About the Laboratory
The McMaster Thermal Processing Laboratory (MAC-TPL) is a research facility in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at McMaster University, directed by Dr. Mohamed S. Hamed. The laboratory is equipped to conduct both experimental and computational investigations in thermal engineering, materials processing, and energy systems.
The TPL brings together academic expertise and industrial relevance, offering specialized R&D facilities and deep knowledge in thermal engineering to address both fundamental scientific questions and applied industry challenges. The laboratory maintains strong partnerships with Canadian industry and government research agencies.
Laboratory Contact
Laboratory Objectives
Fundamental Research
Conduct leading fundamental and applied research in thermal processing of materials, boiling heat transfer, and fluid dynamics.
R&D Facilities
Offer specialized research and development facilities and deep thermal engineering expertise to academic and industrial partners.
Canadian Industry
Develop innovative solutions for Canadian industry's thermal engineering and energy challenges through applied research partnerships.
Immediate & Long-Term Solutions
Solve immediate industrial problems while concurrently developing long-term research strategies for thermal engineering challenges.
Academia–Industry Partnership
Join industry and academia in collaborative research to develop innovative solutions that bridge fundamental science and engineering practice.
Research Focus Areas
- Thermal Processing of Materials - Experimental and computational modeling of heat treatment, rapid solidification, and quench cooling processes for metallic alloys and engineering materials.
- Experimental and Computational Fluid Dynamics and Heat Transfer - High-fidelity CFD simulations and laboratory experiments in boiling, jet impingement, turbulence, and two-phase flow.
- Optimization of Energy Efficiencies in Industrial Processes - Engineering strategies for reducing energy consumption in furnaces, heat treatment facilities, and industrial thermal systems.
- Renewable Energy Integration in Buildings - Solar thermal buffer zones, Net-Zero Energy Building design, and integration of renewable energy into building systems.
- Nuclear Thermal Hydraulics - Two-phase flow behavior, quench cooling, and re-wetting phenomena relevant to nuclear reactor safety and design.
Facilities & Resources
Experimental Facilities
- Jet impingement boiling heat transfer test rigs
- Pool boiling and nanofluid experimental apparatus
- Quench cooling and re-wetting test facilities
- Thermal imaging and infrared thermometry systems
- Liquid metal rheometry and viscosity measurement equipment
- Tuned liquid damper (TLD) experimental apparatus
- Solidification and alloy processing equipment
Computational Resources
- High-performance computing for CFD simulations
- Commercial CFD software (FLUENT, CFX)
- In-house numerical codes for thermal processing simulation
- Design and operation software for heat treating equipment
- MATLAB and other engineering simulation environments
Graduate Student Supervision
Since 2002, Dr. Hamed has completed the supervision of 98 graduate students and research associates. All graduated students, PDFs and RAs have been successful in finding closely related employment.
30 Masters Graduates
M.A.Sc. researchers in thermal engineering, CFD, and materials processing.
20 Ph.D. Graduates
Doctoral researchers across boiling heat transfer, thermal processing, and energy systems.
10 Post-Doctoral Fellows
Advanced research in thermal engineering and materials science.
80 Research Associates
Applied and industry-linked research projects in MAC-TPL.
Join MAC-TPL
The McMaster Thermal Processing Laboratory (MAC-TPL) welcomes applications from motivated graduate students and researchers. Opportunities exist at the M.A.Sc. and Ph.D. levels in all of the laboratory's research areas.
Please note: Availability of openings varies from time to time based on the availability of funding. Applicants are encouraged to apply and will be contacted if a suitable opening arises.
Application Form
Please complete the form below. Clicking Submit will open your email client with your information pre-filled and addressed to hamedm@mcmaster.ca. Remember to attach your transcript(s) before sending.