Mechanical Engineering

Faculty

R.W. Hyers, George I. Alden Professor and Department Head; Ph.D. MIT 1998. High-temperature materials and materials processing, including both modeling and experiments. Properties of liquids and solids at high temperature. Computer-aided experiments, including on the International Space Statio
M. Bhatia, Assistant Teaching Professor, Ph.D., Arizona State University, 2014. Understanding the effect of 1D, 2D and 3D defects on structure-property relationships in advanced materials such as magnesium and titanium alloys related to the aerospace, automotive and nuclear industries at different length scales
C. A. Brown, Professor, Director Surface Metrology and Sports Engineering Laboratories; Ph.D., University of Vermont, 1983. Surface metrology, axiomatic design, sports engineering, and manufacturing.
L. Cheng, Assistant Professor, Ph.D., University of Pittsburgh, 2019. Physics-informed machine learning, data-driven multiscale and multiphysics modeling, smart/robotic materials development, additive manufacturing.
D. Cote, Assistant Professor; Ph.D., Worcester Polytechnic Institute, 2014. Integrated computational materials engineering (ICME); computational thermodynamics, kinetics, and solidification; solid state additive manufacturing; cold spray processing; powder metallurgy; microstructural analysis and modeling; through-process modeling; women in STEM outreach.
C. Demetry, Professor; Ph.D., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 1993. Pedagogical research and educational development, materials science and engineering education, educational technology, outcomes of K-12 engineering outreach, mentoring of women and girls in science and engineering
A. Ebadi, Assistant Teaching Professor, Ph .D., University of New Hampshire, 2016. experimental and analytical fluid mechanics, thermofluid processes, non-equilibrium turbulent flow structures, computer-aided design and manufacturing.
M. S. Fofana, Associate Professor, Ph.D., University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Canada, 1993. Nonlinear delay dynamical systems, stochastic bifurcations, regenerative chatter, numerically controlled CAD/CAM machining, vehicle ambulance reliability design and technology, systems engineering analysis, reduction of treatment delays in kidney dialysis, medical and public health engineering, emergency and disaster response robots
C. Furlong, Professor and Director, Center for Holographic Studies and Laser micro-mechaTronics; Ph.D., WPI, 1999. MEMS and MOEMS, micro- /nano-technology & -fabrication, mechatronics, laser metrology & applications, holographic and ultrasonic imaging and NDT, computer modeling of dynamic systems, acoustics.
A. Gnanaskandan, Assistant Professor, Ph.D., University of Minnesota, 2015 CFD, Multiscale modeling, Multiphase flows, Cavitation, Biomedical Acoustics, High-performance parallel computing, Algorithm development
S. I. Guceri, Professor, Ph.D., North Carolina State University, 1976. Rapid fabrication, rapid prototyping, layered manufacturing, additive manufacturing, laser manufacturing, bio-fabrication
Z. Hou, Professor; Ph.D., California Institute of Technology, 1990. Vibration and control, structural dynamics, structural health monitoring, smart materials and adaptive structures, stochastic mechanics, solid mechanics, finite elements, earthquake engineering
D. A. Lados, Milton Prince Higgins II Distinguished Professor of Mechanical Engineering; Director, Integrative Materials Design Center (iMdc); Ph.D., Worcester Polytechnic Institute, 2004. Fatigue, fatigue crack growth, thermo-mechanical fatigue, creep, and fracture of metallic and composite materials – evaluation, advanced material/failure characterization, life predictions, computational modeling and ICME, materials/process/component design and optimization for aerospace, automotive, marine, and military applications; advanced manufacturing – additive manufacturing, metal matrix nano–composites, friction stir welding, cold spray technology, powder metallurgy; residual stress; plasticity; fracture mechanics
F. C. Levey, Associate Teaching Professor; Ph.D., University of the Witwatersrand, 2001. Phase diagrams, phase transformations, shape memory, ferro-alloy casting
J. Liang, Professor; Associate Director, Manufacturing and Materials Engineering; Ph.D., Brown University 2004. Nanofabrication through nonlithographic approaches, additive manufacturing, material processing, resource recycling, and material characterization
Y. Liu, Associate Professor; Ph.D., University of Maryland, 2011. Fiber optical tweezers, silicon nanophotonics and nanomechanics, fiber optic sensors, medical robotics, cell mechanics
M. M. Makhlouf, Professor; Ph.D., Worcester Polytechnic Institute, 1990. Physical metallurgy, specifically developing new alloys for improved performance. Materials processing, particularly solidification of metals. The application of thermodynamics, kinetics, and the concepts of heat and mass transfer to modeling processes in materials science and engineering. Metal-matrix nanocomposites
Z. Mao, Associate Professor; Ph.D., University of California San Diego, 2012. Structural dynamics and vibration, structural health monitoring and nondestructive evaluation, intelligent systems, noncontact sensing, data analytics and machine learning, uncertainty quantification
L. Moradi, Professor of Practice and Co-Director of AVMI; Ph.D., PE, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 2007. structures, mechanics, systems engineering, systems dynamics and controls, design, and product development
M. Mortazavi, Associate Teaching Professor; Ph.D., Michigan Tech University, 2014, Liquid-gas two-phase flow, droplet dynamics and actuation, and interfacial phenomena.
B. Mishra, Kenneth G. Merriam Professor; Director, Metal Processing Institute; Director, Manufacturing and Materials Engineering; Ph.D., University of Minnesota, 1986. Physico-chemical processing of materials, corrosion science and engineering, resource recovery & recycling, critical materials extraction, iron and steelmaking, alloy development, thin film coatings and surface engineering
A. Powell, Associate Professor; Ph.D., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 1997. Clean production of materials particularly those used in clean energy, electrochemistry, extractive metallurgy, multiscale modeling of materials process fundamentals, industrial ecology
P. Radhakrishnan, Associate Teaching Professor; Ph.D., The University of Texas at Austin, 2014. Automated design and manufacturing; entertainment and medical engineering; optimization, machine learning and software development; kinematics, dynamics and design education
P. M. Rao, Associate Professor; Ph.D., Stanford University, 2013. Nanostructured thin film materials, photoelectrochemical materials, printed electronics and sensors.
A. C. Sabuncu, Assistant Teaching Professor; PhD, Old Dominion University, 2011. Thermo-fluid science and engineering with a focus on micro&nano scale systems. In addition, expertise on dielectric spectroscopy of biological materials.
B. J. Savilonis, Professor; Ph.D., State University of New York at Buffalo, 1976. Thermofluids, biofluids and biomechanics, energy
W. Soboyejo, Professor, Provost; Ph.D., Cambridge University, 1988. Biomaterials, use of nanoparticles for detection and treatment of disease, mechanical properties of materials, use of materials science to promote global development.
J. Stabile, Instructor, MSME, University of Arizona; MEEE, University of Colorado. High efficiency small speaker systems for personal audio. This would include magnetic motor design, linear and rotary actuators, high bandwidth structural design, force balanced transducer design, acoustic structural interaction modeling with finite element analysis, and planar acoustic arrays. 3D additive creation of planar electromagnetic actuators
J. M. Sullivan, Jr., Professor, D.E., Dartmouth College, 1986. Development of graphics tools and mesh generation, numerical analysis of partial differential equations, medical image visualization and analysis software development
V. Vantsevich, Professor; co-Director and PI, Autonomous Vehicle Mobility Institute; Ph.D. and Sc.D., Belarusian National technical University, 1981 and 1992. Manned and unmanned ground vehicle dynamics, vehicle mechanical and intelligent mechatronic system dynamics, engineering design, and control.
Y. Wang, William Smith Foundation Dean’s Professor; Ph.D., University of Windsor, 2008. Battery materials, structure, manufacturing, design, recycling and safety, electrochemistry based technologies, electrolysis, recycling and sustainability, fundamental electrochemistry, commercialization of technologies
S. Wodin-Schwartz, Associate Teaching Professor; Associate Department Head Ph.D., University of California at Berkeley, 2013. MEMS sensor design and fabrication, undergraduate engineering education, active learning and experiential education content development and research, product design
J. Yagoobi, George F. Fuller Professor; Ph.D., University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana, 1984. Enhancement of heat and mass transfer in macro, micro, and nano-scales, liquid vapor phase change, electrohydrodynamics, transport phenomena in moist porous media, drying, novel impinging jets
Y. Zheng, Assistant Professor; Ph.D., University of Michigan, 2016. Advanced and biomedical manufacturing, medical device design, tissue mechanics, biomedical machining process and modeling, catheter-based surgical devices, medical simulation, vascular ultrasound imaging, abrasive machining processes for biomedical and ceramic materials.
Y. Zhong, Associate Professor; Ph.D., Penn State University, 2005. Integrated Computational Materials Engineering (ICME), computational thermodynamics, ab initio, molecular dynamics, machine learning, high-throughput simulations, alloys and ceramics

