Mechanical Engineering Laboratories

CFD Laboratory
CFD Research work in the Department is focused on the development of pressure-based algorithms for the solution multi-phase incompressible and compressible flow for laminar and turbulent flow problems using the Finite Volume Method.
Current work include parallelization of our CFD Code for clusters computing, Development of Casting Simulation Code for macro-segregation and porosity prediction, and work on the simulation of combustion as supersonic speed (as in scramjets).
Web Page: http://webfea.fea.aub.edu.lb/cfd/

Computer Vision Laboratory
The Computer Vision and Robotics Laboratory CVRL was established in the Faculty of Engineering and Architecture at the American University of Beirut in 2003 with the goal of merging theory with application, and turning scientific principles into real-world applications. Its aim is to obtain robust and flexible systems that can work in difficult environments. It is used to conduct research in a number of interdisciplinary fields. Some of the current fields are: biomedical imaging, omni directional vision, 3D reconstruction, robot navigation, and object recognition.
Web Page: http://webfea.fea.aub.edu.lb/cvrl/

Experimental Fluid Mechanics Laboratory
The experimental fluids lab houses state of the art equipment for advanced optical diagnostics of liquid and gaseous flows. We have an L-shaped open loop wind tunnel with a square cross sectional area that measures (18 in X 18 in X 36 in) and can generate steady wind speeds in the test section from nearly 3 m/s to 50 m/s in 1m/s increments with low turbulence intensities. Available wind tunnel tests include smoke visualization, particle image velocimetry, particle tracking velocimetry, surface pressure measurements, and lift and drag estimation using a 2-axis dynamometer. The cross-correlation PIV system was designed and assembled in-house, and can thus can be adapted to a wide range of gas/liquid flows and measurement requirements. The PIV system has been adapted to acquire Laser Induced Fluorescence measurements and particle tracking velocimetry. Other equipment include a pulsed YAG laser, continuous HeNe and AR Ion lasers, fast shuttered cameras, and fast rise time photo-detectors.
Web Page: http://webfea.fea.aub.edu.lb/fluidmechanics/

Internal Combustion Engines Laboratory
The ICE Laboratory contains 4 water-brake dynamometer test-beds, which are currently outfitted with a 4-stroke V-8 gasoline engine, a 6-cylinder 4-stroke Rolls Royce marine diesel engine, an inline 4-cylinder 4-stroke gasoline engine, and a two-stroke diesel engine. Currently, only the Rolls Royce and inline 4 gasoline engines are nominally operational with difficulty. We have recently ordered a replacement for one of them, also a water-brake system. The Rolls Royce engine was equipped with an oscilloscope based electronic engine indicator (cylinder pressure versus crank angle) in 1995, and has original analog temperature and volume flow measurements for performing elementary heat balances. None of these measurements (including the relatively recent additions) are calibrated, as there is no means currently to do so at AUB; new equipment is being ordered for this purpose. The Rolls Royce engine has not been maintained according to manufacturer's specs, due to lack of financial resources, and does not therefore exhibit typical performance.

Mechanics Laboratory
The mechanics laboratory consists of an epicyclic gear train, a vibrations bench, a dynamic balancing machine, and a whirling of shafts apparatus. The equipment is in good condition, except for the whirling of shafts apparatus, for which new components were recently ordered. The lab question sheets are currently being revised to make the experiments more open-ended student-led explorations.