Department of Mechanical Engineering

Consultancy is offered to industry, non-governmental organisations, national and international bodies. This can range from individual expert contributions, and specialist testing work to full project management. Research is currently undertaken into renewable energy, irrigation systems, mini-hydro power stations, quality and reliability management, composite materials, and manufacturing processes control and management. Computer-aided design and process modelling are also key areas of research. Training activities include the undergraduate programme in mechanical engineering, postgraduate programmes in production engineering and management and thermofluids. Further, students can undertake research leading to the award of a Master of Engineering (MEng) or Doctoral (PhD) degree in any of our expertise areas. Short courses are also offered including tailored programmes to suit individual clients’ needs.

Mission

The Department’s mission is to produce a high-caliber, internationally recognized, versatile, and resourceful mechanical engineers, and to contribute to national development through teaching, research, and consultancy.

Core Expertise

The University of Zambia through the Department of Mechanical Engineering in the School of Engineering can offer expertise to all sectors of the industry. The expertise is offered in:

• Quality implementation and management
• Non-Destructive Testing (NDT)
• Metal casting
• Project appraisal and planning
• Energy utilisation and auditing
• Material selection, testing, and metallographic examination
• Industrial engineering
• Design and production engineering (CAD/CAM/CNC Technology)
• Plant and equipment evaluations and valuations
• Development of equipment for local manufacture
• Heat transfer, combustion, power plants and energy analysis
• Renewable energy applications
• Vibrations and dynamics analysis
• Fluid dynamics and turbo-machinery analysis and design
• Full range of machine shop operations
• Cleaner production
• Engineering maintenance
• Technology transfer
• Process modelling
• Risk and reliability assessment

Selected Consultancy Experience

Clients

• Technical Assessment of Installed Turbex WindmillsPLAN International
• Weld Testing using PQR Test CouponsMeltcast
• Conformance Testing of India MK II Hand PumpsZambia Bureau of Standards
• Strain Monitoring of a Furnace at Chambeshi MetalsASTEC-MET
• Review of the Legal Framework for Apprenticeship Training in ZambiaTEVETA
• Upgrading and Modernisation Studies of Hydro-Power StationsLunsemfwa Hydro-Power Company
• Redesign and Manufacture of Air-Conditioning Equipment for the Zambian State HouseZambian Government
• Technical Assessment of the Road Traffic Accident involving Baldwin NkumbulaGRZ
• Assessment of Plant Machinery LifeKafue Textiles of Zambia
• Evaluation of the ABS Tender Document for the Refurbishment of the Bank of Zambia Executive BuildingBank of Zambia
• Determination of Surface Roughness of Damaged Thrust Bearing Collar for a Turbine at Kafue Gorge Power StationZESCO
• Feasibility Study for the Establishment of Bulk Haulage Services and Engineering Workshop for David and Dash HoldingsZambia Venture Capital Fund
• Energy Conservation ManagementUNIDO
• Inventories of Anthropogenic Greenhouse Gas EmissionsEnvironmental Council of Zambia (ECZ).

Testing and Research Facilities

The activities undertaken in the Department are fully supported by the following facilities:

Mechanical Workshop

There is a standard workshop in which can be found lathes, milling machines, shapers, welding, grinding, and drilling machines. An injection-molding machine is also available. There is also a metrology section with various types of apparatus and instruments for precision measurements. Other equipment includes a 100-tonne press for forging and blanking operations, a lathe tool dynamometer, and a state-of-the-art Computer Numerical Control (CNC) Vertical Machine Centre (VMC) with associated software.

Materials Laboratory

This laboratory houses a 100 kN Schenk materials testing machine linked to an IBM PC, microscopes, and some grinders for microscopic examination of specimens. In addition, there is a hardness tester and heat treatment furnace for temperatures of up to 1200 degrees Celsius. Non-Destructive Testing equipment available is a portable Eddy Current NDT equipment.

Thermofluids Laboratory

This laboratory has heat transfer apparatus, refrigeration and air conditioning units, and a steam plant consisting of a Fulton Boiler and accessories. There are also two engines, Ricardo and Lister, which support studies on fuel combustion, thermodynamics courses and research. A fuel injection testing machine is also available. A second section consisting of a pelton wheel and tribology apparatus, a wind tunnel and viscometers is available for experiments and projects in fluid mechanics. A Flame Propagation and Stability Unit, a Centrifugal Fan Unit and a CO2/CO measuring devices are also available.

Dynamics and Control Laboratory

The laboratory has vibration equipment for linear and torsion vibrations and also apparatus for cam and gear studies.

Foundry

The foundry currently houses a furnace for non-ferrous metals and equipment for sand mould and core making. The foundry is supported by a carpentry workshop.

Specialised Computer Software

Computer software that the Department uses includes Mastercam for CNC machines, SolidWorks for solid Modelling, JL Analyser for finite element analysis, Phoenics for computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analysis and Quicklog for experimental data capture.