Emeritus

D. Apelian, Professor Emeritus
H. Ault, Associate Professor Emeritus
R. Biederman, Professor Emeritus
J. M. Boyd, Professor Emeritus
A. H. Hoffman, Professor Emeritus
J. A. Mayer, Jr., Professor Emeritus
R. L. Norton, Professor Emeritus
D. Planchard, Instructor Emeritus
R. J. Pryputniewicz, Professor Emeritus

Areas of Study

The graduate curriculum is divided into six distinct areas of study:

These areas support the research interests of the mechanical engineering faculty, which are described under Areas of Research. Graduate courses introduce students to fundamentals of mechanical engineering while simultaneously providing the background necessary to become involved with the ongoing research of the mechanical engineering faculty.

Students also receive credit for special topics under ME 593 and ME 693, and independent study under ISP. Faculty members often experiment with new courses under the special topics designation, although no course may be offered more than twice in this manner. Except for certain 4000-level courses permitted in the B.S./ Master’s program, no undergraduate courses may be counted toward graduate credit.

Programs of Study

The Mechanical Engineering Program offers the following graduate degree options:

Master of Science (M.S.)
Combined B.S./M.S.
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)
Graduate Certificate Program: Mechanical Engineering for Technical Leaders

Admission Requirements

For the M.S. program, applicants should have a B.S. in mechanical engineering or in a related field (i.e., other engineering disciplines, physics, mathematics, etc.).
The standards are the same for admission into the thesis and non-thesis options of the M.S. program. At the time of application to the master’s program, the student must specify his/her option (thesis or non-thesis) of choice.
For the Ph.D., a bachelor’s or master’s degree in mechanical engineering or in a related field (i.e., other engineering disciplines, physics, mathematics, etc.) is required.
The Mechanical Engineering Department reserves its financial aid for graduate students in the Ph.D. program or in the thesis option of the M.S. program.

Areas of Research

The faculty of the Mechanical and Materials Engineering Department currently pursue research under the following areas:

Autonomous and Manned Ground Vehicles
Biomechanical Engineering and Healthcare
Dynamics, Controls and Robotics
Energy Science and Engineering
Materials and Manufacturing
Mechanics and Design
Nano and Micro Engineering

Please consult the Mechanical Engineering Department website for a current list of the faculty pursuing research under each of these areas.

Mechanical Engineering Laboratories and Centers

The Mechanical Engineering Program provides a multidisciplinary research and education environment. The facilities are housed in Higgins Laboratories and Washburn Shops. For the laboratories and centers of the other programs within the Mechanical Engineering Department (Aerospace Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Materials Process Engineering, and Materials Science and Engineering), please see their corresponding sections in this catalog.

Teaching and Project Laboratories

Design Studio and Computer Classroom

The Higgins Design Studio (HL 234) and the Computer Classroom (HL 230) are both part of the Keck Design Center, and are managed by WPI’s Information Technology Services Division. The labs are used for lectures and laboratories in a variety of mechanical design and manufacturing courses, and are also available to students for general-purpose computational work on projects and coursework. The 1600 sq. ft. Higgins Design Studio contains twenty one (21) high-end workstations running software for mechanical design including parametric solid modeling (PTC/Creo, Solidworks, AutoCAD), structural, thermal, fluid and dynamic analysis (ANSYS, Abaqus, Fluent, Comsol) and general purpose applications (Tecplot, SigmaPlot, Mathematica, MATLAB, Maple, MathCAD). The 1575 sq. ft. Computer Classroom (HL 230) contains more than forty (40) workstations, A/V equipment including dual high-resolution projection systems, and a high-speed laser printer. Locally installed software includes Solidworks, AutoCAD, MATLAB, Maple, MathCAD, Thermal Analysis software and VisualStudio. Net. The workstations in the Design Studio and Computer Classroom have access to all software available on the WPI campus network, and allow for design collaboration and exchange of design models to manufacturing facilities. Courses served: ES 1020, ES 1310, ME 3310, ME 3311, ME 3320, ME 4320 and many out-of- department courses.

