Michigan Tech's Department of Mechanical Engineering-Engineering Mechanics jumped from 48th to 44th in the US News & World Report rankings published in “America’s Best Graduate Schools” just in time for their 85th Anniversary. As the Department celebrates 85 years of education, innovation, and invention; the increase ranking reinforces the strides made to be a continuing force in Mechanical Engineering at a national and international level. Read more.
Faculty Focus Faculty Directory
Jeffrey S. Allen
PhD, Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering, University of Dayton
Contact
906-487-2349
jstallen@mtu.edu
John & Joan Calder Associate Professor
Dr. Allen is an experimentalist interested in the study of two-phase flow in capillary systems; such as found in the gas flow channels and diffusion media of PEM fuel cells. The behavior of liquid water in the internal passages of Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) fuel cells, a class of low temperature fuel cells, presents a serious challenge to the development of reliable and efficient power units. The factors which influence capillary flow are well established . . .
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Faculty Focus Faculty Directory
Ron & Elaine Starr Professor, Mechanical Engineering-Engineering Mechanics
Dr. King is an experimentalist interested in studying electric space propulsion systems, including Hall-effect thrusters, ion engines, and arcjets. By utilizing strong electromagnetic forces to accelerate an ionized plasma propellant, electric thrusters take advantage of on-orbit solar power generation to enjoy significant fuel savings over traditional chemical rockets. King's research experience in the broader field of plasma physics includes such diverse subjects as the design of the in-situ electrostatic probes, ion-energy analysis and time-of-flight mass . . .
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Faculty Focus Faculty Directory
Assistant Professor
Dr. Hill’s research focuses on the design and enhancement of systems that can respond to the evolving needs of the user. This is accomplished through experimental assessment of the operator’s behavior and performance, and computational models which account for other factors that relate to performance outcomes. Focuses include transportation, where driving simulators are used to assess the effect of vehicle and roadway design on driving performance; service systems, where both service providers and recipients are . . .
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Faculty Focus Faculty Directory
Associate Professor, Mechanical Engineering-Engineering Mechanics
Dr. Miller has used analytical and experimental methods to develop models for the grinding of brittle materials. The goal is to develop techniques that improve material removal rates for the machining of brittle materials. Specifically, she and her students have investigated vibration assisted grinding and water-jet assisted grinding, as well as wheel wear and wheel loading mechanisms. Additional research interests include machine tool dynamics, optical micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS), and human factors in design.
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Faculty Focus Faculty Directory
Assistant Professor
Dr. Mahmoudian's general research interests lie in the area of dynamics, stability, and control of nonlinear systems. Specifically, she is interested in dynamic modeling, motion planning, and developing cooperative control algorithms to autonomous vehicles. Design and control of autonomous vehicles based on the principles used by nature is another area of interest. She works on developing analytical and computational tools for the cooperative control of a network of autonomous vehicles in complex environment using nonlinear . . .
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Faculty Focus Faculty Directory
Associate Professor, Mechanical Engineering-Engineering Mechanics
Dr. Blough’s research includes dynamic measurement problems, developing new digital signal processing algorithms to understand NVH type problems and ways to improve the NVH characteristics of virtually any machine. He has made measurements on items as small as individual turbine blades to items as large as 45m diameter radio telescopes and many machines in between including automobiles, snowmobiles, M1 tanks, locomotives, and appliances. He has worked on automotive and snowmobile powertrains and other vehicle components to . . .
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Faculty Focus Faculty Directory
Assistant Professor
Dr. Miers joined the ME-EM Department at Michigan Tech in August of 2008. He was previously employed by Argonne National Laboratory in the Engines and Emissions Research section where his research focus was on internal combustion engine efficiency, emissions, and performance. He was also closely involved with alternative and renewable fuels research investigating how the unique chemical compositions affect both engine and vehicle operation.
His research interests and expertise centers on experimental internal combustion engine research focusing on . . .
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Faculty Focus Faculty Directory
Ron & Elaine Starr Professor in Energy Systems
Dr. Naber joined MTU in August of 2004. Prior to joining MTU, he worked in the automotive industry on R&D of engine-management-systems for gasoline and diesel engines. He also worked at Sandia National Laboratories, CRF investigating sprays and combustion processes of diesel, natural gas, and hydrogen engines utilizing laser based diagnostics. He and fellow colleagues direct the Advanced Internal Combustion Laboratories (AICE) at the University. His research interests are in IC engines and after-treatment and the . . .
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Faculty Focus Faculty Directory
Professor
Narain’s current research interests are both experimental and theoretical/computational in nature and emphasize the area of phase-change flows – especially internal condensing and boiling flows.
Stable, repeatable, and predictable realizations of shear/pressure driven condensing and boiling flows are critical to the development of many high heat transfer rate applications (electronic-cooling, aircraft-based cooling, and space-based thermal management or power systems). These flows are different from the gravity driven (or gravity assisted) flows in their response to typically present . . .
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Faculty Focus Faculty Directory
John & Cathi Drake Professor
Dr. Parker specializes in control system design and methods for correlating nonlinear dynamic models to experimental data. An emerging area of research is the utilization of interspacecraft Coulomb forces for both position and attitude control. This has applications from spacecraft formation flying to active “virtual” structures that are highly reconfigurable and robust to individual spacecraft failure. Spacecraft force coupling and the nonlinear electrostatic force behavior provide a variety of interesting technical challenges from nonlinear control to . . .
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Faculty Focus Faculty Directory
Richard & Bonnie Robbins Chair, Professor, Associate Chair and Director of Graduate Studies
Craig Friedrich is the Robbins Professor of Sustainable Design and Manufacturing and has been on the faculty of the Department of Mechanical Engineering-Engineering Mechanics for more than fifteen years, after serving on the faculty at Louisiana Tech University for ten years. He serves as the associate chair and director of graduate studies in the department and directs the Multi-Scale Technologies Institute. Friedrich holds a BSME and an MSME from Louisiana Tech University, and a PhD from . . .
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Faculty Focus Faculty Directory
Associate Professor, Mechanical Engineering-Engineering Mechanics
Gregory Odegard is an associate professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering–Engineering Mechanics at Michigan Technological University. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Colorado at Boulder, a Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Denver, and a PhD in Materials Science from the University of Denver.
Odegard was a researcher at NASA Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia, from 2000 to 2004, when he joined the faculty at . . .
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