RESEARCH AT THE DEPARTMENT OF ME

Research Areas

The faculty is actively involved in several multi-faceted research and The faculty is actively involved in several multi-faceted research and consulting activities with high relevance to industry and society. The department has been at the forefront in areas such as Composite Materials, Bio-fuels, Aerodynamics and Fluid Mechanics, Biomechanics, Combustion, and Energy Systems, Dynamics and Control, Vibrations, Acoustics and Fluid-Structure Interaction.

Composite Materials

Composite materials play an important role in the development of modern science and technology. The depth and breadth of the advantages of composite materials, the speed and scale of their product development and wide applicability have captured the attention of many industries that seek to exploit composite materials for their intended purposes. A few of the notable applications are light-weight and strong carbon fibre-reinforced epoxy composites for aerospace, automotive, and marine structures, green fibre reinforced plastics for fabricating house-hold products, and construction industry.

Biofuels

Unlike other renewable energy sources, biomass can be converted directly into liquid fuels, called "Biofuels," to help meet transportation fuel needs. The two most common types of biofuels in use today are ethanol and biodiesel. Biodiesel is made by combining alcohol (usually methanol) with vegetable oil, animal fat, or recycled cooking grease. It can be used as an additive (typically 20%) to reduce vehicle emissions in its pure form as a renewable alternative fuel for diesel engines. Biofuels can contribute to the reuse of solid waste and the reduction of harmful exhaust gases.

Aerodynamics and Fluid Mechanics

The aerodynamic performance, such as the lift and drag, of a body is governed by the flow of air across its surface. Applied aerodynamics seeks to understand and utilize the fundamental aspects of this fluid flow in the analysis, design, and integration of aerodynamic geometries. The field of applied aerodynamics covers a broad range of applications, involving generally any object that experiences aerodynamic forces in fluid flow, though common applications include fixed-wing or rotary-wing aircraft, wind turbines and propellers, ground and marine vehicles, internal flows, avian and insect flight, and atmospheric flows.

Vibrations

Vibrations in machines and structures are typically undesirable as they produce stresses, energy losses, and increased service loads. They contribute to structural wear and can lead to passenger discomfort in vehicles. This research area pertains to the vibrations of discrete systems and continuous structures and introduces the computational dynamics of linear engineering systems.