Research Areas: My research program is focused on problems at the intersection of solid mechanics, materials and manufacturing. We address the effects from manufacturing processes on the mechanical properties and structural integrity of conventional, advanced engineering and biological materials. While not limited to machining, the laboratory has a primary focus on material removal processes and their contribution to the short- and long-term component performance, health, and safety issues. Some of our most recent efforts have been in the fields of orthopedics and restorative dentistry and have focused on the influence of existing treatment modalities on the mechanical behavior of hard tissues and lifelong health. The laboratory is well equipped to investigate fundamental issues related to machining and material removal, and to solve research and development problems of industrial relevance.
Active Research:
The Role of Fatigue Crack Growth in Dentin on Dental Restoration Failures, sponsored by the Whitaker Foundation
Fatigue and the Endurance Strength of Dentin , sponsored by the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research
CAREER: Aging, Tooth Fracture and the success of Restorative Dentistry, sponsored by the National Science Foundation
Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) Supplement, sponsored by the National Science Foundation
Refinement and Standardization of Test Methods for Characterization of Ceramics, sponsored by the National Institute of Standards and Technology
Dr. Appa Anjanappa
Research Areas:
This laboratory is equipped with all the tools necessary to simulate, design, fabricate, and test smart materials and electromechanical systems. This include ProE, PowerPCB, Dyna3D, ProMechanica, Ideas, Scientific Walker magnetic field generating system, manual coordinate measurement machine, Anova, Labview, Viewdac, In-circuit emulator for microcontrollers, Matlab, high speed digital oscilloscopes, Sheldon's ultrahigh speed data acquisition system, precision (0.1 micron) position sensors, magnetic shakers, and general purpose instrumentation. Primary research interests are mechatronics (sensors, control, and actuators), smart materials and structures, design optimization, automation, and digital controllers.
Active Research:
(a) Long-term Storage and Precision Dispensing System (LSPDS), Sponsored by MIPS with Archivex, Inc.
(b) High-speed magnetostrictive MEMS Actuated Mirror Deflectors, Sponsored by STTR-NASA with SESI, Inc.
(c) Modeling of Percussion Drill bits, Sponsored by Black & Decker, Inc.
Dr. Uri Tasch
Research Areas:
The research thrust in recent years has focused on the development of technology that detects lameness of various four legged animals. Bovine, ovine, and equine lameness detection technologies are under development. The laboratory has initiated a research effort that develops technology that measures responses of mice to spinal cord repairs.
Research Areas:
Fracture and computational mechanics, finite elements, mechanics of composite materials, manufacturing and optimal fixturing, biomechanics.
Research Areas:
Research in my laboratory addresses dynamics, vibration, and control problems of engineering structures and machinery. Current research includes analysis and control of high-speed translating machine elements such as elevator cables and transmission belts; control of high-frequency vibration modes of flexible structures such as power transmission lines; modal testing, model/test correlation, and structural damage detection using changes in vibration characteristics. In addition to various theoretical investigations including vibration and stability analysis of distributed structures, inverse modeling for system identification and structural damage detection, nonlinear analysis, and stochastic modeling, specialized test stands are developed in-house including a novel scaled elevator. The research results have applications to several industries, such as the elevator, electric power, non-destructive testing and modal testing industries. The laboratory has state-of-the-art equipment, including a Polytec laser vibrometer, a 36-channel spectrum analyzer from LMS, a dSPACE DS1103 PPC controller for multi-channel data acquisitions and general purpose, real time control applications, and three 4-channel spectrum analyzers (Siglabs) from Spectral Dynamics. In addition to providing a hands-on learning facility for undergraduate and graduate students and a source of contemporary research for integration into the curriculum, the laboratory provides outreach programs to K-12 students in the Baltimore region.
