{"id":88,"date":"2025-02-25T10:29:31","date_gmt":"2025-02-25T15:29:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tickle.utk.edu\/mae\/?page_id=88"},"modified":"2025-07-22T13:44:35","modified_gmt":"2025-07-22T17:44:35","slug":"areas","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/tickle.utk.edu\/mae\/research\/areas\/","title":{"rendered":"Research Areas"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignwide has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-4383d167 wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-96840f6b wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"margin-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--x-small);margin-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--x-small)\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center utkwds-superhead has-condensed-font-family has-large-font-size\" style=\"padding-bottom:0;font-style:italic;font-weight:400;line-height:1;text-transform:uppercase\">Explore what we&#8217;re working on<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h1 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\" style=\"margin-top:0;padding-top:0;padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--x-small);line-height:1;text-transform:uppercase\">Research Areas<\/h1>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-25f0f0a0 wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"margin-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--x-small);margin-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--x-small)\">\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-text-color has-orange-color has-alpha-channel-opacity has-orange-background-color has-background\" \/>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\" style=\"margin-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--medium);padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--medium);padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--medium)\">Together, our faculty and students drive progress in five key research areas including computational science, energy storage, manufacturing, robotics, and of thermal, fluid, and structural systems. Use the links below to learn more about each of these research areas.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-light-background-color has-background has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-b64fe2b3 wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"border-left-color:var(--wp--preset--color--orange);border-left-width:5px;padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--small);padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--small);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--small);padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--small)\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-medium-font-size\">Computational Sciences, AI\/MIL<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Our faculty specializing in computational engineering are leveraging advances in computing and Artificial Intelligence to develop powerful tools for modeling and analyzing complex systems across fields such as aerospace, fluids, robotics, and manufacturing, enabling faster, more accurate insights and applications from defense to healthcare.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"is-style-utkwds-cta-link\" style=\"margin-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--xx-small);margin-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--xx-small);padding-top:0;padding-bottom:0\"><a href=\"https:\/\/tickle.utk.edu\/mae\/research\/areas\/computational-sciences\/\">Computational Research<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-light-background-color has-background has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-816992e8 wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"border-left-color:var(--wp--preset--color--orange);border-left-width:5px;margin-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--small);margin-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--small);padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--small);padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--small);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--small);padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--small)\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading is-style-utkwds-cta-link has-medium-font-size\">Energy Storage and Conversion<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Our faculty specialize in energy storage and conversion systems applying their  expertise in thermal and fluid dynamics, electrochemistry, and advanced manufacturing to improve the performance and scalability of systems for vehicles, grid power, and space, collaborating widely with industry and government partners.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"is-style-utkwds-cta-link\" style=\"margin-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--xx-small);margin-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--xx-small);padding-top:0;padding-bottom:0\"><a href=\"https:\/\/tickle.utk.edu\/mae\/research\/areas\/energy-storage-and-conversion\/\">Energy Storage Research<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-light-background-color has-background has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-816992e8 wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"border-left-color:var(--wp--preset--color--orange);border-left-width:5px;margin-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--small);margin-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--small);padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--small);padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--small);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--small);padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--small)\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-medium-font-size\">Manufacturing<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Our faculty lead advancements in manufacturing by exploring innovative materials and methods\u2014ranging from additive manufacturing of polymers, metals, and ceramics to high-precision machining\u2014while partnering with industry and government to drive commercial and defense applications.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"is-style-utkwds-cta-link\" style=\"margin-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--xx-small);margin-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--xx-small);padding-top:0;padding-bottom:0\"><a href=\"https:\/\/tickle.utk.edu\/mae\/research\/areas\/manufacturing\/\">Manufacturing Research<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-light-background-color has-background has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-816992e8 wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"border-top-style:none;border-top-width:0px;border-left-color:var(--wp--preset--color--orange);border-left-width:5px;margin-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--small);margin-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--small);padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--small);padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--small);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--small);padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--small)\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-medium-font-size\">Robotics and Control<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Several mechanical and aerospace engineering faculty specialize in robotics and control systems, applying their expertise to areas ranging from surgical robots and autonomous spacecraft to advanced manufacturing with robots and cobots, bridging fundamental research and real-world applications.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"is-style-utkwds-cta-link\" style=\"margin-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--xx-small);margin-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--xx-small);padding-top:0;padding-bottom:0\"><a href=\"https:\/\/tickle.utk.edu\/mae\/research\/areas\/robotics\/\">Robotics and Control Research<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-light-background-color has-background has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-5be4e978 wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"border-top-style:none;border-top-width:0px;border-left-color:var(--wp--preset--color--orange);border-left-width:5px;margin-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--small);margin-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--x-large);padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--small);padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--small);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--small);padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--small)\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-medium-font-size\">Thermal, Fluid, and Structural Dynamics<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Department faculty and researchers apply experimental and computational methods to study thermal, fluid, and structural systems across scales, advancing research in aerodynamics, combustion, materials testing, and micro\/nanoscale heat transfer for applications ranging from aerospace to manufacturing and HVAC.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"is-style-utkwds-cta-link\" style=\"margin-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--xx-small);margin-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--xx-small);padding-top:0;padding-bottom:0\"><a href=\"https:\/\/tickle.utk.edu\/mae\/research\/areas\/thermal-fluid-structural-dynamics\/\">Thermal, Fluid, and Structural Dynamics Research<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignfull wp-block-cover utkwds-gallery is-style-orange-texture has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-cover alignfull is-light twoUp-gallery-smlg\"><span aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-cover__background has-background-dim-0 has-background-dim\"><\/span><div class=\"wp-block-cover__inner-container is-layout-flow wp-block-cover-is-layout-flow\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group twoUp-gallery is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-28f84493 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div 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is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:60%\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignright size-large twoUp-gallery-img-lg clipCorner-tl\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/tickle.utk.edu\/mae\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2025\/07\/dynamics-secondary-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-832\" srcset=\"https:\/\/tickle.utk.edu\/mae\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2025\/07\/dynamics-secondary-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/tickle.utk.edu\/mae\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2025\/07\/dynamics-secondary-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/tickle.utk.edu\/mae\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2025\/07\/dynamics-secondary-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/tickle.utk.edu\/mae\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2025\/07\/dynamics-secondary.jpg 1493w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Explore what 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Computational Sciences, AI\/MIL Our faculty specializing in computational engineering [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"parent":87,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"no-title","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-88","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.6 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Research Areas - Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/tickle.utk.edu\/mae\/research\/areas\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Research Areas - Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Explore what we&#8217;re working on Research Areas Together, our faculty and students drive progress in five key research areas including computational science, energy storage, manufacturing, robotics, and of thermal, fluid, and structural systems. 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