Mechanical engineering

Mechanical Engineering is an innovative and diverse department within New Zealand's premier engineering college. A wide range of research is being conducted in fields including Acoustics and Vibrations, Applied Mechanics, Robotics, Control and Instrumentation, and Thermodynamics and Heat Transfer.

Our Centre for Bioengineering aims to be an internationally recognised interdisciplinary research centre of excellence, dedicated to servicing the biotech/bioengineering industry in New Zealand and throughout the world. The main goal is to facilitate a link between academic research in fundamental science/engineering and the medical industry.

The Design Group has a diverse range of research and development interests which include: alternative engines and energy conversion systems, human-powered vehicles and human ergometry, engineering art and kinetic sculptures. Areas of current research in Applied Mechanics include vibration analysis in DFT locomotives and wave envelope elements for elastic waves.

Research strengths

Acoustics and vibrations

Areas of current research in acoustics and vibrations include:

• Building acoustics
• Aero acoustics 
• Duct acoustics
• Automotive acoustics
• Sound absorption
• Machinery noise

Research centres and groups

• Acoustics and Vibrations Research Group

Researchers and supervisors

Staff actively working in these areas are:

Applied mechanics

Areas of current research in applied mechanics include:

• Vibration analysis in DFT locomotives
• Wave envelope elements for elastic waves
• Computational modelling of the bifurcation flow and stress fields in the human lung
• Development and application of computational methods for material failure
• Development and application of computational methods for fluid-structure interaction phenomena 

Research centres and groups

• Applied Mechanics Group

Researchers and supervisors

Staff actively working in these areas are:

Design

Areas of current research in design include:

• Acoustic design of microphone systems
• Adaptive self tuning controller for Froude F18 dynamometer testbed
• Advanced absorber design
• Amphibious vehicle design
• An optimised burner-recuperator system for a 4 cycle double acting Stirling engine
• Automatic guided vehicle control dynamics
• Avalanche prediction instrumentation
• Computer aided process planning and fixture design
• Design and development of human-powered and electrically-assisted human-powered vehicles
• Design and development of Stirling engines
• Development of a methodology for system integrity in design
• Development of force sensing systems for bio-medical research
• Dextrous finger optimisation
• Direct computer aided design using expert systems techniques
• Endo-prosthetic knee joint development
• Engineering analysis and design scale-up of Len Lye kinetic sculptures
• Grinding sludge oil recovery system - feasibility study
• Human ergometry in rowing
• Improving hovercraft noise and efficiency
• Lifting paddlewheel prototype
• Micro hydro development
• Road simulation software and vehicle energy consumption measurement
• Rule-based systems as tools for adaptive design tasks and their integration into CAD
• Simulation of vehicle-pedestrian impacts
• Stirling cycle refrigeration
• Theoretical modelling and dynamic simulation of variable fill hydraulic dynamometers
• Trampoline safety by design
• Vehicle crash analysis and reconstruction
• Vibration isolating ambulance stretcher suspension
• Workflow process management for collaborative design
• Special machine design for sculpting foam material in 3D

Research centres and groups

• Design Group

Researchers and supervisors

Staff actively working in these areas are:

Electrospinning

Areas of current research in electrospinning include:

• Processing polymeric materials such as PVOH, PVP, PVDF, PLLA, HDPE and cellulose

Research centres and groups

• UC Electrospinning Group

Researchers and supervisors

Staff actively working in these areas are:

Fluid Mechanics

Areas of current research in fluid mechanics include:

• Wind turbines for developing countries
• Bicycle wheel aerodynamics
• Aerodynamics at jet engine test cells
• Stability of sink vortices 
• Car roof rack noise
• Analysis and development of water jet intake 
• Field studies of waterjet-hull interactions
• Computational fluid dynamics at arbitrary speed
• Fundamental flying characteristics of kites
• Quantification of airflows generated by rotating rollers in wool carding
• Prediction of cavitation in turbo machinery
• Windsurfer aerodynamics

Research centres and groups

• Fluid Mechanics Group

Researchers and supervisors

Staff actively working in these areas are:

Manufacturing

Areas of current research in manufacturing include:

• Computer-Aided Process Planning and Design of Fixtures and Dies
• Computer-Aided Tolerance Analysis
• Requirements for Integrating the Design and Production Functions
• Strategic Manufacturing Management
• Evaluation and Implementation of Innovation and New Technology
• Equipment Diagnosis and Maintenance Management
• Manufacturing System Dynamics
• Manufacturing Systems Design and Improvement
• Computer Control of Robotic Mechanisms
• Expert Systems In Management, Design and Teaching
• Flexible Automation
• Automated Manufacturing
• Laser based Inspection
• Virtual One-of-a-kind Production Planning and Control
• Intelligent Manufacturing Systems
• Minimisation of Trimloss
• Virtual Enterprise for Injection Mould/toolmaking
• Factory Floor Optimisation
• Rapid Response Tool Design and Manufacture
• Rapid Product Development for World Class Manufacturing
• Tolerance Based Reverse Engineering for Rapid, Quality Product Development
• Intelligent Manufacturing Systems

Research centres and groups

• Manufacturing Group

Researchers and supervisors

Staff actively working in these areas are:

Materials science and engineering

Areas of current research in materials science and engineering include:

• Three-dimensional analysis of creep voids in hydrogen reformer tubes 
• Porous biomaterials research for tissue engineering
• Wear testing of biomaterials 
• Wear testing of seal components in a novel IC engine design 
• Magnesium alloy development for fatigue resistance
• Recrystallisation of Mg alloys 
• Influence of alloying on cold rolling and extrusion of Mg alloys 
• EBSD of intermetallic phases in structural materials 
• Squeeze casting of Al-Si alloys 
• Pb-free solder materials
• Cellulose-reinforced composites 
• Extraction of cellulose from NZ flax and hemp 
• Elastic properties of wood

Research centres and groups

• Materials Engineering Group

Researchers and supervisors

Staff actively working in these areas are:

Robotics, control and instrumentation

Researchers and supervisors

Staff actively working in these areas are:

Thermodynamics and heat transfer

Areas of current research in thermodynamics and heat transfer include:

• Crossflow heat exchanger analysis
• Finite time thermodynamics and thermodynamic design optimisation
• Building infiltration heat exchange
• Thermal process simulation
• Multi-stage flash desalination: analysis and modelling
• Electrohydrodynamic enhancement of heat transfer
• Heat and mass transfer in historic Antarctic buildings
• Cooling of hydro-electric generators
• Temperature management of electronic devices
• Optimisation of HPHE in HVAC systems for tropical buildings

Research centres and groups

• Thermodynamics and Heat Transfer Group

Researchers and supervisors

Staff actively working in these areas are: