Research

Mechanical Engineering is a wide field of study, diving into the way things work to create new approaches and tools. At Virginia Tech, the researchers in the Department of Mechanical Engineering work with particular focus in these areas:

Advanced manufacturing and design
Bioinspired engineering
Dynamics, vibrations, and acoustics
Energy systems
Mechanics
Nuclear engineering
Robotics and autonomous systems
Thermo-fluid sciences

Advanced Manufacturing and Design

Advanced Manufacturing started with the early stages of 3D printing and has grown with the technology. Today, a full survey of advanced manufacturing is part of the department’s research strategy. Strengths include novel approaches to materials, multi-axis printing, multi-tool printing and assembly, and integration of industry with education.

Faculty working in this area

Title	Tags
Pinar Acar	mathematical analysis uncertainty quantification design optimization smart materials nanomaterials materials design modeling
Michael Bartlett	nature-inspired innovation soft robotics smart materials materials design wearable robotics
Jan Helge Bøhn	advanced manufacturing prototyping design theory modeling 3D printing
Jie Chen	advanced manufacturing mathematical analysis uncertainty quantification machine learning design optimization optimization materials design modeling
David Dillard	hydrogen energy energy systems aircraft design biomaterials automotive engineering materials design clean energy Solid Mechanics 3D printing education
Erik Komendera	in-space assembly advanced manufacturing human-robot interaction robotic work cells machine learning robotics
Amanda Leong	nuclear engineering sensors clean energy
Rui Qiao	hydrogen energy fluid mechanics PFAS nanotechnology advanced manufacturing batteries microfluidics and nanofluidics turbomachinery clean energy energy systems heat transfer transport phenomena modeling
Bart Raeymaekers	advanced manufacturing tribology medical devices materials design 3D printing
Jake Socha	nature-inspired innovation soft robotics biomechanics kinematics biomaterials aerodynamics mechanobiology
Christopher Williams	advanced manufacturing robotic work cells drones design theory materials design 3D printing education
Jinsuo Zhang	nuclear policy heat transfer fuel cycle safety systems nuclear engineering clean energy

Bioinspired Engineering

Nature is often the best engineer, and studying the complex systems found in the natural world often leads to novel solutions. Researchers in this area have taken the mechanics found in insects, sea creatures, humans, and other organisms to tackle complex global issues.

Faculty working in this area

Title	Tags
Michael Bartlett	nature-inspired innovation soft robotics smart materials materials design wearable robotics
Jonathan Boreyko	nature-inspired innovation fluid mechanics heat transfer microfluidics and nanofluidics nanomaterials transport phenomena energy harvesting water harvesting
Jiangtao Cheng	nature-inspired innovation fluid mechanics nanotechnology energy systems heat transfer sensors clean energy
Raffaella De Vita	biomechanics mathematical analysis machine learning Continuum Mechanics biomaterials Mechanics of Materials materials design Soft Tissue Mechanics biomedical applications complex systems Solid Mechanics education
Sohan Kale	biomechanics biomaterials modeling Solid Mechanics
Suyi Li	soft robotics vibration research robotics smart materials materials design
Rolf Müller	nature-inspired innovation controls soft robotics autonomous systems biomechanics acoustics machine learning robotics sensors
Amrinder Nain	nature-inspired innovation cancer studies biomechanics nanotechnology advanced manufacturing biomaterials smart materials nanomaterials medical devices biomedical applications mechanobiology
Noel Naughton	nature-inspired innovation soft robotics biomechanics imaging robotics modeling
Jake Socha	nature-inspired innovation soft robotics biomechanics kinematics biomaterials aerodynamics mechanobiology
Anne Staples	nature-inspired innovation fluid mechanics biomechanics computational fluid dynamics mathematical analysis machine learning microfluidics and nanofluidics medical devices biomedical applications modeling 3D printing

Dynamics, Vibrations, and Acoustics

When energy travels, it creates a response. Whether it travels across a solid surface or through the air, the study of those effects yields possibilities for automotives, medical devices, the power grid, and more.

