Facilities
The Mechanical Engineering laboratories contain facilities for instruction and research in the fields of:
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Manufacturing
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Material Science
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Fluid Mechanics
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Thermodynamics
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Heat and Mass Transfer
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Combustion Instrumentation
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Vibration and Control Systems
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Design for Extreme Environments
Laboratory Descriptions
The CAM and Prototyping Lab is divided into two machine shops. One is used primarily by undergraduate students for design projects. The second is a teaching lab that is equipped with three milling machines and three engine lathes as well as one 2-axis and one 3-axis Computer Numerically Controlled (CNC) vertical milling machines. Rapid Prototyping and 3D coordinate capture capabilities have recently been added. Modern CAM software is available for ease of programming. The lab also features basic sheet metal and welding equipment.
The Engine Lab contains a variety of internal combustion engines installed on dynamometer stands that can be used for studies of diesel and spark-ignition engines. The facilities include a chassis dynamometer, and instrumentation for evaluating engine performance, measuring exhaust gas emissions, and measuring noise. Studies can be conducted using a variety of fuels.
The Fluid Dynamics/Thermal Science Lab contains equipment to illustrate the principles of fluid flow and heat transfer, and familiarize students with hydraulic machines, refrigeration cycles, and their instrumentation. The lab also contains a subsonic wind tunnel equipped with an axial flow fan with adjustable pitch blades to study aerodynamics. Research tools include modern non-intrusive flow measurement systems. Visit the website.
The Instrumentation Lab contains seven computer stations equipped with state-of-the-art, PC-based data acquisition hardware and software systems. A variety of transducers and test experiments for making mechanical, thermal, and fluid measurements are part of this lab.
The Materials Laboratory contains equipment for metallography and optical examination of the microstructure of materials as well as instruments for mechanical properties characterization including tension, compression, hardness, and impact testing. The Materials Laboratory also has a tube furnace for heat treating and a specialized bell-jar furnace for pour casting and suction casting of metallic glasses and novel alloy compositions.
The Robotic Systems Laboratory is a center for interdisciplinary student design projects. The concentration here is on designing mechanisms to survive extreme environments such as the vacuum of space and the depths of the ocean. Projects have included very small satellites and both land and underwater ROVs. Visit the website.
The Vibrations and Control Systems Lab is equipped with two flexible test systems. One is capable of single or multi DOF modes, free or forced motion, and adjustable damping. The other is an inverted pendulum. Both systems can be controlled by a wide variety of control algorithms and are fully computer connected for data acquisition and control.
