Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering

This list is not exhaustive, if there are any other areas of interest please contact the supervisor.

 

Project Supervisor

Professor Chris Cook, Dr Zheng Li

1. Force and Touch Sensing and Control over the Internet (Scholarship Available)

This project is intended to add a new sense to the Internet-the sense of touch-by extending our hands through the internet for remote sensing and manipulation. This would allow a task to be conducted in a remote environment via a remote slave robot that is connected to a local master robot through the internet. The local master robot is manipulated by our hands and the slave robot mimics the motion of the master robot. With rapid development of robotics and internet technology it is now potentially possible to deliver manufacturing, health, education and other services, many of which are currently only available in large cities, through the internet especially to remote and rural communities.
The aim of this research is to develop effective, innovative methodologies and algorithms for analysis and design for real time control and tele-operation of internet-based robots. It includes stability analysis, controller design and experimental performance evaluation to demonstrate force control even with time-varying delays and loss of packets due to internet communication. (This topic builds on our initial research in: “Reducing Wave Based Teleoperator Reflections for Unknown Environments”  Bate, L   Cook, C   Li, Z  ,  IEEE Transactions on Industrial Electronics,  Volume 58,  No 2, February 2011     pp 392-397)

Project Supervisor

Professor Chris Cook, Dr Jeff Moscrop

1. Electrical Engineering Applications of High Temperature  Superconductors

High Temperature Superconductors (HTSC) can conduct electricity at near zero losses. All electricity generated in the modern world passes through transformers, Fault Current Limiters (FCL's) and much through electric motors. HTSC technology therefore offers enormous potential to save energy, reduce carbon footprint and greenhouse emissions. This research is conducted in partnership with one of the world's major suppliers of HTSC, to design, build and demonstrate practical electrical engineering devices such as FCL's, magnetic energy storage devices, transformers, etc.

 

2. Actuators and Real Time Control

Hardly anything in a modern factory moves unless a computer controlled electric motor moves it. Ever increasing demands on speeds and accuracies require better mathematical modelling of motors and loads (one example of a load is a robot arm), better sensors, such as accelerometers and vision systems, faster computers and more flexible real time control systems. If you enjoy real world modelling, eg using Matlab, sensing and control and you like to see the results of your engineering effort produce measurable improvements on real machines and mechanisms, then we have a number of projects available.

Project Supervisor

Professor Chris Cook, Dr Stephen Van Duin

1. Robot and Gripper Design for Precision Manufacturing

These projects arose out of our work for Boeing where the challenge was to drill holes to a precision of 20 microns (1/3 the diameter of a human hair) over the length of a typical Boeing 737 control surface (10 metres) using robots whose accuracies are typically only 120 microns. This required the solution to many interesting problems in gripper design, computer control and laser navigation. Many of these are on going, giving rise to a number of new mechanical, electrical, sensing and computing problems applied to machining of large volume workpieces. Outcomes of this work will be tested using our own advanced ABB robots at Wollongong.

Project Supervisor

 Dr Stephen Van Duin, Professor Chris Cook

1. Design and simulation of automation and production processes in Mining, Aerospace, Defence and Manufacturing Industries.

Powerful online/offline simulation tools (such as Delmia) are now becoming available that allow complex integrated manufacturing systems to be designed, integrated and simulated before being built. We have a special interest in integrating CAD systems, robot manipulators and other servomechanisms, programmable controllers and sensor systems, and special purpose machines. We have several thesis topics oriented to improving industrial operations, such as aerospace manufacture, underground coal mining and large scale titanium machining. Engineering and technical performance as well as cost, economic and human factors are of interest

 

2. Using Delmia V5 for real time control of a robotic process

Delmia V5 is online/offline simulation tool that allows third party equipment to be integrated such as robot manipulators and other servomechanics and programmable logic devices. This thesis will demonstrate the integration of all these systems using the Delmia V5 software.

Project Supervisor

Dr Stephen Van Duin, Professor John Norrish

1. Design of a machine vision safety system for the monitoring and controlling of hazardous work processes.

Dangerous zones in work processes have traditionally been covered by physical human barriers or industrial light curtains. Some sensing companies have recently commercialised laser and optical human detection systems using scanning laser and sweeping optics. This thesis project will require low cost vision and optical components to be coupled with conventional vision analysis software to determine a monitoring system for safe human interacted environments.

