Research Overview

"Thus, at this University among faculty, students, and administration, there is and must be an excitement and an expectation about the very nature and future of knowledge that underwrites the uniqueness of BYU."         — Spencer W. Kimball A Dynamic Field Mechanical Engineering is a dynamic and exciting field with broad boundaries that are continually being pushed and expanded. Students and faculty at Brigham Young University work together in the extension of these boundaries through research. Research activities are also one of the most valuable mentored learning experiences at both graduate and undergraduate levels. In addition to the important educational aspects associated with research, it offers exciting opportunities to make technological contributions to society. Research Areas Click or move your mouse over one of the research areas on the left to see more about the exciting environment that students participate in as mechanical engineers.

Dynamic Systems & Controls

Overview Many modern engineering systems, including robots, biomedical devices, vehicles, sensors, and machinery are comprised of interconnected dynamic elements. The ability to design, model, and control such systems is essential in modern engineering. Current areas of focus related to dynamic systems and controls at BYU include unmanned air vehicles (UAVs), microelectromechanical systems (MEMS), active noise control, haptic interfaces, and robotics. Examples of Research in this Area Select a research topic to learn more. Acoustics Advanced Mechanisms and Automation Assistive Robotics for Children with Autism Haptic Technology Microelectromechanical Systems (MEMS) Research Miniature Air Vehicles (MAVs) Neuromechanics Turbulence Induced Vibrations in Pipe Flow

Thermal & Energy Systems

Overview The dual specters of global warming and political instability in oil exporting countries have made the development of sustainable energy systems a national priority. Thermodynamics and Heat Transfer play a critical role in the design and optimization of energy conversion systems, and a variety of these systems are being studied by faculty and students in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at BYU. Examples of Research in this Area Select a research topic to learn more. Clean Coal Technologies Energy Harvesting/Waste Heat Recovery Solar Thermal Processes Thermal and Energy Systems

Design

Overview Engineering design affects everyday life - everything around us has been designed. Design involves the systematic interplay between creation and validation with the intent to bring useful parts, products, or systems, to the marketplace. Researchers in engineering design develop theories, methodologies, and tools that improve the design process and bring new capabilities to the hands of the mechanical designer. This includes computer aided engineering, systems design, product development, numerical and optimization methods, and the integration of engineering with other disciplines. Examples of Research in this Area Select a research topic to learn more. Advanced Mechanisms and Automation Autonomous Agent Models of Product Development Compliant Mechanisms Continuous Variable Transmission Design and Development Design for Manufacture Design for Variation Engineering Software Tool Customization Improvement of Engineering Education Manufacturing Process Machine Design and Development Microelectromechanical Systems (MEMS) Research Modeling Engineering Corporations and Processes PACE Global, Collaborative Engineering Design/Education v-CAx - Next Generation Computer Aided Applications Virtual Internal Combustion Engine (VICE) Research

Engineering Materials

Overview Progress in materials science is at the heart of most exciting advances in modern engineering. Materials science consists in exploring the relationships between structure, properties and processing operations that define a material. The engineering materials group develops novel processing techniques to prepare advanced materials. We use cutting edge microscopy to determine material structure at the nano-scale. Then, we employ mathematical tools to characterize the structure and properties of the material, and we design even better ones. Examples of Research in this Area Select a research topic to learn more. Composite Materials High Resolution Scanning Electron Microscopy Microstructure Design for Performance Optimization

Fluid Mechanics

Overview Fluid mechanics deals with the study of liquids and gases at rest or in motion. Research in fluid mechanics focuses on understanding how fluids move and interact with their surroundings over the range of length scales from the nano-scale to the global scale. Fluid mechanics research encompasses many complicated dynamic systems which are solved through a combination of experiments and direct observation, analytical methods, and computational fluid dynamics (CFD). Research topics at BYU are broad and include areas such as: biological flows, micro- and nano-fluidic systems, flow physics in turbomachines, turbulence, fluid-structure interactions, atmospheric and oceanic flow dynamics, and reacting flows. Examples of Research in this Area Select a research topic to learn more. Analysis and Design Optimization of Centrifugal Pumps and Compressors Bio-Inspired Flight Computational Science and Engineering Micro- and Nanofluidics Propagation and Breaking of Internal Waves in the Ocean and Atmosphere Superhydrophobic Surfaces Turbomachinery Aerodynamics Turbulence Induced Vibrations in Pipe Flow

Bioengineering

Overview Biomechanics is the application of mechanics to biology and has origins dating back to Aristotle. Biomechanics seeks to understand the mechanics of living systems, from molecules to organisms. Biomechanical engineering is the practical implementation of this understanding, and embodies the attempts of humans to design and develop mechanical devices that mimic, measure, improve, repair, or replace the function of living systems. Examples of Research in this Area Select a research topic to learn more. Bio-CAD Bio-Microelectromechanical Systems Computational Biomechanics Laryngeal Biomechanics Micro- and Nanofluidics Neuromechanics Spinal Biomechanics