Mechanical 2017 THESIS TOPICS Steve Armfield, [email protected]Industrial, environmental and bio- fluid mechanics Computational Fluid Dynamics modelling of turbulent mixing in two layer flows Understanding the mechanics of the mixing in two layer flows is important in a number of areas of fluid dynamics. For instance a number of countries use desalination to obtain fresh water from seawater. As well as producing fresh water these plants discharge hot highly saline water back to the sea. For environmental reasons it is important to determine the behaviour of this discharge, which will be controlled by the level of turbulence as well as the relative variations in heat and salinity between the discharge and the seawater. The heat makes the discharge fluid buoyant, while the salinity makes it heavier than seawater, while additionally double diffusive effects can lead to an instability that may control the interfacial mixing. Stability of Fountain flows Fountains are jet flows with the buoyancy force acting in the direction opposite to the jet direction. Such a flow occurs, for instance, in a room when a jet of heated air is directed downward from the ceiling as means of heating the room. Similar flows occur in many other industrial and environmental settings. In this project computational work will be undertaken to investigate the initial unstable modes of the fountain using both direct numerical simulation and semi-analytic stability analysis via investigation of the eigen-values and eigen-vectors of the system. Developing a fast accurate solver for the Navier-Stokes equations Accurate solutions of the Navier-Stokes equations are required for the direct and large eddy simulation of turbulent and transition flows. In this project a novel Poisson solver will be developed and tested for use on parallel architectures. The scheme will initially be applied to the heat equation, and subsequently will be included in a full Navier-Stokes solver. Natural convection flows A number of projects are available in the simulation and analysis of natural convection flows, such as the flow that develops next to a heated plate. The fluid mechanics and heat transfer properties of such flows are important in determining the efficiency of heat transfer devices; ventilation systems; crystal growth and many other systems. The flow is analysed via direct numerical simulation using state of the art computing techniques, stability analysis and scaling analysis. Improving the stability of sclerosant foams for medical applications External Supervisor: A/Prof. Kurosh Parsi, St Vincent's Centre for Applied Medical Research, Darlinghurst Sclerosant foams are routinely injected into diseased veins for the treatment of varicose veins and venous malformations. Our laboratory has been investigating the ideal properties of foam sclerosants in order to improve the clinical safety, efficacy and stability of these agents. In this project, we wish to investigate the fluid mechanics of sclerosant foams, using a range of methods including computational fluid dynamics, experimental rigs and microscopy. The candidate will be based at the St Vincent's Centre for Applied Medical Research interacting with medical staff, scientists and other students in the group. General Fluid Mechanics Any projects students may wish to pursue involving the development and testing of wings, paddles, keels, hulls and other flow devices, flow measurement and visualisation and analysis and simulation.
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Industrial, environmental and bio- fluid mechanics
Computational Fluid Dynamics modelling of turbulent mixing in two layer flows Understanding the mechanics of the mixing in two layer flows is important in a number of areas of
fluid dynamics. For instance a number of countries use desalination to obtain fresh water from
seawater. As well as producing fresh water these plants discharge hot highly saline water back to
the sea. For environmental reasons it is important to determine the behaviour of this discharge,
which will be controlled by the level of turbulence as well as the relative variations in heat and
salinity between the discharge and the seawater. The heat makes the discharge fluid buoyant, while
the salinity makes it heavier than seawater, while additionally double diffusive effects can lead to an
instability that may control the interfacial mixing.
Stability of Fountain flows
Fountains are jet flows with the buoyancy force acting in the direction opposite to the jet direction.
Such a flow occurs, for instance, in a room when a jet of heated air is directed downward from the
ceiling as means of heating the room. Similar flows occur in many other industrial and
environmental settings. In this project computational work will be undertaken to investigate the
initial unstable modes of the fountain using both direct numerical simulation and semi-analytic
stability analysis via investigation of the eigen-values and eigen-vectors of the system.
Developing a fast accurate solver for the Navier-Stokes equations
Accurate solutions of the Navier-Stokes equations are required for the direct and large eddy
simulation of turbulent and transition flows. In this project a novel Poisson solver will be developed
and tested for use on parallel architectures. The scheme will initially be applied to the heat equation,
and subsequently will be included in a full Navier-Stokes solver.
Natural convection flows A number of projects are available in the simulation and analysis of natural convection flows, such
as the flow that develops next to a heated plate. The fluid mechanics and heat transfer properties of
such flows are important in determining the efficiency of heat transfer devices; ventilation systems;
crystal growth and many other systems. The flow is analysed via direct numerical simulation using
state of the art computing techniques, stability analysis and scaling analysis.
Improving the stability of sclerosant foams for medical applications
External Supervisor: A/Prof. Kurosh Parsi, St Vincent's Centre for Applied Medical Research,
Darlinghurst
Sclerosant foams are routinely injected into diseased veins for the treatment of varicose veins and
venous malformations. Our laboratory has been investigating the ideal properties of foam
sclerosants in order to improve the clinical safety, efficacy and stability of these agents. In this
project, we wish to investigate the fluid mechanics of sclerosant foams, using a range of methods
including computational fluid dynamics, experimental rigs and microscopy. The candidate will be
based at the St Vincent's Centre for Applied Medical Research interacting with medical staff,
scientists and other students in the group.
General Fluid Mechanics Any projects students may wish to pursue involving the development and testing of wings, paddles, keels, hulls and
other flow devices, flow measurement and visualisation and analysis and simulation.
Semester 1 2017 Start date Supervisors; Paul Briozzo (Room S318, Bldg J07) <[email protected]> An open ended Project / Thesis topic to explore 3D printing of materials other than; ABS and PLA. The ultimate aim is to compare the results obtained with ABS, PLA and Nylon into operating knowledge that could be readily applied to practical use.
The main requirements of the suitable candidate would be; 1. A strong interest in CAD and Manufacturing Engineering. 2. Completed MECH3660, 9660 or AMME 5902. 3. Prior experience in FDM would be a distinct advantage. Prospective students will be required to produce a brief 500 word research proposal with referencing on the desired topic prior to it being accepted.
Use of LS-DYNA in the Analysis of Manufacturing Processes or Mechanical Design
(Unlimited No. of students) Semester 1 2017 Start date
Supervisors: Paul Briozzo (Room S318, Bldg J07) <[email protected]> This is an open ended Thesis topic that deals with interesting areas related to Manufacturing or Design that may be analysed by using LS-DYNA.
The main requirements of the suitable candidates would be; 1. A strong interest in CAD and FEA. 2. Completed AMME5912 or prepared to undertake the subject in Semester 1 2017. 3. A high skill level in the use of computers. Prospective students will be required to produce a brief 500 word research proposal with referencing on the desired topic prior to it being accepted.
Choose your own Mechanical Design adventure (Unlimited No. of students) Semester 1 2017 Start date
Supervisors; Paul Briozzo (Room S318, Bldg J07) <[email protected]> Students to undertake a Mechanical Design in a particular area of interest will be considered. Preferred areas include but are not limited to, the development of software to carry out; Mechanical Design component selection, the creative design process and other areas that may interest Prospective students will be required to produce a brief 500 word research proposal with referencing on the desired topic prior to it being accepted.
