Dynamics Lab

The Department of Mechanical Engineering Dynamics Lab provides space, teaching equipment, and research equipment - for students and faculty - to study acoustics, vibrations, system dynamics, and controls. The lab is primarily used for teaching Vibrations and Controls Lab (ME 4501). Experiments are performed that test the dynamics properties being studied in the lecture courses Machine Dynamics & Vibrations (ENGR 3125) and Dynamic Systems & Control Theory (ME 3501). The Dynamics Lab is also used by some aerospace engineering minor faculty and students, for use of the Jet Engine Simulator.

  • The Dynamics lab has the following equipment available:

    • (2) Accelerometers, uni-axle (PCB model T35C34) with cables 
    • (2) Accelerometers, tri-axle (PCB model T356A02) with cables 
    • (2) Hand-held shaker for calibrating accelerometers (PCB model 394C06) 
    • (1) Impact hammer with force transducer for vibration experiments, with cable 
    • (1) Jet Engine simulator. Price Induction WESTT CS/BV Virtual Engine Test Bench. Simulation of aircraft jet engine for controls, thermodynamics, and aerodynamics 
    • (1) Larson Davis 831 Sound Level Meter with sound recording and FFT analysis 
    • (1) Larson Davis Sound Level Calibrator 
    • (1) Laser displacement sensor (Keyence model LK-H152)
    • (1) National Instruments DAQ for vibration & acoustics. PXI-1033 chassis with 8-channel input card 4472B and 2-channel signal generator card 5402. PC with virtual instruments via LabVIEW and NI Signal Express 
    • (2) National Instruments DAQ, model USB-4431. Portable USB device with 4-input channels for vibration or acoustic sensors 
    • (1) Microphone, ½ inch, PCB model 378B02 with BNC cable 
    • (5) PCs dedicated to measuring vibrations and controlling above equipment 
    • (1) Rectilinear Plant apparatus. Setup for 1, 2, or 3 DOF vibration systems – free & forced vibration experiments, and feedback control hardware. PC with control systems software. Variable mass, springs, and damping (ecp model 210) 
    • (1) Wind Turbine Drivetrain Diagnostic Simulator (SpectraQuest WTDS) 
    • (1) Small shaker for vibration input (B&K model 4810) 
    • (1) Torsional Plant apparatus. Similar to the model 210 but for rotational experiments. Variable inertia (ecp model 205) 

  • The following test can be conducted in the Dynamics lab:

    • Measurement, calibration, and instrumentation fundamental with accelerometers, microphones, optical encoders, and/or laser displacement sensors 
    • Free and forced vibration for mass-spring-dashpot system (1-DOF) 
    • Free and forced vibration for disk-torsional-spring system (1-DOF) 
    • Two DOF vibration modes for translational and torsional systems 
    • 2-DOF and 3-DOF forced vibration analysis 
    • PID feedback control of Rectilinear Plant or Torsional Plant with step, ramp, and sinusoidal inputs 
    • Multi-DOF system control experiments 
    • Control experiments using Jet Engine Simulator 
    • Bearing vibration analysis for wind turbine drivetrain with various gears/blades/load conditions 
    • Vibration analysis for string, beam, membrane, plate, and other continuous systems 
    • Sound level and spectra measurements 
  • Engineering Technology Center, Building Q
    Room Q-217

Fluid Mechanics Lab

The engineering Fluid Mechanics Lab performs tests that prove the various fluid properties being studied in the lecture. This is taught by faculty from the Department of Civil and Construction Engineering and supports students from other departments as well. The equipment and space is used for Fluid Mechanics Lab (ENGR 3345) and Fluid Mechanics Principles and Applications (MET 3101). The Fluid Mechanics lab is located in the Engineering Technology Center, room Q-240 and in the Civil Engineering Technlogy Building, room  L-130. All experiments are performed in Q-240 - except for open channel flow, performed in L-130.