Experimentation Laboratory

The Experimentation Laboratory (HL 031) provides the Mechanical Engineering Department with a modern laboratory for the state-of-art Engineering Experimentation ME 3901 course, required for ME students to satisfy their experimentation requirement. The course provides students with valuable hands-on knowledge and directly addresses all ABET experimentation and related requirements. The 1300 sq. ft. laboratory houses 15 workstations containing Labview-based data acquisition hardware and software. Each workstation is configured for two students working in pairs. A host of standard sensors and transducers (thermocouples, thermistors, RTDs, strain gages, pressure transducers, accelerometers, etc.) complement each workstation bench. The laboratory also contains standard test equipment (DVM, soldering equipment, hand tools, calipers, and micrometers) as well as hardware apparatus such as pressure tanks, orifices, heat exchangers, pressurized air, power, and internet, etc. This laboratory is also used for ES 3011 Engineering Controls I, ME 4322 Modeling and Analysis of Mechatronics, a graduate course on Dynamic Signal Analysis, and Major Qualifying Projects (MQPs) related to engineering experimentation.

Major Qualifying Projects (MQP) Laboratory

The MQP Laboratory (HL 045) is a 450 sq. ft. space for students to assemble and work on their MQPs. The laboratory lies between the Engineering Experimentation Laboratory, giving access to state-of-art electronic sensors and measurement equipment, and the Higgins Machine Shop, providing lathes, drill presses, milling machines and CNC equipment. The MQP laboratory is equipped with air, water, drains, and hand-tools for fabrication work. Individualized storage exists for capstone design works in progress.

Project Laboratories

The other project laboratory spaces in Higgins Laboratories include HL 005, 006, 017, and 019. HL 005 (1600 sq. ft.) is used primarily to conduct of capstone design projects requiring a large work and assembly area. It also provides space to one of WPI’s US First Robotics teams and supports the Robotics Resource Center (HL 009), as well as being the home of WPI’s CollabLab, which is a student organization that promotes “maker” culture and collaboration at WPI. The SAE Project Lab (HL 006, 300 sq. ft.) houses the SAE Formula Race Car and other SAE projects. HL 017 and 019 (each approximately 100 sq. ft.) provide further space and resources for conducting course projects and MQP projects.

Manufacturing Facilities

3D Print Laboratory

Rapid Prototyping (RP) technologies, including 3D printing, use a computer-driven, additive process to print solid three-dimensional models one layer at a time almost directly from a computer-aided design (CAD) program. The 3D Print Laboratory (HL 232) houses several executive level RP machines managed by Academic & Research Computing (ARC) Center staff available for students, faculty, and staff across campus. The Dimension SST 1200es prints exclusively with ABS plastic, and the Objet 260 Connex is capable of using a variety of resins that can produce up to 14 different material properties within one part, with over 60 material options available. Submissions to the machines are accepted for any on campus projects (MQP, IQP, course project, graduate research, etc.) that have been approved by an advisor or faculty member, for the production of parts that cannot be easily purchased or created using other on campus resources. Instructions for access can be found at https://www.wpi.edu/research/resources/academic-research-computing/3d-printing, and the staff can be contacted at rapidprototyping@wpi.edu

CNC Teaching Laboratory

CNC Teaching Laboratory The CNC teaching laboratory is located in the Washburn Shops Room 107 and covers 3,140 sq. ft. The CNC machine tools housed within this lab are used for a wide range of student projects including MQPs, ME 1800 and ME3820. The laboratory is equipped with one Universal Laser Systems VLS60 Laser Cutter, one Haas Tool Rool Mill, a Doall Engine lathe, DoAll manual mill 3 Haas MiniMills, one Haas ST10 and 2 Haas SL10s, 3 band saws, two drill presses, a sheet metal shear and bending break as well as assorted hand tools. Attached to each of the MiniMills and SL10s are computer workstations equipped with design and programming software. In addition to the computers located at each of the CNC machine tools, the facility has a computer classroom in Washburn 107 that can accommodate 15 workstations. These workstations have access to the design software packages supported on campus as well as our training materials and several Computer Aided Manufacturing (CAM) software packages including Esprit, MasterCam, and Fusion360 The facilities are run by an operations manager and lab technicians who are assisted by undergraduate peer learning assistants (PLAs).

