Rowan Caldwell
Education: UNSW SYDNEY
PhD candidate - PhD Title: “Simulation Methods for Damage Prediction in Thermoplastic Composite Marine Propellers”; University of Wollongong, Australia - Bachelor Engineering (Honours) (Scholars), Materials Engineering with Honours title: “Mechanical Property Characterisation of Keyhole-TIG welded High Hardness Armour (HHA) steel plate”
Research interests: My research interests include the manufacture and performance prediction of durability-enhanced thermoplastic composites for marine, transport, and sporting goods applications. The virtually unlimited potential for design tailoring and unexplored processing, repair and recycling opportunities make thermoplastic laminates an exciting area of research. More computing power, new materials and novel requirements have seen performance prediction adoption in new markets, opening up new challenges for researchers to develop advanced explicit dynamics (time-dependant) simulations with continuum damage and user-material models to investigate the impact durability of thick laminates and coupled finite element analysis-computational fluid dynamics to explore underwater impacts. Designing experiments that help verify these predictions has been one of my most rewarding practical challenges to date.
Additional skills: Marine composites, composite hydrofoils, composite impact damage and durability, numerical simulation, finite element analysis, fluid-structure interaction, thermoplastic laminates, composites manufacturing, engineering, metallurgy, heat treatment, and failure analysis.
PhD candidate - PhD Title: “Simulation Methods for Damage Prediction in Thermoplastic Composite Marine Propellers”; University of Wollongong, Australia - Bachelor Engineering (Honours) (Scholars), Materials Engineering with Honours title: “Mechanical Property Characterisation of Keyhole-TIG welded High Hardness Armour (HHA) steel plate”
Research interests: My research interests include the manufacture and performance prediction of durability-enhanced thermoplastic composites for marine, transport, and sporting goods applications. The virtually unlimited potential for design tailoring and unexplored processing, repair and recycling opportunities make thermoplastic laminates an exciting area of research. More computing power, new materials and novel requirements have seen performance prediction adoption in new markets, opening up new challenges for researchers to develop advanced explicit dynamics (time-dependant) simulations with continuum damage and user-material models to investigate the impact durability of thick laminates and coupled finite element analysis-computational fluid dynamics to explore underwater impacts. Designing experiments that help verify these predictions has been one of my most rewarding practical challenges to date.
Additional skills: Marine composites, composite hydrofoils, composite impact damage and durability, numerical simulation, finite element analysis, fluid-structure interaction, thermoplastic laminates, composites manufacturing, engineering, metallurgy, heat treatment, and failure analysis.
Shafaq
Education: UNSW SYDNEY
PhD candidate - PhD Title: “Improving impact resistance of Automated Fiber Placement (AFP) manufactured AS4/APC-2 laminates for marine propellers”; Master of Material Engineering, 2013 and Bachelor of Metallurgical Engineering, 2018, NED University of Engineering and Technology, Pakistan.
Research interests: I am particularly drawn to challenges that not only present significant theoretical gaps in our understanding but also offer the potential for practical applications that can lead to significant improvements in Advanced composite manufacturing. My focus is on developing a comprehensive understanding of these issues through thorough analysis and innovative methodologies, targeted to advance the state of knowledge in the field. I am deeply involved in the exploration and innovation within the field of advanced composite material manufacturing, with a special emphasis on utilising Automated Fiber Placement (AFP) technologies. My primary research interest lies in the development and characterisation of novel composite materials that can deliver superior performance in high demanding applications. Using my advanced knowledge of composite materials, processing techniques, and applications, I aim to develop methods that significantly improve mechanical performance and durability while preserving the environment. My specific areas of focus include: Process Optimisation in AFP, Material Characterisation and Testing, Advanced Manufacturing Techniques and Data-Driven Material Science.
