Research ME

Research Capabilities

· Applied Mechanics and Materials

· Fatigue/Failure

· Digital Manufacturing (3-D Printing)

· CAD/CAM

· MEMS and Sensors

· Surface Engineering and Nanofluids

· Combustion and Reactive CFD

· Rocket Propulsion

· IC Engines and Alternative Fuels

· Automotive Technologies

Research Funding

· National Science Foundation

· US Department of Defense

· US Department of Energy

· NASA

· US National Nuclear Security Administration

· US Army Research Office

· US Army Research Laboratory

· US Air Force Office of Scientific Research

· Sandia National Laboratories

· Boeing

· General Motors

· Northrop Grumman Corporation

· Griffith Laboratories

· Filter Sensing Technology, Inc.

Research Initiatives

The Power Optimization for Electro-Thermal Systems (POETS)
Director: Dr. Sonya T. Smith, PI
Co-PIs: Dr. James Hammonds; Dr. Charles Kim (EECS)
The Power Optimization for Electro-Thermal Systems (POETS) center attacks the thermal and electrical challenges surrounding mobile electronics and vehicle design as a single system. The POETS ERC aims to pack more power into less space for electrical technologies on the move by integrating novel 3-D cooling circuitry, power converters and algorithms for smart power management. The results of the research will enable the manufacture of lighter, more compact and more efficient power electronic systems for electric vehicles, airplanes, construction equipment, handheld tools and other mobile applications.

Applied Fluid Dynamics Research Laboratory (AFDRL)
Director: Dr. Sonya T. Smith
The Aerodynamics Research Laboratory provides experimental and computations fluid dynamics (CFD) solutions for fluid dynamics applications. The research concentrates on problems involving airfoil aerodynamics, computational fluid dynamics (CFD), and problems in unmanned air vehicle design (UAVs). In the lab research also includes biological fluid flow research for drug delivery and auditory mechanics. The lab contains a 17” test-section subsonic wind tunnel for airfoil design and validation and a 125-node HPC cluster for CFD modeling.

Applied Mechanics and Materials Research Laboratory (AMMRL)
Directors: Dr. Gbadebo Moses Owolabi and Dr. H.A. Whitworth
The Applied Mechanics and Materials Research Laboratory (AMMRL) supports research activities in the areas of materials testing and characterization for advanced materials at various strain rates and temperature. AMMRL is located in Room G 021, L.K. Downing Engineering Building at Howard University. The laboratory is equipped with state-of-the-art instruments. These include: split Hopkinson pressure bars; two uniaxial load frames (one MTS and one Instron machine); two biaxial thermomechanical servohydrualic test systems; high speed digital cameras with frame rate of 1 million frames per second; a digital image correlation system with frame rate of 60 frames per second; an infra-red tomography system; long distance optical microscope with cameras; Nikon MA200 metallurgical microscopes and several specimen preparation tools including Struer’s secotom-15 (for cutting sample) and labopol-5 (for polishing).

Digital Manufacturing Laboratory (DML)
Director: Dr. Grant Warner
The Digital Manufacturing Laboratory (DML) is a member lab in the Consortium for Additive Manufacturing (CAM). CAM is funded by the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) and is comprised of several HBCUs in partnership with federal manufacturing facilities and labs, including NNSA’s KC Plant, Oakridge National Lab, and Y-12. CAM is exploring the applicability of Additive Manufacturing to the US War Reserve (WR) and Work for Others (WFO) mission space. A major technical hurdle is the development of material standards that characterize the performance of the materials after they have been processed into a part. DML activities are focused on the verification of the material properties of additively manufactured parts under changing manufacturing parameters.

Surface Engineering and Nanofluids Laboratory (SENL)
Director: Dr. Mohsen Mosleh
In the Surface Engineering and Nanofluids Laboratory (SENL) research focuses on understanding the interactions of contacting surfaces in different scales and devising innovative engineering solutions to reduce/eliminate their degradation over time. Surface engineering techniques are being used in a variety of applications including automotive, aerospace, power, electronic, biomedical, textile, petroleum, chemical, machine tools and construction industries. The main thrusts of research include cutting Nano fluids for manufacturing processes, Nano fluids for thermal and lubrication management, Nano lubricants for energy efficiency in engines and transmissions, vehicle tribology, rolling contact fatigue, hybrid bearings, surface texturing, contact mechanics, and Nano tribology.