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Mechanical Engineering (MECH)

In 2004, a special type of government funding gave birth to the Industrial Research Fund (IOF – Industrieel Onderzoeksfonds).

This funding supports the IOF knowledge centers at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel in carrying out outstanding strategic research and further developing new application-oriented inventions with economic potential. The first priority of the IOF funds is the further establishment of a portfolio of potentially applicable and transferable know-how with economic and societal value.

Keywords

  • mechanics
  • acoustics
  • vibration
  • thermodynamics
  • fluidics
  • robotics
  • multibody systems

Main objectives

The department of Mechanical Engineering exists of three research groups:

  • Acoustics & Vibration Research Group (AVRG)
  • Robotics and Multibody Mechanics (R&MM)
  • Thermodynamics and Fluid Mechanics (THFL)

The main goal of the AVRG group is to conduct fundamental and applied research in the broad field of Acoustics & Vibration, with special emphasis on signal processing and system identification. The acoustical research is focused on noise power characterization of combustion engines, numerical calculation of sound radiating from ducts and sound quality of exhaust systems.
The research in the field of vibration is mainly concentrated on experimental and operational modal analysis, in which the Group has a worldwide recognized expertise.

The R&MM team’s central goal is to conduct fundamental and applied research in the broad field of robotics and multibody mechanics. The group’s special emphasis is the development of complex mechatronic systems such as lightweight actuation systems with adaptable compliance, a bipedal robot, a robotic assistant arm, actuated rehabilitation devices, and social robots.

The THFL group is mainly active in the fields of Computational Fluid Mechanics (CFD), Experimental Fluid Mechanics, (Renewable) Energy, Turbulence and Combustion. CFD has been in development for 30 years and benefits from a worldwide recognition. Activity in thermodynamics is focused on energy production from advanced thermal cycles and from renewable energies (biomass and wind) with several test facilities (two gas turbines, biomass combustor). Fundamental work in the field of combustion aims at the development of combustion kinetic models. The group is involved in different energy management projects (government, expert groups, power producers).

Strategic and applied research with economic value

  • The “PolyMAX” modal parameter estimator (in collaboration with LMS International): a breakthrough in Experimental Modal Analysis (EMA) has been achieved.
  • The “OMAX” concept : an advanced PolyMAX approach.
  • Design of light-weight high-force dynamic actuators with pneumatic artificial muscles for fatigue testing (safety critical airplane components. This technology could be used to excited e.g. large structures such as bridges for experimental modal analysis).
  • Automatic Structural Health Monitoring systems, which can continuously and autonomous monitor defects of structural systems (as for example oil drilling platforms).
  • Pneumatic artificial muscles (PAMs) : actuator for rehabilitation devices, robots in direct contact with operator,….
  • MACCEPA (The Mechanically Adjustable Compliance and Controllable Equilibrium Position Actuator) : articulated joint. In future robotic applications and rehabilitation devices,… the use of ‘soft’actuators is a promising innovation. It contributes to safety and to wearability of the device. (Patent 05447118.0)
  • ALTACRO (Automated Locomotion Training using an Actuated Compliant Robotic Orthosis). The ALTACRO-project focuses on improved mobility for patients and assistance for therapists, thanks to an automated locomotion therapy with a step rehabilitation robotic orthosis powered by biologically inspired lightweight pleated pneumatic artificial muscles with inherent adaptable compliance.
  • System and Method for Simulating Motion of a Multibody System: real-time virtual prototyping is a powerful engineering tool of the future. (Patent WO2006/012709)
  • “Apparatus comprising rolling surfaces” shows that a hyperboloid can roll without slipping on a helicoidal ruled surface (Patent 05447226.1). A joint in an orthosis is often designed as a 1 DOF joint (e.g. knee joint), while the real joint has a complex 3D movement. The patent has potential to be used as a tool to realize a more complex joint for an orthosis and as such impose a more natural movement of the ligament.
  • AMP-foot (Intelligent transtibial prosthesis actuated by Pleated Pneumatic Artificial Muscles): to improve the gait pattern of transtibial amputees and try to let their pattern evolve in a more efficient manner by developing an intelligent prosthesis. (Patent application ref LRD-GB-6321, ism KUL).
  • Probo : intelligent huggy robot that interacts with long-term hospitalized children.
  • Process for the replacement of a limited part of natural gas by renewable energy in gas turbine plants (Patent WO2006/060883). Detailed combustion kinetic model : applicable in many industrial applications, going from safety to pollutant emissions. It can lead to reduced combustion mechanisms applicable in open CFD codes.
  • System Perturbation Analysis (SPA) : new methodology for evaluation of the impact of renewable energy application inside a given system.
  • CFD: New, accurate schemes and solvers for Computational Aerocacoustics and Combustion (CAC)
  • CFD: Simulation of biological flows: to study and to improve the efficiency of aerosol therapy, a topic in which pharmaceutical industry is highly interested in.
  • Wind energy: development of software codes for design and analysis of wind turbines (NUMECA)
  • Development of design tools for reduction of aerodynamic noise in confined flows (ARN) (NUMECA, LMS, von Karman Institute)
  • NODESIM: developed software tool, based on a polynomial chaos method, which simulates the impact of velocity and flight angle of an airplane movement (NUMECA).
  • FWHA : software to measure sounds the “far field” using the Ffowcs-Williams-Hawking Analogy (NUMECA).
  • TBM Biological Flows : the development of a software to help lung surgeons to predict the effect of thoracic surgery on the post-operative functional behavior of lungs.

Equipment & Infrastructure

  • 2 Subsonic Windtunnels
  • Anechoic Acoustic Room
  • Polytec Scanning Laser Doppler Vibrometer
  • IST Hydraulic Test Rigs
  • LMS Scadas-III Front-End
  • Combustion Engine Test Rig

Research collaboration

Inter-university & research centres : 

  • von Karman
  • KUL
  • RUG
  • UA 
  • ULB
  • UCL
  • Delft University
  • IIT

Industrial partners

  • SUEZ-ELECTRABEL
  • ASCO
  • AIB VINCOTTE
  • NUMECA
  • AIRBUS
  • DASSAULT
  • LMS
  • 3E Engineering…

VUB Spin-off

NUMECA Int. NV – the expertise and knowhow of the THFL team has led to the creation of a spin-off company with a worldwide reputation in the simulation, design and optimization of fluid flows and heat transfers.

Vrije Universiteit Brussel - Faculty of Engineering
Pleinlaan 2 – B-1050 Brussels – Belgium
[W] http://mech.vub.ac.be/
[T] +32 (0)2 629 28 06 or 23 92
[F] +32 (0)2 629 28 65
Head & scientific contact: Dirk LEFEBER
[E] dlefeber@vub.ac.be
Business contact: Jacques Langhendries
[E] jacques.langhendries@vub.ac.be
GROUP MECH: 62 researchers
(incl. technicians)