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Research

The Department of Mechanical Engineering conducts research across a wide range of areas.

Systems and design

Within the systems and design area, several research programs are focused on the applications of the computer as a design tool. Computer aided design and computer aided manufacturing (CAD/CAM) are of major interest. Applications include control of real systems, mechanism design, and the design of micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS). Computers are also being used for testing of such time varying mechanical systems as rotors, robotic manipulators and suspension systems for ground-based testing of large space structures.

Energy thermo/fluids

Faculty members within the department are active in the field of energy utilization including solar energy, fluidized bed combustion, and computational fluid dynamics. This research includes energy management in the residential, commercial, and industrial sectors, electric power generation from coal, modeling of advanced power cycles experimental heat transfer, solar water heating, and solar powered pumping. Extensive experimental facilities have been developed for all of these research areas.

Solid mechanics

Within the solid mechanics group, the research programs are focused on the analysis of stresses in inhomogeneous anisotropic solids and on the fracture mechanics. Novel rigorous theoretical approaches are developed for the calculations of effective and local properties of composite materials and reinforced structural members which are essential for the optimal design of advanced reinforced engineering structures with applications in mechanical and civil engineering, aerospace, marine vessel, and power generation industries.

Marine hydrodynamics and offshore engineering

Our research in the area of marine hydrodynamics and its applications to ship and offshore structures includes a range of research projects, including wave/body interaction, water shipping on deck, hydrodynamics of deepwater platforms, high-speed marine vehicles, small vessel motion, propeller vortex flow, wave energy conversion and vortex induced vibration of marine risers.

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