MEMS Fabrication Laboratory

The MEMS Fabrication Laboratory (HL 106) is a Class 100 cleanroom facility with approximately 500 square feet of floor space, including the gowning area. It is equipped with instrumentation to support photolithography, thermal deposition and oxidation, wet chemistry, metrology, and wafer bonding. Metrology capabilities for the devices that are fabricated, such as profilometry, SEM, AFM, and XRD are available through other ME Department laboratories, including the Materials Characterization Laboratory (see Materials Science and Engineering section of this catalog).

Research Laboratories

Computational Multiphase Transport Laboratory

The Computational Multiphase Transport Laboratory (CMTL) directed by Prof. Aswin Gnanaskandan is involved in modeling, computation and analysis of multiphase flows. The research program of CMTL has two overarching themes : (1) Developing high fidelity mathematical models for multiphase flows and addressing key technological barriers to the deployment of such models to real world problems in engineering and biomedical areas. (2) Leveraging the capabilities of the developed models to solve critical needs in important and emerging areas like underwater transportation, propulsion, combustion, and biomedical acoustics. Group members perform hands-on work on developing state-of-the-art, multiphysics models, implement them into parallel simulation codes and perform simulations of challenging multiphase flow problems. We work in multi-disciplinary collaborative projects that solve current needs of Navy, Airforce and NASA allowing opportunities to directly work with scientists and engineers at these agencies.

Laboratory of Intelligent Systems and Structural Dynamics

The Laboratory of Intelligent Systems and Structural Dynamics (LISSD) is located in Room 125, 15 Sagamore Road. The research efforts at LISSD primarily focus on dynamics and vibration on a wide span of intelligent systems, as well as extracting features from system responses to identify structural safety and damage characterizations. The lab contains a number of high-performance workstations and GPUs, structural testing equipment including data conditioning and acquisition systems, electrodynamic shakers with different force output capacities, modal hammer and sensors to collect structural dynamic measurements. There is also a high-resolution camera and a laser Doppler vibrometer system to support research on advanced noncontact sensing, photogrammetry and computer vision. In the ongoing research at LISSD, novel artificial intelligence and engineering informatics techniques are developed for many intelligent system applications, and this multi-disciplinary field of structural health monitoring and prognostics cohesively includes research components of smart materials, advanced sensing, data acquisition, big data analytics, machine learning and statistical modeling. Therefore, the LISSD contributes to the understanding and advancement of a wide spectrum of engineering filed including mechanical engineering, aerospace engineering, civil engineering, etc. The research in the LISSD is directed by Professor Z. Mao.

Large Scale Metal Additive Manufacturing & Powder Characterization Lab

This laboratory, located in the 15 Sagamore Road building, features two large scale metal additive manufacturing (AM) systems: a high pressure gas dynamic cold spray system (VRC Gen III) with five-access robotic capabilities, as well as a GEFERTEC ARC405 directed energy deposition wire arc additive manufacturing (WAAM) system. Each have the ability to print a variety of materials, including alloys of aluminum, steel, titanium, copper, refractory metals, shape memory alloys, ceramics, and more. Additionally, advanced powder characterization and general materials analysis instruments are available, including a scanning electron microscope (SEM), high resolution 3D digital optical microscope, ONH interstitial analyzer, Karl Fischer titration moisture analyzer, particle size and morphology analyzer, powder rheometer, several nano-indenters, indentation profilometer, and several computational thermodynamic and kinetic modeling software capabilities

Materials and Processes Laboratory

The Materials and Processes Laboratory provides experimental support for a variety of combined programs in modeling and experimentation on materials. This is a new lab in AY 2023-2024. Capabilities presently under construction include a high-temperature atmosphere furnace, a laser hearth with vacuum and atmosphere capabilities, and various advanced diagnostics. Present experimental work focuses on manufacturing, extractive metallurgy, and recycling, in addition to fundamental work on high-temperature materials and processes.

