Qualifications

• PhD, Thames Polytechnic, UK
• Bachelor of Science (Honours), Thames Polytechnic, UK

Research

Research keywords

• Bulk Solids Handling
• Gas-solid flow
• Pneumatic Conveying

Research expertise

Professor Mark Jones is Director of the Centre for Bulk Solids and Particulate Technologies and has extensive experience in pneumatic conveying and industrial bulk solids handling. For 11 years prior to arriving in Australia he worked within the Centre for Industrial Bulk Solids Handling in the Department of Physical Sciences at Glasgow Caledonian University, UK. In this role he was the Lead Investigator in a number of large-scale research projects funded by the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC), the Department of Trade and Industry and major companies such as BP (UK), Aluminium Pechiney (France) and Alcoa (USA). His largest project as Chief Investigator was funded by the ECSC and was undertaken in collaboration with the Coal Research Establishment in the UK. This project was funded to a value of $1.2million. Since arriving in Australia (1999), he has had many successful outcomes from several ARC funded research projects. These include;

• An ARC Large Grant on plug formation mechanics in dense pneumatic conveying.
• A SPIRT Grant on pressure drop prediction for pressurised pneumatic conveying systems.
• An ARC Linkage Grant on the development of design and optimisation tools for bulk material storage systems.
• An ARC Linkage Grant on specific issues in the development of high speed belt conveyors.
• An ARC Discovery Project investigating handling issues and mechanical behaviour of stringy/compressible materials.

His principal contributions are in the areas of pneumatic conveying and characterisation, however he has contributed a significant amount of work in a wide range of areas within bulk materials handling. His major contributions include;

• Developing modelling techniques for fluidised dense phase pneumatic conveying.
• Establishing theory on the mechanics of dense phase slug-flow pneumatic conveying.
• Intelligent control systems for pneumatic conveying systems.
• Pioneering work in dense phase hydraulic conveying in the energy generation industry.
• Unravelling segregation mechanisms in the handling of blended materials.
• Developing characterisation techniques for bulk solids handling applications.

Collaboration

Pneumatic conveying; material characterisation; fluidisation and de-aeration (particularly in relation to prediction of pneumatic conveying performance); gravity flow of solids; mixing and de-mixing of solids. General area of bulk solids handling.

Fields of Research

Centres and Groups

Centre

• PRC - Priority Research Centre for Advanced Particle Processing and Transport
• Newcastle Institute for Energy and Resources (NIER)

Group

• Centre for Bulk Solids and Particulate Technologies

Memberships

Body relevant to professional practice.

• Member: World Congress in Particle Technology 3, 4 and 5, 1998, 2002 and 2006. - International Scientific Committee
• Member: International Conference on Conveying and Handling of Particulate Solids - International Scientific Council

Editorial Board.

• Editor - Int. Peer Reviewed Journal, Transtech-Vogel, Germany - Bulk Solids and Powder: Science and Technology

Appointments

Administrative

Administrative expertise

Professor Mark Jones is curently Head of the School of Engineering and Director of the Centre for Bulk Solids and Particulate Technologies. He has previously held a number of administrative and leadership roles including Acting Pro Vice-Chancellor (12 months), Assistant Dean (Research Training), Assistant Dean (Community Relations and Marketing), Deputy Head of School, Head of Mechanical Engineering

Teaching

Teaching keywords

• Bulk Solids Handling
• Mechanical Engineering

Teaching expertise

Professor Mark Jones has extensive teaching experience at undergraduate, postgraduate and professional levels. He currently teaches Mechanics of Bulk Solids and Particulates to undergraduates on the Mechanical Engineering Program and Bulk Material Handling and Transportation as an elective accross the School. He has prviously been the Academic Leader for a Master's Degree in Bulk Solids Handling and regularly presents Continuing Professional Development courses to practicing engineers, both in Australia and overseas.