AME Professor Dr. Feng C. Lai was appointed as Associate Editor of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) Journal of Thermophysics and Heat Transfer. Dr. Lai’s term will begin immediately and last through December 2017. As an Associate Editor, Dr. Lai will have the unique opportunity to serve his fellow engineers and scientists in the field of aerospace.
Congratulations, Dr. Lai!
In September 2014, Jonathan Meyer, David Miller, Robert Huck and Austin Lee participated in Tulsa Flight Night. Tulsa Flight Night is a Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) fundraiser for the Tulsa Area. For the event, the OU team created an autonomous quad-copter dance act. This involved two quad copters flying in a 20×20 foot area, moving and adjusting lighting in coordination with a musical piece selected by the event. The system utilized a downward looking camera from each copter that tracked a lighted target on the floor. Size, frame position and frame orientation of the target image, when combined with information from the copters inertial system (gyros and accelerometers) allowed the autonomous system to calculate the copters position, orientation, pose and make the proper adjustments to carry out a pre-choreographed dance. This was new work done over the summer for a complete budget of under $25,000. The work was done by recent AME M.S. graduate, Jonathan Meyer.
David Miller is an AME Professor, Robert Huck is the Director of Applied Research and Unmanned Systems and Austin Lee is an Electrical and Computer Engineering M.S. student.
To view the encore of the even held in Felgar Hall 300, please click here.
As the School of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering continues to grow, the faculty and students keep things exciting with great accomplishments and honors. We want to recognize some of the recent accomplishments with AME kudos’.
The School of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering Graduate Student Community (GSC) hosted an International Food Festival on Friday, October 3, 2014. The event was open to AME graduate students, AME faculty, other graduate students and families. Attendees were encouraged to prepare an ethnic dish from their country to share. It was also requested that they record the name of the dish, the country it originated from and the main ingredients for all to see.
Over 40 people attended the International Food Festival from 10 different schools from OU. Eight of those 40 attendees were professors. There was over 20 different ethnic dishes from 10 different countries including Iran, India, Nigeria, Turkey, Hungary, Serbia, China, Lebanon, Thailand and the United States.
Overall, the event was a success and the GSC continues to grow in size and expand their list of activities. For more information regarding AME GSC, please contact Oluwaseyi “Seyi” Ogunsola at oogunsola@ou.edu.
Dr. Jivtesh Garg, AME Assistant Professor, attended Massachusetts Institute of Technology where he received his Ph.D. in mechanical engineering in 2011. Dr. Garg will teach AME 5573 Advanced Engineering Analysis beginning Fall 2014.
Dr. Garg has a background and research interests in first-principles prediction of transport properties of materials, thermoelectrics, coupled conduction and radiation heat transfer across nanoscale gaps, and thermal properties and rheology of nanofluids.
He is a member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers and the Materials Research Society.
The excellent research in the field of nanostructured composite materials for applications ranging from energy to mechanical properties is just one reason Dr. Garg joined the AME Team.
Click here to view Dr. Garg’s page on the AME website.
Dr. Yingtao Liu, AME Assistant Professor, received his Ph.D. in mechanical engineering from Arizona State University in 2012. Dr. Liu will teach AME 2113 Statics beginning Fall 2014.
Dr. Liu’s research will focus on developing novel multifunctional nanocomposites and smart sensor systems, which can be potentially integrated within the next generation structural health management systems to improve the structural safety and to reduce the life-cycle maintenance costs.
He is a member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, and Society of Photonics Engineers.
Dr. Liu looks forward to the collaborative work environment and outstanding faculty, staff, and students at AME and joining a team full of “A” players while having the opportunity to serve as a scholar.
Click here to view Dr. Liu’s page on the AME website.
Dr. Mrinal C. Saha and Dr. M. Cengiz Altan recently received research funding from ConocoPhillips for research titled Measurement of Thermal Conductivity of Insulation Materials Containing Moisture at Different Temperatures. Saha and Altan are working to increase the reliability and longevity of the pipelines used to transport oil and natural gas across the world.
