Postgraduate research
Engineering
Aerospace
- Topology optimisation of cooling channels in high pressure die casting tools
- Swirling flows in industrial applications (modelling and experimental studies) - e.g. in combustion, turbomachinery or aftertretament systems
- Development and experimental validation of modelling techniques for gas/fluid flows in monolithic structures (automotive through-wall filters, heat exchangers, catalysts)
- Thermomechanical energy storage systems
- Combined energy networks
- Development of exergy and exergoeconomic analysis methods
- Stability and transition to turbulence
- Numerical and theoretical linear models for fluid dynamics
- Stratified flows & supercritical fluids
- Point merge system for the air-traffic management of airport arrivals using multi-agent simulation and artificial intelligence, both centralized and decentralized control should be developed.
- Reinforcement learning-based and safety-constrained multi-UAV communications and cooperation.
- Trajectory optimization of autonomous air vehicles in a cluttered environment.
- Clean/Ultra-low-emission Power & Propulsion using Computational Fluid Dynamics
- Aerodynamics & Aeroacoustics using Computational Fluid Dynamic
- Data-driven Turbulence Modelling using Machine Learning Techniques
- Path planning and replanning and adaptive path following for mobile robots or autonomous vehicles in challenging environments
- Motion, disturbance or fault estimation using sensor fusion for disturbance rejection control or fault tolerant control of mobile robots or autonomous vehicles
- Collaborative guidance, navigation and control of formations of mobile robots or autonomous vehicles
- Hydrodynamic stability and transition to turbulence of boundary layer flows
- Aerodynamic flow control and drag reduction
- Computational and data-driven methods for fluid stability analysis
- Control and robustness analysis for large-scale networks with uncertainties.
- Nonlinear systems analysis using Lyapunov methods, IQCs, and LPV techniques.
- Efficient analysis and synthesis using convex optimisation and LMIs for various applications.
Dr Tosha Nembhard
- Aerospace Thermal Management systems
- Additive Manufacturing applied in Aircraft Systems Design
- Inclusive Engineering
- Robust and Nonlinear Control
- Optimisation and Optimal Control
- Aerospace and Autonomous Systems Control Applications
- Computational Fluid Dynamics and aeroacoustics of Jets and Flow Cavities
- Gas dynamics and supersonic aerodynamics
- Turbomachinery and gas turbine aerodynamics
- Sustainable biofuels, including biodiesels (methyl esters) and bio aviation fuels (biojet).
- Laser-based diagnostic techniques in fluids, including PIV, LII, laser extinction and LDA.
- Soot formation and emission from combustion.
- Safety-critical control for autonomous systems (i.e., ground vehicles, aerial vehicles) in unknown and uncertain environments
- Safety-critical control of collaborative robots. Human-in-the-loop may be considered
- Decision-making for autonomuos vehicles. May consider using Anylogic simulation platform
- Systematic design, optimization and control of high power density electrical propulsion systems for electrified transporation with data-driven approaches.
- Aero and fluid design of ultra-high speed electrical drives.
- Aircraft propulsion (electric/hydrogen) multidisciplinary design optimisation
- Aircraft propulsion(electric/hydrogen) intelligent energy management, health management, and integrated control
- Aviation-energy nexus: airport energy infrastructure capacity planning and coordinated operation
Biomedical Engineering
- CFD analysis of air distribution for effective ventilation in public and hospital buildings
- Fuid flow analysis using optical and laser techniques, and CFD for various applications
- Desing of biomechanical fluid devices ( Heart assist mechanical devices)
- Modelling and optimising drug delivery to human lungs
- Modelling effect of pollution on healthy and diseased human lungs
- Modelling auditory processes using insects as model systems
- Modelling auditory processes governing human hearing system (ear)
- In silico investigation of vesicle and red blood cell membrane mechanics
- Data-Driven Surrogate Models for Cardiovascular Flow Simulation using Computational Fluid Dynamics and Deep Learning
- Computational Fluid Dynamics and AI-Based Optimisation of Aerosol Drug Delivery in Human Lungs
- Simulation and flow control of airborne pathogens
- Computational Fluid Dynamics modelling and optimisation of biological fluid flows
- Novel flow control devices in haemodynamics, angioplasty and stenting
Dr Himanshu Kaul
- Patient-specific computational modelling
- Computational models to understand how mechanical properties of biomaterials impact cell fate
- Develop a tool to control behaviour of human cell via electrical signals
- Digital signal processing and ECG analysis for atrial fibrillation, ventricular arrhythmia risk assessment, machine Learning and AI to Enhance Diagnostics and Predictive Analytics in Cardiology.
- Intelligent algorithms and advanced techniques to improve catheter ablation targeting in persistent atrial fibrillation. Body surface potential mapping.
