Aaron Stenta, Ph.D.

Innovative Technology for Asset Intelligence Team Leader

Years of Experience | 10

Education & Licenses:

Doctor of Philosophy, Engineering Applied Mathematics (Chemical and Corrosion Engineering), 2015, The University of Akron, Akron, OH
— Thesis: Solving the Coupled Transport Equations to Predict the Damage Evolution of Localized Corrosion Systems
Master of Science, Applied Mathematics, 2013, The University of Akron, Akron, OH
— Thesis: One-Dimensional Approach to Modeling the Damage Evolution of Galvanic and Crevice Corrosion
Bachelor of Science, Industrial Mathematics, 2011, Shepherd University, Shepherdstown, WV

Areas of Specialization:

Methods of applied mathematics techniques including asymptotic and reduction-of-order methods
Numerical solutions to partial differential equations using finite difference method, finite volume method, boundary element method, and finite element analysis
Nonlinear transport analysis, computational fluid mechanics, and continuum mechanics
Probabilistics, statistics, data analysis, numerical analysis, and operations research
Bayesian network explainable AI theory, numerical implementation, and engineering analysis
Simulation of corrosion damage evolution for pitting, galvanic, and crevice corrosion applications
Chemical reaction, electrochemical, and corrosion engineering including theoretical, computational, and experimental methods
Fatigue analysis including cycle counting, multiaxial plasticity, and damage accumulation
Scientific and numerical method programming in Python, FORTRAN, Matlab, C++, and JS
Cloud software development using React/Redux, JS, Node.js, TS, HTML, and Django
API and database development using Node.js, Arango, PostgreSQL, and Nest.js

Overview:

Aaron joined Equity in May 2015 to focus on researching, developing, and advancing current and emerging technologies and software products; improving consulting services; and revising industry standards.  Aaron initiated the extension of Equity’s software and technologies to federal government opportunities via small business contracts and research grants.  Through this initiative, Aaron was awarded a Phase 1 & 2 SBIR grant for development of a software platform, termed CAN2, for lifecycle decision optimization of spent nuclear fuel canisters subject to chloride-induced stress corrosion cracking.  As an extension of this project, the team was awarded a follow-up Phase 2 SBIR grant to further develop and commercialize an in-house and proprietary Bayesian Decision Network solver, coined Bengi – Bayesian ENGine for Insights.  Aaron led the team on numerical development and implementation of Bengi using the core technology to solve high-impact problems in our aging energy industries.  Some initial industrial applications include next-generation RBI including special emphasis modules for insulated components subject to corrosion under insulation (CUI), heat exchanger tube bundles, and pressure relief devices (PRDs).  Aaron is a lead contributor to the integration of Bengi into PlantManager to deliver a smarter asset integrity management system (AIMS).

Aaron has played a key role in the development of the recently updated Part 14 of API 579-1/ASME FFS-1, in-depth supporting bulletin (WRC 550), and supplemental FFS-2 examples document on the standardization of fatigue methods for use in the pressure vessels and piping industries.  With recent advancement in computational efficiency, this work takes an algorithmic approach to presenting, demonstrating, and validating these procedures.  Additionally, Aaron has worked with the team on the development of modern computational methods for the delivery of the company’s advanced software and technology through Equity’s web-based platform, the Equity Engineering Cloud.  He has also developed tools and best practices for determining the extent of microstructural transformation in LDPE reactor tubes following a thermal excursion and subsequently estimating the remaining life via both numerical stress analysis and facilitating custom full-scale HP tube pressure testing. 

While at The University of Akron, Aaron had the opportunity to collaborate, through research, with various government and industry affairs, such as the Department of Defense, Aerospace, Automotive, and Oil and Gas.  Aaron utilizes many of the corrosion modeling algorithms that he developed while at The University of Akron into advanced decision-making tools for the company’s internal and external corrosion applications.  Many of these tools utilize Bayesian Networks to account for inherent uncertainties and combine the physics-based aspects of the problems with practical engineering guidance for day-to-day decision support.  For example, Aaron worked with UAkron throughout the CAN2 Phase 2 project to develop a novel physics-based and temporal numerical model for CISCC of welded stainless-steel canisters.  Aaron has also utilized his higher education in corrosion and chemical engineering to assist the Materials & Corrosion Team with various projects such as specialty corrosion and cathodic protection consulting, Equity Practices support, and RBI implementation support, including the development of CCDs and IOWs.

Patents

  1. Co-inventor, provisional patent, “Smart Asset Integrity Management Method and System,” submitted January 2023.

Presentations:

“New Insights Into Managing CUI Corrosion Using XAI,” presented by C. Panzarella at the API Inspection and Mechanical Integrity Summit, Jan 23-25, 2024, San Antonio, TX.

“An Integrated Probabilistic Approach to Predicting the Occurrence of Atmospheric Stress Corrosion Cracking of Dry Storage Canisters,” presented by N. Sridhar at the AMPP Annual Conference, Mar 19-23, 2023, Denver, CO.

“Life Cycle Decision Optimization: Ensuring Long-Term Performance of Spent Nuclear Fuel (SNF) Dry Storage Containers (DSCs) Subject to Chloride Stress Corrosion Cracking,” presented by C. Panzarella at the FCTM & ESOPE Conference, Oct 6-7, 2021, Paris, France.

