Mechanical and Industrial Engineering

Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering

Welcome to Sustainability and Simulation Laboratory (SSL)


The Sustainability and Simulation Laboratory (SSL) is in the Mechanical and Industrial Engineering Department at Texas A&M University-Kingsville. SSL is dedicated to the advanced research related to sustainability & simulation and STEM education.

SSL has involved in the following funded projects, in which Dr. Li and/or Dr. Jin serve as PI and/or Co-PI:

  • Minority-focused Engagement through Research and Innovative Teaching, Department of Education.
  • REU Site: Integrating Research in Sustainable Energy and the Environment across Disciplines (IR-SEED), National Science Foundation.
  • Entrepreneurship Related Course Modules, TAMUS Engineering Network Junior Faculty Research Collaboration White Paper Awards.
  • Promoting Entrepreneurship-integrated STEM+ Learning Environment through Real-World Projects, Training Workshops, and Online Platform, HP Leadership Fund.

  • Security Engineering: Development of Curriculum and Research for Homeland Security, Department of Homeland Security.

  • Developing STEM-preneur through Engineering Innovation Projects, HP Catalyst Initiative.

  • Development of a Nuclear Engineering Minor Program within the Mechanical Engineering Department at Texas A&M University – Kingsville, Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

  • Preliminary Investigation and Analysis of Social-Economic Impacts of Eagle Ford Shale on South Texas Local Communities, TAMUK College of Engineering.

  • Epigenetic Biomarker for Prediction of Pre-eclampsia, TAMUK and TAMUHSC Collaborative Award.

  • Investigation and Analysis of the Overall Sustainability for Onshore and Offshore Wind Farms, TAMUK College of Engineering.

  • Analysis of Large Wind Farm Layout Design to Improve its Life-cycle Energy Efficiency, TAMUK University Research Award.

  • Advanced Digital Manufacturing and Training for TAMUK Graduate Students, TAMUK Title V/PPOHA.

  • Building TAMUK Through 3d Printing, TAMUK College of Engineering.

  • Acquisition of Equipment for Preliminary Sustainable Manufacturing Laboratory Setup, TAMUK Title V/PPOHA.       

  • Air Pollutant Characterization and Exposure Assessment in Urban Areas with a Geographic Information System, TAMUK College of Engineering

  • Engineering Judgment Models for General Design Optimization, TAMUK College of Engineering.

  • A Pilot Study of Energy Factor Based Systematic Approach to Sustainable Product Design, TAMUK University Research Award.

 

1. Wind Farm Layout Optimization
2. Active Disassembly Using Smart Materials
3. Renewable Energy

Recent Journal Papers:

  1. Ying Chen, Hua Li, Kai Jin, Yousri Elkassabgi, Investigating the Possibility of Using Different Hub Height Wind Turbines in a Wind Farm, International Journal of Sustainable Energy, DOI: 10.1080/14786451.2015.1007139. 

  2. Ying Chen, Qing Song, Hua Li, Kai Jin, Wind Farm Layout Optimization using Genetic Algorithm with Different Hub Height Wind Turbines, Energy Conversion & Management, Vol. 70, pp. 56–65, 2013.
  3. Bang He, Hua Li, Kai Jin, Shape memory polymer actuated hollow snap-fit design analysis, Materials & Design, 47, pp. 539–550, 2013.

  4. Hua Li, Kai Jin, Bang He, Ying Chen, Hollow Structure Snap-Fit Design Embedded with Shape Memory Polymer Sheet, CIRP Annals - Manufacturing Technology, Volume 61, Issue 1, pp. 31-34, 2012.

  5. Hua Li, Javier Ortega, Ying Chen, Bang He, Kai Jin, Study of Shape Memory Polymers Snap-Fit for Disassembly, Automation Assembly, Vol. 32, Issue 3, pp.245 – 250, 2012.

  6. Carmen A. Ramos, David Ramirez, Kai Jin, Hua Li, Factorial Analysis of Selected Factors Affecting the Electricity Production of Onshore Wind Farms, International Journal of Energy for a Clean Environment, Vol. 12, Issue 1, pp. 67–77, 2011.

  7. Hong-chao Zhang, Hua Li, An energy factor based systematic approach to energy-saving product design, CIRP Annals - Manufacturing Technology, Vol. 59, Issue 1, pp. 183-186, 2010.

Recent Conference Papers:

  1. Hua Li, Mohamed Abdelrahman, Integrating Research in Sustainable Energy and the Environment Across Disciplines through an NSF-funded REU Site, 2015 Annual Conference of American Society For Engineering Education. (link)
  2. J. Ortega-Saenz, Hua Li, M. Abdelrahman, Study of the Behavior of Shape Memory Polymers in the Active Disassembly Process, 2012 Annual Conference of American Society For Engineering Education.
  3. Kai Jin, Hua Li, Stephan Nix, Developing STEM-preneur through Engineering Innovation Hands-on Projects, 2012 Annual Conference of American Society For Engineering Education.

  4. Kunal Patil, Kai Jin, Hua Li, Arena Simulation Model for Multi Echelon Inventory System in Supply Chain Management, 2011 IEEE International Conference on Industrial Engineering and Engineering Management.

  5. Yuan, Y., Khan, T., Ramos, C., Li, H., and Ramirez, D., 2011, Air Pollutant Exposure Assessment in Texas Urban Areas Using A Geographic Information System, the Proceedings of Indoor Air 2011.

  6. Li, H., Zhang, H.C., Jin, K., 2010, Review and Future of Sustainable Manufacturing, Proceedings of the 17th CIRP International Conference on Life Cycle Engineering, pp. 192-195.

  7. Jin, K., Li, H., Nage, S., Zhang, H.C., 2010, Fuzzy Model for Optimization of Tolling Process, the 17th Proceedings of the 17th CIRP International Conference on Life Cycle Engineering, pp. 162-174.

Dr. Hua Li, Ph.D. 
Associate Professor
Industrial Engineering Graduate Coordinator
Mechanical and Industrial Engineering Department 
Texas A&M University-Kingsville
Email: hua.li@tamuk.edu
Tel: 361-593-4057
Fax: 361-593-4026 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dr. Kai Jin, Ph.D. 
Professor
Industrial Engineering Program Coordinator
Mechanical and Industrial Engineering Department
Texas A&M University-Kingsville
Email: kai.jin@tamuk.edu
Tel: 361-593-2135
Fax: 361-593-4026