Areas of Research

The Department has four broad areas of research.  Diversified strengths also address present day challenges, as well as develop technologies for the future.

Mechanical Engineering

The Mechanical Engineering area covers a variety of research topics within the scope of the general Mechanical Engineering area.  All faculty members may be considered under the blanket of the general mechanical engineering area.  More information regarding individual faculty members is available on his/her personal website. 

Automation Technologies and Systems

This area focuses on automation technologies, systems and control related to:

Materials & Solid Mechanics

Research in this area covers broad topics related to microstructure and properties of metals, polymers, composite materials, nano materials, and fuel cells. Both industrially relevant and fundamental aspects of the science and engineering of materials are covered. Materials & Solid Mechanics also incorporates aspects of continuum mechanics, mechanical engineering structures, and material processing.

Thermofluids

Thermofluids research utilizes theoretical, numerical and experimental techniques to explore both fundamental and applied problems. Theoretical and numerical research broadly focuses on hydrodynamic stability, flow control, free surface flows, complex fluids, porous materials, two-phase flows, combustion, algorithm development, and convective heat transfer. The experimental research covers broader areas of interfacial fluid mechanics and heat transfer, turbulence, alternative energy systems, biological and environmental flows, and micro-systems.

Micro and Nano Systems

The research in this area includes synthesis, modelling and experimental testing of nanostructures and materials, MEMS and NEMS, batteries and fuel cells, printing technologies, laser microfabrication, micro-optics and bioelectronics imaging arrays.