C.O.E.S. Campus Research Centers

The college of Engineering and Science has focused its efforts in recent years to support the mission of the university. Through careful planning, and the diligent effort of many, the college has developed a national and even international reputation in several areas of research. Much of the research is administered through interdisciplinary centers that serve as research focal areas for the college. Strong linkages exist between College's centers as faculty, resources and ideas are shared.

Center for Applied Physics Studies

     The mission of the Louisiana Tech University Center for Applied Physics Studies (CAPS) is to provide a world class, integrated engineering and physics educational and research environment, thereby, creating opportunities for interdisciplinary studies, the sharing of resources, and the transfer of technology from basic science to engineering applications.    The CAPS program, through the use of multidisciplinary research and teaching efforts, generates a profile of both engineers and physicists who are well trained to enter a broad spectrum of careers in both physics and engineering.

     The CAPS mutlidisciplinary research and education program combines the strengths of researchers and students from Particle Physics, Biomedical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, and the Institute for Micromanufacturing (IfM).    As a participant in CAPS, each member and student spends a portion of their time in cross-colaborative efforts in areas outside of their traditional area of expertise.    For each project, multidisciplinary research teams are assembled, consisting of undergraduate and graduate students, postdocs, faculty, and collaborators from other institutions, national labs, and industries.

     The major research efforts of CAPS currently span the areas of Particle Physics, Micromanufacturing, Microfluidics, and Biomedical Sensors.    Each of the areas have received funding from agencies such as the NSF, NASA, Louisiana Board of Regents Support Fund, DoE, and Louisiana-NASA Consortium.

     The Particle Physics Group within CAPS is involved in research in high energy, nuclear, and astro-particle physics with major experimental projects at Fermilab, The Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility (TJNAF), Brookhaven National Lab, and the Los Alamos National Lab.    A CAPS research team is currently developing a Pizellated Cesium Iodide metal array coupled to a fast-timing bi-directional CCD in collaboration with LSU for use on a Gamma-Ray Balloon Borne Imaging Experiment and for use in Positron Emission Tomography (PET).

     The Center is located on the Louisiana Tech Campus in the Engineering Annex.    The CAPS facilities consist of a DEC Alpha based computer system, a PSpice based Electronics Design Station, an AutoCAD Mechanical Design Station, a Detector Development Test Lab, and a Comsic Ray Test Stand with CAMAC, VME, and FastBUS based Data Acquisition Systems.

Center for Rehabilitation Science and Biomedical Engineering

     In 1985, the Louisiana Board of Regents established the Center for Rehabilitation Science and Biomedical Engineering (CRSBE) at Louisiana Tech as a university-wide Center of Excellence. Committed to education, research, and service, the activities of the Center range from research in cardiopulmonary support systems, and materials and microdevices to solve biomedical problems to technology-based services to individuals who have a disability or other medical need.

     The Center is housed in the 63,000 square foot Biomedical Engineering Center complex. The building includes staff and administrative offices, educational facilities, research and assessment laboratories, and a dormitory for students with disabilities. Additional resources of the Center include wood, metal, and electronics shops, and graphics and video studios. The facilities and equipment have an estimated value of $4,000,000.

     The Center provides opportunities for faculty and students from throughout the entire university to participate in its activities and programs.

Institute for Micromanufacturing

     Micromanufacturing is a set of processes for the creation of structures, devices or systems with feature sizes typically on the order of micrometers. The focus of the Institute for Micromanufacturing is research related directly to the fabrication processes and includes the metrology, inspection and testing, assembly and packaging that are required for the manufacture of mini/micro products with micrometer feature sizes. The transfer of technology to industry, government, academia and the education of students, particularly graduate students, are given high priority.      The Institute for Micromanufacturing (IfM) consists of three components. The focal point for the Institute is the component for research and development located on the Louisiana Tech University campus in Ruston. A second component is the X-ray lithography micromachining capability at the Center for Advanced Microstructures and Devices (CAMD) in Baton Rouge. The third and final component of the Institute is Technology Transfer. This component is located in Shreveport/Bossier in order to take advantage of the unique opportunities and resources offered in this region. There is strong interaction among the three components of the Institute and each of the components interacts, to varying degrees, with industries, universities and research centers within the nation and around the world.      The facility at Louisiana Tech University will focus on processing for microelectromechanical system (MEM) and its capabilities include (or will include):

