Research Laboratories
Advanced Infrastructure Materials (AIM) Lab
The Advanced Infrastructure Materials (AIM) Lab supports research for FHWA, NCDOT, FAA, and a wide range of public and private clients. Research focuses on characterization of the mechanical, thermal, and durability properties of construction materials, primarily concrete and cementitious materials. Laboratory facilities include comprehensive equipment for the preparation and characterization of aggregates and fresh and cured concrete. Specialized equipment includes two concrete mixers (5 ft³ and 12 ft³ capacities), a 500-kip compression machine, high-frequency data acquisition systems, a servo-hydraulic materials testing machine with an integrated environmental chamber for low- and high-temperature testing, and two 50-kip MTS materials testers with laser measurement systems. Conditioning and environmental simulation equipment includes two freeze–thaw cabinets, three GSX rapid cycling units, a walk-in environmental chamber, and a 49 ft³ programmable environmental chamber. Equipment supporting mortar preparation and testing includes stand mixers, mortar bar and cube molds, a flow table, and storage and conditioning systems for sulfate attack, alkali–silica reactivity, autogenous shrinkage, and drying shrinkage testing. Fresh concrete testing equipment supports unit weight, temperature, slump, and air content measurements using pressure, volumetric, and Super Air Meter (SAM) methods, as well as a Box test apparatus for workability assessment. Hardened concrete testing equipment includes surface resistivity meters with bulk conductivity attachments, an automated coefficient of thermal expansion testing system, a Fox50 apparatus for heat capacity and thermal conductivity measurement, chloride content testing via chemical methods and micro-XRF, ASTM C1202 rapid chloride permeability testing systems, and additional durability testing devices such as the Torrent permeability apparatus. Optical capabilities include a digital microscope (20×–2000×) and two stereo microscopes with digital image analysis, as well as an automated air analysis system using the scanner method. Non-destructive evaluation (NDE) equipment includes acoustic emission systems with waveform capture, ultrasonic pulse velocity equipment, maturity meters, and surface resistivity meters. An EDAX Orbis micro-XRF system provides elemental analysis capabilities. AIM also has on-campus access to SEM, EDX, XRF, and XRD facilities, along with analytical capabilities for thermal analysis, rheology, and microcalorimetry.
Fluids, Ultrasonics, Sensors, and Electromechanics (FUSE) Lab
The FUSE Lab integrates fluid mechanics, microfluidics, magnetics, and electromechanics to make complex three-dimensional flows measurable and controllable. The lab develops high-fidelity volumetric diagnostics (e.g., tomographic and light-field PIV, optical-flow methods), engineers broadband soft-matter transducers (e.g., PVDF-TrFE, IPMCs, dielectric elastomers) with physics-based calibration, and designs magnetic fields, coils, and power electronics for actuation, alignment, and sensing. Research includes hybrid magnetic–acoustic additive manufacturing, magneto-active materials, and sensorized biomedical microfluidic platforms for biofluids, acoustofluidic and magnetofluidic transport, and flow–structure interaction. A systems-level perspective spans embedded control, GPU computing, and validated models. Deliverables include open datasets, reproducible algorithms, and reference hardware to enable AI-assisted modeling, cyber-manufacturing, and resilient low size–weight–and–power (SWaP) sensing and actuation across aerospace, biomedical systems, and advanced manufacturing. The lab trains graduate researchers through hands-on, open workflows and collaborations with industry and government partners.
Laboratory for Instrumentation, Sensors, and Power Electronics (LISPEL)
The Laboratory for Instrumentation, Sensors, and Power Electronics (LISPEL) supports a broad range of capabilities for the design, fabrication, and testing of electronic circuits, with emphasis on sensors and power electronics. The lab also supports the development of high-voltage applications and is currently used for studies of the electrical properties of dielectric materials under controlled environmental conditions, analysis of acoustic and electromagnetic signal fusion, and development of energy-harvesting circuit topologies.
Modeling, Instrumentation, Dynamic Systems, and Controls (MIDAS) Lab
The Modeling, Instrumentation, Dynamic Systems, and Controls (MIDAS) Lab focuses on research in: (a) monitoring, instrumentation, and sensors (e.g., development of advanced sensors and process monitoring); (b) process modeling and data analytics (e.g., physics-based and data-driven methods, including machine learning–based models); and (c) control systems (e.g., nonlinear and adaptive controls) and device development (e.g., components and mechanisms). Key application areas include energy systems, electromechanical systems, manufacturing processes, and devices. Senior personnel include Dr. Michael Smith and Dr. Rodward Hewlin, Jr.
Renewable Energy Mechanisms Lab
The Renewable Energy Mechanisms Lab focuses on the design, simulation, prototyping, and testing of mechanisms that support renewable energy systems. Research activities have addressed wind, wave, and tidal energy systems, as well as solar thermal concepts and human-powered generators.
Robotic Accelerated Catalysis & Entropy Research (RACER) Lab
The Robotic Accelerated Catalysis & Entropy Research (RACER) Lab is an interdisciplinary research group operating at the intersection of artificial intelligence, advanced manufacturing, and robotics. The lab applies machine learning to accelerate materials discovery, leverages ultrafast laser and flash Joule heating techniques for scalable fabrication, and develops autonomous platforms that transform traditional trial-and-error workflows into self-driving laboratories. The lab’s mission is to bridge fundamental research with real-world applications in energy, electronics, and sustainable technologies.
Smart Infrastructure Asset Management (SIAM) Lab
The Smart Infrastructure Asset Management (SIAM) Lab is a multidisciplinary research lab specializing in human-centered simulation, sensing, and reality-capture technologies. The lab employs simulators to study behavior and safety; uses EEG, eye-tracking, and wearable sensors to examine physiological and cognitive responses; and explores human–technology interactions. SIAM also integrates advanced tools such as drones, LiDAR, and thermal imaging to capture and analyze data on the built environment, supporting both research and teaching.