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Mechanical Engineering
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Research

Our research programs for graduate and undergraduate students provide an unmatched experience having access to state-of-the-art computational facilities and experimental capabilities.

News

UA Hosts 2024 University Turbine Systems Research Program Conference

The University of Alabama College of Engineering held the 2024 University Turbine Systems Research and Advanced Turbines Program Review Meeting from Sept. 24-25 at the Bryant Conference Center. The UTSR...

NASA Launches LunaRecycle Challenge; UA Serves as Allied Organization

NASA announced the launch of the LunaRecycle Challenge on Monday, Sept. 30, offering $3 million in prizes for innovations in recycling material waste on deep space missions with The University...

Cameron Cook holding his award.

Cook Selected as Spring 2024 Outstanding Co-op Student

Cameron Cook, a sophomore majoring in mechanical engineering, was selected as the spring 2024 Outstanding Co-op Student by the Engineering Career Development Center. Cook completed his first semester of co-op...

Research Areas

UA’s Department of Mechanical Engineering Faculty is grouped into three interconnected but distinct disciplinary groups; Dynamic Systems & Control (DSC), Materials Processing & Manufacturing (MPM), and ThermoFluids Science (TFS). Each of these Departmental Disciplinary Group (DDG) is further broken into horizontally interconnected “Research Thrust Areas (RTAs)”. Our diverse faculty conduct research in all of these areas while concentrating in a more specific discipline or area as follows:

Specialized Research Units

Laboratories

Advanced and Intelligent Manufacturing Systems (AIMS) LaboratoryDr. Nader Jalili
In this research laboratory, four main areas of research and education are pursued. 1) Dynamic Systems, Control, and Automation 2) Robotics and Artificial Intelligence for Manufacturing Systems 3) Future Manufacturing with Human Robot Teams and finally 4) Mechatronic and Manufacturing Systems Education.

Advanced Hierarchical Materials by Design (AdHiMaD) LaboratoryDr. Kasra Momeni
The main area of research in the AdHiMaD lab expertise is developing theoretical/numerical tools to understand the multiscale/physics response of materials and designing experimental procedures to make superior materials. Various modeling techniques, including atomistic simulations, mesoscale phase-field approach, and macroscale continuum methods, along with experimental techniques such as in situ TEM and scanning probe microscopy, are utilized to achieve this goal.

The Control of Human and Robotic Systems (CHARS) Laboratory is rooted in both theory and application. From a theoretical perspective, Lyapunov- and passivity-based approaches are utilized to design and validate stabilizing adaptive controllers for nonlinear, switched, hybrid, and uncertain dynamical systems. Correspondingly, the laboratory applies the controllers to various applications including functional electrical stimulation, rehabilitation, robotics, exoskeletons, human-robot interaction, additive friction stir deposition, and many others.

Biomechanics Laboratory – This laboratory contains work space for design and construction of devices to aid in health maintenance. Computer facilities in the lab are equipped with software for both lumped-mass and finite element modeling of the human body.

Combustion and Reactive Flow Laboratory – This teaching and research laboratory contains a holographic interferometer, a high-speed imaging system, a laser-induced fluorescence system, and a particle image velocimetry system. The laboratory supports research on topics such as microgravity combustion, reactive turbulent flows, propulsion, and internal combustion engine applications.

Design Clinic Laboratory – This laboratory consists of a design library, conference space, audio/visual equipment, telephone centers, and a presentation area for Design Clinic Industrial Project activities.

Instrumentation Laboratories – These labs provide a variety of experimental equipment and instruments to support the teaching of basic instrumentation for mechanical systems and thermal fluid systems.

Machining Research Laboratory – This laboratory contains basic machine tools such as milling machines, lathes, drill presses, and a 10-hp CNC turning center. The laboratory supports research on machining areas (e.g. machining of advanced materials for process development, modeling, and optimization). The laboratory also supports teaching of introduction to manufacturing processes.

