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Wind Energy Resources at the College of Engineering
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Research
Meteorology
Areas of Expertise
- Mesoscale wind modeling and forecasting
- Carbon and climate change science
- Greenhouse gas accounting and crediting of renewable power including wind
- Lidar remote sensing of meteorological properties , boundary layer structures, and high spatial and temporal resolution winds
- Rainfall measuring, modeling, forecasting, and estimation using radar and satellite remote sensing
- Roadway weather and maintenance
Special Facilities
- LiDARs consisting of a variety of specialty Raman and elastic mobile instruments focused on atmospheric application
- Mobile rainfall observatory houses an X-band vertically pointing radar (VPR), satellite antenna, and several computers for controlling the radar and IIHR's 2D video disdrometer, and four new mobile radar units purchased with a recent 6.8 million DKK (1.36 million USD) NSF grant, to make high-resolution meteorological and hydrological observations
- Micrometeorology laboratory containing a wide range of state-of-the-art equipment used to make measurements of turbulence and energy partitioning near the earth's surface
Centers of Excellence
- Center for Global and Regional Environmental Research was established in 1990 as a state funded center serving Iowa on issues related to climate change. It consists of over 70 faculty members from institutions throughout Iowa, and it functions to promote interdisciplinary research related to climate change. In calendar year 2007 active research grants and contracts of CGRER members exceeded $25 million.
Software Control and Sensors; Electronics, Control Devices
Areas of Expertise
- Control systems and control theory
- Innovation in the wind power industry
- Performance optimization of wind farms
- Predictive engineering
- Sensor technologies
- Controls and robotics
- Software Engineering
Mechanical Engineering, Gearbox, Gears and Drive Train
Areas of Expertise
- Multi-body dynamics
- Fatigue and fracture mechanics
- Virtual proto-typing
- Mechanisms and robotics
- Nanomechanics
- Finite element methods
- Probabilistic fracture mechanics
- Contact problems with friction and adhesion
Manufacturing Process, Material Handling, and Automation
Areas of Expertise
- Metal casting and solidification
- Meshfree methods for structural analysis and design sensitivity analysis
- Composite materials
- Reliability-based design optimization
- Virtual humans in manufacturing
- Multidisciplinary design optimization
- Mechanisms and robotics
Special Facilities
- The Solidification Laboratory within the Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering conducts research into fundamental aspects of solidification and their application in casting of metals. The laboratory is supported by federal agencies and industry. The research ranges from basic experimental and computational studies of microstructure evolution to modeling and simulation of a wide variety of industrial metal casting processes. The emphasis in the research is on micro- and macro-scale transport phenomena during solidification, particularly in the presence of melt flow. Collaboration with the casting industry has resulted in custom-made software for process control, new capabilities in commercially available casting simulation software, and strategies for yield improvement and defect prevention. Facilities include numerous state-of-the-art computer workstations and experimental test setups.
Centers of Excellence
- The Reliability and Sensory Prognostic Systems group at the Center for Computer-Aided Design (CCAD) investigates and develops new reliability-based design optimization (RBDO) methods and software systems that enable the determination of optimum designs that incorporate confidence ranges for mechanical component/system and electronic assembly. Specific research thrusts include the development of uncertainty modeling, reliability sensitivity analysis, and generalized RBDO methods.
To address the sensitivity of some manufacturing processes, for example, metal stamping and forming, and fatigue life estimation techniques to material property uncertainty, empirical fatigue modeling, external load variability, and dynamic stresses and strains, the Center has adopted an exacting approach to achieve robust RBDO methods and applications. The methodologies developed at CCAD are, however, applicable to general RBDO problems, as a result of an adaptive probabilistic
constraint evaluation strategy employed in RBDO research efforts. By integrating system probability analysis with the unified system space in the design optimization process, a design potential method (DPM) has been developed for highly effective probabilistic constraint approximation. The use of the DPM method significantly improves the RBDO convergence rate since it applies important design information obtained during reliability analysis for probabilistic constraint evaluation.
Composites, Blades, and Nacelle Covers
Areas of Expertise
- Fatigue and fracture mechanics
- Computer-aided analysis and design
- Multi-body dynamics
- Computational fluid dynamics
- Reliability-based design optimization
- Virtual prototyping
- Icing of turbine blades in winter weather
- Lightweight composite materials
- Computer modeling of structures and mechanical system
- Shape and topology design optimization of structures and mechanical systems
Special Facilities
- Low-Turbulence Wind Tunnel provides an ideal facility for turbine/tower testing. It has a 1.8-m wide, 1.5-m high, and 7.3-m long rectangular test section and a 2.5-m diameter vane-axial fan which yields a maximum speed of 40 m/sec in the working section. Among its notable features are: a high degree of mean-flow uniformity, 0.05% turbulence level, and almost total optical access to the test section. The tunnel has been specifically designed to accommodate the latest three-dimensional Laser-Doppler
Velocimeter and multi-sensor vorticity probes to measure all three components of instantaneous vorticity.
