The University of Sheffield
Department of Mechanical Engineering

Research

Montage of Mech Eng research imagesThe Department of Mechanical Engineering is internationally renowned for high quality research. We have over 80 members of academic and research staff, who, along with more than 100 PhD students, carry out cutting-edge research spanning both fundamental science and industrial applications.

Our research looks at some of today’s most challenging issues such as renewable energy, alternative fuels, strong and lightweight aerospace materials, advanced manufacturing and the mechanics of the human body.

Research Themes

Research activities in Mechanical Engineering are divided into five main themes, which together encompass the wide range of research undertaken in the Department:

RAE 2008

The Department was awarded an outstanding rating (30% 4*, 45% 3*, 20% 2*, 5% 1*) in the 2008 Research Assessment Exercise. All our academic research staff were submitted to the assessment. This places us second in the UK in the Times and Guardian Research League Tables.

More on the RAE

Industrial sponsors

We work closely with industry and our work has applications within a wide variety of engineering sectors, including aerospace, energy transport, defence and healthcare. Much of our research is carried out in collaboration with industrial companies and recent sponsors include: