The areas of graduate study and research in the School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering can be described conveniently in six specialty areas: Manufacturing & Materials, Dynamics & Control, Aerodynamics/Flight Dynamics, Applied Mechanics & Design, Thermal & Fluid Sciences, and Biomechanics/Biofluid & Biomaterials. Each of these is described below. All six areas include considerable emphasis on design applications. Students are not restricted to study in any one area but may develop plans of study to suit their particular needs and interests.

Aerodynamics & Flight Dynamics
These areas include a wide variety of courses coupled with extensive opportunities for experimental and computational research. Experimental research facilities include a state-of-the-art two component fiber optic Laser Doppler Velocimeter system and a new research quality subsonic wind tunnel with a 0.9 m by 0.9 m test section. The new tunnel enhances capabilities for studies of unsteady aerodynamics, turbulent flow, and aeroacoustics. Research is being conducted on a range of topics that includes basic fluid dynamics and applied research on aircraft aerodynamics and performance, air filtration, combustion, heat exchanger tube vibrations, two-phase flow, transitional flow in pipes, and the fluid dynamics of web handling.

Applied Mechanics & Design
Courses pertaining to solid mechanics closely support research topics in structural analysis, finite elements, nonlinear material behavior, contact and surface mechanics, viscoelasticity, and environmental effects on materials. Ongoing research in web handling, an interdisciplinary field encompassing solid mechanics, fluid mechanics, and dynamics systems, provides modern laboratory facilities as well as advanced studies of winding mechanics, high speed winding systems, layered structures produced in the winding process, and of material properties particular to polymers and paper products.

Biomechanics, Biofluid & Biomaterial
This specialization includes courses in biomedical engineering, biomechanics, biofluids and biomaterials. Particular courses from other MAE areas are acceptable for this specialization including, fluid dynamics, microflows, computational fluid dynamics, viscoelasticity and behavior of materials. Research is being conducted on platelet activation, coagulation, multi-scale numerical simulations, diabetes, mellitus and cigarette smoking. Labs are outfitted with the necessary equipment to conduct biomedical research.

Dynamics & Control
This area includes courses and research in vibrations, control systems, measurement instrumentation, real-time distributed systems, uncertain systems, nonlinear control systems, classical dynamics, robotics, and acoustics. Well-equipped labs and facilities are available.

Manufacturing & Materials
Courses and research in this area include metal cutting, low-pressure diamond synthesis, ultra precision machining and grinding, polishing of ceramics, non-traditional machining (e.g. lasers, EDM), tribology and surface mechanics, mechanical behavior of materials, and material characterization. State-of-the-art research facilities are available.

Thermal & Fluid Sciences
Thermodynamics and heat transfer are fundamental to the course work and research in this area. Courses are available in conductio n, convection, radiation, combustion, thermodynamics, computational heat transfer, and indoor environmental systems (HVAC). Both experimental and analytical research are being pursued in heat exchangers, two-phase flow, electronic cooling, laser scattering and dynamic light scattering, and ground source heat pump applications.