Field Research Projects 2008 / 2009

1) Wind tunnel modeling of environmental effects on buildings and structures.

2) Development of Nonlinear Finite Element (algorithms) Models for Computing The Brain Deformation for Image Guided Neurosurgery.

3) Converting the Lotus Elise to an electric vehicle added a significant amount of weight to the rear of the car due to the addition of batteries beneath the boot.  A project was undertaken to design a new structural support system for the rear of the Lotus Elise.

4) Tests were performed on various lengths of polystyrene-timber beams and timber strips to investigate such parameters as Young’s Modulus, the shear modulus, buckling load, and modulus of rupture of the timber.

5) Hoverpod project - Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) was employed in this research project to calculate the projected drag force and lift force generated over an airfoil that would be used in the Hoverpod.
Another main objective of the Hoverpod project was to determine the major sources of noise emanating from the prototype and to aeroacoustically analyze and optimize this noise. An efficient technique used to accomplish this is particle image velocimetry (PIV).

6) Design a brake-by-wire system for a BMW X5 with appropriate safety features that avoided interference to normal driver behaviour.

7) Design an effective braking scheme, research was conducted in order to develop an understanding of regenerative braking as well as to determine the best method of regenerative braking.

8) Study of Nearshore Currents - Investigate and characterize nearshore ocean activity at Floreat Beach. Determine the effect of turbulence on sediment resuspension outside the surf zone, wave patterns, current observations and turbulent properties in the surf zone.

9) Design and build a printed circuit board (PCB) that take in digital and analog signals from the Lotus Elise and provide output to another PCB created by Daniel Kingdom that will interface with the car computer.

10) Determine the Error and Volume Calculations for the Constant Volume Variable Pressure (CVVP) Adsorption Update Measurement Facility during desorption experiments.

11) Analysis and Evaluation of the SAE Space Frame Chassis for Modification.

12) Design a cost feasible ventilation system that sustains the lifespan of the batteries while maintaining their performance.


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