Project Supervisor

Dr Zengxi Pan, Professor Chris Cook, Mr Nathan Larkin

1. Robotic Technology Demonstrator

A workcell for demonstrating the latest robotic technology is under construction at the University. This project will involve:

- assisting with the development of demonstration programs

- commissioning experimental equipment, and 

- undertaking research related to improvements in robot programming systems for low lot sizes

Project Supervisor

Dr Huijun Li, Dr Brian Monaghan, Professor John Norrish

1. Factors affecting welding fume in the breathing zone

The aim of this project is to elucidate the mechanism of welding composition development and to predict and control manganese under normal welding conditions. Manganese is a key alloying element in steel and concern has been expressed about the potential for manganese compounds from welding fume being absorbed via the lungs leading to the possibility of neurodegenerative disease.

Project Supervisor

Dr Yue Zhao, Dr Huijun Li, Dr Shaowei Huang
 

1. Plasma treatment and coating of alloy surfaces for medical applications

Titanium and titanium alloys are widely used in biomedical devices and components, especially as hard tissue replacements as well as in cardiac and cardiovascular applications, because of their desirable properties, such as relatively low modulus, good fatigue strength, formability, machinability, corrosion resistance, and biocompatibility. However, titanium and its alloys cannot meet all of the clinical requirements due to the low surface hardness and wear resistance. Therefore, in order to improve the biological, chemical, and mechanical properties, surface treatment is often performed. PhD thesis topics in this area will focus on the plasma nitriding of casted Ti alloys treated at different temperature, gas pressure and time ranges. The performance with be examined and optimized toward the specific medical applications. The University has an extensive range of surface treatment facilities and state of the art analysis equipment to support these thesis topics.

2. Development and synthesis of superhard thin films on the cutting tools using a filtered arc deposition system

In many engineering applications there are a wide range of components which require special surface properties, such as high hardness, corrosion and wear resistance. Thin films for cutting tool applications have particularly demanding requirements with respect to coating adhesion, hardness and environmental stability. Particular expertise has been developed at University of Wollongong in the areas of plasma nitriding and filtered cathodic arc PVD systems supported by a wide range of equipment for testing of wear and corrosion performance, and extensive facilities for materials characterization such as TEM, SEM, XRD and AFM.
Research projects in this area aim to develop and synthesize super-hard coatings for the cutting tool industrial, in particular for machining light metals, such as titanium alloy. Experimental work will utilize a Filtered Arc Deposition system to coat tool steel surfaces with TiN, TiCN, TiC, TiAlN, CrN, ZrN, ZrCN or diamond-like carbon (DLC) coatings.

Project Supervisor

Professor Kiet Tieu, Cheng Lu

1. Ductility improvement of the nanostructural metal sheets produced by accumulative roll bonding.

Nanostructural materials, also called ultrafine grained (UFG) materials, are defined as polycrystals having an average grain size in the range of 100 nm to 1 μm. Compared with conventional materials, nanostructural materials show some excellent properties, including ultrahigh strength, enhanced fatigue behaviour and superior corrosion resistance. For these reasons, nanostructural materials have attracted significant interest in recent years. In this research, accumulative roll bonding (ARB) approach will be used to produce the nanostructural metal sheets. The works will be focused on the improvement of ductility of ARB-processed sheets

 

2. Molecular dynamics simulation of nanoindentation/scratch

With the increasing demands of scaling down of micro/nanoelectromechanical systems (MEMS/NEMS), the fabrication of the micro/nanoparts has attracted significant interest to date. This requires a deeper understanding of themechanical behaviour of materials on the nanometer scale. The nanoindentation/scratch has been widely used to estimate the properties of materials on such small scale, including hardness, friction and wear resistance. In this research, molecular dynamics simulation will be conducted to investigate the nanoindentation/scratch process. Molecular dynamics is the method in which the atoms are allowed to interact to each other. It gives a virtual observation of the motion of atoms during nanoindentation/scratch.

Project Supervisor

Professor Kiet Tieu, Dr H.T.Zhu

1. Friction and wear of tools and workpieces in metal forming

Friction and wear not only determines the tool life, but also changes the topography of the tool surface and then affects the product quality. Wear can occur in several ways, including adhesive wear, abrasive wear and mechanical/thermal fatigue wear and corrosion. Moreover, the oxide scale on tool and workpiece surfaces and lubrication will affect the contact mechanics in tool/workpiece interface and protect the tool from wear. The main aim of the proposed project is to provide a better understanding of the friction and wear mechanics of tool and workpiece in metal forming, and of the properties and behaviour of oxide scales on tool and workpiece under lubrication in relation to the effect on tools wear.

