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. |
MTS Algorithm  Dr. Subhash has developed a mathematical algorithm for reconstructing partial signals and signal processing in the presence of noise. This algorithm can have general application. It was originally developed as a NVH application for system response. |
Design Optimization and Design Under Uncertainty Technology This research is focused on noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) and design under uncertainty. One outcome of this reseach is a design optimization tool that has potential application in a number of industry sectors. Although the graphical user interface is at an early stage of development, the algorithm design is sufficiently functional to solve series of complex problems. The research offers the opportunity to provide engineering services to numerous organizations on a consulting basis. |
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. |
Finite Element Analysis and Computer-Aided Engineering This reseach is focused on developing an array of technologies including finite element, boundary element, and finite difference programs for specific applications such as phase change, material fracture, contact stresses, sheet metal forming, strength evaluations, injection molding, etc. Developing interface programs for smooth and complete data transfer between CADD systems and F.E. programs. |
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. |
Materials Testing Laboratory The Materials Testing Laboratory supports testing of plastics, metals, and fuels and lubricants. Laboratory analysis and certified testing in these areas is supported by a Tinius Olson tensile test machine (30,000# load cell). The laboratory has capabilities for magnetic particle testing, fluorescent penetrant testing, eddy current testing, and carbon analysis tests. The facilitity incorporates a complete metallurgy lab, high temperature furnaces, humidity chamber, hardness testing, micro-hardness testing, abrasion testing, plastics testing (extrusion and deflection), gas chromatograph, infra-red spectrophotometer, sulfur in oil analyzer, and fuel and lubricant testing apparatus. |
The Least-Squares Meshfree Particle Finite Element Method Although the finite element method has been astonishingly successful in solving various problems in engineering and science, it has significant drawbacks: mesh generation and remeshing are very difficult and time-consuming. Meshfree methods may avoid these difficulties by constructing approximation functions entirely in terms of a set of nodes. Most meshfree methods are based on the Galerkin principle and employ moving least-squares approximation for the construction of shape functions. Although there is no need for an explicit mesh in the construction of moving least-squares shape functions, a separate background mesh is required to integrate the weak form, so they are not truly meshfree methods. Due to the non-interpolative character of the moving least-squares approximation, the enforcement of essential boundary conditions in the Galerkin formulation is quite awkward. Moreover, the moving least-squares approximation is more expensive computationally than the finite element interpolation. In the proposed research, we will develop a least-squares meshfree particle finite element method which combines the features of the least-squares finite element method and the meshfree particle method. The least-squares finite element method (LSFEM), based on minimization of the L2 norm of the residuals of a first-order system of differential equations, is a simple, efficient and robust technique, and can solve almost any kind of partial differential equation with the same mathematical/computational formulation. Since the least-squares method doesn't make use of the integration by parts for converting domain integration into boundary integration, and the meshfree particle method employs the usual finite element interpolations based on particles, all troubles that plague the Garlerkin-based meshfree methods disappear. The least-squares meshfree particle finite element method always leads to a symmetric positive definite system of linear algebraic equations. The matrix-free particle-by-particle conjugate gradient method can be used to solve very large problems on parallel computers, and the implementation is straightforward..
The purpose of this project is to develop a new computer method to simulate complicated engineering designs and sophisticated multi-physical processes with much greater accuracy and efficiency. Achievements of this project would enable numerical simulations beyond current capabilities in many important applications of national interest, including car crash safety analysis, noise reduction of cars, energy efficiency in full cells, heat reduction in semiconductor devices, etc. |
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