Research - COE...

Mechanical Engineering - Faculty Listing

Dr. Ikram Ahmed's current research activities in the area of Computational Fluid Dynamics are the following:

CFD Simulation of Plasma and Complex Fluid Flows in Materials Processing
Optimization of Processing Parameters for Plasma Spraying of Novel Coatings
CFD Algorithm Development for Accurate Simulation of Flows in Complex Geometries.

Dr. Behnam Bahr and his graduate students have several research projects in the area of Control and Dynamics as follows:

Design of a High-Speed Wall-Climbing Robot
Oscillating Hydrofoil for Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (Robotic Fish)
Design, Analysis and Motion Planning of a Snake Robot
Design of the Robotic Insect
Optimization of the Truck Transport System
Web-Based Control Systems
Variability Analysis of the Large Assemblies
Analytical modeling of Machining Process
Parametric Computer-Aided Design of Drill Bits
Study of Hole Quality in Drilling of the Titanium Alloy (Funded by ADMRC)
Methods for Drilling Precision Holes in Aerospace Metals and Composites (Funded by ADMRC)

Dr. Bahr

Increased Production Rate Via High-Speed Drilling (Funded by MIND)
Virtual reality in aviation safety (Funded by FAA)
Reduction of Pilot Errors by Computer Assisted Information Systems
Bonded Repair of Composite Airframe Structures (Funded by FAA Technical Center), PI - Dr. John Tomblin.
"Implementation of the Rotor Manufacturing Induced Anomaly Database",(Funded by FAA Technical Center), PI is Dr. Dadashzadeh.
Control of Process-Induced Shape Instability of Polymer Matrix Composite Materials," Funded by ADMRC, PI is Dr. Yang

Dr. Jharna Chaudhuri is currently involved in following research projects in the area of materials:

Advanced Semiconductor Research in the State of Kansas - This is a NSF/EPSCoR funded Multi-Investigator research project with Researchers from the Univerisity of Kansas, Kansas State University and Wichita State University on processing and characterization of GaN and related materials.
Synthesis and Characterization of Silicon Carbide - Group III Nitrides Layered Structures and Alloys with Prof. J. H. Edgar at Kansas State University.

Mahesh S. Greywall's research projects in the area of Computational Fluid Dynamics are:

Streamwise Computation of Flow Fields: A new approach to compute 3-D flows using two stream functions. Current emphasis is on the inverse problem using the new approach.
Internal Flows: Computation of internal flows of interest to the aerospace industry. The accompanying picture shows the temperature distribution along the wall surfaces of hot air in the circular pipe mixing with cold air in the rectangular duct. Flow is from left to right and was computed using the commercial code Fluent.

Dr. Dave N. Koert has several research projects in the area of combustion as follows:

Experimental studies of fuel cloud formation in fuel tank ullage - funded by FAA.
Super- And Near-Critical Water Oxidation Of Wastes Including Ionic Enhancement Of Oxidation Rates - funded by EPA-EPSCoR.
Molecular Modeling As A Tool To Estimate Perturbations Of Ideal Gas Kinetics To Supercritical Fluids - funded by NSF/EPSCoR.

Dr. Hamid Lankarani and his graduate students have several research activities in the areas of mechanical system analysis and design, multibody dynamics, crashworthiness and occupant protection of transportation systems, vehicle safety, structural impact, biodynamics, and injury biomeThe facilities under Dr. Lankarani's supervision include Experimental Facility for research, testing and certification of vehicle and aircraft components under dynamic impact conditions and Computational Facility including state-of-the-art multibody dynamics and nonlinear finite element analysis tools for structural crash analysis of vehicle components and modeling occupants biodynamics and injury biomechanics.