Additional skills: Advanced expertise in composite material properties, manufacturing processes, and applications; Skilled in mechanical testing and characterisation of composite materials (analytical techniques like tensile, short ban shear, interlaminar fracture, compression and flexural, impact testing, microscopic analysis (SEM, AFM) thermal analysis (TGA, DSC) x-ray analysis (micro-CT scan, WAXS, XRD); Hands-on experience with laboratory equipment and techniques relevant to composite material manufacturing; Demonstrated ability to optimise manufacturing processes for efficiency and quality improvement; Proficient in Minitab and Python for data and statistical analysis and predictive modelling in materials science; Ability to produce high-quality research papers, and reports; Strong project management skills, with a track record of leading multidisciplinary research projects to successful completion; Effective communicator, with experience presenting at international conferences and publishing in peer-reviewed journals; Leadership experience in supervising research teams and mentoring graduate students.
PhD candidate - PhD Title: “Improving impact resistance of Automated Fiber Placement (AFP) manufactured AS4/APC-2 laminates for marine propellers”; Master of Material Engineering, 2013 and Bachelor of Metallurgical Engineering, 2018, NED University of Engineering and Technology, Pakistan.
Research interests: I am particularly drawn to challenges that not only present significant theoretical gaps in our understanding but also offer the potential for practical applications that can lead to significant improvements in Advanced composite manufacturing. My focus is on developing a comprehensive understanding of these issues through thorough analysis and innovative methodologies, targeted to advance the state of knowledge in the field. I am deeply involved in the exploration and innovation within the field of advanced composite material manufacturing, with a special emphasis on utilising Automated Fiber Placement (AFP) technologies. My primary research interest lies in the development and characterisation of novel composite materials that can deliver superior performance in high demanding applications. Using my advanced knowledge of composite materials, processing techniques, and applications, I aim to develop methods that significantly improve mechanical performance and durability while preserving the environment. My specific areas of focus include: Process Optimisation in AFP, Material Characterisation and Testing, Advanced Manufacturing Techniques and Data-Driven Material Science.
Additional skills: Advanced expertise in composite material properties, manufacturing processes, and applications; Skilled in mechanical testing and characterisation of composite materials (analytical techniques like tensile, short ban shear, interlaminar fracture, compression and flexural, impact testing, microscopic analysis (SEM, AFM) thermal analysis (TGA, DSC) x-ray analysis (micro-CT scan, WAXS, XRD); Hands-on experience with laboratory equipment and techniques relevant to composite material manufacturing; Demonstrated ability to optimise manufacturing processes for efficiency and quality improvement; Proficient in Minitab and Python for data and statistical analysis and predictive modelling in materials science; Ability to produce high-quality research papers, and reports; Strong project management skills, with a track record of leading multidisciplinary research projects to successful completion; Effective communicator, with experience presenting at international conferences and publishing in peer-reviewed journals; Leadership experience in supervising research teams and mentoring graduate students.
Saral Mittal
Education: UNSW SYDNEY
PhD candidate - PhD Title: Automated Design of Hierarchical Composites; Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering (IIT Bombay, India) - Thesis title: Analysis of mechanical strength, fracture and crack-speeds for monolayer and bilayer graphene
Research interests: Research interests: Research Interests: Saral's research area is about developing an inverse material design framework for designing tailored composite materials. This is achieved by an intersection of state-of-the-art composites additive manufacturing methods, data-efficient Neural Network models, and Nature-inspired hierarchical design philosophy. His work also includes multi-scale modelling of complex architecture composites by replicating the observed micro-features in the as-produced material. The proposed framework is aimed at optimising the manufacturing process and design to produce parts with desired physical properties for applications in the Aerospace, Automotive and Hydrogen Storage industries.
Additional skills: Model-Based System Engineering, Molecular Dynamics modelling and simulation, continuous damage modelling, Automated Fibre Placement
PhD candidate - PhD Title: Automated Design of Hierarchical Composites; Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering (IIT Bombay, India) - Thesis title: Analysis of mechanical strength, fracture and crack-speeds for monolayer and bilayer graphene
Research interests: Research interests: Research Interests: Saral's research area is about developing an inverse material design framework for designing tailored composite materials. This is achieved by an intersection of state-of-the-art composites additive manufacturing methods, data-efficient Neural Network models, and Nature-inspired hierarchical design philosophy. His work also includes multi-scale modelling of complex architecture composites by replicating the observed micro-features in the as-produced material. The proposed framework is aimed at optimising the manufacturing process and design to produce parts with desired physical properties for applications in the Aerospace, Automotive and Hydrogen Storage industries.
