The School of Mechanical Engineering (SME) practices strategic policy for research promotion at various levels in under-graduate, post-graduate and doctoral studies with focus aligned to national interests. We encourage the faculty members to carry out research activities that signify innovation, advancing knowledge and technological developments in the multifaceted disciplines of mechanical engineering.
We conduct research in broad areas of Mechanical Engineering, reaching well beyond traditionally identified domains. With its signature research programs, the school aims to make a positive contribution towards securing environmental, industrial, and societal sustainability. The diversity of research projects undertaken by our faculties is a measure of the track record of research.
Researchers pursue inter-disciplinary studies in diverse areas to meet societal needs, by exploring thin film technology for photovoltaics, tribology and chemical media separation; developing unique materials for energy, agriculture and allied engineering through nano-fluids, nano-sensors and corrosion resistant-lightweight hybrid-metal matrix composites; analyzing constraint based fracture of materials along with their engineering implications; evaluating rotor dynamics for high speed machine tool spindles; processing of smart materials and special alloys used in aerospace and biomedical applications; conceptualizing bio-inspired principles to realize innovative structures and bio-mechanic designs in engineering; developing sustainable strategies to generate high-temperature biomaterials using slaughter house refuse; harnessing renewable energy to evolve sustainable solutions for thermal energy needs of living premises. The research opens up immense possibilities for growth and development.
Research at our school is usually done by individual led research groups such as Bionic Structures, Material Processing & Design Engineering and there is also a large interdisciplinary project team in Materials Science. The research environment supports highly creative work done by a small group. The school promotes research opportunities for undergraduate and postgraduate students by fostering an environment of discovery and creativity through resource allocation, mentoring, and recognition. The researcher is supported by a dynamic research administration that has a non-bureaucratic work culture.
The Research Experience for Under-graduates (REU) is an exclusive course designed to motivate early researchers in under-graduate studies and provide a launch pad to pursue higher studies or focused research. The post-graduate students also actively pursue their research interests contributing towards the broad research domain of the school.
The school’s initiatives are highly collaborative and multidisciplinary, involving researchers from other engineering streams, the physical and life sciences. At present, there is an inter-disciplinary research centre & facilities at SME and many more are in the pipeline. Such facilities are intended to lead great interdisciplinary interaction at SME and facilitate collaboration for interdisciplinary research.
The culture of teaching coupled with guided research practiced in the school helps the faculty develop insights early and grow. The faculty is encouraged to develop new courses based on their research. The faculty members also have the freedom to modify existing courses to include content related to their research. The Centre for Engineering Education Research (CEER) augments teachers with right skill-sets to pursue research in the education domain.
The faculty of the school are actively involved in various capacities as editors in refereed journals, reviewers of technical articles, authors of technical articles and book chapters with an encouraging statistic of about two publications per faculty in Web of Science and Scopus indexed journals and conferences. The future research interests of the school extend to filing exquisite patents and technology development aligned to the research vision of the school.