Medical and Manufacturing Innovation Laboratory

The Medical and Manufacturing Innovation Lab (MedMaIn) is located in HL 029, 037, and 039 on the main campus, as well as the Collaborative Lab of the PracticePoint at the Gateway Park. RESEARCH The MedMaIn goal is to advance engineering science and technology to enhance healthcare. Specifically, MedMaIn applies advanced robotics, manufacturing, and design for safety, quality, efficiency, and economy in healthcare service and research. MedMaIn balances fundamental science and clinical applications, producing research articles and patents, scientists and entrepreneurs. PROJECTS Some representative projects are high-speed grinding inside human arteries to clear the blockage and treat cardiovascular diseases, high-speed machining of blood clot inside the human brain to treat stroke, a tele-ultrasound imaging system with intuitive user interfaces, robotic catheterization for neuro intervention, mechanical testing of blood clot, atherosclerotic plaque, and brain tissues, hydrodynamic polishing for 3D printed internal channels. COLLABORATION MedMaIn has been extensively collaborating with healthcare organizations and medical schools nationwide including Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Mayo Clinic, VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System, Saint Vincent Hospital, University of Massachusetts Medical School, University of Michigan Medical School, and Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences. MedMain has also worked with medical device companies including Boston Scientific, Cardiovascular Systems Inc., Endovascular Engineering, and Calcium Solutions. The MedMaIn Lab is directed by Prof. Y. Zheng. Further information can be found at http://medman.wpi.edu/.

Multi-Scale Heat Transfer Laboratory

The Multi-Scale Heat Transfer (MHT) Laboratory is located in HL 248, and investigates the enhancement of heat transfer and mass transport in nano-, micro-, and macro-scales, with and without working fluid phase change (liquid/vapor), in the presence and absence of gravity utilizing various mechanisms of electrohydrodynamics (EHD). The MHT Laboratory also studies the augmentation of heat transfer with micro-scale phase change materials under various fluid flow configurations. MHT Laboratory features the following two-phase flow experimental apparatuses: EHD pump in micro scale for water droplet activation; multi-functional in-tube (internal forced convection) condensation and boiling in horizontal configuration using EHD polarization force; external condensation in horizontal configuration using EHD induction pumping; external condensation in vertical configuration using EHD polarization force; in-channel (internal forced convection) condensation in horizontal configuration using EHD induction pumping; two-phase loop with EHD induction pumping; and pool boiling for low and high pressure refrigerants using EHD polarization force. The MHT Laboratory also features several flexible pumps in various configurations and sizes. Supporting equipment include a large scale two-phase system (heat pipe loop), a unique high voltage, three-phase power supply, several high voltage (0-50kV) dc power supplies, a high-speed video system, micro-fiber optic temperature measurement device, high resolution infrared camera , thermistors, heat flux sensors, pressure transducers, flow meters, vacuum pumps, recirculating chillers, oscilloscope, multi-meters, and desktop computers. The research in the MHT Lab is directed by Prof. Prof. J. Yagoobi. Further information can be found at http://mht.wpi.edu/.

NanoEnergy Laboratory

The NanoEnergy Lab is located in Rooms 4916 and 4918, 50 Prescott St. (Gateway Park II), and targets the synthesis and study of nanomaterials for energy conversion applications, particularly for converting solar energy to electrical or chemical energy (photovoltaic and photoelectrochemical energy conversion), and for printed electronics applications, including printing of flexible hybrid electronics and sensors. Materials synthesis equipment in the NanoEnergy Lab includes vapor deposition (flat-flame burner and multi-zone tube furnace), hydrothermal synthesis reactors, solution deposition (fume hood, spincoater), various furnaces for annealing materials, and an advanced R&D inkjet printer and supporting equipment for ink development and characterization including a rheometer, tensiometer/goniometer, particle sizer, and high speed camera. Light sources, integrating spheres, spectrometers, a potentiostat, electrochemical cells and chemical sensors are available for the characterization of optical, electronic, photovoltaic and photoelectrochemical properties and behavior of materials. The research in the NanoEnergy Lab is directed by Prof. P. Rao. Further information can be found at http://nanoenergy.wpi.edu/.