Project Supervisor

Professor Kiet Tieu

1. Condition monitoring of low speed large slew bearings

For large, low speed and reversible slew bearings in large machinery, there is not an effective method to provide accurate condition monitoring of the bearing state. Unplanned break down of the bearing will case significant costs to the machinery, process and plant operation. The project involves 2 parts : 
(i) To provide a methodology to process the signals to indicate accurately the state of the machine
(ii) Testing of a reversible slew bearing test rig which has already been manufactured and instrumented with a number of sensors such as acoustic emission sensors, accelerometers. The methodology in (i) will be used to process the signals from the test rigs as well as from the processing equipment in a steel plant.

 

2. Virtual computer modelling of a hot or cold rolling/metal forming process

Computer simulation will be carried out on a hot strip mill or a cold mill to model the rolling process to help the operators with a virtual model so that they can access to the instant parametric study of the 6 or 7 rolling mill stands and optimise the rolling operation.

 

3. Lubrication of a hot rolling process

A new lubricant that is environmentally friendly is proposed for the hot rolling process. The lubricant consists of a polymer that is dissolved in water at room temperature can be used to replace oil based lubricant. It can be disposed easily leaving no trace on the products. Part of the study involves testing on a number of friction and wear test rigs that are available in the tribology laboratory.

Project Supervisor

Professor Rian Dippenaar, Ali Dahghad-Manshadi

1. The Evolution of Hot Deformation and Recrystallization of High Performance Aerospace Titanium Alloys

High performance Ti alloys with wonderful mechanical properties (high tensile and fatigue strength) and light weight are being used as the main material for some important aerospace applications such as fasteners, gears, springs and landing assemblies. However, there is still lack of understanding of the microstructural mechanisms governing the hot-working of those alloys. An enhanced understanding of these mechanisms is necessary for designing new alloys and for the design of critical aerospace parts. This proposed research is aimed at investigating the hot deformation properties of different titanium alloys designed for aerospace applications and to design new Ti alloys with improved performance and superior mechanical properties

Project Supervisor

Professor Rian Dippenaar, Mark Reid

1. The Peritectic Transformation in Commercial Grade Alloy Steels

The peritectic reaction is of fundamental importance to the production of numerous alloy systems. In the case of steels, the occurrence of the peritectic reaction has been linked to surface defects during continuous casting and a better understanding of this reaction will save the industry millions of dollars. The University of Wollongong has developed a unique experimental technique for studying the peritectic transformation using the High Temperature Laser Scanning Confocal Microscope. Considerable insight has been gained studying Fe-C and Fe-Ni alloys. This project will further expand these insights by examining more complex alloys in the form of commercial grades of peritectic steel.

Project Supervisor

Professor Zhengyi Jiang

1. Advanced shape development of thin strip rolling

Thin strip has a wide application in industry. The manufacturing of thin strip involves some key issues such as the strip shape, profile and flatness and strip edge localised deformation which can deliver a new metal manufacturing theory and practice. The experimental and finite element analysis skills can be significantly developed from the research. (Disciplines: Mechanical, Materials and Mechatronic Engineering).

Project Supervisor

Professor Zhengyi Jiang, Dr Dongbin Wei

1. Tribology in materials manufacturing

This project aims to develop the surface asperity transfer models during materials manufacturing processes. Experiments, theoretical analysis and finite element modelling may be involved in the Hille 100 rolling mill, surface roughness profilometer, AFM and finite element software, and the characteristics of the tribology in materials manufacturing process can be revealed. (Disciplines: Materials, Mechanical Engineering).

 

2. Micro rolling of metals

Microforming is an appropriate technology to manufacture the metallic parts with at least two dimensions in the sub-millimeter range. In this project, micro rolling will be introduced into the field of microforming. The theory and technology of cross wedge rolling to fit for micro forming of metals and accurate simulation methods in micro cross wedge rolling of metals will be developed. (Disciplines: Materials, Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering).

 

3. CAD/CAM for fabrications of micro parts

Parts of the micro size are commonly used in electronics production and other fields including the medical sector. It is hard to fabricate the micro parts due to tiny size. A novel CAD/CAM technology and numerical simulation will be significantly developed to fabricate the micro parts to fit their applications. (Disciplines: Materials, Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering).