• A 41,000 sq.ft. building dedicated to micromanufacturing with 20,000 sq.ft. of environmentally controlled and vibrationally isolated laboratory space. Initially 2,500 sq.ft. of cleanroom space with future expansion capacity to 5,000 sq.ft.
• A state-of-the-art metrology and testing laboratory with capabilities in AFM/STM, SEM, interfero metric microsco py, etc.
• Teaching laboratories for MEMS processing.
• Bulk and surface micromachining of silicon.
• Post processing for LIGA (electroplating and injection molding at the micro scale) for the production of high aspect ratio parts in plastics, metals, etc.
• Complementary micromachining capabilities will include energy bean (focused ion beam and laser), microdrilling, and micromilling, microelectrical discharge machining, microdiamond cutting and sawing.

     The X-ray component consists of a dedicated beam line (on the electron storage ring at CAMD), exposure station and associated equipment specifically for the fabrication of high aspect ratio structures and devices. The CAMD synchrontron has been operated at a critical wavelength of 4.8 angstroms (1.5 Gev and 125 ma) and 200 ma at 1.5 Gev appears possible. Researchers from Louisiana Tech and Louisiana Tech University will work at CAMD on research directly related to the fabrication of microdevices and structures using selective etch techniques and X-ray micromachining. Direct communication with the Institute in Ruston will facilitate the fabrication of the structures and devices at the CAMD facility. This type of machining is currently available at only a few locations worldwide and the integration of the complementary processes is unique.

     One important feature of the IfM is its diversity in process research activities. Micromachining techniques such as diamond bit cutting, micro electrical discharge machining and focused ion beam milling will be performed in conjunction with micro electroplating and micro injection molding as alternatives to the lithography and etching processes used in silicon based fabrication. By matching the best miniaturization technologies the Institute for Micromanufacturing is uniquely positioned to assist industry in the economic manufacture of micro structures, devices or systems.

Trenchless Technology Center (TTC)

     Tech's TTC was established in September 1989 to promote research, development and technology transfer in the trenchless excavated construction industry. Trenchless technology includes a large family of methods utilized for installing and rehabilitating underground utility systems with minimal surface disruption and destruction resulting from excavation. Trenchless methods have also been used in solving some complex underground transportation and environmental contamination problems.       The center has been quite successful in involving a wide range of industries including equipment manufacturers, materials suppliers, and engineering design and construction firms. Industrial supporters who contribute annually serve as advisors to the center through its Industrial Advisory Board. The Trenchess Technology Center works with LTU faculty to identify and pursue research opportunities related to trenchless technology.

      The center has been involved in several millions of dollares of research since its creation including a major research project through the Corps of Engineers to evaluate materials and methods used in trenchless construction and rehabilitation. The center is involved in several current projects including evaluation of pipe rehabilitation systems, sewer system management, computer-based training for directional drilling operators, and research on theuse of horizontal wells for environmental cleanup. The center also is involved in many information collection, technology transfer and specification development activities.

Center for Numerical Simulation and Modeling

     The center for Numerical Simulation and Modeling at Louisiana Tech University is interdisciplinary, composed of faculty members from Mathematics, Statistics, Physics, Chemistry, Mechanical engineering, Chemical Engineering, Computer Science, and Biomedical engineering. The kernel of the center is the Numerical Simulation Group(NSG) which maintains the facilities ans estiblish links to all interested parties, not only within the university but also nationalwide. The NSG is a nationally and internationally recognized group conducting direct numerical simulation(DNS) and large eddy simulation(LES) research on flow transition and turbulence for complex geometry. Their creative work have received high praise by the Air Force Office of Scientific Research(AFOSR) and by leading NASA scientists.
     The technique of numerical simulation and modeling has become fundamental to modern science and technology. With recent advances in computational power, numerical simulation and modeling has become a powerful tool to solve various kinds of problems in scientific and technological fields. These fields include aerodynamics of aircraft and vehicles, hydrodynamics of ships and submarines, combustion problems in engines and gas turbines in power plants, multiphase flow problems, fluid flow inside rotating passages and diffusers of turbomachinery, cooling of micro-circuits in electronic engineering, heat and mass transfer in chemical reactions, etc.