Undergraduate Projects
Summer Research Opportunities
The Summer Undergraduate Research in Engineering (SURE) and Summer Research Opportunity Program (SROP) gives undergraduates a chance to participate in summer research in their field. Students who’ve begun or completed their third year can apply to the program.
NA&ME Project: Numerical Modeling of Abyssal Currents Interacting with Topography
Faculty Mentor: Yue Cynthia Wu, [email protected]
Prerequisites: Fluid Mechanics
Mandatory Skills: Knowledge of Fourier transforms. Coding experience with MATLAB. High
Performance Computing using the Great Lakes Slurm cluster is optional.
Project Description: The interactions between abyssal currents and topography, leading to ocean mixing, represent one of the most significant energy dissipation mechanisms in the global ocean circulation. Understanding such dissipation mechanisms is essential for modeling the Earth system and predicting future climate changes. In this study, the student is expected to build upon an existing numerical model of a bottom-intensified jet over gentle topography to investigate variations in topography, such as magnitude, steepness, spectral forms, etc. Postprocessing of the model output will be conducted using MATLAB to analyze the energy budget and deduce dissipation rates. This research endeavor requires the integration of the theory of wave-mean-topography interactions with practical, hands-on experience in ocean modeling and data analysis. The outcome of this investigation will contribute significantly to our understanding of how abyssal currents interact with diverse topographical features and the resulting implications for energy dissipation in the global ocean circulation.
Research Mode: Online and Hybrid
NA&ME Project: Testing the dynamic functionality of a bistable energy harvesting system of a fish telemetry tag.
Faculty Mentor: Lei Zuo, leizuo@umich.edu
Prerequisites: Having some experience with vibration is preferred; it could be by completion of one or more of the following courses: ME 240 Dynamics, NA&ME 340 Marine Dynamics, NA&ME 451 Introduction to Offshore Engineering
Project Description: We are currently engaged in the development of an energy harvesting system designed to power sensors within a fish telemetry tag. This innovative energy harvester is affixed to the fish alongside the telemetry tag and extracts energy from the surrounding water as the fish navigates through it. The harvester’s design draws inspiration from the doubly-curved bistable shape found in the leaf of a Venus flytrap plant. We are seeking a student to undertake the crucial task of identifying the potential nature of the underwater excitations the harvester may encounter and conducting experiments to comprehensively grasp the dynamic behavior of the harvester. This research holds significant implications for our broader goal of comprehending the impact of water infrastructure, such as dams and offshore energy systems, on fish. The insights gained from this study will contribute to our understanding of how these energy infrastructures may influence aquatic ecosystems and, specifically, the behavior and well-being of fish populations.
Research Mode: In Lab
NA&ME Project: Designing a Mounting Mechanism for a Fish Telemetry tag.
Faculty Mentor: Lei Zuo, leizuo@umich.edu
Prerequisites: Previous experience with CAD design is required.
Project Description: We are actively involved in creating a self-powered fish telemetry tag. Our focus is on devising non-intrusive methods for affixing the fish tag to ensure minimal disruption to the tagged fish. Drawing inspiration from the remora fish, a suction-based attachment method has emerged as a promising technique. We are currently looking for a student to explore the attachment mechanism of the remora fish, with the goal of designing an attachment mechanism that can withstand loads, ensure secure attachment, and is minimally invasive for the studied fish. This research holds significant implications for our broader goal of comprehending the impact of water infrastructure, such as dams and offshore energy systems, on fish. The insights gained from this study will contribute to our understanding of how these energy infrastructures may influence aquatic ecosystems and, specifically, the behavior and well-being of fish populations.
Research Mode: In Lab
Project #1: Floating Offshore Wind Energy in the Great Lakes Region
Faculty Mentor: Lei Zuo, [email protected]
Prerequisites: Completion of courses relative to one or more of the following: Aerodynamics, Fluid Dynamics, Marine Hydrodynamics, Marine Structures, Manufacturing Techniques, Climate Change, Energy, and Social Justice, Energy and Economics, Environmental Law and Justice. Desired skills/experience: Familiarity with Matlab and OpenFAST is helpful but not required.
Project Description: The Great Lakes area offers an enormous offshore wind capacity of 743 gigawatts (GW), surpassing that of the New England or Middle Atlantic region. Despite this significant potential, the development of offshore wind energy has been slow in the region. This project seeks motivated students to assist in developing new research projects related to offshore wind energy in the Great Lakes region. The student research involves evaluating and providing solutions to the technical and social challenges associated with future offshore wind projects in the Great Lakes. The technical challenges include addressing aerodynamics, hydrodynamics, and the structural response of the floating offshore platform under wave, wind, current, and ice loadings. In addition to challenges in the design phase, novel manufacturing procedures such as 3D printing and additive manufacturing can also be investigated. Social challenges related to environmental concerns and community
engagement should also be addressed during this project. The preliminary findings of the SURE student during this project will be used to apply for new grants, which can potentially support the student during their graduate studies.
Research mode: In Lab
Project #2: Dual-Functional Tuned Inerter Damper for Enhanced Semi-Sub Offshore Wind Turbine
Faculty Mentor: Lei Zuo, leizuo@umich.edu
Prerequisites: Completion of ME 240 Dynamics or NA&ME 340 Marine Dynamics is required.
Desired skills/experience: experience in machine shops is helpful but not required.
Project Description: As the world increasingly turns to renewable energy, offshore wind emerges as a promising resource, especially in deeper waters where floating turbines can capture stronger wind profiles. Unlike fixed-bottom turbines confined to shallow depths, floating turbines offer a broader range of deployment but face challenges with increased motion and ultimate loads. Our team is addressing this challenge by developing a dual-functional tuned-inerter damper (TID) specifically designed for semi-submersible offshore wind platforms. This retrofittable device aims to not only enhance the stability of these floating structures but also to harvest energy from both wind and wave-induced vibrations.
Research Focus: Implement TIDs in the columns of semi-submersible platforms to effectively reduce vibration and transform these motions into electrical energy.
Opportunities: Be part of a project funded by the National Offshore Wind Research and Development Consortium (NOWRDC) and GE Research Center. Engage in MHL tank tests and other experimental research to investigate the improved performance of wind turbines under harsh ocean conditions. This is an opportunity to work alongside Dr. Lei Zuo and gain hands-on experience in marine renewable energy, energy harvesting, and scaled testing.
Research mode: In Lab
Project #3: Prototype and wave tank test of a light-weight portable wave-current energy converter
Faculty Mentor: Lei Zuo, [email protected]
Prerequisites: Completion of ME 240 Dynamics or NA&ME 340 Marine Dynamics is required.
Desired skills/experience: Familiarity with mechanical design using Solidworks or other CAD software. Basic understanding of marine renewable energy. Hands-on experience with mechanical systems/knowledge of numerical simulation using MATLAB is a plus. Junior (raising senior) students preferred.
Project Description: The Marine Renewable Innovations and Education Lab is developing a lab-scale prototype of a lightweight portable marine and hydrokinetic energy converter. This device has a unique design that can harvest ocean wave energy and the ocean current energy at the same time. We are looking for undergraduate students who are interested in conducting mechanical design and hardware implementation, and maybe testing of the device. The job includes improving the current design with better efficiency and reliability, applying hardware building and assembling, and conducting some dry-lab and wave tank tests. Thus, students with strong hands-on experience and problem-solving skills are encouraged to apply. The job is expected to be done in multiple locations, including the NA&ME building at the North Campus and the MHL building at the Central Campus, in-person attendance is required.
Research mode: In Lab