Metrology Laboratory – This laboratory contains metrology instruments, including a Leitz measuring microscope, a Brown & Sharpe Coordinate Measuring Machine, and other gages. The laboratory supports research on metrology-related issues in manufacturing such as precision and surface finish. The laboratory also supports teaching needs on fundamental metrology in manufacturing.

Numerical Modeling Laboratory – This laboratory features high-performance workstations with expanded storage and various I/O devices for efficient modeling of fluids and transport phenomena.

Robotics and Automation Laboratory – This laboratory supports instrumentation and research in the areas of robotics, imaging systems, computer-mechanical interfacing, control systems, and computer-integrated manufacturing.

Structural Acoustics Laboratory – Dr. Steve Shepard
Focus areas: to develop new technologies in the areas of structural vibrations and acoustics. By gaining a fundamental understanding of the generation, transmission and radiation mechanisms associated with sound and vibration, the needs of industry, government and engineering education can be met.

Seminar Series

Speaker Invitation for FALL 2024 ME Seminar Series

Time: 2 – 3 PM

Dates Speaker Location Seminar Title Comments
Wednesday, August 21, 2024 Krishnan, Kasemer, Srinivasan BE 0009 ME Graduate Students Welcome 2024-2025 Introduction, ME Dept Head, GPD, Graduate Program
Wednesday, August 28, 2024 Richard Adkins BE 0009 Using UA’s HPC Resources: A Brief Introduction to UAHPC/CHPC UA High Performance Computing Solutions Architect
Wednesday, September 4, 2024 Gabe Mansfield NL 1013 Navigating Engineering Research: Essential Library Strategies for Graduate Students Assistant Professor at Rogers Library
Wednesday, September 11, 2024 Tom Ackerson NL 1015 Materials Challenges for Reusable Hardware and Sustainable Processes for Space Travel in the Mid-21st Century Technical Fellow, Blue Origin
Friday, September 13, 2024 Dr. George Nelson NL 1013 Multimodal X-ray and Neutron Imaging of Lithium Batteries UAH Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering Department Chair
Thursday, September 26 John Crane NL 1013 Department of Energy Zero Carbon Energy : Progress to Net Zero DOE NETL Gas turbine technology manager
Wednesday, October 2, 2024 Dr. Judy Schneider NL 1013 Advanced Manufacturing to Support Extraterrestrial Development and Habitation Professor of Mechanical Engineering, Co-Director of Material Science Program, UAH
Wednesday, October 9, 2024 Dr. Sibendu Som NL 1013 Accelerating Decarbonization of Transportation and Power Generation Sectors: Leveraging Leadership Computing & High-Fidelity Experiments Director Advanced Propulsion and Power Department / Director, AI Applications Initiative at Argonne National Laboratory
Wednesday, October 16, 2024 Dr. Kevin Cole NL 1013 Something old and something new: Green’s functions and thermal modeling Emeritus Professor, Mechanical and Materials Engineering, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Wednesday, October 23, 2024 Dr. Michael Tonks NL 1013 Multiscale Modeling of Ablative Thermal Protection Systems UF, Materials Science and Engineering, Assoc. Dept. Chair
Wednesday, October 30, 2024 Dr. Brian Lattimer NL 1013 Material Design and Evaluation for Extreme Environments Department Head and Nicholas and Rebecca Des Champs Chair Professor in Mechanical Engineering, Virginia Tech.
Wednesday, November 6, 2024 Dr. Arvind Thiruvengadam NL 1013 Diesel Engines – Past, Present, and Future Directions Principal Engineer, PACCAR Technical Center
Wednesday, November 13, 2024 Dr. Gregory S. Chirikjian NL 1013 From State Estimation on Lie Groups to Robot Imagination Willis F. Harrington Professor, Department Chair, University of Delaware
Wednesday, November 20, 2024 Dr. Pierre Larochelle NL 1013 Synthesis of Spherical and Spatial Mechanisms for Pick and Place Tasks with Guiding Locations Department Head and Professor, South Dakota School of Mines & Technology