Optomechanics Laboratory

The WPI Optomechanics Lab is located in Rooms 4934 and 4938, 50 Prescott St. (Gateway Park II). The overarching goal is to develop tools based on coupling between optics and mechanics at the micro- and nanoscale, and applying these tools to tackle challenging problems at the intersection of various disciplines. The main research carried out includes fiber optical tweezers, silicon nanomechanics, silicon nanophotonics, optofluidics, and fiber optic sensors. The research in the Optomechanics Lab can find applications in cell mechanics, on-chip disease diagnosis, precision displacement/force measurements, and biomedical sensing. The lab has various facilities for optical and mechanical research at the micro/nanoscale, such as a tunable diode laser, pigtailed laser diodes, automatic fiber fusion splicers, fiber end polisher, and a large variety of photodetectors and power meters. There are various microscopes available for imaging and measurements, including one research-grade inverted fluorescence microscope for biological research and a long-working-distance microscope for nanophotonic and microfluidic research. The lab is specialized in home-made fiber optical tweezer systems, which enable non-contact nanoparticle manipulation and picoNewton force measurements. Piezo stages and a 6-GHz electronic spectrum analyzer enable nanometer displacement control and GHz-range dynamic signal measurements. The research in the Optomechanics Laboratory is directed by Prof. Y. Liu. Further information can be found at http://optomech.wpi.edu/.

Surface Metrology Laboratory

WPI’s Surface Metrology Lab is one of just a few academic labs in the world that focuses on measurements, characterizations, and analyses of surface topographies, colloquially called roughness. Through the generosity of the respective companies the lab has the use of a GelSight Mobile™ for hand-held, fast, micron-level measurements on a wide variety of surfaces, and a MahrFederal MarSurf GD25 stylus profiler, as well as several seats of Mountains Map (DigitalSurf). We study how topographies are influenced by processing and influence the performance of surfaces. We study how to discriminate surfaces based on their topographies that were processed differently, or that perform differently, and how to find functional correlations between topographies and their processing or their performance. The lab has pioneered the development and application of several kinds of multiscale geometric analyses. The lab serves industry and has collaborated with engineers and scientists from a variety of disciplines including archaeology, cultural preservation, food science, and physical anthropology around the world. The lab is directed by Prof. C. A. Brown who serves on national and international standards committees for surface textures

Research Centers

Center for Advanced Research in Drying

The Center for Advanced Research in Drying (CARD) is a National Science Foundation (NSF) Industry/University Cooperative Center (I/UCRC) devoted to research in drying of moist, porous materials such as food and other agricultural products, forestry products, chemical products, textiles, and biopharmaceuticals. CARD was founded by WPI as a lead institution, and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Examples of the current CARD research areas include:

Drying Processes/Systems Design and Simulation
Optimizing Product Quality and Energy Consumption during Drying by Solving Multi-scale Transport Models
Nano- and Micro-Technology in Drying Applications
Innovative Concepts in Drying of Moist Porous Materials
Moisture Management for Food Quality, Stability and Safety
Phase Behavior of Biopolymers and Impact on Product Quality
Machine Learning Enabled Smart Drying
Mechanical Modeling and Computer Software Tracking
Product Microstructure and Surface Metrology Characterization
No-Phase-Change Dehydration Schemes and Other Novel Drying Concepts
Innovative Impinging Jets with and without Chemical Reactions for Drying, Heating, and Cooling Applications
Energy Auditing
Development of Unique Sensors

Research in CARD is directed by Prof. J. Yagoobi. Further information and a list of participating faculty members can be found at http://www.dryingresearch.org/.