Project Supervisor

Associate Professor Peter Wypych

1. Modelling and Minimising Dust Generation Mechanisms for Environmental Control

Many industries, such the mining sector and export terminals, are struggling with the increasingly stringent requirements of particulate emissions into the workplace and the environment. Preliminary research has shown that the main offender of fugitive dust emissions is the air entrained during accelerating freefalling streams of bulk material. This is quote common in ship loading, conveyor transfers, stockpile and run-of-mine (ROM) operations. Existing air entrainment models are over 40 years old and are based on single-particle analysis. They have been found to b quite inaccurate when applied to fine powders and large-capacity systems. This project is aimed at developing fundamental models on air entrainment and dust generation mechanisms that can be applied and scaled up to industrial systems. This will require experimental and theoretical investigations into: acceleration of bulk materials; air entrainment and air drag effects; and scaleup validation. All resources required for this project (e.g. test rigs, instrumentation, high-speed digital video camera) are either already available or w

 

2. Modelling and Development of Bulk Material Elevation Technology

The elevation of bulk materials is a necessity in most industrial plants and processes. This is achieved traditionally with bucket elevators or conventional high-speed screws. Unfortunately, such elevators suffer numerous problems: inefficient operation; high-maintenance costs; particle damage and dust generation; high risk of dust explosions (e.g. it is believed that the recent catastrophic and fatal dust explosion at Imperial Sugar in the USA was initiated by a bucket elevator). A new type of bulk material elevator, called the Olds Elevator, was invented and patented recently in Australia. This new technology shows tremendous promise in minimising and even avoiding the above-mentioned problems. The main aim of this project is to develop fundamental models for the performance prediction and design of such elevators (i.e. based on particle and bulk material properties). This will require experimental and theoretical investigations into: particle-particle and particle-wall interactions; threedimensional flow of bulk materials; the various friction mechanisms; in-feed scoop effects; comparisons with other technologies. All resources required for this

 

3. Research and Development of Dust Suppression Technology

Fugitive dust emissions are common in industry and lead to significant financial losses and negative impacts on community health. Dust suppression technology is showing great potential to minimise dust emissions in the mining sector and associated infrastructure, such as road, rail and port facilities. This project aims to apply a unified and scientific approach to the development of sustainable and cost-effective dust suppression formulations for specific products and applications, based on wettability, moisture retention, agglomeration and flowability. The advancements in theory, knowledge and experimental methodology from this project will enhance productivity and health and also benefit other researchers, designers and plant operators.

Project Supervisor

Dr Weihua Li

1. Shear thickening fluid and their applications

Shear thickening fluid is a speed responsive material. Above the critical shear rate, its viscosity increases with raising shear rate abruptly. This work aims to study the shear thickening fluid with different compositions like fumed silica, PMMA particles or cornstarch at various concentrations. Their rheological properties under different working conditions will be characterized. The application of the material in developing novel liquid body armors will be studied.

2. Variables stiffness and damping MRE isolators for structural control

Damage to civil structures induced by large environmental loads such as earthquakes, strong winds or man-made hazards results in significant loss of human life and resources. Thus innovative means of enhancing structural protection against natural hazards and man-made hazards have become a necessity. Conventional isolation devices have been installed in a wide variety of structures and buildings for reduction of undesirable vibrations. However, the commonly installed passive systems have rather limited effectiveness while active systems have energy and fail safe problems. This project aims at developing a “smart” MR elastomer based isolation system to effectively protect structures against extreme earthquakes or other significant hazards. In this project, the state-of-the-art advanced MR elastomers will be fabricated and characterized. With the developed materials, the cost-effective MREs variable stiffness devices for building vibration control will be developed and evaluated.

3. Microfluidic devices for rapid concentration, detection and separation of pathogens in water

The presence of waterborne pathogens in water poses potential risks to public health and safety. It is fundamentally important to ensure the safety of our water sources through the steps of water quality monitoring. This project aims to develop dielectrophorestic microdevices for addressing the sample preparation problems in microbial water quality monitoring. By selectively concentrating or separating the live pathogenic bacteria (e.g. E-coli), the system to be developed can collect and deliver detectable amounts of samples to analytical devices in a rapid fashion and greatly reduced sample volumes, eliminating the need for overnight culturing steps. This project consists of the following important tasks: (a) identify and differentiate target waterborne pathogens from various biological species in water; (b) theoretical and experimental study the dielectrophoretic phenomena or behaviours of target pathogens; and (c) fabricate and evaluate an integrated an integrated microfluidic device for consecutive and rapid concentration, separation and analysis of target pathogens in water.

