Research
![Robot](/content/me_vt_edu/en/research/_jcr_content/article-image.transform/m-medium/image.jpg)
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 are divided into these focus areas:
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.
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Title Pinar Acar |
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Title Michael Bartlett |
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Title Jan Helge Bøhn |
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Title Erik Komendera |
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Title Bart Raeymaekers |
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Title Christopher Williams |
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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.
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Title Jiangtao Cheng |
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Title Raffaella De Vita |
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Title Sohan Kale |
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Title Rolf Müller |
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Title Amrinder Nain |
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Title Noel Naughton |
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Title Jake Socha |
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Title Anne Staples |
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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.
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Title Mehdi Ahmadian |
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Title Oumar Barry |
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Title John Ferris |
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Title Chris Fuller |
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Title Andrew J. Kurdila |
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Title Corina Sandu |
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Title Shima Shahab |
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Title Steve Southward |
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Title Saied Taheri |
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Title Zhenhua Tian |
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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.
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Title Michael Ellis |
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Title Joseph Meadows |
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Title Wing Ng |
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Title Ranga Pitchumani |
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Title Changmin Son |
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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.
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Title Romesh Batra |
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Title David Dillard |
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Title Warren Hardy |
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Title Mark Stremler |
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Title Jeff Warfford |
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Title Robert West |
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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.
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Title David Freeman |
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Title Alireza Haghighat |
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Title Amanda Leong |
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Title Yang Liu |
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Title Jinsuo Zhang |
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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.
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Title Kaveh Akbari Hamed |
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Title Alan Asbeck |
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Title Pinhas Ben-Tzvi |
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Title Kevin Kochersberger |
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Title Suyi Li |
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Title Dylan Losey |
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Title Matt Nowinski |
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Title Alfred Wicks |
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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.
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Title Jonathan Boreyko |
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Title David Gonzales |
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Title Scott Huxtable |
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Title Brian Lattimer |
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Title Roop Mahajan |
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Title Mark Paul |
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Title Rui Qiao |
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Title Danesh Tafti |
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Title Alexandrina Untaroiu |
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Title Michael von Spakovsky |
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