Mechanical & Materials Engineering News

Carl Nelson, professor of mechanical and materials engineering, has been named a senior member of the National Academy of Inventors. (Craig Chandler / University Communication)
February 11, 2022 - Carl Nelson, professor of mechanical and materials engineering, has been elected a senior member of the National Academy of Inventors. His work has resulted in 12 patents in surgical robotics and rehabilitation engineering.  Full Story

Jae Sung Park, assistant professor of mechanical and materials engineering, aims to solve one of the great problems in science — discovering patterns or orders in turbulent flows and then developing methods of exploiting those orders to mitigate their impact on the world. (Craig Chandler / University Communication)
February 04, 2022 - With a five-year, $508,780 Early Career award from the National Science Foundation, Jae Sung Park aims to discover patterns or orders in turbulent flows of gases and liquids, and then developing methods of exploiting those orders to mitigate their impact  Full Story

Keegan Moore, assistant professor of mechanical and materials engineering.
January 10, 2022 - By working “backwards,” Nebraska Engineering’s Keegan Moore looks to use an AFOSR Young Investigator Research Program grant to refine the test and modeling process to build computer models that more often match physical realities.  Full Story

The figure shows three different exact coherent structures (ECS) in a 2D active matter system with velocity vectors (arrows). The top shows ECS with unidirectional flow (everything flowing to the right), the middle one shows three swirls (or vortices), and the bottom one shows five swirls.
November 29, 2021 - Taking lessons learned from animals who work in groups in the sky, on the ground and underwater, a team of Nebraska engineers is creating algorithms that can help individual agents in emerging technologies work together to improve our lives.  Full Story

In the 10 years since its creation through the merger of two units, Department of Mechanical & Materials Engineering (MME) has continued to thrive and grow.
November 19, 2021 - The Department of Mechanical & Materials Engineering (MME), created 10 years ago through the merger of two units, recently celebrated that anniversary and a decade in which it has continued to thrive and grow.  Full Story

Microscopic mounds formed from a copper surface struck by 719 laser pulses and later treated with citric acid.
November 11, 2021 - A team of Nebraska engineers are developing a process of using picosecond-long laser pulses to modify the surface of copper and thereby increasing heat transfer capabilities for power generation, refrigeration, and air conditioning.  Full Story

Eric Markvicka, assistant professor of mechanical and materials engineering, is developing new processes for manufacturing rubber that will improve the capabilities of controlling its electrical, thermal and mechanical properties.
November 08, 2021 - Through an NSF grant, Eric Markvicka, assistant professor of mechanical and materials engineering, is developing new processes for manufacturing rubber that will improve the capabilities of controlling its electrical, thermal and mechanical properties.  Full Story

Among the award winners at the 2021 NUtech Ventures Innovator Awards event were (clockwise from top left), Ron Faller, the Midwest Roadside Safety Facility, Jackson Stansell and Eric Markvicka.
November 03, 2021 - Engineering faculty Ron Faller and Eric Markvicka, graduate student Jackson Stansell and the Midwest Roadside Safety Facility were among the award recipients on Nov. 1 at the 2021 NUtech Ventures Innovator Celebration, part of Nebraska Research Days.  Full Story

Carson Emeigh, a senior in mechanical and materials engineering, is introduced by Garth Brooks to the crowd of 90,000 fans in Memorial Stadium for the Aug. 14 concert. (Photo courtesy Carson Emeigh)
August 18, 2021 - Mechanical engineering student Carson Emeigh asked Garth Brooks for some career advice and wound up with an invitation to join the country superstar’s crew to work at the Aug. 14 concert at Memorial Stadium.  Full Story

Karen Stelling is a professor of practice in mechanical and materials engineering. She is the adviser of the Aerospace Club, which is working on a satellite project with NASA, through a student grant project. She poses in the lobby of Othmer Hall with a display of Nebraska Engineering aerospace engineering projects. (Craig Chandler / University Communication)
June 04, 2021 - After 25 years of leading a variety of large-scale projects for a Kansas City firm, Karen Stelling returned to the College of Engineering, her alma mater, in 2013 and is pursuing her passion of growing tomorrow's leaders.  Full Story