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School of Engineering

Research Projects

John A. Barnard

  • Materials Research Science and Engineering Center, University of Alabama.
  • Dendrimer-based hybrid nanocomposite films, National Science Foundation.
  • Novel approaches to the synthesis, processing, and application of nanocomposite magnets, DARPA.

Sung kwon Cho

  • Channel to droplet sample extraction and purification using electrowetting device, Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Advanced Research Projects Agency (HSARPA).
  • Micro bubble tweezers for individual cell manipulation and in vitro ultrasound cell therapy, NSF-ECS.
  • Channel to droplet sample extraction analysis (SEA) cartridge for food testing and Homeland Security application, Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Advanced Research Projects Agency (HSARPA).
  • Enhanced Water Recovery of Power Plant Cooling Tower Systems, DOE-NETL.

Minking k. Chyu

  • Acoustic wave gas sensors for ultra-high temperature environments, National Science Foundation (NSF).
  • Effects of coating blockage and deposit on film cooling effectiveness and heat transfer, University Turbine System Research, DOE.
  • Stability and quench protection for HTS superconducting magnets, AFOSR, US Air Force.
  • Heat transfer on convective surfaces with pin-fins mounted in inclined angles, Solar Turbines.
  • Turbine Aerothermal and Material Research for Oxy-fuel and Hydrogen Cycles, DOE-NETL.

  • Nanofluids for Enhanced Thermal Energy Transport, DOE-NETL. 
  • Aerothermal-Material Integrated Thermal Protection, DOE-NETL.

  • Multifunctional Smart Nanoparticle Based Drilling Fluids for Ultra Deep Oil and Gas Exploration, DOE-NETL.

  • Enhanced Water Recovery of Power Plant Cooling Tower Systems, DOE-NETL.

William W. Clark

  • Structures with Reconfigurable Circulatory Systems, DARPA.
  • Light-Activated Shape Memory Polymer Composites, DARPA / Cornerstone Research Group.
  • Fiber-Reinforced Morphing Composite Skin, DARPA / NextGen Aeronautics.
  • Augmenting the lifetime of batteries for implantable devices, National Science Foundation / Piezo Energy Technologies.

Anthony J. Deardo

  • Development of TRIP and IF steels using TSCE processing, Baoshan Iron and Steel Co.
  • Study of the sources of property variability in HSLA steels. Sponsoring companies and agency: U.S. Steel, Rouge Steel, HyLSA Steel, Reference Metals Company, and AISI.
  • New ultra-low carbon high strength steels with improved bake hardenability for enhanced stretch formability and dent resistance. DOE, ORNL, U.S. Steel, Weirton Steel, and Reference Metals Company.
  • Development of ultra-high strength linepipe steels. Wuhan Steel and TAMSA.
  • A new approach to TRIP steels. U.S. Steel and Reference Metals Company.
  • Physical metallurgy of high strength thin slab casting steels. Nucor Steel, HyLSA, and Reference Metals Company.
  • Development of medium carbon steels with enhanced machinability, Machinability Consortium.
  • Development of dual-phase and trip steels for automotive applications, Nucor Steel.

Pradeep fulay

  • Magnetically assisted CMP of low-K polymers, NSF.

Giovanni P. Galdi

  • Mathematical Analysis of Some Problems of Particle-Liquid Motion, NSF.

Peyman Givi

  • Comprehensive characterization of oxy-fuel/hydrogen turbine systems, DOE NETL.

Mark Kimber

  • Propulsion through vibration of cantilevers, Pitt internal.
  • Fundamental study of thermal striping in nuclear energy generation, Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

Jung-Kun Lee

  • Multifunctional Smart Nanoparticle Based Drilling Fluids for Ultra Deep Oil and Gas Exploration, DOE-NETL.
  • Enhanced Water Recovery of Power Plant Cooling Tower Systems, DOE-NETL.

John P. Leonard

  • Nanofluids for Enhanced Thermal Energy Transport, DOE-NETL.

Scott X. Mao

  • Nano- and microscale experiments and theoretical modeling for strain gradient plasticity, National Science Foundation (NSF).

