Professor Corina Sandu, Virginia Tech
The International Society for Terrain-Vehicle Systems (ISTVS) is proud to announce that Prof. Corina Sandu has been elected as an ISTVS Fellow in recognition of her outstanding contributions to the advancement of terramechanics and off-road vehicle systems.
Prof. Sandu’s career has been dedicated to advancing our understanding of vehicle–terrain interaction, with pioneering research spanning tire modeling on soft soils, tire–ice and tire–snow interaction, terrain and soil modeling, tracked vehicle simulation, and uncertainty and sensitivity analysis.
As Director of the Terramechanics, Multibody, and Vehicle Systems Laboratory (TMVS Lab) at Virginia Tech, she has established a state-of-the-art research facility that continues to train and inspire future generations of engineers. Her scholarly record includes over 110 journal papers (with 33 published in the Journal of Terramechanics, and several among its most cited works), as well as 140 conference papers, of which 46 were presented at ISTVS conferences. Multiple of these have received Best Paper Awards (2010, 2014, 2014, 2017, 2022), and her 2013 poster presentation received the Best Poster Award. Find her full list of publications on Google Scholar.
Prof. Sandu has also played a leading role in education and mentorship, having supervised 26 Ph.D. and 29 master’s students, many of whom have gone on to distinguished careers in leading organizations such as Goodyear, GM, Michelin, Caterpillar, Toyota, Ford, Komatsu Mining, ERDC, and GVSC. She developed and taught the first full university course on Terramechanics and Off-Road Vehicle Performance in the United States, laying the foundation for broader academic engagement in the field.
Award ceremony: Dr. Lutz Richter and Dr. Corina Sandu
Under her leadership, the first ISTVS Student Chapter was established at Virginia Tech in 2021, paving the way for chapters at Mississippi State University, the University of Pretoria, and Iowa State University.
Prof. Sandu’s service to ISTVS has been both extensive and transformative. Since joining in 2002, she has:
Served as President of ISTVS (2018–2022), following terms as 2nd and 1st Vice President.
Chaired and organized the 17th International Conference of ISTVS (Blacksburg, Virginia, 2011).
Contributed to numerous working groups, including Education in Terramechanics, Standards, and Planetary Surface Rovers.
Co-led the ISTVS Small Research Grant project that modernized the society’s standards, published as a highly cited paper in the Journal of Terramechanics (2020).
Played a key role in expanding ISTVS digital and collaborative initiatives, including the Digital Event Series and partnership with FISITA.
In addition to her leadership in ISTVS, Prof. Sandu serves as Editor for the Journal of Terramechanics, after years of service as an Associate Editor and Editorial Board Member.
Prof. Sandu’s exceptional scholarship, leadership, and sustained dedication to terramechanics and off-road vehicle systems exemplify the spirit of the ISTVS Fellowship.
We extend our warmest congratulations to Prof. Corina Sandu on this well-deserved recognition.