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Research at ME Department
The Faculty of Engineering and Architecture Engineering (FEA) is
the leading research Faculty in the country. The Mechanical Engineering
Department in FEA has dedicated and talented faculty who fulfill the
University's research mission by expanding the bounds of human knowledge in
areas related to mechanical engineering. Research at the Department is mainly
sponsored by the University Research Board, national Research Council for
Scientific Research, and some US government grant, UNDP, Global Network on
Energy for Sustainable Development, American Society of Heating Refrigeration
and Air conditioning Engineers, and some private enterprises.
1. Aerosol Research Group
2. CFD group
3. Computer Vision Group
4.Energy research group
5. Material and Manufacturing Group
6. Mechatronics group
7. Thermal comfort group
8.Demining Center Group
1. Aerosol Reseach Group
We are using experimental and computational approaches to develop a better
understand of how aerosol particles deposit, evaporate, and grow as they pass
through the argileh water pipe and, eventually, the human respiratory system.
In addition, we are developing standard methods to measure toxic components of
argileh smoke in the gas and particulate phases, as well as statistical models
of argileh smoking behavior which can be used in setting parameters such as
puff volume, frequency, and duration in laboratory machine smoking studies.
These models are based on field measurements we are making of smokers in local
cafes in the Hamra neighborhood of Beirut, using a portable, self-powered
smoking topography instrument that was developed for this purpose.
Web Page: http://webfea.fea.aub.edu.lb/aerosol/
Associated Lab: Aerosol Reseach Laboratory
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2.
CFD Group
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: CFD@AUB
Associated Lab:
Computational Fluids lab
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3. Computer Vision
Computer Vision is computing properties of the three-dimensional word world
from one or more two-dimensional digital images. Research interest of the
faculty at AUB/ME Department involves both basic and applied research in the
area of computer vision, including: image feature detection, shape modeling and
representation, motion analysis, color vision, object recognition, and medical
image analysis.Recent Projects include "3D Object Recognition" and "Vision
System for the Blinds".
web page: http://webfea.fea.aub.edu.lb/fea/cvrl/
Associated Lab:
Computer Vision Lab (CVL)
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4.
Energy Research Group (ERG)
Several members of the ME Department are part of the Energy Research Group at
AUB which involves faculty from electrical engineering, civil and environmental
engineering, and engineering management. Several projects are ongoing in the
area of energy and energy efficiency of thermal systems including commercial
and residential heating and cooling systems, solar desiccant
cooling/dehumidification systems, thermoelectric generators, and waste-heat
recovery via thermoelectricity with stress on rural settings. Energy conversion
studies primarily focuses on pollutant formation and control in large-scale
diffusion flames such as those found in industrial boilers, and the use of
fuels derived from biomass such as grass, wood, or olive pulp for powering
diesel engines and transportation alternatives. Other joint research work with
ERG includes assessment study of renewable energy technologies implementation
and their role in alleviating poverty in the region.
web page: http://webfea.fea.aub.edu.lb/fea/research/erg/p038.html
Associated Lab:
Heat and Power Lab and Renewable Energy Lab
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5. Materials And Manufacturing Group
The work performed by this group may be described as
multi-faceted and interdisciplinary. Materials are the backbone of today's
industrialized societies. First, they are engineered and selected to serve
specific functions. Secondly, they are designed into multitude of forms to
serve these functions. Finally, they are manufactured using fabrication
processes so that the form finally fits the desired function. This completes
the famous fit-form-function trio.
Associated Labs:
Materials Testing & Characterization Lab,
CAD/CAE/CAM Lab , Design for Manufacture (DFM), Manufacturing &
Materials Processing Shops/Labs:
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6. Mechatronics Group
The mechatronics research at the ME Department is highly linked to the
establishment of the Mechatronics and Intelligent Machines Laboratory (MIML):
The MIML at the Mechanical Engineering (ME) Department at AUB is regarded as a
strategic necessity in line with paradigm shifts being experienced in
engineering education. It is essential to the success of both undergraduate and
graduate programs and to the future status of the Mechanical Engineering
program at AUB in relation to similar programs offered by many other local
institutions.
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The MIML encompasses many highly interdisciplinary engineering areas: Embedded
Real Time Control, Automatic Controls, Instrumentation and Measurements, and
Micro-Electro Mechanical Systems (MEMS). The goals of the MIML Lab are
two-fold: 1) to promote basic and applied research in smart devices and (MEMS),
and 2) to provide students with skills in using cutting-edge technologies to
realize smart devices. Example of on-going research projects include the
development of "A New Architecture in a New
Class of Linkage Arms for Multi-Function tasks", "Adaptive Robot Force Planning
and Control" and "Vibration control of flexible mechanisms utilizing
active/passive damping strategies: analytical and experimental investigations"
web page: http://webfea.fea.aub.edu.lb/fea/me/research/mechatronics.asp
Associated Lab:
Mechatronics and Intelligent Machines Laboratory (MIML) |
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7.
Thermal Comfort Group
Recent work in thermal comfort has addressed an integrated approach to
experimentally testing and modeling of a clothed-human body heat and mass
transport processes and their interaction with their indoor environment by
performing energy balances and using the results to predict human thermal
comfort and correlate comfort to building energy consumption. This research
program involves original basic research component that enhances the
understanding of the role of the microclimate air trapped between the human
skin and the clothing during human motion. Applications, however, are wide and
would lead to testing of the steady and transient clothed human model for
optimizing control strategies of Heating Ventilation, Air-conditioning, and
Cooling (HVAC) Systems for energy efficiency and comparison of performance of
different HVAC systems during steady and transient operations. We are working
towards developing a powerful tool that could be used in making informed design
conditions for providing thermal comfort while optimizing fabric designs,
heating systems designs and the building energy consumption. The research plan
is shown in Chart 1 where the dashed blocks represent the current research
work.
Website http://webfea.fea.aub.edu.lb/thermalcomfort/.
Associated:
Heat Transfer and HVAC Lab.
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8. De-Mining Center
The De-mining Technologies Team at AUB (DeTecT@AUB) aims to establish a
comprehensive research and development program to evaluate and implement
applicable landmine detection technologies. DeTecT@AUB team is part of the
Department of Mechanical Engineering. It has a local multidisciplinary team of
six researchers in the two tracks of Thermal Sciences and Thermography Area and
Computer Vision and Mechatronics Area. Current projects involved development of
a robust mine detection system with multiple sensors through sensor fusion with
algorithm that provides improved mine detection through discrimination and
identification capabilities. Funding for the research has come mainly from the
generous support of Mr. Yousef Jameel and from the Lebanese National Council
for Scientific Research.
The research work focuses on Infra Red, Color vision, and Acoustic/Seismic
sensor technologies.
The infra-red technology research is mainly
concerned with the performance of a parametric experimental and simulation
study on the use of IR camera to take images of soil beds with buried landmines
subject to heating or cooling indoors and outdoors.
The infra-red technology research is mainly concerned with the performance of a
parametric experimental and simulation study on the use of IR camera to take
images of soil beds with buried landmines subject to heating or cooling indoors
and outdoors.
Acoustic/Seismic sensor technology aims to develop a computational model to
simulate acoustic wave propagation in soil with buried landmines and the
resulting ground vibrations it causes.
Associated Labs:
Heat and Power Lab,
Computer Vision lab and the
Mechatronics and Intelligent Machines Laboratory (MIML)
webpage: http://webfea.fea.aub.edu.lb/demining/webform1.aspx
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