- Wearable medical devices and remote monitoring systems, VR
- Modelling of Biological Systems. Large scale systems. Interconnected Systems
- System Identification and Analysis
- Feedback Design for Biological Systems
- Computational Fluid Dynamics for the cardiovascular and the respiratory systems
- Production of biomimetically inspired structures for tissue regeneration, drug delivery and drug discovery
- Advanced Nanocomposite coatings for bone regeneration
- Structure-function relations of biomaterials
- Footwear biomechanics: shoe-surface interaction and its effects in injury risk and sport performance
- Wearable embedded systems for health monitoring
- Hand biomechanics & dexterity strategies
- PVD thin films and coatings for thermoelectric device applications for energy harvesting
- Surface functionalised diamond coatings for antimicrobial application in Space
- Diamond based wide-bandgap semiconductors and power devices
Digital Manufacturing and Management
- Design, validation and development of mechatronic and robotic systems
- Design, validation and development of cyberphysical systems
- Design, validation and development of Industry 4.0 and automation systems
- Processing of aerospace materials, including Ni-base superalloys, high performance steels
- Digital manufacturing
- Machine learning for process engineering
- Utilisation of smart materials for energy harvesting
- Implementation of quality management and techniques within the automotive industry
- Digital manufacturing and related tools for product design and development
- Corrosion and corrosion mitigation, cathodic protection, coatings and thin film
- Electrochemical Additive Manufacturing (e-AM), recycling, electrolysers, hydrogen diffusion
- Carbon Capture, Utilisation and Storage (CCUS), Catalyst for electroreduction of CO2, New materials
- Additive manufacturing by metal poweder cold spray
Green Energy and Transportation
- Optimisation of micro augmented wind turbine (wind focus technique) for low wind speed applications
- Simulation and analysis of water splash and breakup behind lorries during heavy rain
- Artificial intelligence-based design of motor drive or power electronic systems
- Advanced intelligent control and maintenance for electrical power systems onboard all transportation platforms
- Communications and cooperation between robots / autonomous systems
- Vehicle-ready Power Electronics Prognostics and Health Monitoring (PHM)
- Power Semiconductor Package Design for Improved Robustness, Reliability and Resilience (3R)
- Intelligent Power Modules (IPM2.0) for Electrified Aerospace
- Energy Conversion Systems for Transportation Electrification
- Grid Integration of Renewable Energy Sources
- Optimal Power Processing for Grid-connected and Vehicle-to-Grid Inverters
Professor Ljiljana Marjanovic-Halburd
- Developing the framework for commercial building refurbishing that will be using circular economy principles to minimise overall buidling life cycle carbon footprint while maximising energy efficiency and themral comfort
- Develping simplified models for predicting energy consumption in office building depending on different indoor space configuration (open pl vs individual office) taking into account flexible working and aging worforce
- Dry or cryogenic manufacturing strategies to enable green manufacturing
- Advanced materials to enable fusion based energy generation
- Recycling, electrolysers, hydrogen diffusion, catalysts for hydrogen generation from seawater
- Carbon Capture, Utilisation and Storage (CCUS), Catalyst for electroreduction of CO2
- Modelling nanofluid cooled computer core heat sinks
- Endwall treatment for axial compressors and turbines for efficient power generation
- Electrical Machines Design and Optimization, inlcueding cables perfomance and electromagnetic imaging.
- Renewable energies (solar, wind, fusion): Machine design, optimization, control systems, and project deployment.
- Advanced Superconducting Materials for Green Energy and Transportation."
- Data-driven and physics-informed artificial intelligence technology for the design, control and opeartion of electrical power/propulsuon systems
- Advanced electrical machine design and control for electrified transportation: electric aircrafts, EVOLTS, & electrical Vehicles
- Design, manufacturing, and control techniques of ultra-high speed electrical machine systems in energy storage, domestic appliance, and aerospace applications
- Transport and energy systems integration, interdependency, and coordinated management
- Multi-microgrid system energy management, topology reconfiguration, resilience enhancement
Mechanics of Materials
- Materials for extreme environments such as those observed in wind turbines, maritime sector and hydrocarbon-free engines.
- Ultralight materials and novel functional designs for space applications, such as high precision space telescopes and space vehicles.
- Functional surfaces for high performance automobiles, energy, maritime, bio applications and space sector.
- Designs advanced alloys for energy-efficient automotive, fusion, and aerospace applications.
- Applies thermodynamics, kinetics, and modelling to structural materials like steel, superalloys, and titanium.
- Using characterisation techniques and machine learning to optimise material properties and performance.
- Multiscale and multiphysics modelling of materials for range of conditions and materials.
- Full scale measurements and correlative microscopy of deformation and damage in the macro and microscales.
- Microstucture informed modelling of deformation and damage of materials.
- Lifetime prediction of structural materials in corrosive environments at high temperatures and stresses.
- Modelling geophysical processes for fault activation and carbon sequestration
- Mechanical modelling of biophysical processes, especially related to the mechanics of the human lung
Dr. Yang Liu
- Micro-mechanical modelling of crystalline materials for energy and aero Industries
- Understanding microscale plasticity by integrating latest experimental and modelling methods
- Surrogate model development to predict transient microscale mechanics and multi-scale properties
- Surface integrity and residual stress of advanced or refractory materials
- Machinability and machining abuse in challenging alloys (including hybrid machining)
- High temperature corrosion of steels in molten media (lead, molten salts)
- Design of New Alloys
- Metallic and Ceramic Coatings
- Surface Engineering for Corrosion Mitigation
- Functional Materials with electromagnetic applications such as magnetic shielding and cloaking
- High Temperature Superconducting Materials for Coated Conductors
- Material properties of Superconducting and Ferromagnetic metastructures