Research in the discipline of Mechanical & Mechatronics Engineering
Research Area |
Manufacturing and properties of composite materials |
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Discipline Area |
Mechanical Engineering |
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Description |
Composites have been increasingly used in a variety of structures ranging from building panels to large aircraft components. This is because of their superior properties such as high stiffness, high specific strength and low density. Current research interests in this area include the application of composites in the building industry and others, including manufacturing lightweight sandwich composites, characterization of properties, and theoretical models. Research focuses experimentally and theoretically on failure behaviour, particulate toughening and property relations. |
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Example research topics |
Fatigue; fracture; mechanical properties; manufacturing; sandwich composites; particulate composites. |
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Potential Research Supervisors |
Dr Ho-Sung Kim (http://www.newcastle.edu.au/staff/directory/kim_hosung_169.html)` |
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Research Area |
Complex assessments |
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Discipline Area |
Mechanical Engineering |
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Description |
Assessment validity has been a subject of research for many decades; however, none of these studies have explored the validity of complex educational assessment in engineering. Our current research focuses on the validity and reliability of complex assessments using the relativity principles for various quantities such as examiner’s expertise, examinee’s performance, examinee’s expertise achieved, etc. |
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Example research topics |
Assessment; validity; reliability; peer assessment. |
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Potential Research Supervisors |
Dr Ho-Sung Kim (http://www.newcastle.edu.au/staff/directory/kim_hosung_169.html) |
Research Area |
Turbulent flows and small-scale turbulence |
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Discipline Area |
Mechanical Engineering |
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Description |
Turbulence has been described as the most common, most important and also most complicated kind of fluid motion. One of the complications of Turbulence is the existence of a wide diversity of length scales, ranging typically from the largest characteristics dimension of the flow, e.g. the diameter of a pipe, to the smallest scales, which depend on the fluid viscosity and the turbulent kinetic energy dissipation rate. The research undertaken within the turbulence research group is aimed at providing a realistic description of the both large and small scale motions and their interactions, and in particular, to assess the effect of the large scale inhomogeneities on the small scales motion. The behaviour of a passive scalar in turbulent flows is also investigated. Several wind tunnels equipped with hot wire anemometers and a water tunnel equipped with laser Doppler velocimetry (LDV) and Particle image velocimeter (PIV) are used to investigate various turbulent flows. Direct numerical simulation based on the lattice Boltzmann method (LBM) are also carried out (in parallel computations) with our computer cluster. Below are some examples of LBM simulations. Pulsed jet in a laminar channel flow: |
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Potential Research Supervisors |
A/Prof. Lyazid Djenidi (http://www.newcastle.edu.au/staff/directory/djenidi_lyazid_375.html) |
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Centres and Groups |
Turbulence g roup (http://www.newcastle.edu.au/school/engineering/research/mechanical-engineering-research/turbulence.html) |
Research Area |
Materials for Renewable Energy Applications |
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Discipline Area |
Materials Science |
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Description |
Effective utilization of the various forms of renewable energy will require a range of energy conversion and storage methods to be employed. Research is being undertaken into the thermionic properties of ceramic oxide–refractory metal composites, carbides and borides for direct energy conversion at elevated temperatures. In parallel, combinations of immiscible materials are being investigated for thermal storage applications using the latent heat of fusion. Materials with desirable properties are synthesized using low and high temperature methods to engineer appropriate microstructures and surface features. Physical, chemical and electrical characteristics are evaluated using electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction techniques and specialized laboratory equipment. |
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Potential Research Supervisors |
Dr Heber Sugo (http://www.newcastle.edu.au/staff/directory/sugo_heber_870.html) |
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Centres and Groups |
NIER |
Research Area |
Knowledge Representation by Set of Experience and Decisional DNA |
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Discipline Area |
Knowledge Engineering |
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Description |
Typically, decisional experiences are not stored, unified, improved, reused, shared, or distributed. This fact motivates our research, which aims to capture, represent, store, improve, and reuse the vast amount of knowledge amassed in a past decisional experience. In nature, deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) contains “...the genetic instructions used in the development and functioning of all known living organisms. The main role of DNA molecules is the long-term storage of information. DNA is often compared to a set of blueprints and the DNA segments that carry this genetic information are called genes”. Our research hopes to develop an artificial system/architecture that would support discovering, adding, storing, improving and sharing information and knowledge among agents and organisations through experience. We proposed a novel Knowledge Representation (KR) approach in which experiential knowledge is represented by a Set of Experience (SOE), and is carried into the future by Decisional DNA (DDNA). Using SOE and DDNA, we further establish and research principles and the concept of global e-Decisional Community and Knowledge Cloud. |
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Potential Research Supervisors |
A/Prof. Edward Szczerbicki (http://www.newcastle.edu.au/staff/directory/szczerbicki_edward_845.html) |
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Centres and Groups |
Knowledge Engineering Research Group (KERT) (http://www.newcastle.edu.au/school/engineering/research/KERT/) |
Research Area |
Mechatronics and control systems |
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Discipline Area |
Mechanical and Mechatronics |
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Description |
The mechatronics group conducts research in mechatronic systems (robotics) and vehicle dynamics, with applications in the marine and aerospace industries. This research is conducted in collaboration with industry and defence. The work on aerospace systems focuses on fault-tolerant control and assessment of reliability of autonomous aircraft systems. This research is part of a 5-year program in collaboration with Boeing Research and Technology Australia. Also with Boeing, research on light industrial robotics for aerospace manufacturing is being conducted. The work on marine systems focuses on vehicle guidance, navigation and control. In collaboration with the Defence Science and Technology Organisation, a 3-year program is underway with applications of underwater vehicles in proximity with larger vessels. On more theoretical aspects, the research focuses on energy-based control of under-actuated mechanical systems as well as estimation of non-linear dynamic systems. |
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The main potential for research is in the area of defence and its related industries. For example, research into autonomous sailing vessels in collaboration with industry is about to start.
