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Graduate Areas of Study in Mechanical and
Aerospace Engineering
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Advanced Manufacturing Processes
Dynamic Systems & Control
Fluid Mechanics & Aerodynamics
Solid Mechanics
Thermal Systems
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The areas of graduate study and research in the School of
Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering can be described conveniently in five
specialty areas: Advanced Manufacturing Processes, Dynamic Systems and Control,
Fluid Mechanics and Aerodynamics, Solid Mechanics, and Thermal Systems. Each of
these is described below. All five 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.
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Advanced Manufacturing Processes
& Materials
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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.
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Dynamic Systems & Control
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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.
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Fluid Mechanics & Aerodynamics
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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.
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Solid Mechanics
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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.
Thermal Systems
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Thermodynamics and heat transfer are fundamental to the
course work and research in this area. Courses are available in conduction,
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.
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