Industry Sponsored Projects (Unlimited No. of students) Semester 1 2017 Start date
Supervisors; Paul Briozzo (Room S318, Bldg J07) <[email protected]> Students that require an Internal Academic Supervisor are welcome to submit their proposal for consideration. External Project topics should be of a Mechanical Design or Manufacturing Engineering nature. Prospective students will be required to produce a brief 500 word research proposal with referencing on the desired topic prior to it being accepted.
Engineering educational research is a growing sector of educational research that is having a profound effect on the suitability for industry or research based careers on the graduates produced. The research topic proposed for 2017 is, “What's the same and what's different about the learning that happens in a 3D printing lab compared to a traditional mechanical engineering workshop?” Prospective students will be required to read a provided paper and produce a brief 500 word research proposal with referencing on the desired topic prior to it being accepted.
Mechanical and Mechatronic Design of a Soccer Field Line Marking Robot
(1 student) Semester 1 2017 Start date
Supervisors; Paul Briozzo (Room S318, Bldg J07) <[email protected]> The line marking of community based soccer fields is highly dependant on volunteer’s time and their efforts. Line marking must be repeated across a season due to environmental factors. Ideally two students are required to develop an initial working prototype that repaints over an existing faded line. One student is to focus on the mechanical design and CAD (using SolidWorks) requirements to arrive at a working mechanical prototype. The other student is to focus on the Arduino \ electronic aspects of developing the robot.
Revision 1 02/02/2017
Paul Briozzo
HONOURS PROJECTS
Contact: Prof. Julie Cairney, Professor, AMME Location: Australian Centre for Microscopy and Microanalysis, Madsen Building F09, LG Email: [email protected] Phone: + 61 2 9351 4523 High wear alloys for the mining industry (with Weir Minerals) (up to 2 students) Microstructural analysis of wear-resistant alloys Weir Minerals are multinational company, with a research lab in Artarmon, who produce metal parts for the minerals processing industry. They have developed a new alloy that has very high wear resistance and lasts up to three times as long than their previous product, and can lead to longer-lasting parts. This is critical for the mining sector, as instrument down time for replacement of parts can cost many millions of dollars per day in lost production. The aim of this project is to understand how the microstructure of these new alloys contributes to wear resistance, by using state of the art microscopy and microanalysis techniques. This information can then be used for further alloy improvements. The project will be carried out in collaboration with Weir Minerals This project is suitable for Honours Thesis A/B and will be supervised by Vijay Bhatia, under the guidance of Prof. Julie Cairney Self-propagating high-temperature synthesis of advanced composites Termed self-propagating high-temperature synthesis (SHS), this technique has been used to synthesize materials such as ceramics, ceramic composites and intermetallic compounds. The technique is concerned with the ignition of a mixed powder of reactants, producing a chemical reaction, with sufficient heat release (exothermic reaction) that it becomes self-sustaining. The aim of this project is to integrate SHS composite materials into traditional castings using molten alloys to kick-start the reaction and form one solid component. The composite materials with are then examined using advanced microstructural and mechanical analysis.
This project is suitable for Honours Thesis A/B and will be supervised by Vijay Bhatia, under the guidance of Prof. Julie Cairney
Figure: Scanning electron microscope / electron backscatter diffraction images showing the orientation of grains and carbides in cast iron samples from Weir minerals
Understanding the dissolution of human tooth enamel at the atomic scale
(up to 2 students)
According to the World health organization, 60-90% of children and nearly 100% of adults worldwide suffer from dental decay (caries), which occurs via the progressive dissolution of dental enamel. The development of effective treatments requires a basic understanding of the structure of enamel and the processes by which it forms and dissolves. We recently examined human dental enamel using atom probe tomography (APT), which provides the position and identity of atoms in three-dimension within matter. In our results published this September in Science Advances [1], we find Mg-rich ACP nanolayers between the HAP nanowires that make up the enamel, and this work has drawn substantial attention rom the media [2]. Being more susceptible to acid dissolution than the HAP nanowires, this ACP phase is thought to be responsible for tooth decay. More importantly it can also accommodate a substantial amount of foreign ions (such as fluoride or iron) that could change the ACP phase chemistry making it less soluble in acidic environment. The aim of this project is first to understand the role of Mg-rich ACP nanolayers in the dissolution of human dental enamel during acid attack (i.e. caries) and secondly to investigate the effect of fluoride and iron ions in the solubility of the ACP nanolayers in acidic condition. We will achieve this through a detailed study of the fine-scale structure of healthy and carious enamel using advanced microscopy techniques such as MicroCT, atom probe and electron microscopy. The long-term objective of this study is to enable new treatments to avoid or limit tooth decay by changing the ACP phase chemistry and make it more stable in acidic condition. This project is suitable for Honours Thesis A/B and will be supervised by Alexandre La Fontaine, under the guidance of Prof. Julie Cairney
[1] A. La Fontaine, A. Zavgorodniy, H. Liu, R. Zheng, M. Swain and J.M. Cairney, “The atomic structure of human dental enamel”, in press, Science Advances. [2] http://www.forbes.com/sites/carmendrahl/2016/09/07/nanoscale-view-of-enamel-might-help-us-treat-tooth-decay/#3cc6f116d504
Working with the biomedical industry to develop 3D printed medical devices 3DMedical are an exciting new start up based in Melbourne. They recently listed with the ASX and are already Australia’s leading medical and healthcare specific technology provider. In an Australian first, they recently developed a 3D printed and customised titanium jaw joint which was used to correct a rare jaw deformity in a 32-year-old male (x-ray shown below). In this project, you will work closely with the 3D Medical to develop new 3D printed products for orthopaedics. By undertaking a thorough review of the current orthopaedic consumables, you will be expected to identify the top 5 applications in which 3D printing could ‘disrupt’ the market for existing technologies. From there, you will be design and print a prototype product. The student undertaking this honours project will have the opportunity to undertake an industry placement in Melbourne over summer with 3DMedical. http://3dmedical.com.au/
Assessment of the creep damage evolution in P22 steel (in collaboration with ANSTO) Project/Overview: Understanding and effective assessment of the creep damage of material in-service is of technological importance particularly in the power-generation industry, because any unexpected failure can potentially lead to dangerous situations for on-site personnel and to high losses in revenue. The monitoring and assessment of the creep damage evolution during the lifetime of the material in-service is thus critical in minimizing the risk of catastrophic failures that pose a threat to safety and to effective as well as economical operation of any type of power plant (renewables, conventional or nuclear). Historically, the assessment of creep damage in the power generation industry is carried out by means of replica metallography (manual count of voids). The goal of the present project is to work on a novel creep damage assessment methodology using the orientation imaging microscopy. The student will use the Electron Back-Scatter Diffraction (EBSD) technique in combination with standard optical microscopy to study the evolution of the creep damage in P22 steel (Fig. 1 shows the microstructure of the as-received P22 steel). In addition, the student will use either the X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) or/and neutron powder diffraction to determine the volume-averaged (bulk) amount of plastic damage the microstructure. Because of the time demanding nature of creep testing ANSTO has been preparing a test matrix of creep samples
for past 18 months (85MPa, 605C). Some knowledge of Matlab and diffraction principles is desirable but not essential.