Active Research:
Vibration-Based Structural Damage Detection: Theory and Application,
sponsored by the National Science Foundation
Analysis and Control of Time-Dependent Translating Media for High-Speed, High-Precision Mechanical Systems, sponsored by the National Science Foundation
Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) Supplements, sponsored by the National Science Foundation
Vibration-Based Damage Detection of Lightning Masts, sponsored by the Baltimore Gas and Electric (BGE) Company
An Iterative Method to Detect Structural Damage Using Changes in Vibration Characteristics, sponsored by the Maryland Technology Development Corporation (TEDCO)
CAREER: Vibration and Stability of Distributed Structures with Industrial Application, sponsored by the National Science Foundation
Research Areas:
Development of a new bioheat equation for muscle tissue; effects of vascular geometry and blood perfusion on local heat transfer in microcirculation; experimental study of thermal regulation to local heat and cold stress using animal model; simulation of temperature field in tissue during hyperthermia and hypothermia treatment for various diseases; clinical computer-aided analysis of choroidal blood flow for age-related macular degeneration (AMD) patients.
Active Research:
“A New Fundamental Bioheat Transfer Equation for Muscle Tissue”, The Whitaker Foundation.
"Experimental and Theoretical Study of temperature distribution in the brain during mild hypothermia treatment for brain injury", American Heart Association.
"Evaluation of the feasibility of detecting decreased blood flow in carotid arteries using infrared thermography for stroke patients", UMBC DRIF.
Research Areas:
Research in the UMBC Laboratory for Implantable Materials focuses on using mechanical engineering and material science methods to improve medical materials and procedures. One of the main research projects in the Lab is improving the wear fracture resistance of artificial joints e.g. hips and knees). We hope to create better artificial joints by improving the materials and the surgical methods. Another main project is investigating the properties of the plaques that build up in arteries (which cause heart attacks). This work will lead to better balloon angioplasty techniques, for example.
Research Areas:
The Bio Fluid Mechanics Laboratory is located in Room 230 of the Engineering Building. State of the art computational facilities for simulating the biomechanical response of cell membranes is housed within the 800 square feet lab space.
The computational lab facilities are supplemented by computational facilities available to the UMBC community, including the University Super Computer
Silicon Graphics (SGI) Power Challenge-XL featuring
• 20-R10000 based processors (300mips/100Mflops each),
• 2000MB of RAM,
• 75 Gigabytes of high speed disk storage.
The Computational Fluid Dynamics software packages Fluent and FIDAP are available in the lab. These packages are provided by Fluent Inc., through an academic licensing agreement.
• Fluent 5.0
• FIDAP 8.3
In house software for the simulation of cell membrane deformation based on the Immersed Boundary Method and the Boundary Integral Method are available for state of the art simulations of cell membrane-fluid interaction.
Active Research:
"Effects of hydrodynamic shear and microgravity on the efficiency of immune cell - bacteria interactions" submitted to NASA
"Effect of surfactant mass transfer on the onset of tip streaming from a drop" submitted to the Petroleum Reseach Fund
"GK-12 UMBC Teaching Enhancement Partnership Project", Co-Investigator, National Science Foundation
Research Areas: Interdisciplinary research on the micromechanics of materials and structures in order to develop new materials and improve existing ones. The Research is aimed at experimental characterization of material behavior and predicting response by identifying and understanding the controlling deformation mechanisms. Interests include microscale testing, micro-architectured multifunctional materials, cellular solids, high temperature intermetallic alloys, dislocation core modeling, actuators and sensors.
Research Areas:
Research on mechanical behavior of diverse flexible structures, ranging from green plants to arrow shafts to space vehicles to body armor. On-going basic studies of effects of Rht dwarfing genes on buckling, wind tolerance, and disease resistance of wheat (#1 food crop worldwide). Prospective study of influence of this same gene mutation on efficieny of biomass to liquid fuel conversion process. Recent industrial projects have included fatigue testing of a 5000 gallon jet aircraft fuel tank, of a micron-scale miniaturized vacuum pump, and various formulations of an advanced computer chip dielectric material. Motivated by recent conflicts, complementary studies of ballistic penetration by sharp fragmenting debris (e.g., broken glass) and of novel protective structures designed to protect personnel against this type of threat. Life cycle modeling of emerging developments in residential building technology, such as integrated photovoltaic roofing systems.
Active Research:
Influence of Rht gene mutation on straw-based biofuel process efficiency. Pending sponsor = Department of Energy, Energy efficiency & renewable energy.
Nonsteady airflow heightens crop vitality and disease resistance in crowded environments. Pending sponsor = NASA, Space life sciences.
