History
The Institute of Design Engineering grew out of the Teacher Research Group of Mechanical Principles and Mechanical Parts, which was established in 1952. Mr. Zheng Linqing served as the first director. In 1958, the Mechanical Design Major was formally established to undertake the teaching of basic mechanical courses and professional courses, and at the same time carry out scientific research on topics such as high-speed bearings and dynamic balancing machines. In 1959, the Teacher Research Group of Mechanical Design officially started to admit postgraduate students. In 1982, teacher research groups were established for mechanical principles and mechanical parts respectively. The Teacher Research Group of Mechanical Parts was later renamed the Teacher Research Group of Mechanical Design. In 1986, the Research Group of Tribology was separated from the Teacher Research Group of Mechanical Design and founded as the Laboratory of Tribology. In 1987, the Research Group of Sensors was separated from the Teacher Research Group of Mechanical Principles and founded as the Teacher Research Group of Sensors. In 1998, the Teacher Research Groups of Mechanical Principles and Mechanical Design were merged to form the Institute of Design Engineering.
The institute currently consists of 25 faculty members, including seven professors (one CAE academician and two National High-level Talents), 11 associate professors and associate researchers, four lecturers and research assistants, and three engineers and laboratory technicians.
Talent Cultivation and Teaching Achievements
The Institute of Design Engineering sees to the teaching of a series of basic mechanical courses for undergraduates and professional courses on mechanical design for postgraduates. The Mechanical Basics courses were built with great supports from the Ministry of Education and Tsinghua University. The teaching team of the Mechanical Design courses was selected into the projects of the 1st Beijing Excellent Teaching Team and the National Teaching Team. The Experimental Teaching Center of Mechanical Engineering is titled the National Teaching Base for Mechanical Engineering Basics and the National Teaching Demonstration Center by the Ministry of Education. In recent years, over 30 textbooks and reference books have been compiled and published, and more than 70 research papers on education and teaching have been published. It has won the National and Beijing Municipal Education Teaching Achievement Awards, and Beijing Municipal Premium Textbook for Higher Education for many times. Over the years, the Institute of Design Engineering has delivered hundreds of masters and doctoral students for the country. There are currently more than 40 doctoral students and more than 20 master's students pursuing their degrees.
Scientific Research Directions and Results
The institute is mainly oriented to the researches on the design of key mechanical components, mechanical dynamics and mechanisms, biomechanics and rehabilitation engineering.
In the field of key mechanical components, in response to fundamental problems of science in the design technology of key components and the major demands of the nation for high-end equipment and energy security, the institute have conducted intensive and extensive basic researches on the applications of magnetic fluid seals, mechanical seals, rubber and plastic seals, aerospace engine seals, water lubrication bearings, magnetic bearings, and several other high-end seals and special bearings. In recent years, it has achieved outstanding progress and important applications in terms of many key technologies, such as high-parameter magnetic fluid seals in aerospace, mechanical seals for nuclear power primary circuits, rubber and plastic seals for major equipment, and high-temperature and high-speed brush seals.
In the field of mechanical dynamics, the institute developed the nonlinear dynamics theory of the rotor bearing system, and quite leads the world in a systematic and comprehensive analysis of the dynamic mechanisms of common faults of rotating machinery. The vibration analysis and vibration suppression technology for spacecraft have been applied in spacecraft design. The hydro-generator and turbine-generator condition monitoring and fault diagnosis system developed by the institute have been installed on a large number of units, making contributions to the safe production of the power industry.
In the field of biomechanics, the institute has carried out researches on neurological rehabilitation robots, implantable prostheses, intelligent prostheses, detection and evaluation of human movement coordination, etc. It has developed a 32-DoF cableless autonomous humanoid intelligent robot with independent intellectual property rights. It leads the world in researches on the mechanism, functional assessment and rehabilitation of human movement control functions.
The institute has undertaken more than 50 scientific research projects, including Major National Science And Technology Projects, National 973 Program Projects, and Key Projects of the National Science and Technology Support Program. Its research achievements have won many national, provincial and ministerial science and technology awards, such as the Second Prize of the State Natural Science Award and the Second Prize of the State Science and Technology Advancement Award. In the past five years, the institute has published more than 400 papers in Chinese and foreign journals and key academic conferences, such as Mechanism and Machine Theory, Journal of Sound and Vibration, Journal of Biomechanics, and Tribology International; published 10 monographs and obtained more than 50 invention patents; and held ten-plus international and Chinese conferences. In 2019, the institute recorded funds for scientific researches of up to RMB 49.02 million yuan and published 159 SCI papers.
