Fastening and Joining Research Institute  The objective of this institute is to enhance the reliability and safety of metallic, composite and polymeric joints by advancing the science and technology of mechanical fastening, adhesive bonding, welding and riveting. The institute is a one-of-a-kind facility that pursues fundamental and applied research to develop and disseminate new technologies for the fastening and joining of metals, composites and polymers. The Institute develops and disseminates novel advanced technologies in the areas of automated assembly of bolted joints, adhesive bonding of composites, resistance welding and riveting, a niche area that significantly impacts the safety and reliability of many products. |
Low cost fuel injection system  Most small engines still use traditional carburetor technology which produces decreased reliability and increased emissions when compared to fuel injection. Current electronic fuel injection technology is not cost effective for application in small engines. This technology allows for the manufacture of a low-cost mechanical fuel injector that can be utilized in place of a traditional carburetor. Development work to-date suggests that the mechanical injector can be designed to simply replace existing carburetors on production small engines without any significant redesign other than a means to connect the injector to the engine’s camshaft. |
Fiber optic fluid depth sensor  A fiber optic sensor for determining the presence and/or measuring the depth of a first substance capable of transmitting light. The fiber optic sensor includes a plurality of light receiving fibers, a plurality of light transmitting fibers surrounding the light receiving fibers and structure for refracting light from the light transmitting fibers at a predetermined angle for total internal reflection of the light from an interface of the first substance with a second substance. |
Zinc Aluminum Alloys Zinc – Aluminum alloys as an environmentally friendly alternative to bronze for bearings Classic problems with Z-Al alloys are dimensional stability, corrosion resistance, and brittle fracture. This technology solves the strength and brittleness problems through new forming techniques. This inventor has written a book chapter on this topic. |
Fuel Cell Group This group is a multi-disciplined team focused on fuel cell heat recovery and fuel cell conversion efficiency improvement. These thrust areas are linked to a set of topics within which the group possesses expertise including heat recovery, initial start issues of high temperature fuel cells, high thermal and/or electrical conductivity materials, energy density, weight, and space related issues, high temperature membranes. low cost high energy cathode/anode, hydrogen generation, storage, transportation, and safety, fuel reforming, low CO emission, long life high power density battery development and hybrid battery. |
Advanced Computational Fluid Dynamics Services This research is focused on the areas of fluid mechanics and heat transfer, with a concentration in advanced computational fluid dynamics (CFD), natural convection, turbulence (direct simulations and modeling), heat transfer correlation development, and microscales. Currently, the focus is on a number of industry related projects that involve computational fluid dynamics. While much of the research has focused on automotive applications, the service that can be provided is applicable in any area that involves heat transfer problems and fluid dynamics. |
Tribology, Surface Topography and Vibratory Stress Relief Research in tribology has focused on topics such as: simulation of liner/ring wear, effect of cylinder wall surface topography on cylinder kit wear and scuffing, theoretical prediction of oil film thickness between piston rings and cylinder walls and use of advanced materials and coatings to enhance tribological performance. The primary goals and another research track are to characterize and simulate valve wear mechanisms which occur on engine valves. The laboratory simulator which has resulted from this work is being used to rank the wear resistance of various valve materials and processing methods.
A related program of research has focused on the effect of tool wear on the surface topography of turned work pieces has been studied. A physical model which describes this relationship has been determined and future work will likely concentrate on developing non-contacting methods of monitoring work piece surface topography to help provide on-line optimization of metal cutting.
Finally, vibratory Stress relief (VSR) is being investigated as an alternative to tempering. VSR is expected to be more economical, faster and cleaner than tempering. Welded, cast, plastically deformed and heat treated samples are being investigated. |
Evaporating and Condensing Flow in Single and Multitube Systems This research is forcused on large flow oscillations of the condensate in single-tube and multitube condensing flow systems that can substantially affect performance, control and safety. The governing equations features the System Mean Void Fraction (SMVF) Model, a one-dimensional, two-fluid, distributed parameter integral model describing the primary physical mechanisms within the two-phase region and incorporating a non-fluctuating system mean void fraction. This concept makes the problem open to closed-form analytical solution, and yields valuable insight into the relevant physical parameters of the transient characteristics of the condensing flow systems.
Specific research targets include prediction of Transients and Instabilities in Multitube Two-Phase Condensing Flow Systems; Influence of Heat Flux on Horizontal Single-Tube Condensing Flow Systems; Influence of Gravity in Vertical Condensing Flow Systems, Upflow and Downflow; Effect of Subcooled Liquid Inertia on Transient- and Frequency Response Characteristics of Single and Multitube Condensing Flow Sytems. |
Internal Combustion Engines This research program covers a range of topics that can find application for internal combustion engines. Specific topics include droplet and particle sizing methods, fuel sprays and liquid atomization,heat transfer and fluid mechanics. |
Physical Processes Involved in Adhesive Bonding and Material Damage Skills and expertise is available for modeling, analysis and simulation of contact between deformable bodies including mechanical models, mathematical formulations, variational analysis, and numerical analysis of the associated variational formulations. Areas of current activity are modeling of Industrial Processes by PDEs, variational inequalities as well as thermoelastic dynamic contact with friction, wear, adhesion or damage. |
Automotive Research Diagnosis and Service Facility The automotive diagnosis and service facility is capable of holding twelve vehicles and is equipped with the latest computerized test and service equipment. Capabilities include a multi-function chassis dynamometer capable of testing for drive wheel horsepower and individual wheel braking effort, an enclosed engine test cell is available for testing engines up to 12,000 RPM, 1,000 horsepower and 1,000 lb-ft of torque can automatically measure, display, and record up to 35 separate functions on a real time basis. The facility also contains a high power flow bench measures dynamic gas flow through cylinder heads, intake and/or exhaust systems, and has the capability of performing many ASTM fuel and lubricant procedures for evaluating the operating characteristics of many fuels and lubricants. |
Wide-Band Magnetoelectric Interactions in Single Crystal Multiferroic Bilayers Materials that are capable of magnetic field-to-electric field conversion are potentially useful for a variety of technologies. There are few such magneto-electric materials in nature and most of them have a low efficiency when converting fields. This research is aimed at artificial composite materials with excellent conversion properties. The composites will be made by bonding plates of ferrites, which deform in a magnetic field, together with ferroelectrics, which produce an electric field when deformed. The field conversion properties will be studied over a wide frequency range for information on their use in consumer electronics, communication devices, and radar systems. These projects will provide research training for personnel at all levels, from high school sophomores to post doctoral associates.
A comprehensive research program is planned on wide-band magnetoelectric (ME) interactions in bilayers of single crystal ferrites and ferroelectrics. The electromagnetic coupling in such systems is mediated by mechanical stress: magnetostriction induced mechanical deformation and the piezoelectric effect induced electric fields. Theories predict orders of magnitude stronger ME interactions in single crystals compared to polycrystalline multilayers. The primary tasks and goals are as follows. (i) The fabrication of bilayers consisting of spinel ferrites and piezoelectrics by bonding techniques. (ii) Measurement and analysis of ME dispersion characteristics, including Maxwell-Wagner relaxation, and low-frequency ME effects. (iii) Investigations on resonant ME effect when the electric and magnetic subsystems show resonance behavior. Human resource development will involve personnel at all levels, from high school students to research associates. The ME materials are potential candidates for magnetoelectric memory devices, magnetic field sensors, electrically controlled magnetic devices, and magnetically controlled piezoelectric devices. |
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