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Centres and Groups |
PRC for Complex Dynamic Systems and Control (http://www.newcastle.edu.au/research-centre/cdsc/) |
Research Area |
Bulk solids and particle technologies |
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Discipline Area |
Mechanical Engineering |
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Description |
The Bulk Solids Research group is involved in fundamental and applied research on a range of problems associated with bulk solids and particulate technologies. The group is strongly linked with TUNRA Bulk Solids (TBS). For more than 36 years, TBS has been highly respected for providing professional consulting services to industry, and for cutting edge research and technological developments in bulk solids handling, processing and conveying. TBS is located in the Newcastle Institute for Energy and Resources (NIER), providing modern and comprehensive laboratory facilities for material characterisation and pilot-scale test work. The Bulk Solids Research group funds research through grants from the Australian Research Council (ARC), the Australian Mineral Industry Research Association (AMIRA) and directly from Industry. The group consists of over 50 staff, including researchers, consulting engineers, technical and administration staff and research students. The group is unique worldwide in the range of activities it encompasses, ranging from fundamental and applied research through to industrial practice. Research areas include storage, flow, processing and transportation of bulk solids. Specific examples include: Characterisation of bulk solids, aeration and de-aeration behaviour of bulk solids. Development of numerical approaches to determine bulk material flow behaviour. Micro-mechanical wear mechanisms of erosion and abrasion. Modelling approaches to analyse and predict the transient flow behaviour in pneumatic transport for both fine powders and larger granular materials. Particle-fluid permeation, fluidisation and multi-phase flow analysis within bulk materials handling systems and stress based analysis for flowability and design of bulk material storage systems. Development of measurement methods and theoretical models to quantify the indentation rolling resistance of belt conveyors. Minimising the main resistance of long belt conveying systems. Development of theoretical and experimental modelling techniques to analyse the performance of high capacity steep angle belt conveyors. Investigation of submerged solids storage and handling including clarification of the suitability of submerged Jenike style flow property testing and water permeability testing. |
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Bulk solids storage and flow; attrition, degradation and wear within bulk solids handling systems; minimising dust emissions from bulk solids handling systems; discrete element modelling (DEM); pneumatic conveying; hydraulic conveying; belt conveying; mechanical conveying.
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Centres and Groups |
TUNRA Bulk Solids Handling Research Associates (TBS) (http://www.bulksolids.com.au/)
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Research Area |
Mass and Thermal Transport in Engineering Materials |
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Discipline Area |
Mechanical Engineering |
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Description |
The Centre focuses on materials modelling over a wide range of length scales. The outcomes lead to better models and improved computational techniques for predicting the behaviour of metals, ceramics and composites. This in turn leads to cheaper and safer engineering designs and the development of advanced materials that will lead to new technologies. Research includes: Investigation of Thermal and Mechanical Properties of Cellular Metal-Based Composites. Atomistic modelling of nanoparticles. Short-circuit diffusion paths in solids. |
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Potential Research |
Prof Graeme Murch, Prof Irina Belova, Dr Thomas Fiedler, Dr Elena Levchenko, Dr Alexander Evteev. |
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Centres and Groups |
University Centre for Mass and Thermal Transport in Engineering Materials and the PRC for Geotechnical and Materials Modelling. |