4. Lab on a chip for high-speed cell sorter application

Current techniques in high-speed cell sorting are limited by the inherent coupling parameters, such as throughout, purity and rare cell recovery. Micorfluidics provides an alternate strategy to decouple these parameters through the use of arrayed devices that operate in parallel. To efficiently isolate rare cells from complex mixtures, an electrokinetic sorting technology, i.e. dielectrophoresis, will be developed that exploits dielectrophoresis in microfluidic channels. In this approach, the dielectrophorestic amplitude response of rare target cells is modulated by labelling cells with particles that differ in polarization response. Cell mixtures are interrogated in the DEP-activated cell sorter in a continuous-flow manner, where the electric fields are engineered to achieve efficient separation between the targeted particles and other particles. This technology or the developed sorter offers the potential for automated and selective cell sorting in a disposable format that is capable of simultaneously achieving high throughput, purity, and rare cell recovery.

Project Supervisor

Dr Weihua Li, Dr Oliver Kennedy, Dr Emmanuel Blanchard

1. Advanced and innovative vehicle technologies working with smart materials & structures

Smart materials exhibit highly functional and changeable properties.  By incorporating their intrinsic sensing and actuating capabilities into structural elements of vehicles, smart materials have found great promise in automotive applications.  To replace conventional systems or introduce new capabilities into automobiles, systems based on smart materials and structures technology need to add functionality, performance and adaptability without decreasing reliability, while marginally increasing cost and weight.
This project will conduct multidisciplinary approaches on proposing novel ideas and developing innovative methods and technologies in investigating automotive applications with smart materials and structures.  Key issues, such as controllability, maintainability and extendibility, are expected to be well-addressed by concurrent investigations.

Project Supervisor

Associate Professor Gursel Alici

1. Magnetic actuation for micro/nano manipulation applications

This project is on the conceptual development of magnetic actuation for movements with a minimum resolution of 10 nm. The expected outcomes are to determine magnetic actuation characteristics to consider for nano/micro applications, and develop a magnetic actuation system in order to drive flexural mechanisms fabricated using traditional or MEMS fabrication techniques.

2. MEMS and NEMS for Mechatronics

The aim of this project is to study micro/nano fabrication of electroactive polymer actuators for mechatronic devices (e.g. MEMS and NEMS) with application to biotechnology, medicine, micro-optical instrumentation, micro/nano positioning systems, micro/nano robotics, and environment monitoring

3. Micro/Nano Cantilevers for Biosensing

This project aims at the fabrication of micro/nano cantilevers, their modelling and characterization to employ them as biosensors with high sensitivity, high limits of detection and high dynamic range attributes. These attributes can be improved through optimizing the geometry of the micro/nano cantilevers and using novel electromaterials.

4. Design and Fabrication of Biodegradable Micro/nano Fluidic Structures for Drug Delivery

The aim of this project is to establish fabrication techniques to make 2D and 3D structures for micro/nano fluidic devices with application to medical drug delivery, and lab-on-chip. Optimum design, modelling, analysis and performance quantification of the pumps will be investigated.

5. Bioinspired-Propulsion Systems Based on Electroactive Polymers

The aim of this project is to develop actuation modules, which can generate linear and rotary motion, which will mimic the kinematics of creatures typified by earthworms or like, and to propose it for pipe inspection robotic systems. The modules will be based on conducting polymer benders, which require low actuation voltages. This makes them very suitable to many applications with power on board

6. Electroactive Polymer based Propulsion Elements for Bio-inspired Swimming Devices

One of the challenges of the research in electroactive conducting polymers is to exploit their behaviours in new applications including making functional devices. One potential area where polymer actuators and sensors can be exploited is the area of biomimetics, which combines biology and engineering in order to adapt nature’s capabilities in establishing new technologies and applications. One such

7. Design, Modelling, Analysis and Characterization of Polymer Sensors

The aims of this project are to investigate into electroactive polymers typified by polyprrole as mechanical sensors, and to establish mathematical models and their sensing ability analytically and experimentally.

8. Modelling the bending behaviour of polymer actuators using dimensional analysis; a classical approach to a new problem

As the mechanism behind the operation of conducting polymer actuators and sensors is not fully understood, there is an increasing need to employ a proven technique, which is dimensional analysis, to drive empirical relations among the parameters affecting the operation of these actuators and sensors. This study will establish a bridge between modelling and synthesis in the micro/nano domain, and the output in the macro domain.