Faculty working in this area

Title	Tags
Mehdi Ahmadian	truck roll stability advanced driver assistance programs safety systems smart materials railroad robotics tire research energy harvesting large trucks railroad engineering vehicle control vehicle dynamics
Oumar Barry	fluid mechanics acoustics energy systems vibration research robotics smart materials energy harvesting sensors DC Area
Pinhas Ben-Tzvi	human-robot interaction kinematics machine learning prototyping medical devices sensors prosthetics dynamics mathematical analysis biomedical applications multibody systems nature-inspired innovation controls soft robotics autonomous systems design optimization exoskeletons robotics intelligent systems smart materials haptic feedback machine design modeling wearable robotics mechatronics
John Ferris	autonomous systems terramechanics robotics automotive engineering
Chris Fuller	acoustics vibration research robotics medical devices materials design
Andrew J. Kurdila	nature-inspired innovation controls dynamics mathematical analysis robotics
Joseph Meadows	combustion and fire acoustics heat transfer computational fluid dynamics turbomachinery clean energy
Rolf Müller	nature-inspired innovation controls soft robotics autonomous systems biomechanics acoustics machine learning robotics sensors
Wing Ng	acoustics wind turbines heat transfer drones aerodynamics turbomachinery clean energy
Bart Raeymaekers	advanced manufacturing tribology medical devices materials design 3D printing
Corina Sandu	autonomous systems terramechanics kinematics design optimization vibration research robotics automotive engineering large trucks vehicle dynamics sensitivity analysis dynamics mathematical analysis uncertainty quantification off-road mobility tire research modeling multibody systems
Shima Shahab	acoustics dynamics smart materials modeling DC Area Solid Mechanics
Steve Southward	controls autonomous systems adaptive signal processing dynamics mathematical analysis robotics automotive engineering sensors vehicle control modeling vehicle dynamics
Saied Taheri	controls robotics automotive engineering tire research railroad engineering
Zhenhua Tian	acoustics vibration research imaging robotics biomaterials smart materials nanomaterials
Jeff Warfford	machine design kinematics automotive engineering tire research modeling vehicle dynamics education

Energy Systems

Energy use is a critical element in global sustainability, demanding constant development in efficiency and new sources. From novel methods of solar energy collection to microscale-level analysis of propulsion systems, this focus area offers a wide range of possibilities for power.

Faculty working in this area

Title	Tags
Mehdi Ahmadian	truck roll stability advanced driver assistance programs safety systems smart materials railroad robotics tire research energy harvesting large trucks railroad engineering vehicle control vehicle dynamics
Oumar Barry	fluid mechanics acoustics energy systems vibration research robotics smart materials energy harvesting sensors DC Area
Jonathan Boreyko	nature-inspired innovation fluid mechanics heat transfer microfluidics and nanofluidics nanomaterials transport phenomena energy harvesting water harvesting
Jiangtao Cheng	nature-inspired innovation fluid mechanics nanotechnology energy systems heat transfer sensors clean energy
David Dillard	hydrogen energy energy systems aircraft design biomaterials automotive engineering materials design clean energy Solid Mechanics 3D printing education
Michael Ellis	hydrogen energy energy systems fuel cycle clean energy modeling
David Freeman	safety systems nuclear engineering clean energy
Alireza Haghighat	nuclear policy nuclear power plants nuclear engineering virtual reality nuclear reactor design clean energy modeling DC Area atomic physics
Brian Lattimer	combustion and fire fluid mechanics PFAS heat transfer safety systems machine learning transport phenomena materials design clean energy electric vehicles modeling
Amanda Leong	nuclear engineering sensors clean energy
Amanda Leong	nuclear engineering sensors clean energy
Yang Liu	heat transfer safety systems nuclear engineering clean energy
Joseph Meadows	combustion and fire acoustics heat transfer computational fluid dynamics turbomachinery clean energy
Wing Ng	acoustics wind turbines heat transfer drones aerodynamics turbomachinery clean energy
Matt Nowinski	machine learning turbomachinery clean energy education
Ranga Pitchumani	hydrogen energy nanotechnology energy systems transport phenomena energy harvesting materials design clean energy DC Area
Rui Qiao	hydrogen energy fluid mechanics PFAS nanotechnology advanced manufacturing batteries microfluidics and nanofluidics turbomachinery clean energy energy systems heat transfer transport phenomena modeling
Changmin Son	heat transfer aerodynamics turbomachinery clean energy gas turbine design prognostics and health management
Jinsuo Zhang	nuclear policy heat transfer fuel cycle safety systems nuclear engineering clean energy
Jinsuo Zhang	nuclear policy heat transfer fuel cycle safety systems nuclear engineering clean energy

Mechanics

Understanding the behavior of complex systems requires a suite of tools based in physics and mathematics, and developing and implementing those tools is the work of the Mechanics Focus Area. This discipline gives results that can be integrated widely across interdisciplinary applications, increasing the understanding of foundational engineering principles.

