Human beings and machines are interacting in new and unique ways in the 21st century. That’s why design is such a vital aspect of engineering research at Purdue, discovering the ideals for mechanical systems, computational models, and human ergonomics.
In one Purdue lab, researchers use toys and video games as a vehicle to study how humans utilize creativity in the smartphone era. In another, faculty are studying materials at the nanoscopic level, to determine how best to manufacture the nanomaterials of the future. Another lab compares traditional manufacturing techniques with open-source culture, mapping out new paradigms for social and technical systems.
Design also collaborates with and strengthens other areas of engineering, like biomechanics, robotics, manufacturing, and vehicles. If you want to build it, first you’ve got to design it.
Thermal stresses, thermal fracture and fatigue of advanced materials, in particular high temperature materials, ceramic coatings.
Mechanical behavior, design and remodeling of biological tissues, effect of stresses on remodeling, microbiomechanics of cell-extracellular matrix (ECM) interactions, tissue engineering
Integrating human judgments into the design process
Application areas of interest include (but are not limited to): sustainability, healthcare/medicine, and non-traditional applications of design research.