Project Supervisor

Dr Scott Ding

1. Development of Millipede Forming

Millipede Forming is a novel sheet metal forming method patented and developed recently to overcome fundamental limitations in conventional roll forming.  Through manipulating the strip travelling through a designed optimal transitional surface in terms of limiting redundant strain components, high quality products can be achieved.  In this research, the optimal transitional surfaces of typical sections such as U- channel, top hat and circular tube will be studied theoretically.  FEA or other numerical studies to Millipede Forming is also fundamental for this project.  In order to validate the models developed, some experimental work such as tooling design and strain gauge measurement is required.

Applicants should have a metal forming, mechanical engineering or mechanics background.

2. Making Structural Part of Motor Vehicles with Chain Forming

Chain Forming is another novel sheet metal forming method proposed and is a developed alternative to roll forming.  Through applying the discrete dies to simulate the rolls with large radii, chain forming extends deformation zone to a sufficient length so that all redundant strain components are reduced to an allowable scale of elastic.  Beyond the advantages inherited from roll forming, Chain Forming is also suitable to make non-uniform profiles like most of the structural parts in a motor vehicle that is extremely difficult to be made by roll forming.  This research project includes fundamental metal working theory of Chain Forming, numerical/FEA analysis and experimental studies on a laboratory pilot Chain Former.  The AHSS materials that are difficult to be stamped or roll formed will also be introduced in this research.  

Applicants should have a metal forming, mechanical engineering or mechanics background.

3. New FEA approach in Roll Forming Simulation

Roll Forming FEA simulation is highly non-linear and costs dramatic computing time to achieve a solution for just a short sample.  As the computing time and modelling size can be generated, the commercial FEA package is not suitable for PCs even some HPCs, and large computers are too expensive and difficult to be used by industries.
A new approach FEA specialized to roll forming or similar applications are proposed. The new method has two critical modifications to others: 1) new way to take into account strain history and 2) using iteration method to solve the problem in force field instead of displacement field.  Primary study addressed on strain history proves the method is a quick way and further study needs to address the solving mechanism.  The new project is concerned with developing the novel FEA method to cold rolling and roll forming in order to increase the model size and computing speed with less human interruption and therefore it will be more suitable for industrial users.

Applicants should be proficient in mathematics and have a mechanics or metal forming background.

Project Supervisor

Dr Emmanuel Blanchard

1. Parameter Estimation and Stochastic Control Methods for Developing More Accurate Controllers for Artificial Muscles

The University of Wollongong has recently devoted significant research efforts to the characterization, modelling, analysis and control of conducting polymer actuators, which are also known as artificial muscles. Due to the great level of uncertainties and nonlinearities associated with such systems and extra precision requirements, the need to further improve the modelling frameworks and controllers has often been mentioned in articles related to this field.

The aim of this project is the application of new parameter estimation techniques able to deal with large parametric uncertainties, nonlinear dynamics and non-Gaussian probability densities to the characterization, modelling, analysis and control of artificial muscles. The outcome will include (i) a more accurate modelling of artificial muscles and a better understanding of the effect of several uncertain parameters on the overall performance, and (ii) controller designs resulting in better control performance validated by experimental results.

The estimation of uncertain parameters cannot be trusted when non-identifiablility issues are present (i.e., cases for which different set of values for the uncertain parameters can yield very similar system responses) since estimates are too sensitive to noise.  It is proposed to work on probabilistic control methods when these cases occur rather than still using adaptive controllers based on these estimates. It would allow us to obtain the best possible average answer for the remaining uncertainties, and to estimate probabilities associated to different outcomes and/or objective performances for different control policies. 

Applicants should be proficient in mathematics and programming in Matlab. A background in controls, numerical methods, parameter estimation and/or statistics is also highly desirable.

Project Supervisor

Dr M Muruganant, Unviersity of Wollongong, Australia
Dr Janaki Ram, Indian Institute of Technology, Madras, Chennai, India
 

1. Friction Stir Aluminium Welds

During friction stir lap welding of sheets as the tool penetrates into the lower sheet the sheet interface tends to bend resulting in a hook formation. A quality weld can be produced by supressing such hook formation and increasing bond width.

Understanding the effects of control variables like tool geometry and welding parameters on the hook geometry and bond width may help eliminate the problem in aluminium alloys.