Student’s research introduces others to advanced fluid power concepts

“I was the kid who opened things up and looked inside,” said Hassan Assaf, recalling his childhood in Beirut, Lebanon. His curiosity later evolved into an interest in designing new products.

Assaf enrolled at the Polytechnic University of Turin in Italy where he earned a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering and a master’s degree in mechatronic engineering.

While working on his master’s thesis in 2018, Assaf traveled to Purdue as a visiting scholar under the guidance of Andrea Vacca, professor of agricultural and biological engineering (ABE) and mechanical engineering. Vacca leads Purdue’s Maha Fluid Power Research Center, which is the largest academic hydraulics lab in the United States.

Assaf’s interest in fluid power technology and access to such resources influenced his return to Purdue for doctoral study in 2019. “I got to know the lab and could do my own research on different problems and challenges,” said Assaf.

In the first two years of his program, Assaf designed novel hydraulic trainers that integrate advanced electro-hydraulic components, data acquisition systems and visual aids. The trainers are now used at the Fluid Power and Motion Control Lab of Purdue’s new ABE building. There, they expose students to advanced fluid power concepts through hands-on experiences.

Assaf also helped address increased demand for online education by developing a virtual reality application to replicate the physical trainers for remote lab experiences.

Assaf is currently designing an electrohydraulic battery-powered system to replace the internal combustion engine in a hydraulic system. The work is part of a broader effort to address global warming by reducing CO₂ emissions. “I can design the electric motor and cylinders for an integrated system,” he explained. “The goal is to fabricate a working prototype.”

After completing his Ph.D. Assaf plans to work in industry, at least for a few years. “I want to know how the industry works,” he explained. “Then maybe go back home and join academia.”

Featured Stories

Grain entrapment is the leading the cause of agricultural confined space-related injuries and fatalities; researchers emphasize safety

Purdue University’s Agricultural Safety and Health Program has released the 2023 Summary of...

FNR Extension Specialist Lenny Farlee speaks to a crowd

Purdue FNR Extension specialist receives national recognition for work in forestry

Lenny Farlee, sustaining hardwood Extension specialist for Purdue’s Department of Forestry...

Siddhartho Paul and his students use a RTK GPS in a soybean field to get precise location information

Satellites and soils: NIFA and AgSEED grants fund remote sensing data collection and machine-learning models to predict soil properties at farm-to-landscape scales

The few inches of soil you pick up on the tip of your shovel are part of a much bigger picture....

Photos from Hardwood University: timber sales 101 course with Lenny Farlee and a marketing hardwood veneer, stave and sawlogs course in Edinburgh, Indiana.

Hardwood University Offers Cutting-Edge Information, Training to Industry Professionals

The 2024-25 edition of Hardwood University’s industry curriculum is available now with the...

Fetch, kitty! New research shows that cats are more eager to retrieve than you might think

Mikel Delgado, a senior research scientist in Purdue University’s College of Veterinary...

close up of fruit fly with red eyes climbing up the side of a tube

Gene expression research brings hope to the delay and prevention of Alzheimer’s disease

Dementia, Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s diseases slowly curtail the full, exciting...