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Facilities

Advanced Design and Manufacturing Laboratory
This laboratory provides research opportunities in design ethodology,computer-aided design, analysis and manufacturing, and materials processing and manufacturing. Facilities include various computers and software, I-DEAS, Pro/E,ANSYS, MasterCAM, Mechanical DeskTop, SurfCAM, Euclid, Strim, ABQUS, and more.The machines include two Sanders Model Maker rapid prototyping machines, a BridgePort CNC Machining Center, a BOY 220 injection molding machine, an Electra high-temperature furnace for metal sintering, infiltration, and other heat treatment.

Biofluid Mechanics Laboratory
The biofluid mechanics laboratory conducts computational and experimental research on the dynamics of flow in the cardiovascular and respiratory system, and the effects of flow on biological processes, particularly hemostasis and thrombosis. Lab resources include high-performance engineering workstations, commercial computational fluid dynamics (CFD) software, and basic experimental facilities including Laser Doppler Velocimetry (LDV), pressure and flow transducers, pumps, and microscopes.

Biological Systems Analysis Laboratory
The research in the Laboratory for Biological Systems Analysis involves the integration of biology with systems level engineering analysis and design, with an emphasis on: (1) the development of robotic systems that borrow from nature's designs and use novel technologies to achieve superior performance and function; and (2) the use of system identification techniques to evaluate the functional performance of animal physiological systems under natural, behavioral conditions. Facilities include rapid prototyping machines, compliant material manufacturing, mold making facilities, and a traditional machine shop and electronics workshop.

Biomechanics Laboratory
Emphasis in this laboratory is placed on understanding the mechanical properties of human joints, characterization of the mechanical properties of biological materials, studies of human movements, and design and development of artificial limbs. Facilities include a 3-D kinematic measuring system, Instron testing machine, and microcomputers for data acquisition and processing. Additional biomechanical laboratory facilities are available at Moss Rehab Hospital.

Combustion and Fuels Chemistry Laboratory
Emphasis in this laboratory is placed on developing an understanding of both the chemical and physical factors that control and, hence, can be used to tailor combustion processes for engineering applications. Facilities include continuous spectroscopic reaction monitoring systems, static reactors, combustion bombs, flat flame burner systems, flow reactors, and complete analytical and monitoring instrumentation.

Combustion and Thermal-Science Laboratory
Research is conducted in the areas of (1) low temperature hydrocarbon oxidation, (2) cool flames, (3) auto-ignition, (4) flame instabilities, (5) flame
structure, (6) flame ignition, and (7) flame extinction (quenching). Cooperative research projects in microgravity combustion are ongoing with NASA’s Glenn Research Center in Cleveland, Ohio, to ascertain the effects of natural convection on the structure and stability of cool and premixed flames. New ways to improve fuel efficiency in practical combustors and recover waste energy in the transportation sector are also being explored.

Combustion Emissions/Engine Laboratory
In this laboratory the effects of engine operating variables, fuel type, ambient conditions, and control devices on engine performance and emissions are studied. The laboratory contains both diesel and spark ignition engines, as well as extensive engine and emissions monitoring instrumentation, including dynamometers and continuous gaseous emission analyzers. The laboratory has a high-pressure flow reactor for detailed kinetic studies of hydrocarbon oxidation processes in engines.

Composite Mechanics Laboratory
Emphasis in this laboratory is placed on the characterization of performance of composite materials. Current interest includes damage mechanisms, failure processes, and time-dependent behavior in resin-, metal-, and ceramic-matrix composites. Major equipment includes servo-hydraulic and electromechanical Instron testing machines, strain/displacement monitoring systems, environmental chambers, microcomputers for data acquisition and processing, composites fabrication facility, interferometric displacement gauge, X-radiography, and acoustic emission systems.

Drexel Plasma Institute
The Drexel Plasma Institute (DPI) was formed in 2002 to stimulate and coordinate research projects related to plasma and other modern high energy engineering techniques. Today the DPI is an active multidisciplinary organization involving 23 faculty members from 6 engineering departments working in close collaboration with School of Biomedical Engineering, College of Arts and Sciences and College of Nursing and Health Professions.

Heat Transfer Laboratory
The heat transfer laboratory is outfitted with an array of instrumentation and equipment for conducting single- and multiphase heat transfer experiments in controlled environments. Facilities include computer-controlled data acquisition (LabVIEW ) systems, a Newport holographic interferometric system with associated lasers and optics, image enlargers, power amplifiers, precision voltmeters, slip-ring assemblies, and an IBM RISC/6000 workstation for large-scale computing and simulation. A draft-free room is available with independent temperature control for carrying out natural convection experiments. An experimental test-rig is available for studying heat transfer from rotating surfaces. A bubble column has been recently built to study multiphase flow and heat transfer problems. Facilities are also available for measuring thermal conductivities of thin films using a thermal comparator.

Microcomputer Controls Laboratory
This laboratory provides an environment conducive to appreciating aspects of systems and control through hands-on experiments. They range from data acquisition and processing to modeling of dynamical systems and implementing a variety of controllers to control systems, such as DC motors and the inverted pendulum. Facilities also include microcontrollers such as Basic Stamp and the Motorola 68HCI 1. Active research is being conducted on control reconfiguration in the event of actuator failures in aircrafts.

Non-Newtonian Fluid and Heat Transfer Laboratory
Emphasis in this laboratory is placed on the study of hydrodynamic and thermal performance of various non-Newtonian viscoelastic fluids in complex flow geometries. Facilities and equipment include a 20-foot-long recirculating flow loop with a 500-gallon reservoir tank and a thermal conductivity measurement cell. A complete data acquisition system provides fully automated experimental operation and data reduction. A state-of-the-art finite element code FIDAP running on a CDC 180 computer provides three-dimensional flow and heat transfer simulations of flows in complex geometrics, with a complete post-processing graphic capability backed by template.

Precision Instrumentation and Metrology Laboratory
This laboratory is focused on activities related to precision measurement, computer-aided inspection, and precision instrument design. Facilities include 3D Coordinate Measuring Machine (Brown & Sharpe) with Micro Measurement and Reverse engineering software, Surface Profilometer, and Laser Displacement Measuring System.

Rheology Laboratory
Emphasis in this laboratory is placed on developing tools for rheological property measurement of various non-Newtonian fluids, including friction-reducing viscoelastic fluids, molten polymers, coal-water slurries, ceramic slurries, and bonding cements for biomedical applications. A capillary tube viscometer, falling ball and needle viscometers, and Brookfield rotating viscometer are available. In particular, the capillary tube viscometer is designed to allow fully automated operation, thus avoiding time-consuming data collection procedures. A high-temperature and high-pressure capillary tube viscometer is under development, so that viscosities of advanced polymer materials can be measured at relatively high temperatures and shear rates.

Rapid Product Development Center
This center provides fundamental research, educational instruction, and engineering services in product design and manufacturing, solid freeform fabrication, and computer-aided tissue engineering.The center is equipped with state-of-the-art CAD/CAE/CAM, medical imaging processing, and 3D reconstruction software, and a rapid prototyping system.