  • The Fluid Mechanics lab has the following equipment available:

    • EDIBON Centrifugal Fan Trainer 
    • AEROLAB: Wind Tunnel with Dell Computer 
    • EDIBON Fluid Friction in-Pipes with Dell Computer 
    • Computer Controlled Multipump Testing Bench 
    • EDIBON Hydrostatic Pressure Measurement 
    • EDIBON Pelton Turbine 
    • Viscometers 
    • EDIBON Hydraulic Bench with Impact Jet 
    • Open channel flow flume. 

  • The following test can be conducted in the Fluid Mechanics lab:

    • Viscosity 
    • Fluid Statics 
    • Pipe Friction 
    • Flow Split 
    • Impact of a Jet 
    • Pump Performance 
    • Open Channel Flow 
    • Fan Power and efficiency 

  • Engineering Technology Center, Building Q
    Room Q-240

    Civil Engineering Technlogy, Building L
    Room L-130

Heat Transfer Thermodynamics Lab

The Department of Mechanical Engineering Heat Transfer and Thermodynamics Lab complements the Thermodynamics (ME 3410) and Heat Transfer (ME 3440) lecture courses and provide practical experience in thermal sciences area. 

The lab space is used primarily for teaching Heat Transfer and Thermodynamics Lab (ME 4403), where experiments are conducted covering heat transfer modes, thermodynamics power, refrigeration cycles, and renewable energy - while emphasizing data interpretation and report writing skills. A group project is also part of the lab course, to insure every ME student gains thermal design experience.

The lab has the additional function of providing research equipment for students and faculty in thermal sciences area, including renewable energy.

  • The Heat Transfer Thermodynamics lab has the following equipment with or without computer control available:

    • (1) Rankine Steam Power Generation Cycle (Turbine Technologies) 
    • (1) Organic Rankine Power Generation Cycle (Edibon) 
    • (1) Refrigeration cycle (Hampden) 
    • (1) Old Refrigeration Cycle for Demonstration Only (Carrier) 
    • (1) Heat Transfer Unit with Controller for convection, radiation and conduction heat transfer (Edibon) 
    • (1) Heat Exchanger unit including tube & shell and plate modules (Edibon) 
    • (1) Saturation Unit with Throttling Valve (Edibon) 
    • (1) Thermal Solar Collector for water heating with UV lamps (Edibon) 
    • (1) Temperature Measurement System with External DAQ Card designed for transient heat transfer experiments (NI) 
    • (1) Temperature Measurement System with USB Connection (Omega) 
    • (1) Cooling Tower (Edibon) 
    • (2) Heater plates 
    • (2) Stirling power generation cyles and a solar parabolic mirror (3B Scientific) 
    • (1) Calorimeter 
    • (1) Internal combustion engine demonstration unit 

  • Experiments from the following list may be conducted in the Heat Transfer Thermodynamics lab:

    • Transient Heat Transfer (Lumped Systems) 
    • Design of an apparatus to determine thermal conductivity 
    • Solar Collector Efficiency 
    • Steam Power Generation (Rankine or Organic Rankine) 
    • Tube and Shell Heat Exchanger NTU effectiveness 
    • Refrigeration and Heating Cycle 
    • Saturation Pressure/Temperature Measurements 
    • Determination of “Quality of a Saturated Mixture” 
    • Free and Forced Convection Heat Transfer 
    • Thermal Radiation 
    • Conduction Heat Transfer with axial and radial cylindrical modules 
    • Gas Power Generation using a Stirling engine 
  • Engineering Technology Center, Building Q
    Room Q-241

Nuclear Laboratory

Students and faculty of the Nuclear Engineering program, Center for Nuclear Studies, and Nuclear Energy, Science, and Engineering Laboratory, currently use the Department of Mechanical Engineering Nuclear Laboratory.

