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Clarkson University’s Mechanical and Aeronautical Engineering Department to upgrade lab with $25,000 grant

Posted 2/19/14

POTSDAM -- Clarkson University’s Mechanical and Aeronautical Engineering Department will receive laboratory upgrades courtesy of a $25,000 grant from the J.M. McDonald Foundation. "Clarkson is …

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Clarkson University’s Mechanical and Aeronautical Engineering Department to upgrade lab with $25,000 grant

Posted

POTSDAM -- Clarkson University’s Mechanical and Aeronautical Engineering Department will receive laboratory upgrades courtesy of a $25,000 grant from the J.M. McDonald Foundation.

"Clarkson is grateful to the J.M. McDonald Foundation for helping to enhance the laboratories of our undergraduate students," said Goodarz Ahmadi, dean of the Wallace H. Coulter School of Engineering. "We'll be able to upgrade the facilities used in several of our upper division lab courses."

The funding will improve four components in the mechanical and aeronautical engineering laboratory and program.

"As part of this modernization plan, two types of USB data acquisition (DAQ) Systems have been purchased. These portable DAQ interfaces connect to the notebook computers that are common tools for today’s students. This portability and multi-functionality allow students to take many new types of real-world measurements,” said Ron LaFleur, professor at Clarkson.

New, more efficient regenerative blowers and DC-capable controllers will replace the older blowers used in jet experiments, and the use of on-site air compression, rather than portable air cylinder delivery, will enable the upgrade and redesign of a supersonic flow experiment.

"Finally, a second station for a nozzle performance experiment will expand the laboratory and make the experiment available to both mechanical engineering and aeronautical engineering students," LaFluer said.

Clarkson has a long-standing history with the J. M. McDonald Foundation, which has given nearly $200,000 to the University since 1990.