Mechatronics & Tribology Lab

The lab contains sixteen test benches used to study the physical behavior of traditional and mechatronic machine elements.

The test benches are used to improve the understanding of the machine elements interplay, linking different multi-physical domains such as solid & contact mechanics, fluid mechanics, electromagnetic, and temperature, among others.

• Test Bench 1: Active control, monitoring, and testing of rotating machines via actively-controlled oil lubricated bearings

• Test Bench 2: Active air foil bearings for controlling lateral dynamics of high-speed flexible rotors

• Test Bench 3: Nonlinear lateral dynamics of high-speed rigid rotors on air foil bearings

• Test Bench 4: Testing of flywheel energy storage systems (FESS) on moving platforms

• Test Bench 5: Monitoring and control of top foil of air foil bearings using piezoelectric patches

• Test Bench 6: Experimental multiphysics data-driven models and monitoring of journal bearings failure modes

• Test Bench 7: Contact dynamics, monitoring of contact and frictions forces, and testing of backup bearing design

• Test Bench 8: Monitoring and control rotor-blade systems via electro-magnetic actuation

• Test Bench 9: Multi-physics of active magnetic thrust bearings

• Test Bench 10: Experimental characterization of destabilizing gas seal forces in rotating machines

• Test Bench 11: Ball-bearing testing and monitoring

• Test Bench 12: Journal bearing cavitation testing

• Test Bench 13: Block-on-ring friction and wear testing

• Test Bench 14: Pin-on-disc friction and wear testing

• Test Bench 15: Pin-on-plate friction and wear testing

• Test Bench 16: Reciprocating friction and wear test rig