- Icing Wind Tunnel consisting of a portable wind tunnel was fabricated so that it can be located at an outdoor test site, or inside the Low-Turbulence Wind Tunnel. It can produce wind speeds up to 27 m/s and has nozzles to release water droplets into the air stream at a distance of about 6 m upstream of the test section. Size and areal distribution of water the droplets can be controlled. A two-component Laser-Doppler Velocimeter is used for measuring droplet velocities.
Cross-cutting Capabilities
- IIHR-Hydroscience and Engineering is one of the nation’s premier and oldest fluids research and engineering laboratories, and educates students and conducts research in the broad fields of hydraulics and fluid mechanics (annual budget of $13 million). A distinguishing feature of IIHR is its state-of-the-art capabilities for computational modeling, laboratory experiments, and field measurements. This permits varying, yet complementary, approaches for investigation and solution of a wide range of problems in hydroscience and engineering. Research facilities include a variety of hydraulics flumes, wind tunnels, a ship towing tank, an ice laboratory for winter environment, a mobile hydrometeorology laboratory, and advanced equipment for laboratory and field research.
- Center for Computer Aided Design (CCAD) (annual budget of $12 million) conducts basic and applied research in the design, optimization, modeling, and simulation of materials, structures, vehicles, and mechanical and bio-mechanical systems, to advance the educational and research mission of the College of Engineering, and to transfer research results to a broad spectrum of academic, industrial, and government constituencies. It is the home of the National Advanced Driving Simulator (NADS), which has become one of the most advanced driving simulators in the world. Over the years, the center has branched out into a variety of aspects concerning computer-aided design, including digital human modeling, simulation, reliability and durability analysis, cognitive modeling, and operator performance analysis. CCAD has grown to over 100 researchers and permanent staff and has created many strategic partnerships with government and corporate entities.
Other Competitive Advantages of The University of Iowa
- National Advanced Driving Simulator (NADS) - It is anticipated that a state-of-the-art Iowa Alliance for Wind Innovation and Novel Development could eventually include a division focused on large-scale testing of turbines and blades. The UI has experience in planning, constructing and operating one-of-a-kind large-scale test facilities. The NADS is the most advanced ground vehicle simulator in the world. It was developed by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration at a cost of $60 million with an annual budget of $6 million to conduct research that will ultimately reduce the loss of lives and property on the nation’s roadways. The simulator consists of a dome with a vehicle cab inside. The vehicle is attached to a motorized turntable that allows the dome to rotate and simulate different driving conditions. Faculty and staff at the UI conduct both basic and applied research at the facility for the Federal Government as well as private industry. As a national, shared-use facility, the NADS is available for use by any group interested in utilizing driving simulation as a tool to advance productivity, promote safety and foster innovation.
- Industry University Cooperative Research Centers (IUCRC) have a successful record in nurturing cooperative research under various models. One example is the NSF funded program on photopolymerization. The mission of the IUCRC in Photopolymerization is to advance research through the unique opportunity for active collaborations among industrial and academic investigators who are exploring cutting-edge research and are developing novel applications based upon the unique set of advantages offered by this technology. The objectives of the IUCRC center are (1) to advance the fundamental understanding of fundamental and applied science key to the focus; (2) to establish a venue for active discussions and collaborations among industrial and academic researchers; (3) to explore high-risk, cutting-edge research that could lead to technological innovations; and (4) to promote and/or develop novel applications that exploit the unique set of advantages. This technology itself has important wind-related applications in manufacturing and performance, and also serves as an important model of corporate/university cooperation.
Opportunities for Collaborative Projects and Use of The University of Iowa's Infrastructure
Utilization of University of Iowa Infrastructure:
- The University of Iowa makes its facilities, laboratories, equipment and programs available to research collaborators through two basic methods. One method is through a research contract under the direction of a faculty principal investigator and funded by the corporate sponsor. In other cases, a corporate partner may need access to specialized equipment, facilities or service programs on a case-by-case basis or not via a research contract with the University under the direction of a faculty principal investigator. Under these latter circumstances, the specialized equipment is made available to the corporate partner on a competitively priced fee-for-service basis. A wide range of specialized analytical equipment and other equipment, facilities and service programs are made available to corporate partners under this fee-for-service arrangement.
Training and Education
- Engineering Professional Development (EPD) supports and facilitates the academic, professional and personal development of students within the College of Engineering by developing, implementing, marketing and documenting experiential education opportunities which help fulfill the mission of the engineering college, the objectives and outcomes of its curriculum and departments, and to meet the needs of the employers, organizations, and communities we serve.
- Employer services provided include:
