College of Mechanical Engineering

With the help of grants from DaimlerChrysler Corporation and Visteon Automotive, Dr. Laura Lisiecki of the Department of Mechanical Engineering has partnered with Dr. Nabil Grace of the Department of Civil Engineering to study the engineering and economic feasibility of using composite driveshafts in vehicles.  These driveshafts would be manufactured with carbon fibers in an epoxy matrix.  Composite driveshafts are lighter than traditional metal driveshafts and can absorb energy in a crash, making the vehicles in which they are used safer.  They can also solve noise/vibration/harshness (NVH) problems.

The Materials Lab at Lawrence Technological University is used by all mechanical engineering students, and contains state-of-the-art metallographic and mechanical testing equipment.  Through the generosity of DaimlerChrysler Corporation, the University has recently purchased a computerized optical imaging system.  The Materials Lab is also home to an MTS Q-Test 100 which has recently been upgraded with the TestWorks 4 universal testing software package.  This apparatus can be configured for most ASTM, and ISO standard tests, including tension, compression and three point bend, as well as for custom testing requirements.

Mechanical engineering students at Lawrence Technological University may, if they wish, elect to complete concentrations in manufacturing, mechanical system design, thermal system design, automotive, or our unique entrepreneurial concentration.  Students concentrate in a particular subfield by either completing 3 out of 4 technical electives in that field, or completing the entrepreneurial  program.