“Life Cycle Decision Optimization: Managing Plant-Wide Thickness Data for Fixed-Equipment and Piping Subject to Corrosion,” presented by C. Panzarella at the FCTM & ESOPE Conference, Oct 6-7, 2021, Paris, France.

“Probabilistic Life-cycle Decision Optimization with Bayesian Networks for Aging Fixed Equipment and Piping in the Energy Industries,” presented by A. Stenta at the Materials Science & Technology Conference, Nov 2-6, 2020, Virtual Conference.

“Fatigue assessment of welded joints in API 579-1/ASME FFS-1 2016 – Existing methods and new developments,” presented by A. Stenta at the 7th International Conference on Fatigue Design, 2017, Senlis, France.

“Academic/Industrial Partnership Designing a Multi-Purpose Corrosion Software Platform,” presented by A. Stenta at the Department of Defense – Allied Nations Technical Corrosion Conference, 2017, Birmingham, AL.

“Fatigue Assessment for In-Service Components – A New Part for API 579-1/ASME FFS-1 Fitness-For-Service,” presented by A. Stenta at the ESOPE Conference, 2016, Paris, France.

“Summary and Applications of the New Fatigue Rules in Part 14 of API 579-1/ASME FFS-1 and WRC 550,” presented by A. Stenta at the ASME 2016 Pressure Vessels and Piping Conference, 2016, Vancouver, BC, Canada.

“A Probabilistic Approach to the Thermo-Mechanical Analysis of Coke Drums,” ASME Pressure Vessels and Piping Conference, 2016, Vancouver, BC, Canada.

“Species Dependent Crevice Corrosion of Ni-625,” presented by A. Stenta at the NACE – Department of Defense – Allied Nations Technical Corrosion Conference, 2015, Pittsburgh, PA

Publications:

Stenta, A., Young, G., Thodla, R., Rollins, B., and Sridhar, N., “An Integrated Probabilistic Approach to Predicting the Occurrence of Atmospheric Stress Corrosion Cracking of Dry Storage Canisters,” AMPP Annual Conference, Denver, CO, 2023.

Stenta, A. and Panzarella, C., “Probabilistic Fatigue Software Platform (ProbFat) for Optimizing Life-Cycle Decisions,” Fatigue Design Conference, Senlis, France, 2019.

Stenta, A., Panzarella, C., Young, G., Clemons, C., Kreider, K., Mimoto, N., “Academic/Industrial Partnership Designing a Multi-Purpose Corrosion Software Platform,”Department of Defense – Allied Nations Technical Corrosion Conference, 2017.

Osage, D.A., Stenta, A., “Fatigue Assessment for In-Service Components – A New Part for API 579-1/ASME FFS-1 Fitness-For-Service,” ESOPE Conference, Paris, France, 2016.

Spring, D.W., Gassama, E., Stenta, A., Cochran, J. and Panzarella, C., “On the Applicability of Neuber’s Rule for Low-Cycle Fatigue,” ASME 2016 Pressure Vessels and Piping Conference, pages V01BT01A062-V01BT01A062, July 2016.

Gassama, E., Spring, D.W., Stenta, A., Cochran, J. and Panzarella, C., “A Probabilistic Approach to the Thermo-Mechanical Analysis of Coke Drums,” ASME 2016 Pressure Vessels and Piping Conference, pages V01AT01A038-V01AT01A038, 2016.

Stenta, A., Gassama, E., Spring, D.W., Cochran, J., Panzarella, C. and Osage, D.A., “Summary and Applications of the New Fatigue Rules in Part 14 of API 579-1/ASME FFS-1 and WRC 550,” ASME 2016 Pressure Vessels and Piping Conference,pages V01AT01A002-V01AT01A002, 2016.

Salgado, D., Lillard, S., Stenta, A., Clemons, C., Kreider, K., Golovaty, D. and Young, G., “Crevice Corrosion Damage Evolution in Nickel Alloy 625: Experimental and Modeling Perspectives,” NACE International Corrosion Conference Proceedings, page 1, 2016.

Stenta, A., Gassama, E., Spring, D., Panzarella, C., Cochran, J. and Osage, D.A., “Standardization of Fatigue Methods for Use in API 579-1/ASME FFS-1,” Welding Research Council, Bulletin, 550, 2016.

Stenta, A., Clemons, C., Golovaty, D., Kreider, K., Young, G., Salgado, D. and Lillard, S., “Species-Dependent Crevice Corrosion Modeling of Ni-625,” Corrosion, 72(11), pages 1328-1341, 2016.

Stenta, A., Clemons, C., Golovaty, D., Kreider, K., Young, G., Salgado, D. and Lillard, S., “Species Dependent Crevice Corrosion of Ni-625,” NACE – Department of Defense – Allied Nations Technical Corrosion Conference, 2015.

Stenta, A., Basco, S., Smith, A., Clemons, C.B., Golovaty, D., Kreider, K.L., Wilder, J., Young, G.W. and Lillard, R.S., “One-Dimensional Approach to Modeling Damage Evolution in Galvanic Corrosion” Corrosion Science, 88, pages 36-48, 2014.