Alternative Fuel
Dr. Walter Bradley, Baylor Distinguished Professor, is working with Dr. John Pumwa of Papua New Guinea in using coconut oil for diesel fuel. Pumwa, deputy head of the department of mechanical engineering at Papua New Guinea University of Technology, completed doctoral work in mechanical engineering at Texas A&M University in 1997. He is the son of early converts of Papua New Guinea's first Australian Baptist missionaries. He credits his Christian lifestyle as the influence that enabled him to become the first Papua New Guinean to earn a doctorate in an engineering field.
Bone Biomechanics
In collaboration with researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center, we are studying the effects of different drug treatments and/or different phenotypes on the mechanical properties of bones in a mouse animal model for osteoporosis. In a different project in collaboration with researchers in Baylor's Forensic Sciences program, we are studying the effects of different degradation conditions on the mechanical properties of long bones in sheep.
Complex plasma physics
In collaboration with the theory group of CASPER, we are building a model to study the dust-plasma interactions including dynamic grain charging model in plasma and a model for the plasma sheath.
Effects of Flow Separation on Low Pressure Gas Turbine Blades
Flow separation is becoming an increasing problem in highly loaded turbine blades. A gas turbine suction surface simulator has been developed for the Baylor University low speed wind tunnel. A contoured top wall in the test section enables the pressure distribution to be simulated on flat plate that corresponds to actual separated flow conditions. Techniques to stop separation will be studied as well as the impact of separation on heat transfer (using a steady state gold foil liquid crystal technique). Comparison will be made with the CFD code Fluent.
Exercise Equipment
Curves International is the parent company for the "Curves for Women" exercise franchises seen in every state and all over the world. As with any highly successful business endeavor, the company and its founder/CEO Gary Heavin recognize that continued success depends on innovation.
Gas Turbine Impingement Cooling
A new experimental facility developed at Baylor University will enable the study of local heat transfer coefficients beneath impinging jets, a technique used to cool gas turbine blades. This research uses the transient liquid crystal technique. In addition, a two-axis hot-wire anemometer traversing system will be used to map the impinging jet flow field interaction and this will be modeled in the CFD code Fluent.
Geometric & Graphical Modeling of Non-rigid Materials
Modeling and visualizing morphological changes of non-rigid materials during simulated motion (e.g., muscles wrapping around underlying anatomical structures during joint movement).
Mapping Local Heat Transfer in Heat Exchanger Louvered-Fin Arrays
An experimental facility has been developed to model arrays of fins looking at pressure drop and heat transfer with different fin configurations. The experiment uses a transient liquid crystal hue technique coupled with a finite element analysis of the fin to determine the local heat transfer coefficient on the fin surface. Comparisons will be made with water tunnel visualizations and CFD using Fluent. This work is sponsored by Dr. Nicole Okamoto, San Jose State University, and Dr. Ken Van Treuren, Baylor University.
Stream Turbulence & Heat Transfer
Using the Baylor University wind tunnel, active and passive turbulence generation grids will be evaluated with down stream measurements of turbulence made using a two axis-hot-wire anemometer. Particular attention will be given to length scales "designing" the turbulence for specific flow conditions.
Mechanical Systems Modeling, Simulation, and Visualization
Developing models and applying computational methods and tools for the simulation of mechanical (including biomechanical) systems.
Processes in Turbulent Boundary Layers
A boundary layer can form when a fluid flows above a solid surface. Boundary layer flows can be found in many applications, from the thin layer above a microprocessor which contains a lot of heat produced by the processor to the large scale layer as vast as the planetary boundary layer above the earth surface. This work is to understand the transport and mixing process of irrotational fluid into rotational fluid in turbulent boundary layer. The purpose is to learn how to improve or hinder transport of heat, mass, or momentum into the boundary layer.
Oral History of Engineering Education
Recording and analyzing the experiences of retired engineering faculty, those who helped shape engineering education in the latter third of the 20th century.
Philosophy of Engineering
Analyzing the objectives of, and values embedded in, engineering design and other types of engineering activity, and evaluating how these might affect the impact of engineering and technology on society.
Tissue Welding
In collaboration with researchers in Baylor's Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, we are seeking a method for photochemically welding torn meniscus in the knee joint in order to prevent the development of osteoarthritis and the need for eventual knee replacement surgery.
Total Joint Replacement
In collaboration with orthopaedic surgeons at Scott & White Hospital in Temple, TX, we are mechanically testing different total knee replacement designs in order to compare the effects of different designs and attachments methods on initial implant stability of the tibial component of the total knee replacement.
