• Diab, Nadim

    Dr. Diab, Nadim

    Chairperson & Associate Professor
    503
    diabna@rhu.edu.lb

    Nadim Diab is an associate professor in Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering Department. He received BE (2003), ME (2005), and PhD (2013) degrees in Mechanical Engineering from the American University of Beirut.

     

    Dr. Diab has worked for a few years on modeling rarefied gas dynamics using the Direct Simulation Monte Carlo (DSMC) method. His work in this field focused on understanding the gas dynamics around a micro RF switch oscillating at very high frequencies (GHz).

     

    Dr. Diab’s recent research interests focus on the analysis and synthesis of mechanisms. His research work in this field covers optimum synthesis of rigid planar mechanisms using different optimization techniques such as the Tabu, Genetic and Swarm Intelligence based algorithms. He has also worked extensively on applying finite element models to better understand the behavior of soft material topologies under external loads. For that matter, Dr. Diab utilized the Ant Colony Optimization (ACO) technique in optimum synthesis of compliant mechanisms that deform in a controlled manner to generate desired deflection(s).

     

    Besides his research work in kinematics/kinetics of rigid/compliant mechanisms, Dr. Diab is interested in exploring potential applications of the ”Screw” theory to multibody dynamics.

     

    Dr. Diab is an active member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME). He serves as an ABET program evaluator and ASME foundation scholarship evaluator.



    EDUCATION

    • Ph.D. – Mechanical Engineering, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon.
    • ME – Mechanical Engineering, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon.
    • BE – Mechanical Engineering, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon.


    Research Interests
    • Compliant/Rigid Mechanisms Design, Kinematics and Dynamics of Motion, Intelligent Optimization Techniques, Rarefied Gas Dynamics, and Numerical Methods.


    Journal Publications
    • Diab N., 2024, Using instantaneous invariants of the curvature theory in motion generation synthesis of 4R mechanisms with higher-order coupler point kinematics, Mechanism and Machine Theory, Volume 195,105596.
      https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mechmachtheory.2024.105596
    • Diab N. and Jouni F., 2021, Adapting Ant Colony Optimization of Compliant Structures Using Elements with Linearly Varying Cross-Sections, SN Appl. Sci., 3(4), 467. 
      https://doi.org/10.1007/s42452-021-04408-8
    • Diab N., 2021, A New Graphical Technique for Acceleration Analysis of Four Bar Mechanisms Using the Instantaneous Center of Zero Acceleration, SN Appl. Sci., 3(3), 327. 
      https://doi.org/10.1007/s42452-021-04318-9
    • Diab N. and Smaili A., 2017, “An Ants-Search based method for optimum synthesis of compliant mechanisms under various design criteria”, Mechanism and Machine Theory, 114, 85-97.
    • Diab N. and Lakkis I., 2016, "Modeling Squeezed Films in the Vicinity of High Inertia Oscillating Micro-Structures, ASME Journal of Tribology, 138(3), doi: 10.1115/1.4032951.
    • Diab N. and Lakkis I., 2014, "Modeling Squeezed Films in the Vicinity of High Inertia Oscillating Micro-Structures, ASME Journal of Tribology, 136(2), doi:10.1115/1.4026588.
    • Diab N. and Lakkis I., 2013, Investigation of the Dynamics of Squeeze Film Under a Harmonically Oscillating Micro Cantilever Beam, TSEST Transaction on Control and Mechanical Systems, Vol. 2, No. 4.
    • Diab N. and Smaili A., 2008, Optimum exact/approximate point synthesis of planar mechanisms, Mechanism and Machine Theory, 43 (12): 1610-1624.
    • Smaili A. and Diab N., 2007, A New Approach to Shape Optimization for Closed Path Synthesis of Planar Mechanisms, ASME Journal of Mechanical Design, 129 (9): 941-948.
    • Smaili A. and Diab N., 2007, Optimum Synthesis of Hybrid-Task Mechanisms Using Ant-Gradient Search Method, Mechanism and Machine Theory 42 (1): 115-130.
    • Smaili A., Diab N., and Atallah N., 2005, Optimum Synthesis of Mechanisms Using Tabu-Gradient Search Algorithm, ASME Journal of Mechanical Design, 127 (5): 917-923.


