University of Waterloo
200 University Ave W, Waterloo, ON N2L 3G1
Phone: (519) 888-4567
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Contact the Department of Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering
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Kaan Inal is an Associate Professor in the Department of Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering at the University of Waterloo.
Professor Inal’s research interests are in metal formability, micromechanics, crystal plasticity, instabilities and localized deformation phenomena in materials, and high performance computing (parallel computing).
10 Canadian universities were given funding for research into more energy efficient and environmentally friendly cars, under a program funded jointly by the federal government and industry. Three researchers in the University of Waterloo's Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering Department received funding for projects and Professor Inal received $2.7 million for a project that is looking into the development of extruded aluminum front rails for lightweight automotive bodies.
Professor Inal constructs numerical and theoretical models of how the individual crystals in metal slip past one another. He runs his models on one of Canada’s most powerful supercomputer networks – SharcNET, of which Waterloo is a charter member. The models can predict to a fraction of a micron where, for example, a hydroformed tube will crumple in a head-on crash test. This modelling can lead to the design of stronger and lighter alloys and better, cost-effective automobile parts.
University of Waterloo
200 University Ave W, Waterloo, ON N2L 3G1
Phone: (519) 888-4567
Staff and Faculty Directory
Contact the Department of Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering
The University of Waterloo acknowledges that much of our work takes place on the traditional territory of the Neutral, Anishinaabeg and Haudenosaunee peoples. Our main campus is situated on the Haldimand Tract, the land granted to the Six Nations that includes six miles on each side of the Grand River. Our active work toward reconciliation takes place across our campuses through research, learning, teaching, and community building, and is centralized within our Indigenous Initiatives Office.