MIT
Reports to the President 1994-95
Research in the Department varies from very basic, fundamental work to the
conceptualization, design, and prototype evaluation of innovative systems to
serve the needs of society. The majority of the faculty are explicitly
involved in basic research, and almost every research project in the Department
has a fundamental component. The Department is also quite involved in
interdisciplinary research. Collaborative effort in engineering systems is an
important component of the department's commitment to research, since it
facilitates the exchange of ideas and fosters collaboration across the
traditional disciplinary boundaries of engineering. Much of the Department's
interdisciplinary work is done through established laboratories and centers at
MIT. These centers include the Energy Laboratory, the Laboratory for
Manufacturing and Productivity, the Materials Processing Center, the Health
Sciences and Technology Program, the Leaders for Manufacturing Program, the
Manufacturing Institute, and the Center for Transportation Studies.
Under the leadership of Professors Asada and Hunter, the Department is now
ready to launch a new interdisciplinary laboratory in information systems area.
The ground floor of Building 1 will be completely renovated during the latter
half of 1995 to house this new laboratory. This is due to the generous support
of Mr. and Mrs. Alex d'Arbeloff.
The volume of sponsored research for 1994-1995 administered through the
Department is $7.4 million. Additional sponsored research of an approximately
equal amount is administered through interdepartmental laboratories and centers
in which Department faculty participate. The Department continues to receive
strong research support from industry and private foundations, which now
accounts for approximately 45 percent of the total departmental research
volume. This is a significant achievement of the faculty, especially in view
of the increasingly competitive environment for research funding.
Acoustics: random vibration; rotor dynamics; wideband structural response;
machine diagnostics; nonlinear wave propagation and stability; fluid-structure
interaction. Computational methodologies: fundamental numerical techniques;
nonlinear and fracture analyses. Manufacturing: laser machining; robotics;
three-dimensional printing; magnetic levitation; precision engineering; liquid
droplet manufacturing; microcellular plastics; scheduling; composites
processing and fabrication; friction and wear; Axiomatic design. Mechanics and
Materials: theoretical and experimental analyses of metals, polymers, oil,
shale, synthetic skin, fibers, and composites; forming, fracture, fatigue,
creep, nondestructive evaluations of the above materials.
Automotive and Combustion: spark ignition engine operation; engine lubrication;
fuel composition to reduce emissions and enhance performance; analytical and
diagnostic methods in automobile product development; computational methods for
mixing and reactions in complex flows; new engine (e.g. two-stroke cycles) and
vehicle technology to improve fuel consumption, noise and emissions; policy
strategies for improving urban transportation. Cryogenics and Thermodynamics:
development of a superconducting generator; fundamental heat transfer
mechanisms during oscillatory fluid flow in Stirling engines; design and
development of cryocoolers based on principles such as isothermal expansion and
adiabatic demagnetization; heat transfer in microstructures and novel materials
such as high-Tc superconductors, diamond, and compound semiconductors;
applications to the design of VLSI integrated circuits; design and development
of a novel infrared radiation detector combining silicon micromachining with
superconducting film technology, and of precision temperature control
techniques for thin-film deposition processes. Fluid Mechanics, biomedical:
arterial flows and atherosclerosis; pulmonary flows and respiratory disease;
flows in the eye with application to glaucoma. Environmental: electroosmotic
decontamination of waste sites; prevention of fouling in membrane water
treatment processes. Computational: numerical simulation of complex flows with
parallel processing; hypermedia; computational procedures in design; new image
enhancement algorithms. Manufacturing and Instrumentation: buildup of physical
objects and materials by precise high-frequency deposition of molten microdrops
(e.g. 3D xerography). Physico-chemical: rheology of dense slurries; properties
of macromolecular solutions, with applications in biomedical processes;
cavitation; ocean sedimentation dynamics. Heat and Mass Transfer: design and
performance of two-phase flows in steam generators, boilers and condensers;
turbulent transition for energy-efficient heat transfer augmentation; two-phase
problems in nuclear reactors, thermohydraulic design of containment and safety
systems for passively-safe nuclear power systems; design of safe nuclear fuel
transportation systems; jet impingement cooling for extreme power density heat
removal; aerosol transport, with application to pollution control, cleanroom
design and transport in the lung; fluidized bed systems for clean coal
combustors; heat and mass transfer in porous thermal insulation for
energy-efficient building design; energy transfer in laser processing and
diagnostics of thin films.
Control Theory and Implementation. Nonlinear and adaptive control systems:
digital and microprocessor-based control systems; time delay control systems;
control-relevant physical systems modeling. Bioengineering and Living Systems:
biomechanics and neural control of movement; micro-surgery systems; man-machine
systems and human factors; medical image processing; haptics and virtual
environment systems. Robotics: telerobotics; robot control on mobile
platforms; robot impedance control; information-driven mechanical systems.
Mechanical Systems and Manufacturing: precision mechanical systems control;
integrated electromechanical systems (Mechatronics); control of manufacturing
processes; automated manufacturing; vehicle dynamics. Computer-Aided Design
and Manufacturing: networked computer-aided design, workshop metaphor;
computational tools for design of free-form surfaces, mechanical assemblies and
tolerances; automated aesthetic design, automated assembly; three-dimensional
printing: rapid tooling and prototyping; Engineering Design Instructional
Computer System. Design and Design Methods: design methodology; computational
tools for design engineers; precision engineering; Axiomatic design; braced
manipulators. Biomedical: advanced medical devices; musculoskeletal modeling;
biomechanics of head protection.
