In addition to academic activities, the Department of Mechanical Engineering faculty is responsible for a substantial amount of research. Students in our programs have access to laboratories where faculty, staff and fellow students work together.
Faculty Research Groups
Thermal/Fluid Science
The Thermal/Fluid Science group is one of three divisions within the Department of Mechanical Engineering with qualified faculty members who have broad expertise in the areas of heat transfer, thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, combustion, fuels, and propulsion and micro-scale energy systems. They have the computational power and modern laboratory equipment that allow them to perform leading edge research in thermal/fluid science. Many of their research efforts are multi-disciplinary, and the faculty generally have expertise in more than one area. They perform fundamental research and also work with industry to solve problems arising in today's rapidly advancing technologies.
Mechanical Systems and Robotics/Control
The Mechanical Systems and Design members are involved in a range of different topics that integrate basic studies, leading to a fundamental understanding of mechanical systems and design process to respond to the industries. This group conducts research in topics related to the design, analysis and manufacture of mechanical systems. The research areas are robotics and control, biodynamics, and Computer-Aided Design. Research in the area of robotics and automation is conducted with a focus on kinematics, dynamics, and high-level control.
Mechanical Systems and Robotics/Control
Most of the engineering limits are determined by materials and their properties in specific (especially aerospace, energy, environment, health and defense) industries. Materials research focuses on the mechanical behavior of materials, structures, failures, nanomaterials, energy materials, and new composites materials; as well as fabrication and characterization techniques, and failure mechanisms of metals, polymers, and composites. Our specific studies include synthesis and analysis of various materials, modeling and simulation, life prediction of those materials, fatigue and creep properties of advanced materials, impact damages, crack formation and propagation, aging, corrosion, and coatings. Nanomanufacturing, additive manufacturing, 3D printing, recycling and reusing of engineering materials, energy storing materials, and renewable (and green) energy materials and systems are also primary focuses.
Individual Faculty Research Interests and Activities
Dr. T.S. Ravigururajan
Department Chair and Undergraduate/Graduate Coordinator
Research interests include:
- Thermal Management in Engineering Applications
- Energy Systems
- Bio-thermal Fluids
Dr. Ikram Ahmed
Research interests include:
- Modeling and Simulation of Fluid Flow and Heat Transfer
- Renewable Energy
- Sustainability
Dr. Davood Askari
Research interests include:
- Design, Synthesis, Characterization, & Applications of Nanomaterials (e.g., Carbon Nanotubes and NanoCoils, and Metallic Nanoneedles)
- Nanostructures
- Thin Films
- Nanodevices
- High-Performance Multifunctional Composites & Nanocomposites
- Composite Joints
- Mechanical Systems
Dr. Eylem Asmatulu
Research interests include:
- Additive Manufacturing
- Resource Recovery
- Waste Water Treatment
- Green Energy
- Sustainability
- Composite Materials
Dr. Ramazan Asmatulu
Research interests include the synthesis, characterization and applications of nanomaterials,
biomaterials and composite materials for energy, environment, biomedical and aerospace
industries.
Dr. Shuang Gu
Research interests include:
- Sustainable Fuels
- Ammonia Electrosynthesis
- Methane Upgrading
- Ion- selective Polymers
- Redox-flow Batteries
- Fuel Cells
- Electrochemistry
Dr. Gisuk Hwang
Research interests include:
- Heat and Mass Transfer for Sustainable Energy & Environment Systems
-
Space Thermal Management
Dr. Yang-Seon Kim
Research interests include:
- Building Indoor Air Quality & Energy Consumption
- Thermal-fluid Transportation in Buildings
Dr. Hamid Lankarani
Research interests include:
- Mechanical Engineering Design
- Impact Dynamics
- Crashworthiness
- Multibody Dynamics
- Structures
- Biomechanics
- Occupant Protection
Dr. Bin Li
Research interests include:
- Synthesis, Fabrication & Characterization of Polymers
- Protein Materials and their Nanocomposites
- Dielectric Materials
- Polymer Gels
- Applied Rheology
Dr. Tamás Molnár
Research interests include:
- Control System Design
- Dynamic Systems
- Autonomous Vehicle Control
Dr. Rajeev Nair
Research interests include:
- Laser-based Flexible Fabrication in Nano/Micro/Meso Scale
- Laser Surface Texturing/Coatings
- Design and Mechanical Analysis of Orthopedic Devices