Faculty working in this area

Title	Tags
Pinar Acar	mathematical analysis uncertainty quantification design optimization smart materials nanomaterials materials design modeling
Romesh Batra	smart materials Mechanics of Materials Solid Mechanics
Pinhas Ben-Tzvi	human-robot interaction kinematics machine learning prototyping medical devices sensors prosthetics dynamics mathematical analysis biomedical applications multibody systems nature-inspired innovation controls soft robotics autonomous systems design optimization exoskeletons robotics intelligent systems smart materials haptic feedback machine design modeling wearable robotics mechatronics
Raffaella De Vita	biomechanics mathematical analysis machine learning Continuum Mechanics biomaterials Mechanics of Materials materials design Soft Tissue Mechanics biomedical applications complex systems Solid Mechanics education
David Dillard	hydrogen energy energy systems aircraft design biomaterials automotive engineering materials design clean energy Solid Mechanics 3D printing education
Mark Stremler	fluid mechanics biomechanics dynamics computational fluid dynamics mathematical analysis microfluidics and nanofluidics transport phenomena energy harvesting modeling
Jeff Warfford	machine design kinematics automotive engineering tire research modeling vehicle dynamics education
Robert West	machine design mathematical analysis drones aerodynamics modeling Solid Mechanics education

Nuclear Engineering

The use of nuclear energy, the policies surrounding its implementation, and the safety of its deployment are the strengths of faculty in the Nuclear Engineering Focus Area. Members of this team have been instrumental in the expansion of nuclear energy in Virginia, and maintain international partnerships to offer highly competitive opportunities to students.

Faculty working in this area

Title	Tags
David Freeman	safety systems nuclear engineering clean energy
Alireza Haghighat	nuclear policy nuclear power plants nuclear engineering virtual reality nuclear reactor design clean energy modeling DC Area atomic physics
Amanda Leong	nuclear engineering sensors clean energy
Yang Liu	heat transfer safety systems nuclear engineering clean energy
Jinsuo Zhang	nuclear policy heat transfer fuel cycle safety systems nuclear engineering clean energy

Robotics and Autonomous Systems

One of the oldest disciplines in mechanical engineering is also the seat of some of its most groundbreaking innovations. In addition to the legacy approach which includes metal parts and controls, faculty have been widely recognized for their contributions in soft robotics, mechatronics, autonomous systems, adaptive systems, and more.

Faculty working in this area

Title	Tags
Kaveh Akbari Hamed	controls autonomous systems dynamics machine learning robotics intelligent systems optimization complex systems wearable robotics
Alan Asbeck	machine design controls biomechanics human-robot interaction machine learning exoskeletons robotics haptic feedback sensors wearable robotics mechatronics
Michael Bartlett	nature-inspired innovation soft robotics smart materials materials design wearable robotics
Bahareh Behkam	soft robotics nanotechnology intelligent systems microfluidics and nanofluidics transport phenomena medical devices biomedical applications mechanobiology
Pinhas Ben-Tzvi	human-robot interaction kinematics machine learning prototyping medical devices sensors prosthetics dynamics mathematical analysis biomedical applications multibody systems nature-inspired innovation controls soft robotics autonomous systems design optimization exoskeletons robotics intelligent systems smart materials haptic feedback machine design modeling wearable robotics mechatronics
John Ferris	autonomous systems terramechanics robotics automotive engineering
Kevin Kochersberger	controls autonomous systems drones robotics aerodynamics
Erik Komendera	in-space assembly advanced manufacturing human-robot interaction robotic work cells machine learning robotics
Suyi Li	soft robotics vibration research robotics smart materials materials design
Dylan Losey	controls human-robot interaction machine learning robotics
Rolf Müller	nature-inspired innovation controls soft robotics autonomous systems biomechanics acoustics machine learning robotics sensors
Noel Naughton	nature-inspired innovation soft robotics biomechanics imaging robotics modeling
Matt Nowinski	machine learning turbomachinery clean energy education
Corina Sandu	autonomous systems terramechanics kinematics design optimization vibration research robotics automotive engineering large trucks vehicle dynamics sensitivity analysis dynamics mathematical analysis uncertainty quantification off-road mobility tire research modeling multibody systems
Shima Shahab	acoustics dynamics smart materials modeling DC Area Solid Mechanics
Robert West	machine design mathematical analysis drones aerodynamics modeling Solid Mechanics education
Alfred Wicks	controls autonomous systems robotics automotive engineering sensors mechatronics

