Current research topics include:

• computational fluid dynamics applied to problems ranging from the circulatory system and to the dynamics of offshore platforms;

• control of complex systems such as engine exhaust after-treatment, orbiting spacecraft, and structures built from smart materials;

• health monitoring and design optimization applied to a range of structures from micro-scale devices to bridges;

• biomedical research into biosensing, micro-scale bioreactors and health prognostics of the cardiovascular system;

• experimental studies of turbulent flows occurring in energy systems and two-phase flows in micro-scale heat exchangers.

Research activities in nanomechanics include:

• structure-property relationships
• strain-quantum behavior in quantum dots
• nanoscale piezoelectricity
• the application of magnetic nanostructures to sensors and biomedical devices.

Our materials engineering activities are driven by applications of composite materials to wind turbines and offshore structures, ceramic components for aerospace systems, and superconducting materials for imaging and energy systems.