Research

The Department of Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering (DMME) focuses on five research areas.

Renewable energy: encompasses standalone (off-grid) solar PV, solar thermal systems such as solar ORC, biomass gasification, wind and small hydropower, building-integrated renewable energy and nanomaterials for renewable energy systems.

Material science and metallurgy: Friction Stir Welding & Processing Research Unit (FSW&PRU) that focuses on friction stir welding and processing aluminium alloys. The Unit has extensive capabilities in material science and metallurgy.

Robotics and autonomous systems: an emerging field in the department. Currently, robotics research focuses on lower body exoskeleton support systems.

Vibrations of mechanical structures and components: such as wind-induced vibrations on overhead transmission lines, road-induced vibrations in commotion machines and vibrations of shafts.

Non-destructive evaluation: such as radiographic testing, infrared thermography, laser testing method, microwave testing and electromagnetic testing.

These research areas are supported by world-class research equipment, a full-fledged mechanical engineering workshop and in-department expertise in numerical modelling.