Figure 1: As-received microstructure of P22 steel, regularly used in power generation industry. This project is suitable for Honours Thesis A/B and will be supervised by Dr Ondrej Muránsky at ANSTO, under the guidance of Prof. Julie Cairney
The effect of cold work on the corrosion resistance of 316L stainless steel (in collaboration with ANSTO) Project/Overview: One of the proposed next generation of nuclear reactor designs uses a molten salt as the energy collection medium (coolant), while the proposed thermo-solar power plant design uses a molten salt as the energy collection and also energy storage medium. The main advantage of using a molten salt in these proposed energy-generating systems is the fact that the salt remains liquid over a wide range of temperatures so that the system can operate at low pressure (i.e. a leak in a tube does not automatically result in an expulsion of molten salt). On the other hand, the main disadvantage of using a salt is the material degradation (corrosion, creep, radiation). Therefore, it is of technological importance for the future low-greenhouse emission power-generating systems to develop a detail understanding of the effect of molten salt on the structural materials.
The goal of the present project is to determine the effect of cold working on the corrosion resistance of the 316 stainless steel in a molten salt environment. Cold working has numerous effects on a material, including changes in microstructure, mechanical properties, and residual stress state. The test material has been cold-rolled to three levels: 0%, 20%, and 30%. The student will use the Electron Back-Scatter Diffraction (EBSD) technique in combination with standard optical microscopy to assess the effect of the molten salt on the microstructure and identify the corrosion products (Fig. 1 shows EBSD orientation map (a) and chromium (b) distribution at the surface of Ni-based alloy after 200h/650°C exposure to molten salt (FLiNaK). Some knowledge of Matlab is desirable but not essential.
Surface
Fig. 1a: Electron Back-Scatter Diffraction (EBSD) orientation map, 200h/650°C, FLiNaK.
Surface
Fig. 1b: Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS) chromium (Cr) distribution map, 200h/650°C, FLiNaK.
This project is suitable for Honours Thesis A/B and will be supervised by Dr Ondrej Muránsky at ANSTO, under the guidance of Prof. Julie Cairney
Dr Li Chang
Field of Expertise: Precision Manufacturing and Nanotribology
INNOVATION The study of innovation involves developing and sustaining new technologies and organisational forms and practices to create competitive advantage and/or economic, social, environmental improvement. Topics will be finalised in consultation with the student and can be selected from the following areas:
Leadership and the development of engineering managers - the development of managers as leaders to enhance organizational effectiveness is crucial in times of change. This topic will involve students understanding the theory of leadership and its practical application in engineering management.
Management of organisational change - the need to maintain competitiveness means that change is the organisational norm. This topic will investigate the factors and conditions that impact on change in strategy, operations or projects that allow managers to innovate and make more effective choices.
‘Digital disruption’, the development of smart technologies and their impacts – a new stage of technology development with advanced computing and mechatronics is rapidly advancing. The potential for industrial, organisational and social change will be investigated along with the nature of specific engineering associated with these developments.
Space engineering and technology development – Recent discussions on space flights to Mars have reignited debate on the costs and benefits of space engineering. This topic will investigate the nature and potential of wider industrial and technological innovation as a result of Space engineering R&D.
Organisational learning and knowledge management - this topic will examine the readiness of engineer managers to undertake the management of learning and knowledge in organisations, leading to a better understanding of the factors necessary to generate effective organisational outcomes.
Human resource development - career development for C21 professionals will mean inevitable job and career changes. This topic will investigate the development of engineering careers, organisational career planning and the personal and skill development necessary for the development of successful careers.
Management of industrial research, innovation and technology development - Competitiveness through new technology and product development is a cornerstone of business success. This topic will examine the factors that lead to success (and failure) in the technology/product development process.
Gender equity/women in engineering - This topic will examine the factors necessary for women to enjoy successful careers in engineering, the factors that inhibit this, and the implications for organisational competitiveness and Australian society.
Humanitarian Engineering- The Nature and Development of Humanitarian Engineering within the Engineering profession will be examined to discover the challenges and benefits for both engineers and/or recipients of humanitarian development assistance.
Engineering Education#1 - the promotion of Mechanical, Mechatronic and Aeronautical Engineering in schools - This topic will involve investigating the relevance of the HSC’s “Engineering Studies” curriculum as a precursor to Engineering at University, and whether the Aeromech degree program successfully builds on this prior learning. It will also include how Aeromech can support Engineering Studies in an attempt to encourage more students to consider future careers in engineering.
Engineering Education#2 – This topic will seek to examine the extent to which ideas of humanitarian engineering and social justice are utilised in Aeromech curriculum and teaching, and how these ideas are, or could be, utilised to enhance student learning and development of graduate attributes.
Attitudes to professional engineering - This topic will examine the origins and the development of perceptions and understandings as to what comprises professional engineering practice and its appropriateness to both individuals and society.
I currently supervise thesis and capstone projects / dissertations in the following areas:
Computational Fluid Dynamics
Computational Heat Transfer
Details are given below.
It is up to you to come up with your own project. Think about the sort of project that
interests you. If it falls into one of the categories above, come and have a chat. I will give
you an idea of what is and isn’t feasible. It will then be up to you to determine the details of
the project. This will involve undertaking a review of the literature in your area of interest to
determine what research has already been done, and coming up with a research question
that remains unanswered. You will then formalize this by writing a research proposal
outlining the motivation, context, objectives, and proposed method for your research
project.
Computational Fluid Dynamics / Computational Heat Transfer (You will gain skills in: Computational Fluid Dynamics / Fluid Dynamics / Heat Transfer / Numerical Methods / Data Analysis and Processing)
- Review current and previous Intake and Exhaust system designs.
- Use CFD analysis to design and implement new Intake and Exhaust systems.
- Work with Engine tuning and Electronic Throttle Control design members to optimise
engine performance.
Engine Tuning for better power and economy:
Engine tuning is one of the simplest and most effective ways of improving the performance of
our car. With our new in-house engine and chassis dynamometers, optimal engine tuning has
become much more achievable. This project will involve working with/implementing a new PE3
ECU, and the tuning and maintenance of our Aprilia 550cc V-Twin engines.
Our engine dynamometer
under construction
FSAE thesis topics 2017
Project Outline:
- Work with the Electronics design team to implement a new PE3 ECU.
- Use the team’s in-house engine and chassis dynamometers to tune our Aprilia engines,
working with the engine and drivetrain design teams.
- Investigate the feasibility of using the engine dynamometer to perform track
simulations.
Suspension Analysis and Optimisation:
Suspension geometry design and tuning is the fundamental aspect of the design of our car, or
any road-going vehicle. Understanding and documenting our past and present design would
enable us to optimise our tuning capability during different dynamic event, while moving to a
new chassis concept and downsized wheel package opens up the possibilities to explore other
suspension layouts and options.
Project Outline:
- Documentation of the characteristics of the existing suspension geometry designs.
- Utilisation of vehicle dynamic software (Lotus Shark) to design/optimise the suspension
geometry for the 2017 car.
- Design and manufacture of suspension arms.
