Research Activities

Acoustics Vibration and Control

The Acoustics, Vibration and Control Group was established in 1987 with a grant from the Sir Ross and Sir Keith Smith fund for fundamental studies leading to a system to actively control aircraft cabin noise. The aim of the group is to undertake fundamental and applied research in active noise and vibration control and to apply the results of research to the development of commercial controllers and to the installation of practical systems in industry.

The group has diversified research interests including dynamics and control, ultrasound, vibration isolation, condition monitoring, thermoacoustics, psychoacoustics, vibro-acoustics, underwater acoustics, noise control, magnetic bearings, and many more.

Visit the AVC group's website.

Fluid Mechanics, Energy and Combustion

The Fluid Mechanics Energy and Combustion Group is a research group with members drawn the from the Schools of Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, and Mathematical Sciences at The University of Adelaide. The group comprises approximately ten staff and twelve postgraduate research students. They work on the control of turbulence and its application in combustion to provide environmentally responsible commercial solutions for industry. To this end the group performs both fundamental research, and technology development. Since the late 1980s this group has published over 200 papers, it has consulted widely, and it has secured five patents.

Visit the Fluid Mechanics, Energy and Combustion group's website

Aerospace

The Aerospace Research Group focuses on fundamental and applied research in a wide range of aeronautics, fluid mechanics, aerodynamics and space related topics. Topics include the application of composite materials to aerospace structures, fixed-wing and rotary-wing platforms, numerical simulation, aeroacoustics, unmanned air vehicle design, flapping motion and morphing wing, hypersonic vehicles, pulse jet and rocket engines, satellite control and stability, aircraft control and stability, plasma aerodynamics and magneto hydrodynamics.

Our mission is to address real world aerospace related issues and provide the outcome to the society. We aim to perform internationally recognised innovative research and research excellence to make a difference to the economic well-being of Australian community.

Visit the Aerospace Engineering group's web site.

Robotics

The robotics group are involved with the construction, simulation and optimisation of robots. The group was formed in 2002 to further research into robotics at the University of Adelaide. Areas which are of particular interest to the group include micro-motion manipulators, robotic measurement systems, mobile robotics and the modelling of insects through robotics.

Visit the robotic's group web site.

Airconditioning

The School of Mechanical Engineering has for approximately twenty-five years maintained an active programme of research into the fundamental principles upon which a science of air conditioning can be established. The early work of the air conditioning research group focussed on a re-examination, using experimental techniques, of the assumptions upon which current air conditioning practice have been built. While the group retain their interest in obtaining a deeper understanding of the basic physical principles involved in the air conditioning process, in recent years the focus of their activities has moved towards the encapsulation of the knowledge gained in a methodology for the design of energy-efficient air conditioning systems.

The air conditioning group is led by Professor Sam Luxton and Dr. Patrick Marshallsay. The group operates a closed-circuit controlled climate wind tunnel for rating of dehumidifying coils, and for research into the fundamental processes involved in an air conditioning system. They have also developed ZEBRA, a unique computer code for air conditioning system simulation and design. A number of international patents have been granted for inventions arising from the group's work. Some of these form the basis for products marketed by DadanCo Pty. Ltd., a company established for the express purpose of facilitating the dissemination of the group's expertise into the marketplace. The group also maintains active links with a number of consulting practices and manufacturers, both in Australia and overseas, and with the Faculty of Architecture and Urban Design at the University of Adelaide, and are involved in collaborative research with the Bureau of Meteorology into the use of climate data in air conditioning design.