Fatigue damage threshold in FRP tubes subjected to extremely forceful cyclic impact. Pending sponsor = Easton Archery.
Structural Control of Cellular Solids. Subcontract w/ U Maine. Sponsor = DARPA, PI = EN Landis.
Accelerated fatigue & lifteime model for laminated PZT diaphragms. PI. Sponsor = Northrop Grumman Corporation.
Facilities in Research Laboratories:
Impact Dynamics and Nonlinear Material Characterization laboratory includes two impact facilities (including a compression Kolsky Bar, and a compression-torsion Kolsky Bar), a 110 kips tension-compression MTS System, an X-ray Diffraction facility, a tension (50 kips)-torsion (20 in-kips) MTS system, heat treatment furnaces, optical microscopes and a four-channel Acoustic Emission System.
Recent Funded Projects:
"Response and Modeling of Electron Beam Single Melt Ti-6Al-4V Alloys", Army Research Office (May 1, 2005-April 30, 2008)
"Response and Modeling of Weld Materials
Over a Wide Range of Strain Rates", Pacific Northwest National
Laboratory (Jan. 13, 2005-Dec. 31 ,2006)
”A study of Yield Surfaces & Variation of
Young’s Modulus with Finite Plastic Deformation in Aluminum”, General Motors Corp. (July 11, 2005-March 15, 2007)
”Response and Modeling of Carbon
Reinforced Polymers Over a Wide Range of Strain Rates and Temperatures”, Halliburton Energy Services (Sept. 1, 2005-Dec. 30, 2007)
Research Areas:
Research in the UMBC Engineering Education Lab focuses on both the awareness of and interest in engineering career opportunities for students in K-16 with the hope of increasing their participation in all areas of engineering. These efforts are being developed in partnership with the Maryland State Department of Education, local educational agencies, community colleges, other four-year institutions, and key businesses.
Active Research:
"Introduction of Engineering through Mathematics" - introduces students in entry-level algebra classes using simple engineering applications. In addition, middle and high school algebra teachers will participate in a two-week summer training course to learn how to complete the simple experiments and apply the basic mathematics. This project addresses the need to increase both the awareness of and interest in career opportunities in engineering while building students - mathematical skills and understanding through the use of engineering applications.
"STEM Talent Expansion Program" - identifies the relative effectiveness of a two-week summer bridge program, a minimal stipend, and an internship program on student enrollment and retention in STEM programs. This program, developed in partnership with Community College of Baltimore County (CCBC), seeks to increase the number of students, particularly those from underrepresented groups, receiving degrees in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Issues of articulation and increased cooperation between the two institutions will also be addressed. Upper level UMBC mechanical and chemical engineering students, divided into teams, visit ten high schools per year to introduce high school students to physics, chemistry, biology, mathematics or technology concepts using engineering applications.
"Project Lead the Way" - UMBC was approached by the Maryland State Department of Education to become the university affiliate for this four - year high school engineering program. Twenty-five schools in Maryland have begun teaching the courses this fall. UMBC provides teacher and counselor training, high school accreditation, AP-like course credit, and community college articulation.
Research Areas:
Dr. Bennett’s research interests include the development of electro-microfluidic devices for the control and manipulation of biological and non-biological analytes. The purpose of this research is to separate and concentrate particles using electro-hydrodynamic techniques such as electrophoresis and dielectrophoresis. The long-term objective is to develop practical novel microfluidic devices and sensors for applications such as biological warfare agent detection for national security purposes as well as drug delivery and cell separation systems for the healthcare industry. Students working in her laboratory will learn about fabrication and testing of MEMS devices as well as the modeling of flows in microfluidics. Students will find many opportunities for internships in the industry and national laboratories as well as opportunities for publishing papers.
Active Research:
Using dielectrophoresis and temperature gradient focusing to manipulate carbon nanotubes in microfluidic channels - collaboration with NIST
Directions and Parking | Contact Us | Mechanical Engineering Department, Engineering 210, University of Maryland Baltimore County
1000 Hilltop circle Baltimore MD 21250 Ph: 410-455-3330 Fax: 410-455-1052 email: meweb@umbc.edu