Additional skills: Model-Based System Engineering, Molecular Dynamics modelling and simulation, continuous damage modelling, Automated Fibre Placement
Alexander Air
Education: PhD Student - Current 3rd year PhD Candidate in Mechanical Engineering Bachelor of Engineering (Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering). Completed in 2021 with Honours Class 1 and the University Medal.
Research interests: Automated fibre placement of curved and complex structures, composite pressure vessels, automated composites manufacturing and finite element methods for composites simulation.
Additional skills: Automotive engineering including chassis design, vehicle dynamics, electric drive trains and fuel cell electric vehicles.
Research interests: Automated fibre placement of curved and complex structures, composite pressure vessels, automated composites manufacturing and finite element methods for composites simulation.
Additional skills: Automotive engineering including chassis design, vehicle dynamics, electric drive trains and fuel cell electric vehicles.
Christopher Jenkins
Education: PhD Student - I completed a Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering at UNSW in 2021, with a thesis investigating fault detection in gearboxes using rotary encoders. During my time as an undergraduate, I worked extensively with the solar racing team, Sunswift, where I worked on the design and fabrication of Sunswift 7’s carbon fibre chassis.
Research interests: Now researching mould free composite manufacturing techniques. My research interests broadly encompass composite processing, hybrid, and natural fibre composites.
Additional skills: Hands-on composite manufacturing and testing, alongside a bit of data processing and optimisation both in MATLAB and ANSYS Mechanical.
Research interests: Now researching mould free composite manufacturing techniques. My research interests broadly encompass composite processing, hybrid, and natural fibre composites.
Additional skills: Hands-on composite manufacturing and testing, alongside a bit of data processing and optimisation both in MATLAB and ANSYS Mechanical.
Fouzhan Chitsaz
Education: PhD Student - DDS degree from Tehran University of Medical Sciences (TUMS) in 2020. After graduation, I worked as a clinician and collaborated as a researcher with the prosthodontic department of TUMS on optical and mechanical properties of CAD/CAM composite and ceramic blocks. Currently I am a member of Australian Dental Association and PhD student at UNSW.
Research interests: My research interests mostly lie in CADCAM technology, advanced dental composite materials and biomimetic approaches for rehabilitation of oral function. Our research with AMAC focuses on developing biomimetic dental composites with improved mechanical properties and self-healing capabilities
Additional skills: Dental Composite manufacturing; Mechanical tests: compression strength, flexural strength and fracture toughness test, Micro-hardness Vickers test; Spectrophotometry and colorimetry; Microscopy: optical microscopy, SEM, confocal laser microscopy; FTIR spectroscopy; Microbiological techniques; Culture and sensitivity testing; Gram staining, Serological test (ElISA).
Research interests: My research interests mostly lie in CADCAM technology, advanced dental composite materials and biomimetic approaches for rehabilitation of oral function. Our research with AMAC focuses on developing biomimetic dental composites with improved mechanical properties and self-healing capabilities
Additional skills: Dental Composite manufacturing; Mechanical tests: compression strength, flexural strength and fracture toughness test, Micro-hardness Vickers test; Spectrophotometry and colorimetry; Microscopy: optical microscopy, SEM, confocal laser microscopy; FTIR spectroscopy; Microbiological techniques; Culture and sensitivity testing; Gram staining, Serological test (ElISA).
Wuyang Huang
Education: PhD Student - PhD (Mechanical Engineering, UNSW, Aus); Master of Engineering Science (Mechanical Eng, University of Southern Queensland, Toowoomba, Aus); Bachelor of Technology (Mechanical Eng, SRM University, India)
Research interests: Fibre optic sensing, Structural Health Monitoring, FRP composite structures, ML
Additional skills: Fiber optic sensors installation and operation, FEA, Data analysis, Composite Fabrication.
Research interests: Fibre optic sensing, Structural Health Monitoring, FRP composite structures, ML
Additional skills: Fiber optic sensors installation and operation, FEA, Data analysis, Composite Fabrication.