He is the Chair of Crashworthiness Research Group for the FAA Airworthiness Assurance Center of Excellence and Associate Technical Editor for the ASME Journal of Mechanical Design, on the Editorial Board for the International Journal of Crashworthiness and International Journal of Multibody System Dynamics. Dr. Lankarani is the Recipient of over 6.0 million dollars of funding for projects as a principal or co- investigator from the government, state, industry, and international sources. His Current funded research projects include:

Development of Analytical Methods to Predict Crash Impact Responses of General Aviation Aircraft Seat/Occupant/Restraint System, ($806,713, includes $394,263 matching funds from WSU), Federal Aviation Administration General Aviation Center of Excellence (FAA COE-GA) October 2001- September 2004, (PI).
Seat Cushion Replacement Program, ($339,077), Federal Aviation Administration, September 2000 - August 2002, (PI).
Analytical Evaluation of Component HIC Devices for Certification of Aircraft Cabin Furnishings, ($165,000), ADMRC - Aircraft Design and Manufacturing Research Center, January 1999 - December 2001, (PI).
Development of an Enhanced Component HIC Tester, ($237,517), Federal Aviation Administration, July 2000 - August 2001, (PI).
Design and Fabrication of a HIC Compliant Bulkhead," ($259,724), Federal Aviation Administration, July 2000 - October 2001, (PI).
Development of Validated Energy-absorbing Aircraft Seat Models, ($49,674), NASA AGATE, Advanced General Aviation Technology Experiments, February 2000 - August 2001, (PI).

Dr. Ravigururajan is performing research in the area of Heat Transfer as follows:

Experimental study of microscale heat transfer: single-phase, subcooled and saturated boiling flow characteristics of refrigerant flow in microchannels are studied. The effect of surface and flow parameters on heat transfer coefficient and methods to improve are analyzed.
Computational techniques are employed in mapping the flow in microchannels. Finite element method is used in mapping the two dimensional temperature distribution in the channel flow and comparisons are made to experimental data.
Experimental studies are conducted to establish the thermal effects on efficiency of Lithium-Ion Batteries. This includes identification of controlling parameters of anode, cathode, the separator, and the electrolyte.
A database is being developed on experimental data of microchannel flow characteristics. Relationships between heat transfer coefficient and flow variables in different types of microchannel flows are being established.

Dr. George E. Talia is involved in research in the materials area. The material systems he studied are aluminum and titanium Alloys (including Al-Li alloys), composites (Peek, Kevlar etc.) - polymets, intermetallics, superalloys, refractory metals, steels and high purity single crystals (Mg, Cu, Zn, and Zr). His research projects are:

Coating techniques for Chrome replacement
High Speed Friction Stir Welding
Laser cutting. - Welding of Al and Ti alloys.
High-Speed Drilling.
Processing of intermetallics and hard metal coatings.
Surface conditions effects and coatings effects on mechanical properties.

Dr. Charles C. Yang is currently pursuing research activities in Mechanical Behavior and Failure Analysis of Adhesively Bonded Composite Joints, Simulation and Failure Analysis of Composite Laminates subjected to Low-Velocity Impact and Shape Instability of Composite Structure due to Autoclave Curing. His current funded research projects are:

Investigation of Adhesive Behavior in Aircraft Applications - FAA, 01/01/01 - 12/31/01, $60,840.
Research Experience for Undergraduates in Advanced Composites for Aviation Industry - NSF, 07/01/99 - 06/30/02, $286,676 (with B.L. Smith, J.S. Tomblin, and B. Gile-Laflin).
Control of Process-Induced Shape Instability of Polymer Matrix Composite Laminates - Aircraft Design & Manufacturing Research Center (ADMRC), 01/01/99 - 12/31/01, $139,974 (with B. Bahr).
Studies of the Role of Surface Treatment and Sizing of Carbon Fiber Surfaces on the Mechanical Properties of Composite Containing Carbon Fibers - NASA/EPSCoR/KTEC, 01/01/98 - 12/31/01, $570,000 (Subcontract from Kansas State University to Wichita State University $103,620 and with P.M.A. Sherwood, K.B. Lease, Y. Wang (Kansas State University), R.D. Hale (University of Kansas).

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