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School of Mechanical Engineering
THE UNIVERSITY OF ADELAIDE
SA 5005
AUSTRALIA
Email
Telephone: +61 8 8303 5460
Facsimile: +61 8 8303 4367
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Research Activities
The School of Mechanical Engineering conducts research in a diverse and wide range of areas. Major areas of interest include the following:
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.
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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
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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.
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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.
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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.
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