Gerald Meier

  • Fundamental Studies of the Durability of Materials for Interconnects in Solid Oxide Fuel Cells, Office of Naval Research.
  • "Materials of Oxy-Fuel Turbomachine Conditions", DOE-UTSR.
  • High-Temperature Coatings: Effects of Composition and Microstructure on Reaction Behavior under Aggressive Environmental Conditions, Office of Naval Research.
  • Advanced Air Plasma Sprayed Thermal Barrier Coatings, NETL-IAES.
  • Materials of Oxy-Fuel Coal Combustion Systems, NETL-IAES.

Ian nettleship

  • Nanofluids for Enhanced Thermal Energy Transport, DOE-NETL.
  • The processing of highly porous ceramics by analogy with quasi-regular eutectic structures, National Science Foundation.
  • Validation of sintering models by the application of advanced microstructural analysis, Sandia National Laboratory.
  • An interdisciplinary approach to process control at the microstructure level: The application to the fracture strength of advanced ceramics, with Professor Smith of the Department of Systems and Industrial Engineering, Auburn University; National Science Foundation.

Anne M. Robertson

  • Theoretical and numerical analysis of flow of viscoelastic fluids in pipes, NATO.
  • Study of the initiation, development and rupture of cerebral aneurysms, Whitaker Foundation.
  • Use of the chimera grids for numerical studies of flow in arterial bifurcations, National Science Foundation (NSF).
  • REU supplement: Use of chimera grids for numerical studies of flow in arterial bifurcations, National Science Foundation (NSF).

Laura Schaefer

  • Environmentally Sound: Thermoacousitc stirling heat engines.
  • Zeotropic flows in miniaturized absorption cycles.

William S. Slaughter

  • Nano and microscale experiments and theoretical modeling for strain gradient plasticity, National Science Foundation (NSF).
  • The use of micromechanical models in the prediction of microstructural paths and constitutive parameters for densification of powders, National Science Foundation (NSF).
  • Fatigue damage behavior of chemically treated bioprosthetic heart valve tissues, National Science Foundation (NSF).
  • Turbine Aerothermal and Material Research for Oxy-fuel and Hydrogen Cycles, DOE-NETL.

    Aerothermal-Material Integrated Thermal Protection, DOE-NETL.

Patrick Smolinski

  • Design, construction, and evaluation of a prototype wear testing machine for ankle implants, National Collegiate Investors and Innovators Alliance.
  • Design for non-round can development, Weirton Steel.
  • Modeling and analysis of open coil cooling, U.S. Steel.
  • Modeling and analysis of total ankle arthroplasty, Depuy, Inc.
  • Development of a precision roll alignment system, U.S. Steel and Weirton Steel.

Jeffrey Vipperman

  • Acoustic control using damped, resonant filters (electronic Helmholtz absorbers).
  • Evaluation of impact noise and acoustical signal processing, NIOSH-Cincinnati.
  • Variable orifice area technique (VOAT) design, U.S. Department of Energy.
  • Vibro-acoustic studies on a chamber core cylinder, Air Force Research Lab.
  • Worker dose and equipment noise identification, NIOSH-Pittsburgh Research Lab.
  • Enhanced time domain signal processing for the study of noise generation mechanisms, NIOSH-Pittsburgh Research Lab.
  • MEMS microvalve technology: Phase II, U.S. Department of Energy.

Qing-Ming Wang

  • Acoustic wave gas sensors for ultra-high temperature environments, National Science Foundation (NSF).
  • An acoustic wave cytosensor system for living cell study, National Science Foundation (NSF).
  • Fabrication of functional oxide nanotubes and nanorods for nanoelectromechanical devices, National Science Foundation (NSF).
  • Field-assisted manufacturing of multifunctional nanowire-polymer nanocomposites (NSF).
  • Integrated multimode thin film bulk acoustic wave resonators (ARO).
  • Scanning probe microscopy of nanomechanics and biomechanics research (ARO).

Sylvanus N. Wosu

  • Pitt Engineering Impact Program, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

Judith C. Yang

  • Nanoscale metal and metal alloy oxidation, National Science Foundation (NSF) Division of Materials Research (DMR), Department of Energy (DOE) Basic Energy Science (BES).
  • Materials passivation and degradation in low Earth orbit, Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR), MISSE-6.
  • Heterogeneous catalysis, DOE-BES, Petroleum Research Funds (PRF).
  • Nanowire formation, NSF-DMR.

 

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Strong research growth resulted in nearly $2.5 million of funded research in 2003.