Through the years many different insulation materials have been used to prevent corrosion in the pipelines. However, recent studies have shown different types of insulation materials are often damaged by humidity and rain, which may cause severe corrosion to the pipelines. Not only is corrosion difficult to detect, but it could possibly cause structural damage in the pipeline.
Dr. Saha and Dr. Altan will perform relevant experiments and develop predictive models for the longevity of a safely functioning pipeline before it must be replaced. First they will test the effectiveness of different types of wet and dry pipeline insulation by measuring their thermal conductivity. Saha and Altan will perform accelerated testing using a freeze-thaw cycle to achieve maximum water absorption by the insulation in a reasonable amount of time. They predict most insulation will absorb 70-80 percent of water in one week, whereas reaching this level of absorption may take several years for pipelines without accelerated freeze-thaw cycles.
Following the thermal conductivity measurements of the wet insulation, Saha and Altan will begin developing a predictive life cycle model for the pipeline insulation. There are many factors affecting the longevity of the insulation, water being the major factor. Different model parameters, extracted from the experimental data, will be incorporated in developing the predictive model for the pipeline insulation.
“The outcome is very important because the process is not only applicable to the gas pipeline, but it is also applicable in other areas such as asphalt, pavement, household insulation, shingles and roofing, and so on,” said Saha. “This could really benefit the industry as a whole.”
Dr. Chien Pan, Project Manager from ConocoPhillips, Dr. Mrinal Saha, Associate Professor at AME, and Elias Marsee, AME undergraduate researcher, observe tested insulation material.
On Monday, July 14, 2014 a delegation group from Thai Nguyen, Vietnam visited the School of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering at the University of Oklahoma. The trip occurred to discuss a possible collaboration with the mechanical engineering program between OU and Thai Nguyen University of Technology (TNUT). If this program were put into place, it would send Vietnamese students selected by the government to OU and AME for Ph.D. completion. Those students would then return to Vietnam to become faculty members.
In order for TNUT students to qualify for the potential program, they must first be selected by the university, must have completed their advanced program which is a 5-year curriculum taught in English. To enter the program, students have to take a highly competitive entrance exam to qualify. Once that is completed, the student must apply through the Graduate College at OU before acceptance into the graduate program. This collaboration between AME and TNUT would have support for at least four years from the Vietnam government.
Dr. Feng C. Lai, AME Professor, has spent time in Thai Nguyen, Vietnam teaching students during the summer and winter intersessions. He is hopeful for the possible collaboration as he says the students in Thai Nguyen study hard and the overall quality is great. “This is a win-win situation for all,” said Dr. Lai, “This is a great opportunity to increase the number of Ph.D. students in our graduate program, while recruiting these highly qualified students.”
Details are in the works and still being finalized. The program may begin as early as Spring 2015, but the ultimate goal is to begin in Fall 2015.
Pictured from left to right: Dr. Quang T. Phan, Rector of TNUT, Ms. Le Ha Do, Director of International Training Cooperation Center, Mr. Quoc H. Nguyen, Head of Management and Services Department, Mr. Ba Dung Ho, Director of Service Center, Dr. Feng C. Lai, AME Professor, and Dr. M. Cengiz Altan, AME Interim Director and Professor.
Dr. Li Song, assistant professor in the School of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering at the University of Oklahoma, along with her fellow research colleagues created a method to overcome inefficiencies in heating and cooling systems to reduce building operation costs as well as reduce energy consumption significantly. Song’s research has the possibility of reducing energy consumption in a single structure by as much as 20 percent. Furthermore, Song estimates some buildings could save as much as 30 to 50 percent.
A mathematical formula was created by Song’s research team based on existing output data such as pump speed and power. This formula allows monitoring of energy use in heating, ventilation, and air conditioning units. From these results, the formula can detect unreliable systems and faulty equipment that affects energy consumption. The formula creates virtual sensors used to identify energy waste in an air-handling unit and in a whole building.
“Waiting until exorbitant utility bills appear may be a sign that the equipment hasn’t worked optimally for years,” said Song. “This method allows earlier detection of minor equipment faults, possibly preventing an overhaul of the entire system.”