Center for Holographic Studies and Laser micro-mechaTronics

The laboratories of the Center for Holographic Studies and Laser micro-mechaTronics (CHSLT) cover over 2,800 sq. ft and support activities ranging from fundamental studies of laser light interaction with materials to sophisticated applications in metrology. Research at the CHSLT is externally funded in areas relating to electronic packaging, high density separable electronic interconnections for high speed digital applications, radar technology, microelectronics, micromechanics, submarine technology, jet engine technology, MEMS, nanotechnology and picotechnology, to name a few. The laboratories are furnished with He-Ne lasers, Ar-ion lasers, Nd:YAG lasers, nanosecond high energy pulsed laser, and diode lasers, as well as supporting instrumentation systems. In addition, the Nano-Indentation (NIN) system is being developed for studies of mechanical properties of materials in sub-micron geometries. The CHSLT has its own computational facilities for Finite Element, Finite Difference, and Boundary Element analysis, modeling, and simulation. The metrological applications at the CHSLT concentrate on holographic interferometry, laser speckle metrology, fiber optic sensors, analytical and computational modeling of structural behavior under static as well as dynamic loading conditions, and other areas of current interest. In the area of holographic interferometry, the CHSLT maintains holographic systems for studies of static as well as dynamic problems. These systems range from conventional double-exposure holography, to real-time and time-average holography, heterodyne holography, stroboscopic heterodyne holography, pulsed laser holography, and electro-optic holography (EOH). The EOH system allows for direct electronic acquisition and processing of interferometric data in real-time and sets a new standard for quantitative holographic analysis. The CHSLT also conducts experimental and computational research in the field of nanoindentation studies in conjunction with a laboratory system which is uniquely suited to measure elastic, plastic, creep, and fracture properties of materials in submicron geometries. In addition, the CHSLT is equipped with a complete laser vibrometer system, GHz frequency range storage oscilloscopes, a spectrum analyzer, a self-contained network of personal computers, UNIX based workstations and image processors, a host of supporting instrumentation, and a library of finite element analysis and general purpose software. A well-equipped electrical engineering and instrument development laboratory, a fiber optic preparation laboratory, an optical microscopy laboratory and a multifunctional dark room are also parts of the CHSLT. The strengths of the CHSLT lie in a comprehensive utilization of laser technology, optics, computational methods, mechanical engineering, materials science and engineering, and computer data acquisition and processing. Research in CHSLT is directed by Prof. C. Furlong. Further information can be found at http://chslt.wpi.edu/.

Autonomous Vehicle Mobility Institute

The Autonomous Mobility Vehicle Institute (AVMI) is a research and development (R&D) and technical services organization to advance methods in modeling and simulation, design and control, hybrid testing and experimentation of autonomous/unmanned and manned vehicles for maneuver, terrain mobility, energy efficiency, and survivability in severe terrain and adversarial environments. AVMI performs conceptual and engineering prototyping and design of vehicle systems, academic and professional advancement courses at WPI, national, and international levels.By conducting its R&D, AVMI assists in coordinating efforts between the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Ground Vehicle Systems Center, other government research agencies and NATO, universities, and industry. AVMI extends its work to other systems, such as multi-drive wheel road and off-road automobiles and trucks, planet rovers, farm tractors, construction and mining equipment, forestry machinery.

Current R&D areas include:

Autonomous Perception and Planning, Simultaneous Localization and Mapping;
Exteroceptive and Proprioceptive Sensor Modeling, Simulation, and Design;
Sensor Fusion and Integration;
Real-time Terramechanics for Terrain-Vehicle Modeling and Simulation;
AI-based Real-time Optimization and Control of Mobility and Maneuver;
Metaverse-based co-Simulation Environment Modeling and Virtualization;
Agile Tire Dynamics and Artificial Intelligence (AI)-based controls;
Coupled and Interactive Dynamics and Control of Vehicle Intelligent Physical Systems;
Energy Efficient, Fully Electric and Mechanical/Mechatronic Driveline Systems;
AI Techniques for Intelligent Material Generative Design;
Long-term Autonomy in Unanticipated Cyber-Attacks;
Vehicle Cyber Resilience by Intelligent Dynamic Materials;
Vehicle Thermal Signatures Transformation and Cyber Shielding;
Cyber Survivability and Autonomous Robust Mobility and Maneuver;
Sensor Susceptibility to and Protection from Electromagnetic Interference;
Survivability-Performance Operation algorithms;
System-on-Chip Developments.

AVMI is located in the 30,000sq.ft. laboratory area at 85 Prescott Street (Gateway) and 15 Sagamore Rd, Worcester, MA. For further information, collaboration, and technical career opportunities, contact AVMI co-Directors Vladimir Vantsevich and Lee Moradi.

Classes

BME/ME 550: Tissue Engineering

Department