Our facilities

We have a continuous programme of infrastructure refurbishment to ensure that our research is not only competitive internationally, but leading internationally. Our School is purpose-built, self-contained, and offers a pleasant and friendly environment for study, with central University facilities just a few minutes walk away.

You will have access to specialist facilities and laboratories that are equipped with the latest technology including:

• Laboratory space and equipment for subjects such as solid mechanics (e.g. testing of modern composite materials), fluid mechanics (e.g. using wind tunnels for measuring lift and drag on wings), engine testing and thermofluids (e.g. mapping engines and determining optimum running conditions) and control and dynamics (e.g. using computers to control mechanical systems).
• LabVIEW Academy developed by National Instruments and the first Academy of its kind in the UK combines face-to-face teaching with hands on lab exercises, preparing students for their future careers by developing their skills in using this visual programming language created by National Instruments.

Institute of Engineering Thermofluids, Surfaces and Interfaces:

• Dowson Tribology Laboratory containing tribometers and specialised simulation rigs for the study of lubrication, friction and wear in real systems
• Bradley Combustion Laboratory containing optically accessible engines, special combustion vessels including a unique fan assisted bomb for investigating high temperature and pressure combustion, state-of-the-art laser diagnostic techniques and 3D imaging
• Refurbished erosion and corrosion laboratory with rigs for oil and gas applications, mineral scaling research and bioengineering systems
• Surface analysis suite including atomic force microscopy, nanoindentation, mass spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectrono spectroscopy, infrared spectrosocopy and quartz crystal microbalances
• State-of-the-art optics laboratories developing novel imaging and metrology techniques
• Microfluids Laboratory featuring micro particle image velocimetry, high-speed photography and a range of techniques for fluid mechanics
• Plasma Vapour Deposition (PVD) facility for advanced surface engineering research

Institute of Medical and Biological Engineering

• Wolfson Foundation Laboratory which is the largest academic facility in the world for the experimental functional simulation of artificial joint replacements
  including pin-on-plate wear and friction testing, six station reciprocator, single station reciprocator, wear and friction simulators for hip and knee joints, spine simulation
• Heart valve pulsatile flow simulation and durability testing
• Access to high resolution MRI and 2xMicro CT Scanners

Institute of Engineering Systems and Design

• Advanced Mechatronics and Robotics Laboratory
• The University's Charterhouse Rehabilitation Technologies laboratory including motion tracking system to support development of novel restorative rehabilitation technologies
• Purpose-built Design Systems Laboratory including soft metrology facilities and design observation suite for audio-visual recordings to study ways in which people interact with technology and new products
• Experimental facilities for characterising the dynamic behaviour of materials and systems including small-scale and full-size brake dynamometers