Thermal & Fluid Sciences

Automotive Laboratory, Walter E. Lay see "Walter E. Lay Automotive Laboratory"

Cavitation and Multiphase Flow Laboratory
Director: Steven L. Ceccio (ceccio@umich.edu)
1077 Lay Automotive Lab
Phone: (734) 936-0433
Fax: (734) 764-4256
The Cavitation and Multiphase Flow Laboratory is devoted to the study of a wide variety of multiphase flows, including gas-liquid flows, solid-gas flows, three-phase flows, cavitating, and boiling flows on both the laboratory and full scales.

Center for Lasers and Plasmas for Advanced Manufacturing see "Lasers and Plasmas for Advanced Manufacturing, Center for"

Combustion and Synthesis Kinetics & Diagnostics Laboratory
Contact: Margaret Wooldridge (mswool@umich.edu)
2202 GG Brown
Phone: (734) 647-4790
Fax: (734) 647-3170
The Combustion and Synthesis Kinetics & Diagnostics Laboratory is a facility where a range of laser-based diagnostics will be used to investigate basic characteristics of fundamental processes that are either related to combustion, especially pollutant formation, combustion-assisted materials synthesis, or chemical fire suppression and sprays. Its intention is to be both productive for the projects of individual interest and as a resource pool for the rest of the thermo-fluid science faculty. Furthermore, the combination of all available equipment will result in efficiencies of scale.

Computational Reacting Flows Laboratory
Director: Hong G. Im (hgim@umich.edu)
2046 GG Brown
Phone: (734) 615-5152
Fax: (734) 647-3170
The Computational Reacting Flows Laboratory explores diverse high-fidelity numerical modeling approaches to fundamental and practical combustion and reacting flow systems that are applicable to internal combustion engines, gas turbines, micro-combustors, and fuel reformers for fuel cells. The Laboratory is equipped with a 24-CPU Linux cluster based on Intel Pentium 4 processors, and a number of serial workstations for large-scale simulations.

Heat Transfer Physics
Director: Massoud Kaviany (kaviany@umich.edu)
2186 GG Brown (Director, 3108 GG Brown)
Phone: (734) 764-3487
Fax: (734) 647-3170
Our research is on transport and transformation kinetics of thermal energy involving phonon, electron, fluid particle and photon, with innovative use in new technologies. Our current projects include molecular design of thermoelectric materials used for cooling or power generation. While small electronic band gaps and relatively high carrier concentrations help with desirable enhancing electrical properties (Seebeck coefficient and electrical conductivity), enhancing phonon scatterings help with desirable lowering phonon conductivity. Using quantum and molecular dynamics computation, we search for molecular structures (including nano-structures) with high thermoelectric figure of merit. In laser cooling of ion-doped crystals, the absorbed photon has a deficit in overcoming the electronic gap and is made up by absorbing phonos (thus cooling the crystal). We look at increasing the efficiency (and extending the cooling range to cryogenic temperatures) of this laser cooling by optimizing the photon absorption using nan o powders, and by examining the role of crystal phonon density of states and the dopant concentration. In MEMS cryo-cooler project, we use a novel staged micro thermoelectric cooler designed to cool functional microstructures. The thermoelectric materials used are telluride compound films, and with complete back etching and using suspension posts, we plan to eliminate substrate parasitic heat transfer. We also examine onset of motion of dropwise condensate (on inclined substrate) under applied DC potential, experimentally, with theoretical description based on overcoming of the static three-phase contact line (TCL) friction by electrowetting (i.e., exerting electrostatic force thus causing an imbalance in TCL surface tension forces).

Laboratory on Transport, Reaction and Phase Change in Porous Media see "Transport, Reaction and Phase Change in Porous Media, Laboratory on"

Laboratory for Turbulence Physics and Computation see "Turbulence Physics and Computation, Laboratory on"

Lasers and Plasmas for Advanced Manufacturing, Center for
Director: Jyotirmoy (Jyoti) Mazumder (mazumder@umich.edu)
Contact: Susan C. Charnley, Secretary, (734) 647-6824
Phone: (734) 647-6824
Fax: (734) 763-5772
Center Mission: The University of Michigan Center for Lasers and Plasmas for Advanced Manufacturing is created to develop a fundamental understanding of laser-aided intelligent manufacturing to reduce lead-time for concept-to-product manufacturing for U. S. industry.

Microsystems Technology and Science Lab
Director: Katsuo Kurabayashi (katsuo@umich.edu)
2021 G G Brown
Phone: (734) 615-5211
Fax: (734) 647-3137
Microsystems Technology and Science Lab aims to develop new technologies for future MicroElectroMechanical Systems (MEMS) and NanoElectroMechanical Systems. This mission is supported by solid knowledge on micro/nanoscale physical phenomena, device design rules, and materials processing. Our major research activities are categorized into three major areas: (1) micro/nano-scale electrothermal transport; (2) device design & material processing; and (3) biomoleclar nanotechnology for the next generation of microsystems technology. Our research is highly interdisciplinary and promotes active interactions with electrical engineers, materials scientists, and biophysicists. Our desire is to carry out cutting-edge research supporting emerging microsystems technology and nanotechnology.

Quantitative Laser Diagnostics Laboratory
Director: Volker Sick (vsick@umich.edu)
2023 Auto Lab
Phone: (734) 647-9607
Fax: (734) 764-4256
The Quantitative Laser Diagnostics Laboratory is involved in the development and application of quantitative laser diagnostic tools for reactive and non-reactive flows with a particular emphasis on internal combustion engines.

Solid State Thermal Physics Laboratory
Direc tor: Kevin Pipe (pipe@umich.edu)
2211A GG Brown
Other Affiliated Faculty: Max Shtein
Phone: (734) 763-6624
Fax: (734) 647-3170
The Solid State Thermal Physics Laboratory conducts research in heat transfer at micro and nano size scales, especially examining electronic/optoelectronic devices and thermoelectric/thermionic effects.

Turbulence Physics and Computation, Laboratory on
Director: Rayhaneh Akhavan (raa@umich.edu)
2016 GG Brown
Phone: (734) 763-1048
Fax: (734) 647-3170
The Laboratory for Turbulence Physics and Computation seeks basic insight into the complex physics of turbulent flows through numerical simulations in order to develop novel turbulence control and turbulence modelling strategies.

Variable Gravity Research Laboratory
Director: William W. Schultz (schultz@umich.edu)
Co-Director: Herman Merte, Jr. (merte@umich.edu)
2027 Auto Lab
Phone: (734) 936-0351
Fax: (734) 764-4256
Research areas include buble dynamics, dryout/rewetting of heated surfaces under microgravity conditions, pool boiling curves in microgravity, and origin of the dynamic growth of vapor bubbles associated with vapor explosions.

Walter E. Lay Automotive Laboratory
Director: Dennis Assanis assanis@umich.edu
2045 W. E. Lay Automotive Lab
Phone: (734) 764-8464
True to its namesake, former Mechanical Engineering professor Walter E. Lay (BSE ME '15), the Lay Automotive Lab has supported education and research since the early 1900s. Today, the Lab's research interests are wide-ranging but generally associated with: engine combustion, emissions control, friction, fuel efficiency, vehicular hybrid propulsion and electronics design, and vehicle aerodynamics. It encompasses twelve engine test cells, a high-bay vehicle laboratory, machine shops, and instructional and computer laboratories, including Fluid Mechanics. Michigan Engineering's proximity to Detroit -- the heart of the nation's auto industry -- has made the Lay Automotive Lab a vital contributor to industry.