Chassis Analysis and Optimisation:
The 2016 season sees us moving from a full tubular space-frame chassis to a lighter, stiffer
aluminium honeycomb monocoque (ALHC)/rear space-frame hybrid structure. A conservative
approach has been taken in order for our first monocoque contender to be rule-compliance.
Therefore, many areas of the design can be optimised for weight, stiffness and manufacturability
for the next iteration.
The 2016 chassis
under construction
FSAE thesis topics 2017
Project Outline:
- Review past relevant R&D theses and the current monocoque design.
- Preparation, realisation and documentation of required testing as per FSAE rule.
- Design and manufacture of an ALHC/space-frame chassis.
- Completion of the Structural Equivalency Spreadsheet.
Steering System:
The steering system is a critical and interesting topic on the design of our car. Not only is it
closely related to the vehicle dynamics/suspension geometry of the car, but other aspect such as
driver comfort and packaging also need to be put into consideration in order to optimise the
drivability and manufacturability of the vehicle.
Coordinate system of
rack & pinion
Coordinate system of
steering wheel system
The Intermediate shaft has to be
adjustable, to ensure lower universal
is on the pinion centre line
Project Outline:
- Review past in-house manufactured design solutions.
- Design and manufacture a steering system for the 2016 car.
- Feasibility study and packaging of the Miltera steering rack.
Drivetrain and Drive Shaft Design:
Typically, FSAE cars use heavy CV joint-based drive shafts to drive the rear wheels. Past theses
have suggested new designs that could significantly lower the mass of the drive shafts, such as
the use of flexible couplings and hollow tubes, possibly manufactured from Aluminium or
Carbon Fibre. For the 2016 FSAE car, new, lighter drive shafts need to be designed and
manufactured. As part of this, a comparison between new and existing drive shaft designs will
need to be performed, and ultimately designed and manufactured.
FSAE thesis topics 2017
Project Outlines:
- Perform a comparison between different potential drive shaft designs.
- Design, manufacture and test new drive shafts for the 2016 FSAE car.
Cooling System:
Adequate engine cooling is essential to the reliable operation of our car in a wide range of
environments. Over the years, we have obtained a significant amount of cooling system
temperature data, and we believe that it is feasible for a smaller, lighter cooling system to be
designed to meet our requirements. Such a system could be mounted above the engine at the
rear of the car, facilitating the removal of the side pod, and a lighter, lower drag car.
Project Outline:
CFD simulation of flow in
radiator duct
- Determine the required cooling capacity for our engine, and design an appropriate
cooling system.
- Design ducting to optimise air flow through the cooling system, potentially with the use
of CFD techniques.
This project will require collaboration with design members from the Aerodynamics, Chassis and
Engine teams.
Impact Attenuator:
The Impact Attenuator is a critical vehicle safety feature, consisting of a deformable, energy
absorbing structure mounted on the front of the car. In the event of a collision, the Impact
Attenuator must limit the deceleration of the car to a safe level.
Our current Impact Attenuator uses a folded aluminium sheet construction, and is significantly
heavier than other potential designs. For our 2016 car, a smaller, lighter Impact Attenuator
needs to be designed, manufactured and tested. It is expected that materials evaluation and
testing will be required as part of the project.
FSAE thesis topics 2017
LSDYNA simulation
of kinetic energy
being absorbed by
our impact
Project Outline:
- Design and manufacture a new Impact Attenuator, compliant with all FSAE rules.
- Carry out performance testing of the Impact Attenuator, and show that the design is
compliant with all FSAE rules.
- Work together with the Chassis and Aerodynamics design teams to implement the
Impact Attenuator on our 2016 car.
- Completion of the Impact Attenuator Data (IAD) document for the FSAE competition.
Brakes:
The behaviour in which a vehicle decelerates contributes greatly to the dynamic of the vehicle,
the driver’s confident and therefore its performance overall. The brake system is a critical topic
to study in order to achieve a reliable and serviceable package that relay good feedback to the
driver.
Our own in-house brake
dynamometer, used to
provide data on disk and
pad material, versus
temperature and pressure
Project Outline:
- Study of the braking demand on a FSAE car during dynamic events.
- Study of the hardware specification of the current pedal box.
- Packaging of the rear inboard brake hardware.
- Experiment with different rotor and pad materials.
Rear Bulkhead:
Our FSAE car utilises a one-piece machined aluminium bulkhead at the rear of the chassis to
accurately locate and mount 20+ critical suspension, drivetrain and chassis hard points. With the
move to a smaller wheel package, revised suspension layout and inboard brakes, this packaging
FSAE thesis topics 2017
and optimisation exercise will challenge those who have an interest in solid modelling and finite
element analysis.
Machined rear frame
providing precise
attachment points for
engine and suspension
mountings.
Project Outline:
- Review of existing design from our team as well as competitors worldwide.
- Design and manufacture of a rear bulkhead that meets all packaging demands and
constraints.
Points Simulator:
The design decisions made for the FSAE competition are, like any real-world engineering
projects, result driven. And the quantity that represent result in the FSAE competition is the
points rewarded. A Points Simulator is a set of arithmetic that predicts the potential gain or loss
of points in both static and dynamic events for certain design decisions based on the past results
of all teams participated in the Australasia competition.
A Matlab program that uses
a simple car model, to
estimate the effect on the
total point score, by the
variations of individual car
performance parameters
Project Outline:
- Research on all car specifications and results of all teams in recent FSAE-A competition.
- Review past Points Simulator from our team.
- Design and construct a Points Simulator in MATLAB with an instruction manual.
FSAE thesis topics 2017
Wireless Steering Wheel:
In-car driver feedback about lap times and vehicle information such as gear position and engine
RPM, is of high importance and needs to be done without distracting the driver. The team has
recently investigated incorporating displays and controls into the steering wheel, however
further development is required. This project involves both Mechanical and Electrical design.
Project Outline:
- Design and manufacture of Electronics required to display vehicle information to the
driver, using a wireless data link.
- Work with Ergonomics and Steering design members to design and manufacture a
steering wheel out of Carbon Fibre or similar materials.
Electronics and Data Acquisition:
The Electronics system consists of three main areas; Power Distribution to all Electronics on the
car, Engine Management, and Data Acquisition. Power Distribution and Engine Management are
critical to the functioning of the car, and involve the implementation of the team’s power
distribution modules and ECUs via a single wiring loom. Data Acquisition is used by the team to
obtain real time data from sensors on the car. This data is used for the purposes of design
validation and car setup tuning. Design of the data acquisition system involves implementing a
suite of sensors across the car, and the hardware required to support them, including a MoTec
racing datalogger.
Project Outline:
- Review of current Electronics system and developed hardware.
- Design of a new wiring loom for the 2016 FSAE car.
- Work together with design members from various fields to implement the required
sensors and systems.
Research Topics:
Aerodynamics Research:
Aerodynamics is the other area to have significant gain that the team has yet to fully exploit. The
aerodynamics of a FSAE car is one of the more interesting subject in the race car engineering
world in that it mainly concerns about downforce without worrying too much about drag due to
the nature of the dynamic events. The aerodynamics devices of interest include: nosecone, front
and rear wing, rear diffuser, and radiator sidepod. Computational analysis and real-life testing
need to be conducted in order to validate design as well as rule compliance.