The Nuclear Laboratory performs a number of measurements involving various existing radiation detection devices; simulate, develop, and test radiation detectors; simulate nuclear reactors of various designs using Monte Carlo codes and solid modeling computer-aided design and computer-aided engineering computer programs; and run several nuclear reactor simulation software packages. These are studied in lecture courses: ENGR 3501 Fundamentals of Nuclear Engineering, ENGR 3502 Radiation Detection & Measurement, ENG 4502 Radiation Protection-Health Physics, and ME 4490 Nuclear Reactor Simulation.

  • The Nuclear Laboratory has the following equipment available:

    • High-Purity Germanium Detector with cryostat, liquid nitrogen tank, and PC control system
    • NaI(Tl) detectors with laptop
    • Geiger counters
    • Rate meter
    • Proportional counter
    • Nuclear Instrumentation Modules (NIM)
    • Diffractometer
    • A number of disk/check sealed sources including P-32, Co-60, Cs-137, Po-210, U-238 (natural uranium), thorium (Th-232), Am-241, etc.
    • Various lead bricks used for radiation shielding
    • Eight computer workstations and several desktops for used with the various detectors and instrumentation
    • Nuclear Reactor Simulation software installed in computer workstations (ten reactor simulators).

  • The following experiments can be conducted in the Nuclear Laboratory:

    • Alpha/beta detection with proportional counters and Geiger counters
    • Gamma-ray detection with Geiger counters, scintillators, and High-Purity Germanium and Detector
    • Gamma-ray efficiency calibration
    • Half-life determination
    • Compton effect quantitative observation
    • Gamma-ray and beta radiation attenuation in matter
    • Demonstrating alpha-particle tracks in a cloud chamber
    • Deflection of alpha/beta radiation in a magnetic field
    • Counting statistics and error determination
    • Simulation, development, and testing of radiation shielding
    • Signal processing with digital electronics
    • High-resolution gamma-ray spectroscopy with a High-Purity Germanium Detector
    • Positron annihilation analyses
    • Testing of KSU-developed radiation detectors and radiation mapping devices

  • Several reactor simulators are utilized in the Nuclear Laboratory to provide an understanding and knowledge about the operational aspects of a variety of nuclear power plant designs. The use of these reactor simulators integrates the previous studies in nuclear engineering and reactor power generation into safe design and operation of nuclear power plants. The reactor simulation exercises cover different reactor designs, normal operations, and response to abnormal conditions and potential accident situations. Focus is placed on reactor physics fundamentals, defense in-depth, reactor start-up, normal ramp-up and operations, transient conditions, reactor feedback, reactor control, accident scenarios, and safe shut-down.

    The following reactor simulators are available in the Nuclear Laboratory:

    • PCTRAN - Personal Computer Transient Analyzer for a Two-loop PWR and TRIGA Reactor. International Atomic Energy Commission Workshop on Nuclear Power Plant Simulator for Education, Politecnico di Milano, Li-Chi Cliff Po, Minano, Italy, 03-14 October, 2011
    • Advanced Pressurized Water, Reactor Simulator, User Manual By Cassiopeia Technologies Inc. Canada, October 2011
    • Nuclear Power Plant Simulators Introduction to CANDU Systems and Operation. G. T. Bereznai and G. Harvel, Faculty of Energy Systems and Nuclear Science, University of Ontario Institute of Technology, Oshawa, Ontario, Canada , 2011
    • Advanced CANDU Reactor (ACR-700) Simulator, Cassiopeia Technologies Inc. Canada, 2011
    • Boiling Water Reactor Simulator with Active Safety Systems, User Manual, International Atomic Energy Agency, Vienna, October 2011
    • Boiling Water Reactor Simulator with Passive Safety Systems, User Manual, International Atomic Energy Agency, Vienna, October 2011
    • WWER-1000 Reactor Simulator Material for Training Courses and Workshops, Third Edition, International Atomic Energy Agency, Vienna, 2011
    • Visual System Analyzer (ViSA), Two-loop Large PWR Simulator, User Manual, Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute
  • Engineering Technology Center, Building Q
    Room Q-309