Renovation of Mechanical Engineering Laboratories

密歇根大学迪尔伯恩分校的机械工程系是国家科学基金会的资金接受者，用于翻新工程实验室空间，以满足学生和教职员工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允许有才华的少数族裔高中生、本科生和研究生独立工作或与该学科的教职员工一起工作。虽然开展了研究活动，但现有实验室缺乏全年有效运行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几个月无法运行。测试电池气体检测系统因其老化而频繁发生故障，从而在实验过程中造成中断。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一直在扩大，但塑料和复合材料研究缺乏空间，限制了学生参与该领域的实验研究和设计。翻新计划包括：整合现有的铸造和金属加工实验室，为塑料和复合材料研究提供干净的空间，为翻新的实验室提供气候和湿度控制，并安装新的气体检测系统，以检测测试单元中积累的有毒和易燃气体。发动机测试单元和铸造区的翻新将增加研究培训机会，资助系内的研究活动，并为行业需求做出贡献，从而提高教职员工和学生的研究和设计生产率。

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.