Research

There are few main research groups at the School: Materials, Structures, Robotics, Computer-Aided-Design (CAD) and Bio-Engineering. Recent research directions include investigations into the problems that might arise in space structures. In the absence of gravitational loads, space structures are faced with a problem of maintaining their shape. One possibility that School members are working on is the use of sensors to detect the distortions of the structure and a control system which sends correction commands to actuators

The School also focuses on a variety of present day applications: computational fluid dynamics (CFD); active control of fluid and heat/mass transfer processes; environmental engineering and thermal packaging. Specific research groups are active in: aerodynamics, experimental and theoretical studies of turbulence; multiphase flow phenomena. computational fluid dynamics; non-linear water waves; non-linear dynamics; flow and porous media; environmental engineering; heat and mass transfer.

As part of its on-going effort to stay at the cutting edge of fluid dynamics research, the School has acquired a Particle Image Velocimetry System which can measure complicated velocity fields in air or liquids such as frequently occur in aerodynamics, hydrodynamics and bio-fluid applications.

The range of problems in designing a plane or car has become so great that they are beyond the capability of one individual or teams. Scientists at the School are working on CAD engineering applications to create computer software which has all the data necessary to make the appropriate decisions.

The endurances of both new and old materials can be determined and the failure point predicted by analysis and calculations. This is the traditional approach for both new and standard materials. A new method is based on computational mechanics which seeks to develop numerical methods for solving mechanical problems such as the location of the critical areas of stress and deformation.

From a mechanical engineering point of view, robotics involves substantial problems in movement, vibration, and vision. This is a major center of interest at the School and has led to the development of a new field - mechatronics, combining electronics and mechanics. In biomedical engineering, researchers are focusing on the mechanics of the human body. In addition to considerable research on the bio-mechanics of walking, researchers are now trying to develop a super arm that will provide amputees with a range of motion far greater than the prostheses of today.

Teaching and research fields include:

• Classical mechanics of deformable bodies.
• Mechanics of materials, including both standard and new materials.
• Fracture mechanics.
• Composite materials.
• Structural mechanics, including both static and dynamic analyses of structures and optimization of structures.
• Material science.
• Numerical solutions to problems in mechanics.
• For Israel, undergoing intensive development in recent years, environment has become a key issue. The increased industrialization of the country, the intensive highly chemical orientation of agriculture and the waste created by a growing population, threatens the country's scarce water resources, To meet the challenges ahead, the School is drawing up a comprehensive M.Sc. program in environmental engineering. Research in environmental engineering concentrates on dispersion of pollutants in the atmosphere and groundwater, pollutants formation, release and control and a search for alternative, less polluting forms of energy.