The Kansas State University College of Engineering, which is the largest and most comprehensive engineering college in the region, benefits from more than 100yrs of vibrant history. The college offers 11 nationally accredited Bachelor of Science degree programs and has an annual enrollment of approximately 2700 undergraduate and 450 graduate students.
As one of eight departments within the College of Engineering, the Department of Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering has a long history of offering innovative solutions to complex problems both in the public and private sectors. The Department's current research focus areas include:
The department has a strong belief that in addition to intellectual stimulation, research is the driver that over time leads to the creation of new shared wealth and a better quality of life. A significant portion of this research and wealth creation is generated via sponsored research and fee for service activities that are conducted in 13 laboratories and 4 research centers within the department. Dedicated laboratories are available in topic areas such as Autonomous Vehicle Systems, Composite Materials, Mechanical Testing and Evaluation, and Radiation Measurement Applications, as well as several other areas; whereas, the Research Centers and their areas of focus are as follows:
S.M.A.R.T. Laboratory — The Semiconductor Materials and Radiological Technologies (S.M.A.R.T.) Laboratory is a unique facility dedicated to the research and development of new and innovative radiation detector technologies. A variety of detectors are investigated and fabricated, which include compact low-power neutron detectors, high-resolution room-temperature-operated semiconductor gamma ray spectrometers, pixelated devices for gamma ray or neutron imaging, and miniaturized gas-filled detectors. The facility is available to students and faculty for research and development of devices requiring standard equipment for VLSI processing and device fabrication. As a result, the S.M.A.R.T. Laboratory serves as a center for undergraduate and graduate student education as well as a facility to accommodate funded research projects from various government and industrial sponsors.
Triga Mark II Nuclear Reactor Facility — The TRIGA Mark II research reactor is commissioned to supports education, research, training, and regional industries. This is a unique resource for KSU because there are less than 20 active research reactors in the United States. This reactor operates under the Nuclear Regulatory Commission license R-88 and the regulations of Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations. The licensed maximum power limit is 250 kW for pulsing capabilities, which achieves higher power levels for short periods of time. This license is being renewed with the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission to allow operations up to 1,250 kW. The reactor supports KSU and other institutions research in radiation detector development, detector applications, neutron activation analysis, and neutron radiography in research efforts. The reactor also supports various other departments at KSU including Geology, Archeology, Chemical Engineering, Entomology, and others.
National Gas Machinery Laboratory — The NGML is home to the Turbocharger Test and Research Facility, which is capable of full-performance turbocharger testing, as well as the Internal Combustion Engines laboratory which provides a platform to test alternative fuels in compression ignition engines for both private industry and the government. The NGML is also recognized for substantial research involving the use of natural gas in the heating and cooling of the built environment and industrial processes.
Institute for Environmental Research — The IEP is an interdisciplinary research center for the study of the thermal interaction of people and their surroundings. It is one of the few centers in the world with the controlled environmental chambers and supporting instrumentation necessary to study the aspect of human comfort. IER research deals with thermal comfort, thermal stress, clothing systems, indoor environmental engineering, and related topics.