Top
Dr. Walter Bradley, Baylor Distinguished Professor, is working with Dr. John Pumwa of Papua New Guinea in using coconut oil for diesel fuel. Pumwa, deputy head of the department of mechanical engineering at Papua New Guinea University of Technology, completed doctoral work in mechanical engineering at Texas A&M University in 1997. He is the son of early converts of Papua New Guinea's first Australian Baptist missionaries. He credits his Christian lifestyle as the influence that enabled him to become the first Papua New Guinean to earn a doctorate in an engineering field.
Bone Biomechanics
In collaboration with researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center, we are studying the effects of different drug treatments and/or different phenotypes on the mechanical properties of bones in a mouse animal model for osteoporosis. In a different project in collaboration with researchers in Baylor's Forensic Sciences program, we are studying the effects of different degradation conditions on the mechanical properties of long bones in sheep.
Complex plasma physics
In collaboration with the theory group of CASPER, we are building a model to study the dust-plasma interactions including dynamic grain charging model in plasma and a model for the plasma sheath.
Effects of Flow Separation on Low Pressure Gas Turbine Blades
Flow separation is becoming an increasing problem in highly loaded turbine blades. A gas turbine suction surface simulator has been developed for the Baylor University low speed wind tunnel. A contoured top wall in the test section enables the pressure distribution to be simulated on flat plate that corresponds to actual separated flow conditions. Techniques to stop separation will be studied as well as the impact of separation on heat transfer (using a steady state gold foil liquid crystal technique). Comparison will be made with the CFD code Fluent.
Exercise Equipment
Curves International is the parent company for the "Curves for Women" exercise franchises seen in every state and all over the world. As with any highly successful business endeavor, the company and its founder/CEO Gary Heavin recognize that continued success depends on innovation.
Gas Turbine Impingement Cooling
A new experimental facility developed at Baylor University will enable the study of local heat transfer coefficients beneath impinging jets, a technique used to cool gas turbine blades. This research uses the transient liquid crystal technique. In addition, a two-axis hot-wire anemometer traversing system will be used to map the impinging jet flow field interaction and this will be modeled in the CFD code Fluent.
Geometric & Graphical Modeling of Non-rigid Materials
Modeling and visualizing morphological changes of non-rigid materials during simulated motion (e.g., muscles wrapping around underlying anatomical structures during joint movement).
Mapping Local Heat Transfer in Heat Exchanger Louvered-Fin Arrays
An experimental facility has been developed to model arrays of fins looking at pressure drop and heat transfer with different fin configurations. The experiment uses a transient liquid crystal hue technique coupled with a finite element analysis of the fin to determine the local heat transfer coefficient on the fin surface. Comparisons will be made with water tunnel visualizations and CFD using Fluent. This work is sponsored by Dr. Nicole Okamoto, San Jose State University, and Dr. Ken Van Treuren, Baylor University.
Stream Turbulence & Heat Transfer
Using the Baylor University wind tunnel, active and passive turbulence generation grids will be evaluated with down stream measurements of turbulence made using a two axis-hot-wire anemometer. Particular attention will be given to length scales "designing" the turbulence for specific flow conditions.
Mechanical Systems Modeling, Simulation, and Visualization
Developing models and applying computational methods and tools for the simulation of mechanical (including biomechanical) systems.
Processes in Turbulent Boundary Layers
A boundary layer can form when a fluid flows above a solid surface. Boundary layer flows can be found in many applications, from the thin layer above a microprocessor which contains a lot of heat produced by the processor to the large scale layer as vast as the planetary boundary layer above the earth surface. This work is to understand the transport and mixing process of irrotational fluid into rotational fluid in turbulent boundary layer. The purpose is to learn how to improve or hinder transport of heat, mass, or momentum into the boundary layer.
Oral History of Engineering Education
Recording and analyzing the experiences of retired engineering faculty, those who helped shape engineering education in the latter third of the 20th century.
Philosophy of Engineering
Analyzing the objectives of, and values embedded in, engineering design and other types of engineering activity, and evaluating how these might affect the impact of engineering and technology on society.
Tissue Welding
In collaboration with researchers in Baylor's Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, we are seeking a method for photochemically welding torn meniscus in the knee joint in order to prevent the development of osteoarthritis and the need for eventual knee replacement surgery.
Total Joint Replacement
In collaboration with orthopaedic surgeons at Scott & White Hospital in Temple, TX, we are mechanically testing different total knee replacement designs in order to compare the effects of different designs and attachments methods on initial implant stability of the tibial component of the total knee replacement.
