Email: [email protected]

Professor Il Yong Kim received his Ph.D. (Mechanical Engineering) from KAIST (Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology).He has worked as a postdoctoral researcher and course instructor at MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology). Dr. Kim is currently a Professor in the Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering at Queen's University in Kingston, Canada.
Research Interests:
- Automotive design and Aerospace design, including hybrid vehicles and lightweight design.
- Advanced, multi-physics modeling and analysis, including FEM.
- Multi-disciplinary, multi-objective design and optimization, including multi-disciplinary topology optimization
- Design for additive manufacturing (DfAM) for aerospace, automotive, and defense
- Advanced manufacturing, including additive manufacturing (3D printing) and metal forming processes.
- Accurate fatigue analysis; Multi-physics neural network modeling; Machine learning; Prognostics and health monitoring.
- Composite modeling; Lightweight design and manufacturing using composites, especially CFRP (Carbon Fiber Reinforced Plastics).
Teaching:
- MECH323 Machine Design
- MECH465 Computer Aided Design
- MECH924 Finite Element Analysis of Non-Linear Solids
Merits & Awards:
- Research Excellence Award, Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science, 2016
- Paper Award (Top 10), Canadian Society of Mechanical Engineers (CSME), 2014
- Paper Award (second place), Canadian Congress for Applied Mechanics (CANCAM), 2011
- Nominated for the Steacie Prize, Queen's University, 2011
- The Early Researcher Award, Ministry of Research and Innovation, Ontario, 2010
- Educational excellence and innovation grant for an MIT undergraduate design course "Engineering design and rapid prototyping", MIT, 2003
- Best paper prize, KAIST, 2002
- Silver medal, Samsung Electronics International Paper Contest, 2001
- Fellowship, KOSEF (Korea Science and Engineering Foundation), 2002
- Fellowship, DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service), 1998
- Fellowship, JISTEC (Japan International Science & Technology Exchange Center), 1996