In addition to saving money on utility bills, Song’s formula is a low-cost option for commercial monitors allowing more companies to track and reduce energy consumption. An organization would need to purchase several ultrasonic flow meters, which monitor water pump performance, in order for accuracy costing roughly $5,000 per meter. This virtual process is within ±2% uncertainty range compared to commercial meters.
Previously, Song applied the energy monitoring, fault detection, and diagnosis manually in over 100 buildings saving over $70 million. For instance, in one building Song’s method reduced annual electricity consumption by 53 percent, electricity demand by 21 percent, and gas consumption by 49 percent in only one year. Another building qualified as an Energy Star building just after five months.
Song’s research has grown from the corporate sector and will now focus on the government division starting at Tinker Air Force Base in Oklahoma City. The U.S. Department of Defense awarded her research team a three-year $1 million contract to increase building efficiencies at military installments.
“The U.S. Department of Defense spends $4 billion each year in facility operations,” said Song. “They have a federal mandate to reduce building energy consumption by 30 percent by 2015. My research team thinks we can double the reduction.”
Song is only one of a few researchers working on efficiency improvements in heating, ventilation, and conditioning units using virtual sensor measurements. In addition, Song is currently developing a smart-device that contains the mathematical formulas allowing building owners to easily monitor an existing system as an ongoing task.
“The virtual valve flow meter won’t replace conventional flow meters if they are needed for utility metering for billing,” said Song, “but it does offer companies an inexpensive and readily accessible solution to monitor energy consumption. Companies can use the information to create a more efficient system, saving them money while reducing energy consumption.”
AME Director and LA Comp Chair Farrokh Mistree’s passion is to have fun while providing an opportunity for his students to learn how to define and achieve their dreams. He can often be heard throughout corridors of Felgar Hall urging students to get advanced degrees, loudly exclaiming, “Being a professor is the best job in the world!”
Mistree’s success as an engineer and educator was recognized once again this year when he was named a 2012 distinguished alumnus of his alma mater, Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur. He accepted the award in India from Shri Pranab Mukherjee, president of India.
This commendation was bestowed to a select group of alumni. Among the other recipients are deans and directors of colleges, presidents of large corporations, and researchers on the forefront of discoveries in fields like technology, engineering and medicine.
“This is a great honor,” said Mistree. “To be recognized by the institution that was the foundation for my career, and to be named among such an esteemed group of individuals, is at once humbling and an immense honor.”
In 1967 Mistree received a bachelor’s of technology degree with honors in naval architecture from IIT Kharagpur. While a student, he helped found a monthly news magazine called IMPACT, and was later asked to serve as editor-in-chief of Udhyog, an annual magazine. He was the recipient of the General Proficiency Award and received the Best Thesis in Naval Architecture Award.
Mistree went on to receive a Ph.D. in Engineering from the University of California at Berkley. Prior to coming to the University of Oklahoma, Norman he spent 17 years at the Georgia Institute of Technology Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, and served as the school’s associate chair.
Throughout his long and prestigious career, he has co-authored two textbooks, one monograph, and more than 350 technical papers dealing with the design of mechanical, thermal and structural systems, ships and aircraft. He has supervised 28 doctoral students and more than 50 master’s students, all of whom are well-placed around the world. Twelve of his doctoral students are pursuing highly successful careers in academia. He mentored two students who now own several for-profit colleges in Orissa, India.
Congratulations to AME faculty members who were promoted and who received tenure!
Peter Attar, Ph.D. – Aerospace Engineering
Promoted to associate professor and received tenure
Wilson Merchán-Merchán, Ph.D. – Mechanical Engineering
Promoted to associate professor and received tenure
Mrinal Saha, Ph.D. – Mechanical Engineering
Promoted to associate professor and received tenure
Professor – Zahed Siddique, Ph.D. – Mechanical Engineering
Promoted to full professor
Associate Professor – Prakash Vedula, Ph.D. – Aerospace Engineering
Promoted to associate professor and received tenure