Research Laboratories
The Advanced Manufacturing for Energy Devices (AMED) Lab at San Diego State University (SDSU) focuses on cutting-edge manufacturing methods for the fabrication of advanced functional materials with broad applications in energy conversion and storage, sensing, and wearable/flexible electronics.
The Bioengineering Laboratory located in E 329, has 800 ft2 of space in the SDSU Engineering Building and serves as both an instructional and research laboratory. Two workstations equipped with the BIOPAC instructional lab system provide “hands-on” experiences for approximately forty Biomechanics (ME 580) students each year. Ten-twelve undergraduate and graduate students also work on research projects each year in the area of cardiovascular biomechanics, biomaterials and medical devices.
Computational Active Matter Mechanics
The Combustion and Solar Energy Laboratory, located in EIS 211, provides research space for projects involving flammability testing and solar energy conversion. Undergraduates working on Senior Design projects and graduate students have helped outfit the lab with several pieces of unique equipment. Two material flammability test rigs were constructed to measure the burning rates of various materials to be used aboard spacecraft, such as composites and fabrics. The apparatuses are unique in their ability to recreate space craft atmospheres and flow patterns, especially by reducing the effects of buoyancy that we have on earth but that are not present on space craft. Another apparatus was built to pyrolyze methane at high pressure and temperature to create a carbon particle suspension to act as a high temperature solar absorbing medium. Additional combustion and solar projects include an apparatus to monitor wind speeds and their effect on wildfires, a solar air conditioner using a donated evacuated tube array, and a solar Stirling engine with a 1.8 m parabolic dish. Additionally, NASA has donated an optical table, a particle image velocimetry laser to use with a high megapixel camera we purchased, and various other components and tools to outfit the laboratory.
Welcome to Dynamic Systems and Control Laboratory (DSCL)! The lab focus is on a wide range of research efforts which include, but are not limited to, Nonlinear Modeling, Dynamic Analysis, Optimization (design, operation, and control), and Centralized/Decentralized Control of Multi-Robot Systems, Smart Flow Distribution Network, Magnetic Bearings, and Large-Scale Systems. Multidisciplinary systems have received much attention with respect to their complex physics leading us to develop efficient numerical and analytical tools along with experimental work to translate the ambiguous behaviors of these systems to understandable mathematical language.
Dynamic Systems and Intelligent Machines Lab is focused on the science of autonomy and producing advanced perception, control, planning, and decision-making techniques to enable robust operation of intelligent unmanned vehicles in spatially and temporally dynamic and uncertain environments.
Energy FANS Laboratory located at E425 A&B, is equipped with a power meter, flow meter, RMP meter, DAS, a combustion analyzer, and other thermal equipment.
Experimental Mechanics Laboratory Experimental Mechanics Laboratory (EML) was established in January 2012 to conduct basic and applied research in the area of mechanics of nontraditional materials. Specifically, our research is focused on the mechanics of polymers, composites and smart materials.
The Fire Research Laboratory located in E 331, is linked to the Thermal Science courses ME 350, 351, 653. It is equipped with a Flame Tracker which is an innovative combustion experimental set up devised at SDSU. To overcome the difficulty in studying a spreading flame, the Flame Tracker moves the fuel at exactly the same velocity of the propagating flame in the opposite direction. The flame, therefore, becomes stationary in the laboratory coordinates and can be photographed and probed.
The Interfacial Design Laboratory is focused on developing and disseminating cutting edge research in the areas of renewable energy, electrochemistry, and corrosion prevention. Our strategy is to develop and utilize novel characterization methods to clearly understand reasons of failure, inefficiency and poor performance. Using this foundation we then design rational solutions to challenges facing society.
The Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems Laboratory (MEMS Lab) is equipped with Photoresist Spinner, UV Light Source, and CCD Camera and Stereomicroscope System and various microfluidic equipment for soft lithography and microfabrication.
Multiscale Modeling of Materials
The Computational Reaserch Laboratory located in E 327, provides research space relating to the area of Multiscale Modeling of Materials.
The Powder Technology Laboratory (PTL) is linked with the courses ME 645 and ME 646 and is equipped with sintering furnaces, pressing equipment, analytical instruments for material characterizations of different kinds, a SPS machine, optical microscopes, and other state of the art equipment.