FSAE thesis topics 2017
Our 2013 car modified to
carry a test aero package
Project Outline:
- Review relevant theses on previous bodywork and prototype wing package.
- Design and manufacture of aforementioned aerodynamics devices using computational
fluid dynamic package.
- Real-life testing to validate CFD results.
- Preparation, realisation and documentation of required testing as per FSAE rule for wing
section strength and front wing mount impact attenuation.
Sheet Wheel Centres:
Our FSAE car currently runs on a set of three-piece split wheels with machined aluminium wheel
centres. They are sufficiently light and stiff but difficult and expensive to manufacture. One of
the solution to this issue is to design and manufacture wheel centres out of aluminium sheet,
which requires less costly raw material and do not require a CNC mill to produce.
Sheet aluminium
wheel centres
Project Outline:
- Review previous attempt on sheet wheel centres.
- Preparation, realisation and documentation of required testing to validate new sheet
wheel centre design and FEA results.
- Manufacture new sheet wheel centres.
Some possible research topics:
Electric Hub Motors.
Electrically actuated Four Wheel Steering.
Electronic Clutch Control.
Slip Angle Sensor:
Top: EHD-Spray Injector. Bottom: Typical EHD-generated sprays highlighting, from left to right, the effect of increasing the electrical charge on atomization.
UG Thesis topics for 2017 A R Masri Thesis only Project 1: Spray Injectors for Micro-Propulsion (one student) Electro-hydrodynamics (EHD) deals with the interaction between electric fields, electric charge and fluid flow. EHD is a possible route to the realisation of thermally efficient liquid fuelled micro-engines and micro-thrusters for very small UAVs, given that the technology can be used to generate fuel sprays with less than 2milli-Watts of electrical power. To date, there has been no repeatable or viable pulsed electrostatic (EHD) fuel injector for combustion or propulsion applications, largely due to the lack of understanding of how electrostatic atomization works (see photo). In this project, you will design a pulsed electrostatic fuel injection system, whilst in parallel experimentally characterise a conventional (non-pulsed) EHD atomizer running on both conventional and renewable bio-fuels. Thesis only Project 2: Biofuel sprays (one student) Combustion of biofuels (or biofuel blends) in the form of sprays will be more common in the future of many industrial applications such as diesel engines, direct injection spark ignition engines, jet propulsion units, furnaces and incinerators. The opposite burner is designed to study spray flows in a controlled environment in order to resolve controlling physical processes such the interaction between droplets and turbulence. The atomization, evaporation, mixing, and combustion characteristics of spray jets and flames are important stages which remain only vaguely understood. Laser diagnostic tools will be used to measure the velocity and composition fields as well as the droplet number density and size distribution in controlled spray flows. A duplicate of this burner was taken to Purdue University to perform novel laser-based measurements of temperature in turbulent spray flames.
Thesis only Project 3: Stratified and Inhomogeneous Turbulent Combustion (one student) This project is aimed at studying the characteristics of stratified and inhomogeneous combustion under conditions of high shear rates. This mode of combustion is highly relevant in modern engines and common in gas turbines but remains vaguely understood particularly at high turbulence levels. A new burner, consisting of two concentric tubes feeding premixed fuel-air mixtures at different equivalence ratios has been developed. Both tubes are centred in a hot co-flowing stream of combustion products. A schematic of this burner is shown here. The project will study the stability features of this burner under different levels of stratification. Thesis only Project 4: Micro-combustion (up to two students) Micro-combustion is a relatively new field of research that is fast evolving due to interest in micro-power generation systems. Hydrocarbon fuels are particularly useful here due to their huge specific energy which is about two orders of magnitude higher than the best battery available. The most difficult problem is loss of flame stability due to thermal and radical quenching. This project studies the interaction between surface and gas chemistries using configuration shown here. Measurements are made for a variety of fuels and catalysts. Parallel calculations are also conducted using detailed chemical kinetics for the surface as well gaseous reactions. These will be validated against measurements performed using gas sampling and analysis. Thesis only Project 5a: Turbulent Propagating Flames (one student) This project is relevant for industrial safety, explosion risk and internal combustion engines. The burning rate of turbulent propagating flames is strongly affected by turbulence which changes the structure of the flame front. The combustion chamber shown here is built to study flames propagating from rest past baffle plates that generate significant turbulence. Fast video images, velocity measurements and laser induced fluorescence of hydroxyl radicals (LIF-OH) will be made at various stages of flame
propagation. Processing the images to obtain an estimate of dimensionless numbers and turbulence levels will be a focus of the project. Project 5b: Turbulent Propagating Flames with stratification (one student) This is a modified version of the combustion chamber sown here which is extended to include a secondary downstream chamber containing air. The mixture from the primary chamber stratifies the flow into the secondary chamber while combustion is occurring. The presence of obstacles will lead to further turbulence generation. The project involves the construction of the chamber along with initial testing and high-speed imaging of the propagating flames (using LIF-OH) at varying degrees of stratification. Thesis only Project 6: Transition from auto-ignition to premixed flame propagation. This project is aimed at studying the temperature regime over which fluid mixtures undergo a transition from auto-ignition to premixed flame propagation. Auto-ignition is a critical process in diesel and homogeneous charge compression ignition (HCCI) engines while premixed flame propagation dominates processes in standard spark ignition engines. Both processes may exist in modern engines. The model burner involves a fluid mixture issuing in a co-flow of varying temperature as shown in the opposite image. Measurements of temperature and species concentration will be performed at various experimental conditions. Thesis only Project 7a: Swirl stabilised flames (one student) This mode of flame stabilisation is common in industrial burners but the resulting turbulent flow is very complex and difficult to calculate even in the absence heat release. Large eddy simulation (LES) techniques are making significant advances in this area but the preliminary finding point to significant sensitivity of the calculations to the condition in the boundary layers at the burner’s surface. This project aims at studying experimentally the effects of boundary layers on flames stabilised on swirl burners similar to that shown here. Measurements of the velocity and turbulence fields in the boundary layers of this burner will be made.
Project 7b: Swirl stabilised spray jets and flames (one student) These complex flows are highly relevant in industrial applications such as boilers and furnaces and may involve significant instabilities which affect the combustor’s performance. A spray injector will be positioned in the central part of the burner and swirl is applied to the surrounding air. High swirl numbers can be generated. The flow and droplet fields will be measured for various levels of spray loadings. Flame stability characteristics will also be determined for the selection of flames for further investigations. Thesis only Project 8: Three Dimensional Imaging of Atomizing Sprays (one student) This is a new project aimed at enabling three-dimensional imaging of fluid structures that are shed from the core of an atomizing spray jet. Such diagnostics capability does not currently exist. Recently, two shadowgraph, planar images of spray fragments were taken at 90 degrees (see opposite sample). The method of multiple ellipsoids was used to reconstruct the original three-dimensional shape of the fluid fragment. The objective of this project is to extend such capabilities from two to three imaging planes. This adds a significant level of complexity due to the additional of a third camera as well as the processing of the images. The student will be involved in both the setting of the imaging system as well as data collection and imaging processing. Thesis only Project 9: Droplets/Particles in flows with temperature gradients (one student) This is a new project aimed at studying the dynamics of droplets and particles in turbulent flows where a temperature gradient is imposed. It is envisaged that the local fluctuations in temperature will affect the local dissipation as well as evaporation rate of particles. A simple rig will be constructed for this experiment where measurements of velocity and temperature fields will be performed.
Projects with Professor Simon Ringer [email protected] Theme: Materials Science and Engineering Project Locations: Engineering Link Building, Sydney Nanoscience Hub, Madsen Building, Charles Perkins Hub General Project Attributes: My research is about atomic-scale design of materials to access extraordinary structural and/or functional properties. You will be working in a team that includes Ph.D. students and postdoctoral researchers, and undertake experiments and calculations.
A Key Technique in Many of these Projects: Atom Probe Microscopy The University of Sydney has a world-class capability in atom probe microscopy [1]. The principles by which the instrument operates are shown schematically below. Surface atoms are ionised and evaporated from a needle-shaped specimen due to stimulation from either a voltage pulse (electric field evaporation), or ultra-short laser pulses (thermally-activated field evaporation). Time-of-flight measurements precisely indicate the mass-to-charge ratio and, thus, the chemical identity of each individual evaporated ion. The ions are collected on a position-sensitive detector, and the positional information is used to build-up a tomographic reconstruction of the specimen, atomic-layer by atomic-layer, by means of a reverse-projection algorithm. The resulting images are truly striking, offering new and fundamental insights into the way that materials work, and enabling the design and development of new materials.
Adjacent to the instrument schematic is an image of an advanced magnetic alloy that has spinodally decomposed into nanoscale regions rich in, alternatively iron (Fe) and nickel (Ni). Below that is data from an Fe-As(K, Ba) based superconductor material – each elemental species can be imaged and these images serve as the platform for atomic scale materials design and development. Here, the role of clustering of K and Ba atoms was explored in detail. The three images at the top of this page are, respectively, field ion image, a field desorption image and an atom probe tomogram from an Al-Cu alloy showing the occurrence of Cu-rich precipitate particles in the microstructure. Below that is data from an ultra-high strength aluminium alloy and the individual grains are shown alongside data on the atomic-scale clustering of alloying elements [1] B. Gault, M. P. Moody, J. M. Cairney, and S. P. Ringer, Atom probe microscopy. New York: Springer, 2012.
Projects 2017
Re-Evaluating the Concept of Atomic-Scale Concentration of Very Dilute Materials Professor Simon Ringer and Dr. Anna Ceguerra Materials such as semiconductors, and certain alloys including many magnetic materials exhibit engineering properties that depend critically on the presence of extremely dilute (ppm, or ppb) concentrations of dopant or alloying elements. When very dilute elemental concentrations are combined with a high level of spatial confinement—such as the region of source/drain region of a transistor or a particular crystal interface in an advanced high
strength steel, the very definition of concentration requires careful consideration. Moreover, the measurement of such subtle nanoscale microstructure is a great challenge. Atom probe microscopy is a powerful tool for gaining insights into atomic-scale structure and chemistry of materials and we operate a world-class facility at Sydney. Our experiments allow us to generate large ~100 million atom datasets in real-space and these can be analysed to understand the distribution functions around individual solute atoms. Those distribution functions can hold the key to critical engineering behaviour. In this project, you will use your knowledge of materials engineering, thermodynamics, computation and mathematics to investigate the nature of the distribution of individual atoms in advanced alloys and how that distribution can be rigorously described. Precipitate morphology using atom probe microscopy data Professor Simon Ringer, Dr. Anna Ceguerra and Dr. Suqin Zhu Precipitation strengthening is one of the most important mechanisms available for the strengthening of materials. It is widely prevalent in alloys, and modern industrial examples abound in space vehicles, aerospace, pan-continental pipeline projects, off-shore oil platforms and large pressure equipment. The most modern steels, and aluminium alloys available, and those currently under development use this important principle of materials science: that the process of deformation (crystallographic slip) is inhibited by the presence of second phase precipitate particles. To be effective, these particles will be nanoscale in size and distributed very finely and uniformly throughout the microstructure. A very important attribute of the precipitate dispersion in a given material is the particular shape of the precipitate, and the crystallographic plane system that they occur on. This has great influence on the resultant crystal plasticity—how the material responds to deformation. These crystallographic plane systems are termed the ‘habit planes’ of the particles. Atom probe microscopy generates atomic resolution images that enable investigations of the microstructure of materials. An example of this is nanoscale precipitates in Al-Cu alloys (see above). In this project, you will use some of the many existing experimental and computational techniques developed by the research team as a basis to build a new approach to the determination of crystal habit plane and precipitate shape so as to enable better microstructure-property relationships in materials. New Approaches to the Tomographic Reconstruction in Atom Probe Professor Simon Ringer and Dr. Anna Ceguerra Our capacity to design and develop new materials is often limited by our ability to ‘see’ and measure their atomic-scale characteristics. Such information is essential in order to navigate the enormous design space available when we consider materials at the nanoscale. The reverse-projection algorithm used in atom probe microscopy has assumptions that we wish to thoroughly test in this project. The goal of this project is to develop a more physically correct reconstruction that represents the true process occurring when atoms leave the sample surface and drift along electric field lines towards the detector. In particular, we have developed a new tomographic algorithm and a project is available to devise tests to rigorously qualify the new algorithmic approach.
Optimization of the performance of low-dimensional nanostructures using electric-fields
Professor Simon Ringer and Dr. Carl Cui
Nanotechnology holds enormous potential for breakthroughs in nanoelectronics, clean energy and other environmental technologies. Electric fields are an efficient tool for the manipulation of the nanostructure of materials, since field changes can invoke microstructural changes that “switch” the properties of certain materials. Based on first principles simulations using density functional theory, this project will explore the performance of several nanostructured materials using electric-fields. The following areas are of interest and one or more of these may serve as the foundation for a project: a) bond stretching or breaking in 2D graphene ribbon and graphene quantum dots. b) field evaporation of selected alloys and compare with atom probe experiments. c) selective graphene oxide reduction or removing. d) stabilising and creating of nanoholes in graphone (a partially hydrogenated form of graphene that is ferromagnetic). e) enhanced hydrogen/CO2 storage capacity in functionalised graphene sheet. Similar approaches can be readily expanded to other 2D materials. The successful implementation of this project is expected to lead to journal publications.
Calculation of local fields in atom probe microscopy
Professor Simon Ringer and Dr. Carl Cui This project will apply density functional theory modelling approaches to explore the ionisation process on the sample tip since a better understanding of this process will lead to even better positioning resolution of the microscope.
Design of a new detector for atom probe microscopy Professor Simon Ringer and Dr. Anna Ceguerra This aim of this project will be to explore candidate designs for a new detector concept for the atom probe (see above). You will use the world-class cleanroom facilities of the University’s Research & Prototype Foundry to build a new concept detector using a photolithography approach.
Design of a New Titanium Alloy
Professor Simon Ringer and Dr. Suqin Zhu We have recently achieved some striking preliminary experimental results for a new thermo-mechanical processing schedule that hold promise to extend the range of mechanical properties for titanium and its alloys. If viable industrially, this would extend the range of applications for titanium as a structural into entirely new application domians. This project will involve new experiments to explore the range and extent to which these new findings can be applied in titanium physical metallurgy.
Electron Beam Lithography for New Memory Applications in Ferroelectric Materials Professors Simon Ringer and Xiaozhou Liao Using the world-class electron beam lithography facilities in the cleanroom of the University’s Research and Prototype Foundry, this project aims to explore the limits of our recent findings for new concepts in computer memory using omnidirectional electric fields to control local microstructure of ferroelectric materials. Confocal Microscopy for Cancer Cell Diagnosis – Design of a Materials Scaffold Array Professors Simon Ringer and Andrew Ruys Approaches that combined diagnosis and therapy are receiving increasing attention in the area of oncology as the enormously diverse range of possible cancer types require particular therapeutic strategies. Moreover, the possibility of matching a particular therapy in a highly personalized manner to an individual patient genome is regarded as the frontier of research in this field. This project will design and build an array of cell scaffolds that enable the team to explore the behavior of certain cancer cells in these constrained environments with a view to understanding how a scaffold array could be used to determine the particular type of cancer. Design and Fabrication of a Nanoparticle Analysis Template Professors Simon Ringer, Julie Cairney and Dr. Alexandre La Fontaine Nanoparticles are set to have increasing impact on industrial technologies that range from catalysis, to medicine to agriculture. To properly unleash this enormous potential, methodologies must be developed to enable their characterisation. It is essential to obtain atomic-resolution images so as to discern the local structure and chemistry of the nanoparticles. In this way, the nanoparticles can be ‘designed’ so as to have particular chemical and/or other functional properties. Our team are working on the development of an atom probe microscopy approach to enable such studies of these intriguing materials. Using the world-class lithography facilities in the cleanroom of the University’s Research and Prototype Foundry, this project aims to design and fabricate a template structure that can be used to isolate nanoparticles out of reaction mixtures. If successful, this template structure will allow the nanoparticle to be picked up and introduced to a workflow that results in the fabrication of a needle-like sample such as is required for atom probe.
As you are aware UAVs are of great interest at the moment. The Aeronautics group at Sydney University has a long history of design and build experience in this field. Recent survey work has revealed that there is much interest in UAVs with a great variety of extreme performance. Rather than select one part of this design space we would like to start to create computational design tools that can facilitate a wide range of activity and performance. This software would include flight performance, control, aerodynamics and structural modules. For some of these the data is incomplete but we would nevertheless like to make a start. The task would involve scripting in Matlab or VB with as much data and analysis as we can get included.
Software to aid understanding of Structural Analysis in the High School Design and Technology curriculum Professor Grant Steven [email protected][email protected] e-mail for more information
The Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering (ATSE) have developed a very popular experimental laboratory in the renewable energy area which tours about 500 high schools each year. The STELR (www.stelr.org.au) Program is a hands-on, inquiry-based, in-curriculum program designed for Year 9 or Year 10 students, on the theme of global warming. They wish to develop material in the structural analysis area that aids students in the appreciation and understanding of this important subject in the area of design.
The research would comprise of looking at the High School curriculum and developing software that drives the Strand7 FEA engine to engender appreciation and encourage enquiry about how to make designs perform better.
The work would involving writing VB or Matlab script that generates GUIs and builds structures and examines the results. The Application Programming Interface (API) drives the Strand7 engine.
To undertake this important task you must enjoy programming and be interesting in the training of future engineers.
Design optimization for wing type structures that targets the ratio of bending to torsional stiffness (Honors project) Professor Grant Steven [email protected][email protected] Dr Gareth Vio [email protected] e-mail for more information
There are many strong reasons that the structure of a wing box is such that the ratio of the bending to the torsional stiffness achieve certain values. Traditionally this has never been studied from an optimization perspective and normally the bending stiffness is optimized and the torsional stiffness follows form this. In the past work has been done in the department that uses a process called Group Evolutionary Structural Optimization to maximize only the specific stiffness of structures, see some examples below. In the present research the same techniques will be used but with the very different objective as described in the title. There will be a significant coding activity in this project in the Matlab or VB driving an API for the Strand7 FEA code.
Simulating the Action of Sporting Equipment for Maximum Performance (Several potential honors projects) Professor Grant Steven [email protected][email protected] e-mail for more information
Long before Finite Element Analysis was developed, people were participating in sports and as competition intensified is became clear that for many sports, the equipment used played as important a part in performance as did the athlete. With the use of modern materials and manufacturing processes there is always scope for maximizing the performance of sporting equipment. Traditionally improvements were incremental, as athletes fed-back suggestions to manufacturers and new prototypes were built and tested. Given the cost of tooling for many of the
current manufacturing methods, carbon fibre with resin infusion to mention one, it is clear that such build and test iterations are not as preferable given the potential of limited success and high cost. Modern simulation techniques are capable of examining a “day–in–the-life” of an object and from an examination of the envelope of response the most sensitive regions can be detected. Iteration on the design variables, provided they remain within any constraints, physical or otherwise, can be incorporated to investigate their effect on performance. Methods such as Design of Experiments (DOE) and Response Surface Analysis (RSA), genetic algorithms (GA) and Monte-Carlo Methods are being increasingly applied to achieve optimisation goals For many sports the outcome depends in the interaction between the sportsperson and the equipment; boot with ball; bat with ball; bow and arrow, and so on. Previous research by my students has looked at tennis, cricket, and soccer. Although interesting results were obtained and valuable learning took place there are still many unanswered questions.
Pictures of ball impact in centre of tennis racquet and off-centre strike of cricket ball on bat.
Selecting this area for a project will involve selection of a sport, identification of desired improvements, leaning non-linear transient Finite Element Analysis with contact and other simulation skills.
There is a move globally to have covers on coal wagons and possibly also on iron ore and grains railcars. These will be to stop small losses of the product, prevent dust and also eliminate the need to spray water on the coal to reduce dust. What is not known is the pressure distribution on such covers which is needed for the purposes of the structural design. The project will involve wind tunnel testing and possibly CFD.
Numerical study of strengthening/ toughening mechanisms in nano/micro–composites
based on soft matrix materials
Supervisors: Dr Li Chang, Dr Tania Vodenitcharova
Soft materials, such as polymers and resins, are commonly used as matrices in nano– and
micro– composites. The filler particles enhance the strength, stiffness, fracture toughness and
wear resistance of the matrices, and thus the load bearing capacity and serviceability of the
composites.
This project aims to understand the strengthening and toughening mechanisms in polymer-
based micro/nano– composites under standard strength and fracture toughness loading
conditions. Composite preparation and standard strength and fracture toughness tests will be
conducted in parallel on another project.
FEA will be utilized to develop a numerical model for the representative sample of the
composite, and the response of that sample will be studied to standard strength and fracture
toughness loadings. An input code will be prepared in a parametric form which will allow
optimization of strength and performance for varying %volume and mechanical properties of
the filler material.
The project will improve the students analytical and numerical skills and provide them with
the opportunity to develop useful design skills. A sound background in solid mechanics and
analytical skills are required, as well as some basic knowledge of an FEA code.
FEA simulations of cutting process in nano/micro–composites based on soft matrix
materials
Supervisors: Dr Li Chang, Dr Tania Vodenitcharova
Cutting is a common process applied to fabrication of products with required size and surface
furnish. Although it has been used for a long time in manufacturing, it is still under-
researched, especially in the case of soft materials and composites based on soft matrices.
This project will study the cutting mechanism in soft materials and soft-material-based
nano/micro–composites by means of numerical simulation of the cutting process using an
FEA code. Sample preparation and standard cutting tests will be conducted in parallel on
another project. A representative sample will be first modelled using the FEA code and then
subjected to the cutting conditions employed in the experiments. The numerical results will
be compared with the experiments, and thus the model will be validated. A valid model will
then allow predictions to be made and parameters be set to achieve optimized results in terms
of cutting force and surface finish.
The project will enhance the problem solving ability of the student in analysis and design of
new materials, and expose them to the area of product development of contemporary and
future significance. The student is expected to have sound knowledge in solid mechanics and
an FEA code.
Supervisor: Nicholas Williamson Room S411, Mechanical Engineering Building email: [email protected] Thesis projects offered in: Experimental and Computational Fluid Dynamics, Numerical Modelling, Heat Transfer, Bio-fluid dynamics. Computational Fluid Dynamics Projects 1) Transition from Laminar to Turbulent Flow in a Natural Convection Boundary Layer. When a vertical wall is heated/cooled, the changing buoyancy of the fluid adjacent to the wall induces convective flow. This project would aim to improve understanding of the properties of this flow using large-scale numerical simulation: CFD. This challenging project would require the student to work with a research code, run the large simulations required to resolve the flow properly. You would then be required to analyze the data set and compare with existing experimental data. The long-term outcome of this research would be improved prediction and control of boundary layer flows and perhaps heat transfer enhancement via manipulation of the wall surface e.g turbulence trips etc. Students should have taken AMME3060 Engineering Methods or intend to enrol in AMME5202 Computational Fluid Dynamics to undertake this project. 2) Turbulent entrainment of a stratified mixing layer. When a light fluid flows parallel to a more dense fluid, the two fluids mix. The rate of mixing is a key parameter in many engineering models. The effect of density on this rate of mixing is not well understood. The effect of many flow characteristics, such as background turbulence, are not well quantified. Numerical simulations allow us to control these characteristics very well. This project would aim to improve understanding of the properties of this flow using large-scale numerical simulation: CFD. This challenging project would require the student to work with a research code, run the large simulations required to resolve the flow properly and then analyse the flow. You would then be required to analyze the data set and compare with existing experimental data. The long-term outcome of this research would be improved prediction of the mixing rate in stratified shear flows.
(Experimental result of stratified shear flow obtained in our fluids laboratory) Students should have taken AMME3060 Engineering Methods or intend to enrol in AMME5202 Computational Fluid Dynamics to undertake this project. 3) Solve a Computational Fluid Dynamics problem of your choice. If you have an interesting idea write a 500-word proposal and I will assess if it is feasible. Students should intend to enrol in AMME5202 Computational Fluid Dynamics to undertake this project.
Laboratory Based Fluid Dynamics Projects We have laboratory space for three student projects in our fluid dynamics laboratory. These projects typically involve a student designing and building a laboratory rig (or use an existing one), developing an experimental procedure, conducting the experiments and analysing the results. We have projects based around our research program and also projects which have appealed to students in the past. If you have an idea, write a 500-word proposal and I will determine if it is feasible. 4) Laboratory Investigation of the Natural Ventilation Heating and Cooling in a Building The heating ventilation and cooling of a building can be modelled in a laboratory setting using sources/sinks of fresh and saline water as a proxy for thermal heat flux. The aim of this project is to produce a simple experimental rig representing ventilation flow in a model building. The student would be able to use dye visualisation and image capturing techniques to obtain estimates of the temperature distribution in the model building and use these measurements to validate a simple mathematical model of the flow.
(You will gain skills in: Fluid Mechanics / HVAC / Design and Commissioning of Experimental Rigs/ Experimental Methods / Data Analysis and Processing/ simple numerical modelling)
5) Laboratory Investigation of Mixing in Displacement Air-Conditioning- Negatively Buoyant Jets In displacement air-conditioning a situation can arise where a hot air jet is directed vertically downwards into a cool room or a cool jet upwards into a warm room. In these situations buoyancy forces oppose the inflow forming a kind of fountain like flow. If we understand the mixing between the fountain and the ambient environment we can estimate the temperature distribution in the room and the turnover time for ventilation. At present these attributes are poorly understood. This project will use an existing laboratory rig to investigate these types of flows and aim to provide fundamental understanding of the flow regimes.
These flows are also important in other contexts. Erupting volcanoes also behave like a fountain flow initially, and the mixing between the rising plume and the ambient determines whether the eruption collapses as a pyroclastic flow. The rejection of hyper saline water from desalination plants often takes place in ocean outfalls. These outfalls have the characteristics of a fountain flow. Designers must ensure there is sufficient mixing at the source to provide dilution of the saline flow.
(You will gain skills in: Fluid Mechanics / Experimental Methods / Data Analysis and Processing)
6) Design and build a natural convection boundary layer visualisation rig. Boundary layers are one of the most important flows to engineers, but many aspects of these flows are still poorly understood. In this project the student would design and build a new laboratory rig that could be used for investigation of natural convection boundary layers. The rig would use saline fluid as a proxy for heat. The rig would be used to visualise boundary layer development and the transition to turbulence. If successful the rig could be used to undertake initial research into entrainment/mixing in natural convection boundary layers. The results could be compared with existing measurements. 7) Purging Cavity Problem In NSW, saline ground water leaches into the base of some rivers, forming stable saline ponds at the base of the rivers. The stability of these ponds prevents mixing with the fresh oxygenated water. This environmental problem is often controlled by environmental release of water from upstream, increasing the flow such that the saline fluid is purged. This project would use an existing laboratory model to determine the rate of mixing of the saline water under different flushing conditions.
Heat Transfer Projects 8) Develop a thermal model of an Australian river system This project work will help the NSW Office of Water understand the thermal stress on riverine biota and develop weir release control strategies. A model of heat transfer along the river would be developed and include solar heat inputs, thermal load from sources along the river and heat losses to the ambient environment. A successful project will produce a stand alone software tool for catchment managers or a plugin to existing hydraulic modelling software. Data from the NSW Office of Water is available for calibration/testing of the model.
Bio-fluid dynamics 9) Investigate the turbulent stress on algae in Australian rivers. This project work will help the NSW Office of Water understand the survival blue green algal cells in rivers. The turbulence in some steep rapid flowing rivers are thought to act of the algal cells, causing the cells to die very short distances downstream from their origins in dams/reservoirs. In more gentle flowing rivers, the algal cells have been show to survive many hundreds of kilometres downstream. This project would develop a simple criterion that could be used to differentiate between these river systems. Data from industrial partners is available for calibration/testing of the model. (You will gain skills in: Fluid Mechanics / Data Analysis and Processing)