New microconstructive additive processes such as 3-D printing of ceramics and
metal droplet printing; new forming technologies such as programmable dies for
sheet metal forming and elastic diaphragm forming of advanced composites; new
control technologies for machines and machine tools including precision
magnetic bearings and kinematic fixtures; projects in new materials, design,
design methodologies, and manufactured systems modeling; factory design and
operation, cellular manufacturing, microcellular plastics processing; tribology
of undulated surfaces; tribology of hip joints; droplet-based manufacturing;
precision engineering; low cost manufacturing of optical devices.
Investigation of the cell-matrix interactions responsible for generation of
substantial mechanical stresses in healing wounds; the design and synthesis of
implants which induce regeneration of peripheral nerve activity; modeling and
identification of electrically stimulated muscle; combined voice and motion
control of assistive technology; biological control of posture, movement, and
contact; haptic perception of "virtual" objects; robotic aid for patient
examination and physical therapy; computer-aided surgical simulation of femoral
and tibial osteotomy; force- and pressure-sensing endoprothesis;
movement-induced orientation of collagen fibrils in cartilaginous tissues;
synovial joint mechanics and the pathogenesis of osteoarthritis; quantification
and display of musculoskeletal anatomy; development of artificial muscles;
studies of aqueous humor dynamics for understanding the patheogenesis of
glaucoma; investigation of airway wall remodeling and airway narrowing in
asthma; the movement of liquid along pulmonary airways due to surface tension
gradients in health and for drug administration; and, numerical design and
optimization of cardiac assist devices. New projects: development of
standardized methods of generation, network transmission, and analysis of
medical images; the Center for Biomedical Engineering; assessment of current
programs and curricula in biomedical engineering; and the development of an
undergraduate minor in biomedical engineering.
Information and control technology for machine design: knowledge-based systems
for process control; concurrent control software design and machine hardware
design; human factors for systems design and their applications to product
design and IVHS, HVAC, and telerobotics; learning and adaptation to unknown
environments; teaching of electromechanical systems design; human centered
control. Engineering analysis and synthesis using information technology:
hypertext and hyper media; intelligent CAD. Devices for information
processing: high density data storage using scanning tunnel microscopes.
Manufacturing and information-control issues: quality assurance and robust
technology; discrete event systems (Petri nets) and their applications to job
shop scheduling and simulation; virtual factory, virtual prototyping; design of
experiments. Virtual Environment; rapid prototyping and rapid product
development.
The Department benefits significantly from donations and grants given by MIT
alumni, friends, foundations, and industrial organizations. These
discretionary funds have been used to initiate new research areas, to acquire
equipment for teaching and research, to enhance new faculty development, and to
endow and upgrade the research and teaching laboratories. In addition, funds
are made available to students for fellowships, scholarships, and prizes. In
1994-95, very significant support has been received from many alumni and
friends. In particular, major gifts have been provided by Mr. and Mrs. A. Neil
Pappalardo, Mr. and Mrs. Alex d'Arbeloff, Dr. and Mrs. George Hatsopoulos, Mr.
and Mrs. Papken Der Torossian, Dr. John Psarouthakis, and Mrs. Samuel Collins.
Major contributions have been received from AMP, Dynatech, Ford, Shell, General
Motors, Becton Dickinson, FloDesign, American Cynamid, Digital, Foxboro,
Daewoo, Dupont, and Koyo Seiko. Contributions are being sought for fellowships
honoring Professors Emeriti Cook, Crandall, McClintock, Rohsenow, and Shapiro.
As of July 1, 1995, there were 58 full-time faculty: 31 professors, 10
associate professors (8 with tenure), and 17 assistant professors. In
addition, the teaching, research, and technical staff fluctuates around 70,
more than half of whom are part-time.
The Department is organized in three disciplinary divisions and three systems
research groups. The divisions are: Mechanics and Materials (Head, Professor
Triantaphyllos Akylas); Thermal and Fluid Sciences (Head, Professor Anthony
Patera); and Design and Control (Head, Professor Thomas Sheridan). The systems
research groups are: manufacturing (Head, Professor Timothy Gutowski);
Biomedical Engineering (Head, Professor Roger Kamm); and Information (Head,
Professor Haruhiko Asada).
Professor Rohan Abeyaratne, J. P. Den Hartog Distinguished Education Award.
Professor John G. Brisson, II was named to the Hatsopoulous Chair.
Professor Richard Lyon was elected to NAE membership.
Professor Robert W. Mann, The Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Leaderships
Award.
Professor Kevin Otto was named to the Robert N. Noyce Career Development
Professorship.
Professor Anthony T. Patera was awarded the International Giovanni
Sacchi Prize by the Instituto Lombardo Accademia di Scienze e Lettere, Milano,
Italy.
Professor Emanuel M. Sachs was awarded the Ruth and Joel Spira Award for
Distinguished Teaching. He was also awarded an R&D 100 Award in
1994.
Professor Thomas B. Sheridan was named to the Ford Chair and elected to NAE
membership.
Professor Alexander Slocum received an R&D 100 Award for one of the
100 most outstanding new technical products in 1994 and again in 1995.
Professor Nam P. Suh was awarded the 1994 KBS award for his scholarly
achievements.
Professors Rohan Abeyaratne and Carl Peterson were promoted to Full
Professor and Professor Alexander Slocum to Associate Professor with tenure.
New Faculty:
- David Cochran, Assistant Professor, Design and Control, Manufacturing
- Seth Lloyd, Assistant Professor, Design and Control, Information
- Taiqing Qiu, Assistant Professor, Thermal and Fluid Sciences, Information,
Manufacturing David Wallace, Assistant Professor, Design and Control,
Manufacturing.
Retirement:
Nam P. Suh
MIT
Reports to the President 1994-95