    Conference Proceedings
    • Diab N., Itani O. and Smaili A. , “Optimum Synthesis of Rigid Mechanisms Using a Dynamic Ant-Search Method with Sensitivity Analysis”, In Proceedings of ASME International Mechanical Engineering Congress and Exposition (IMECE2019-10262), November 08-14, 2019, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA.
    • Diab N., A New Approach for Locating the Instantaneous Centers of Zero Velocity for 1-DOF Planar Linkages, In Proceedings of ASME International Mechanical Engineering Congress and Exposition (IMECE2018-86341), November 09-15, 2018, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
    • Diab N., Itani O. and Smaili A., Optimum Synthesis of Rigid Mechanisms Using a Dynamic Ant-Search Method with Sensitivity Analysis, In Proceedings of ASME International Mechanical Engineering Congress and Exposition (IMECE2019-10262), November 08-14, 2019, Salt Lake City, Utah.
    • Diab N. , Adapting Ant Colony for Topology Optimization of Compliant Mechanisms with Variable Material Density, In Proceedings of ASME International Mechanical Engineering Congress and Exposition (IMECE2017-70116), November 03-09, 2017, Tampa, Florida.
    • Diab N. and Smaili A., An Ants-Search Based Method for Optimum Synthesis of Compliant Mechanisms, In Proceedings of ASME International Mechanical Engineering Congress and Exposition (IMECE2016-65142), November 11-17, 2016, Phoenix, Arizona.
    • Diab N. and Smaili A., An Elitist Ants-Search Based Method for Optimum Synthesis of Rigid-Linkage Mechanisms, In Proceedings of ASME International Mechanical Engineering Congress and Exposition (IMECE2015-51374), November 13-19, 2015, Houston, Texas.
    • Diab N. and Lakkis I., DSMC Simulations of Squeeze Film under a Harmonically Oscillating Micro RF Switch with Large Tip Displacements, In Proceedings of ASME International Mechanical Engineering Congress and Exposition (IMECE2012-88422), November 9-15, 2012, Houston, Texas.
    • Diab N. and Lakkis I., DSMC Simulations of Squeeze Film between a Micro Beam undergoing Large Amplitude Oscillations and a Substrate, In Proceedings of the ASME 10th International Conference on Nanochannels, Microchannels, and Minichannels (ICNMM2012-73138), July 8-12, 2012, Rio Grande, Puerto Rico.
    • Smaili A., Hassanieh M., and Diab N., "Application of the Flexible Link Model  (FLM) and Quantum Computing-Based Algorithm for the Optimum Synthesis of Partially Compliant Mechanisms, In proceedings of the ASME11th Biennial Conference on Engineering Systems Design and Analysis (ESDA2012-82467), July 2-4, 2012, Nantes, France.
    • Smaili A., Diab N., and Abdallah S., Adapting Ant-Colony Optimization to Design Problems in Mechatronics, In proceedings of the ASME 11th Biennial Conference on Engineering Systems Design and Analysis (ESDA2012-82461), July 2-4, 2012, Nantes, France.
    • Diab N. and Smaili A., Analysis and Optimum Synthesis of Planar Mechanisms with Clearances and Tolerances Using Interval Analysis, In proceedings of the ASME International Design Engineering Technical Conferences and Computers and Informa tion in Engineering Conference (DETC2006-99713), Sept 10-13, 2006, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
    • Smaili A. and Diab N., Shape Optimization for Closed Path Generation of Planar Mechanisms, In proceedings of the ASME International Design Engineering Technical Conferences and Computers and Information in Engineering Conference (DETC2005- 84301), September 24-28, 2005 , Long Beach, California, USA.
    • Smaili A. and Diab N., A New Approach for Exact/Approximate Point Synthesis of Planar Mechanisms, In proceedings of the ASME International Design Engineering Technical Conferences and Computers and Information in Engineering Conference (DETC2005-84339), September 24-28, 2005 , Long Beach, California, USA.