Georgia Southern University’s doctoral program in mechanical engineering is continuing to grow thanks to a donation of AVL simulation software valued at more than $3 million.
“The advanced simulation software will allow our students to develop next-generation vehicles,” explains Valentin Soloiu, Ph.D, the Allen E. Paulson Distinguished Chair of Renewable Energy and professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering.
The software will help students focus on concepts such as internal combustion engine performance, emissions simulation, durability and noise, vibration and harshness, electric and hybrid vehicles, and virtual driveline development.
AVL List GmbH, the largest automotive research company in the world, donated the software. The Austria-based company is one of the world’s leading mobility technology companies, researching and developing solutions for a better automotive future. The company focuses on development, simulation and testing in the automotive industry as well as other sectors such as rail, marine and energy.
Soloiu credits the advanced research work done at Georgia Southern as the reason for the donation.
“We achieved this recognition through extraordinary research,” he explained. “That resulted in over 100 peer-review papers published in the last 17 years, with topics of increased combustion efficiency, sustainable aviation fuels, GHG reduction and climate change mitigation technologies.”
Soloiu believes this international recognition and research is setting students and the college apart from other institutions.
“With all these new research fields, we are at the forefront of research in automotive engineering in the United States,” said Soloiu.
