Renovation of Mechanical Engineering Laboratories

密歇根大学迪尔伯恩分校的机械工程系获得了美国国家科学基金会的资助，用于改造工程实验室空间，以满足学生和教师在内燃机和燃料以及轻质材料领域的研究需求。涉及内燃机、替代燃料和排放的研究活动使有才华的少数民族高中生、本科生和研究生能够独立工作或与该学科的教师一起工作。虽然进行了研究活动，但现有实验室缺乏全年有效操作该设施所需的适当环境控制和安全机制。由于缺乏空调和湿度控制，排放设备和其他诊断仪器在夏季无法操作。试验池气体检测系统由于老化，经常发生故障，导致实验中断。没有适当的设施来研究轻质材料，如塑料和复合材料。虽然该学科的学术活动不断扩大，但缺乏专门用于塑料和复合材料研究的空间，限制了学生参与该领域的实验研究和设计。改造计划包括：整合现有的铸造和金属加工实验室，为塑料和复合材料的研究提供清洁的空间，为改造后的实验室提供气候和湿度控制，并安装新的气体检测系统，以检测在测试单元中积聚的有毒和易燃气体。发动机测试单元和铸造区域的翻新将通过增加研究培训机会，赞助部门的研究活动，并为行业需求做出贡献，提高教师和学生的研究和设计生产力。

The Department of Mechanical Engineering, at the University of Michigan-Dearborn, is the recipient of funds from the National Science Foundation to renovate engineering laboratory space to meet research needs of students and faculty in the areas of combustion engines and fuels, and lightweight materials. Research activities involving combustion engines, alternative fuels, and emissions have allowed talented minority high school students, undergraduates and graduate students to work independently or with faculty members in the discipline. Although research activities are performed, existing laboratories lack proper environmental controls and safety mechanisms required to effectively operate the facility throughout the year. Due to the lack of air conditioning and humidity controls, emissions equipment and other diagnostic instrumentation are inoperable in the summer months. The test cell gas detection system frequently malfunctions because of its age, thereby causing interruptions during experiments. Proper facilities for research in lightweight materials such as plastics and composites are not available. While scholarly activities in the discipline have been expanding, the lack of space devoted to plastics and composites research has limited student participation in experimental research and design in the field. The renovation plan entails: consolidating the existing foundry and metals processing laboratories to provide clean space for plastics and composite research, providing climate and humidity controls for renovated labs, and installing a new gas detection system to detect poisonous and flammable gases that build up in the test cells. The renovation of the engine test cells and the foundry area will increase research and design productivity of faculty and students by increasing research training opportunities, sponsored research activities in the department, and contributing to the needs of industry.