Thermo-Fluid Sciences

The movement of heat and the flow of fluids has a wide variety of applications including technology, health care, food science, propulsion, and consumer products. Research in this area includes mathematical modeling and physical testing to drive new breakthroughs.

Faculty working in this area

Title	Tags
Jonathan Boreyko	nature-inspired innovation fluid mechanics heat transfer microfluidics and nanofluidics nanomaterials transport phenomena energy harvesting water harvesting
Jiangtao Cheng	nature-inspired innovation fluid mechanics nanotechnology energy systems heat transfer sensors clean energy
Michael Ellis	hydrogen energy energy systems fuel cycle clean energy modeling
David Gonzales	heat transfer aerodynamics turbomachinery clean energy
Scott Huxtable	nanotechnology energy systems heat transfer energy harvesting sensors clean energy electric vehicles
Brian Lattimer	combustion and fire fluid mechanics PFAS heat transfer safety systems machine learning transport phenomena materials design clean energy electric vehicles modeling
Amanda Leong	nuclear engineering sensors clean energy
Roop Mahajan	porous media heat transfer coal products graphene biomedical applications DC Area metal foams education
Wing Ng	acoustics wind turbines heat transfer drones aerodynamics turbomachinery clean energy
Mark Paul	fluid mechanics biomechanics dynamics nanotechnology mathematical analysis clean energy
Mark Paul	fluid mechanics biomechanics dynamics nanotechnology mathematical analysis clean energy
Ranga Pitchumani	hydrogen energy nanotechnology energy systems transport phenomena energy harvesting materials design clean energy DC Area
Rui Qiao	hydrogen energy fluid mechanics PFAS nanotechnology advanced manufacturing batteries microfluidics and nanofluidics turbomachinery clean energy energy systems heat transfer transport phenomena modeling
Jake Socha	nature-inspired innovation soft robotics biomechanics kinematics biomaterials aerodynamics mechanobiology
Changmin Son	heat transfer aerodynamics turbomachinery clean energy gas turbine design prognostics and health management
Anne Staples	nature-inspired innovation fluid mechanics biomechanics computational fluid dynamics mathematical analysis machine learning microfluidics and nanofluidics medical devices biomedical applications modeling 3D printing
Mark Stremler	fluid mechanics biomechanics dynamics computational fluid dynamics mathematical analysis microfluidics and nanofluidics transport phenomena energy harvesting modeling
Danesh Tafti	fluid mechanics high-performance computing heat transfer computational fluid dynamics aerodynamics turbomachinery clean energy biomedical applications modeling
Alexandrina Untaroiu	fluid mechanics machine learning design optimization vibration research medical devices turbomachinery biomechanics wind turbines computational fluid dynamics tribology aerodynamics tire research biomedical applications modeling
Michael von Spakovsky	non-equilibrium thermodynamics energy systems heat transfer clean energy modeling
Jinsuo Zhang	nuclear policy heat transfer fuel cycle safety systems nuclear engineering clean energy
Jinsuo Zhang	nuclear policy heat transfer fuel cycle safety systems nuclear engineering clean energy

Research

Advanced Manufacturing and Design

Bioinspired Engineering

Dynamics, Vibrations, and Acoustics

Energy Systems

Mechanics

Nuclear Engineering

Robotics and Autonomous Systems

Thermo-Fluid Sciences

Virginia Tech Department of Mechanical Engineering 445 Goodwin Hall, 635 Prices Fork Road - MC 0238 Blacksburg, VA 24061 Phone: (540) 231-7183 Fax: (540) 231-0422

Virginia Tech Department of Mechanical Engineering
445 Goodwin Hall, 635 Prices Fork Road - MC 0238
Blacksburg, VA 24061
Phone: (540) 231-7183
Fax: (540) 231-0422