Mechanical Engineering Research and Laboratories
Research
Research in Mechanical Engineering explores the principles of motion, energy transformation, and the behavior of materials and systems under various forces. It plays a vital role in advancing technologies that impact everything from energy conversion and environmental control to biomechanics and advanced manufacturing.
Mechanical engineering researchers work at the forefront of innovation—conceiving and testing new ideas, designing cutting-edge systems, and solving real-world problems through experimental and computational methods. Their work spans areas such as fluid dynamics, thermodynamics, materials science, robotics, and energy systems.
Whether developing more efficient engines, designing prosthetic limbs, or improving automated manufacturing processes, mechanical engineering research is foundational to technological progress and sustainable solutions.
Faculty Research Areas
Dr. James C. Newman III
Department Head; Professor
Research Areas:
- Computational fluid dynamics
- Hypersonic vehicles
- Fluid structure interaction
Dr. Trevor S. Elliott
UC Foundation Assistant Professor
Research Areas:
- Additive manufacturing
- Alternative energy and building efficiency design
- Automotive engineering
- Battery characterization
- Engineering design
- Injection driven flows
- Propulsion systems and two-phase combustion
- stability modeling and simulation
Dr. Ronald Goulet
Associate Professor
Research Areas:
- Bio materials
Dr. Mohammad Mahtabi
Assistant Professor
Research Areas:
- Additive manufacturing
- Fatigue and fracture mechanics
- Shape memory alloys
- Computational mechanics
- Multiscale modeling of materials
- Mechanical behavior of materials
Dr. Charles Margraves
UC Foundation Associate Professor;
ME Graduate Coordinator
Research Areas:
- Conventional and alternative energy systems
- Zero+ energy buildings
- Air quality sensors
- Engineering education
Dr. Reetesh Ranjan
Assistant Professor
Research Areas:
- Computational fluid dynamics and combustion
- Turbulence modeling
- Reduced order modeling
- Uncertainty quantification
- High-performance computing
Dr. Kidambi Sreenivas
Professor; Computational Science PhD Program Coordinator
Research Areas:
- Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) applied to complex geometry / complex physics problems
- High performance computing
- High-order methods
- Rotating machinery
Dr. Cecelia Wigal
UC Foundation Professor
Research Areas:
- Engineering education
Ben Swords
Director, Mechanical Infrastructure Laboratory & Lecturer
Research Areas:
- Precision Engineering
- Additive Manufacturing
- Engineering Design
- Machining Processes
Laboratories
Fluid Mechanics Laboratory (ECS 105 & 106)
This laboratory supports the ENME 3070L, Fluid Mechanics Laboratory. This space contains a three Transition Flow TQH215, AC duct heat pipe, Armfield Water Tunnel, a LabVIEW Closed Flow Loop, a Reynolds Number and Transitional Flow Demonstration Apparatus and a supersonic tunnel.
Engineering Shop (ECS 111 & 111A)
The shop supports all projects, design courses, and research within the College of Engineering. This space contains all the major pieces of equipment that is shared among all the disciplines. The shop contains a Trump CNC mill, a Colchester manual lathe, a Clausing milling machine, a sheet metal shear and bender, two drill presses, a Kiln, a table saw, a Haas CNC mill and CNC lathe, and a ShopBot CNC cutter as well as many power tools, hand tools, and benches.
Baja and Automotive Projects (ECS 114 & 114A)
This lab supports the UTC Mini Baja Team and automotive projects. This lab contains a Grizzly Mill and Lathe, two Fisher Hamilton fume hoods, and two welders. There is also a variety of other minor equipment in this lab.
Senior Mechanical Engineering Laboratory (ECS 123 & 124)
This lab supports the ENME 4470 Course, Mechanical Engineering Experimentation. Major equipment includes the Didatech Vibrations apparatus, Refrigeration loop, AeroLab Tunnel, TQ Journal Bearing, and a Hilton Turbine Heat Exchanger, Static and Dynamic Balancing apparatus, Wind Turbine and Rankine Cycler.
Interdisciplinary Design (ECS 131)
This laboratory supports Interdisciplinary Design Project II (ENME 4850). This lab has no major equipment, but does contain minor equipment and computers to support the build phase of the Interdisciplinary Project.
Freshman Engineering Laboratory (ECS 424)
This laboratory supports ENME 1030L, Freshman Engineering Laboratory. This laboratory contains computers, data acquisition modules, photo gate sensors, rotary motion sensors, motion detector sensors, dynamics track and carts, force sensors, and projectile motion launchers.