Kettering University has always been noted for its highly skilled faculty with industrial experience and graduates who hit-the-ground-running, thanks to five years of cooperative education and thesis projects that combine theory and practice. This cooperative partnership with over 700+ industrial employers keeps Kettering faculty in close contact with industrial needs. this relationship has led to a department initiative for the integration of industrial research projects into the undergraduate curriculum and increased student participation in applied and fundamental research. These efforts seek to better prepare Mechanical Engineering students for teamwork assignments and concurrent cooperative engineering in the workplace.

To assist sponsors with maintaining their competitive edge, the department has developed core competencies that focus on the use of computational methods for component and systems design along with experimental validation and prototyping. These methods are becoming essential to reducing product development time and cost from inception to manufacturing. These competencies are:

Numerical Simulation and Virtual Design -
Use of computational software to research and analyze problems in industrial and commercial combustion, fluid flow, heat transfer, aeroacoustics, and bulk material deformation (Crashworthiness, Sheet Metal Forming). Computer simulation and visualization is very useful to model complex non-linear material interactions, and material response to external forces, such as the design of tool parts, mechanical systems, and combined mechanical-thermal stress problems. This numerical modeling is augmented by validation testing in university laboratories such as Energy Systems, Noise and Vibrations, Instrumentation, Measurements and Controls, and Experimental Mechanics laboratories.

Internal Combustion Engine Modeling and Testing -
Ability to experimentally analyze the design of internal engine components, transient combustion processes, and geometric shapes of engine components, to optimize engine performance, improve fuel economy, and reduce emissions. This experimental ability is conducted with state-of-the-art engine dynamometer equipment and is also supported with advanced interanl combustion engine modeling computer software.

Design Optimization -
Application of systematic optimization algorithms to assess multiple design variable in a given design space, and to optimize the design to achieve a target "best design" for a given set of constraints.

Noise, Vibration and Harshness Analysis -
Modeling and analysis of the sources, propagation paths and suppression methods for noise, vibration and harshness issues in mechanical components and systems design.

Systems Modeling -
Mathematical modeling and computer simulation of integrated multi-discipline systems. Modern techniques, including power/energy conservation method, are used to model mechanical, hydraulic, electrical and thermal systems. Sophisticated software (MATLAB, ACSL, etc.) is used to simulate integrated linear and non-linear systems to study their behavior and thier performance. These simulation packages are also employed to study the application of suitable control techniques to improve the system performance for various external stimuli. This technique is also extended to business and economic systems.

For additional information as to how Kettering University can help your company design products faster, with higher quality and reliability, and lower operating and manufacturing cost, contact: