UQ School of Mechanical and Mining Engineering

Our Women in #SMME Gathering every second month over a cuppa ☕ and sometimes some biscuits 🍪 and treats 🍰, the women in the School of Mechanical and Mining Engineering have the opportunity to build a supportive network in their workplace. This initiative, started by A/Prof. Ruth Knibbe and Postdoctoral fellow, Yu Liu (Daisy) Liu, provides a platform for members to meet new colleagues and learn from each other's diverse roles, backgrounds, and experiences in a casual setting. Occasionally, more substantial topics are discussed, but the primary aim is to support and encourage one another. A big shout out to Dr Dan YUAN who has organised this week's meeting👏 👏!! #uq #diversity #networking #support

Students from our School thoroughly enjoyed this year’s New Colombo Plan Mobility Project. This unique opportunity provided funding to support 22 of our students to participate in a two-week program based in #Fukuoka, #Japan. During this time, students were exposed to high quality education and manufacturing operations that define modern Japan. #uq #NCP #SoMME #enhancingknowledge #exchange #studentexperience

A great opportunity currently exists within our school, to work as a Senior Research Assistant, alongside the brightest minds, who have joined us from all over the world🌏. For more information and to apply - click on the link below: https://lnkd.in/g4TVJihr #uq #SoMME #researchexlellence

Congratulations, Ting (Leon) L. - for being the runner-up in the Faculty of Engineering, Architecture and Information Technology's 3MT finals👏👏👏!! We wish you all the best with your #wildcard entry into the upcoming UQ finals!! #uq #SoMME #3MT #researchexcellence

🎉Congratulations🎉to Emily Cooper, who has received the #YoungElectrochemistAward 2024 from the Electrochemistry Division of The Royal Australian Chemical Institute and Metrohm Australia & New Zealand! Emily was one of three finalists in the Higher Degree by Research Category and was awarded the prize after an online presentation to a panel of judges. The aim of this award is to recognise and reward outstanding young #electrochemists in the Australia and New Zealand region. All finalists’ presentations were judged on: ✅ The clarity of the application material and the presenter’s ability to explain their research and its significance. ✅ Contribution to the work. ✅ Outcomes and impact of the work, as well as contributions to advancing knowledge in the field of electrochemistry. Emily’s research focuses on improving the lifespan of anode-free sodium metal #batteries through the use of zinc current collectors and interphase engineering. These cells could have a significant positive impact on next generation #electricvehicles. Previous awards include: ✴ Winner of the 2023 Bloom Gutmann Prize for the best presentation at the Australian Electrochemistry Symposium. ✴ Winner and People’s Choice of the 2023 UQ 3MT (3 Minute Thesis) Competition. In the final stages of her #PhD, Emily has commenced working on her thesis while working part-time as a Data Analyst at UQ. Her immediate future plans include pursuing a career in the development of new #batterytechnologies and their #commercialisation. She also has a keen interest in the areas of #recycling and #circulareconomies. #uq #researchexcellence #SoMME #youngachiever #batterytechnologies #circulareconomies

🎊Congratulations 🎊to Dr Tim D'Adamo on successfully completing his #PhD by a thesis titled👏👏: 💠Building and maintaining real-time terrain maps for autonomous bulldozer mining💠 Dr D’Adamo’s thesis tackled the challenge of building and maintaining a real-time terrain map in dynamic environments, specifically in #pivotpush #bulldozermining, where bulldozers work in teams to push material and expose resources efficiently. During his candidature, Dr D’Adamo worked in a team from the University of Queensland’s Smart Machines Group and Caterpillar Inc. to develop a semi-autonomous system for robotic bulldozers. He created a #realtimeterrainmapping capability using #RTK/GNSS, #IMU, aerial surveys, and #LiDARsensors. Key challenges addressed include sensor registration, terrain representation, pose augmentation, material behaviour modelling, and volume estimation. His research demonstrates that accurate terrain maps from onboard sensors can be maintained for autonomous bulldozer operations. Dr D'Adamo will graduate👨🎓 at this week's upcoming ceremony to be held on Wednesday,10 July 2024👏👏. #uq #SoMME #researchexcellence #mining #autonomousoperations

Congratulations to Dr Jingyuan Xu on successfully completing her #PhD by a thesis titled👏👏 👏: 🔶Bulk and Porous Ti Alloys Produced by Selective Laser Melting for Biomedical Applications🔶 Dr Xu’s research explores the #development of #titanium (Ti) alloys for #implants. Ti-15Mo alloys, produced via Selective Laser Melting (#SLM), offer superior biocompatibility, lower elastic modulus, and enhanced mechanical properties compared to conventional Ti alloys. The study addresses the challenge of microbial infections by incorporating antimicrobial coatings like nano silver (Ag) and hydroxyapatite (HA) onto Ti implants. In-situ laser alloying with elemental powders reduces costs and improves properties. The optimized Ti-15Mo-0.2Y-2.5Ag alloy demonstrated excellent mechanical strength, ductility, and antimicrobial efficacy, making it suitable for orthopaedic applications. Dr Xu will graduate👩🎓at the upcoming ceremony to be held next week Wednesday, 10 July 2024. #uq #SoMME #researchexcellence #biomedicalengineering

🎉Congratulations 🎉 to Dr. Pilot Mugebe, PhD, MMEng, MBA, BSc (Min.Eng) on successfully completing his #PhD by a thesis titled: 💠Impact of Mining Technological Innovations on Iron Ore Share Prices💠 Dr Mugebe’s research investigates the impact of #technologicalinnovation on #shareprice 📈. The research traced the history of #mining technological innovation development from the introduction of mechanisation in the 18thC. This is investigated chronologically through the period of automation and remote-control systems, up to the present age of semi-autonomous and autonomous systems. It is discovered that work on the technological innovation impact on stock price, defined by an empirical relationship is absent. The literature review conducted shows that mining technological innovation impact is explored only to as far as improving productivity, reducing costs, and improving safety. This confirms the existence of a gap that needs to be filled by further research. The aim of this research, therefore, is to develop a share price #predictivemodel derived from an empirical relationship based on the impact of mining technological innovation on share price. Overall, the research proves that the technologically driven factors are quantifiable and play a vital role in building a share price prediction model. Some methodological limitations have been identified, setting the scope for further work to address the accuracy shortfalls in the results. Dr Mugebe will graduate👨🎓at the upcoming ceremony to be held next week on 10 July 2024👏👏👏. #uq #SoMME #researchexcellence #miningengineering #technologicalinnovation

🎉Congratulations 🎉 to Dr Ramprakash Ananthapadmanaban on successfully completing his #PhD by a thesis titled: ❇ Noise Generated in a Scramjet Engine ❇ This thesis investigates the complex flow field and noise generation within scramjet engines. Using Focused Laser Differential Interferometry (#FLDI), the study measures noise levels at a freestream Mach number of 7.3. Experiments conducted in the T4 Stalker Tube show that the noise levels in a scramjet are dominated by acoustic noise, with higher levels outside the nozzle core flow. The research reveals that fuel injection, boundary layer tripping, and combustion processes contribute to noise but not significantly. The study provides insights for designing lighter, more efficient #hypersonic vehicles without compromising structural integrity. Dr Ananthapadmanaban will graduate at the upcoming ceremony to be held on 10 July 2024👨🎓. #uq #SoMME #researchexcellence #hypersonics

Congratulations👏👏 to Dr Nurul Razliana Abdul Razak on successfully completing her PhD by a thesis titled: ✴ Functional Concentration Gradients in Copper-Nickel Substrates for Transient Liquid Phase Soldering ✴ Dr Abdul Razak's thesis explores using Transient Liquid Phase (#TLP) bonding to join dissimilar materials at lower temperatures. Focusing on Sn-Cu alloys with Cu-Ni substrates, the research addresses the long processing times and porosity issues of TLP bonding. The presence of Ni accelerates intermetallic compound (IMC) growth, reducing bonding time. The research reveals that varying Ni concentration in substrates helps redistribute pores, improving joint reliability. The research developed functional concentration gradient Cu-Ni substrates, demonstrating improved #TLP joint quality by preventing crack formation and enhancing high-temperature electronic interconnections. Dr Abdul Razak will graduate at the upcoming ceremony to be held on 10 July 2024👩🎓. #UQ #SoMME #researchexcellence #materialsengineering