Group Leader: Professor I.M. Mujtaba
 

Mechanical & Process Engineering (MPE) Research Group focuses on fundamental and applied research in the area of Mechanical, Chemical and Process Engineering. Academic staff in this research group is organized into sub-research groups that reflect their specific areas of research interest and activity. The members work collaboratively with colleagues across the sub-groups, the school and the University. At the applied level research the group (and sub-groups) works closely with industrial partners. Expertise in the group informs teaching for the different taught programmes where the students are taught in a research-led environment.
 

Automotive and Competitive Design  

The group works closely with industry on a range of projects including competitive development of many complex devices, such as turbochargers, active filtration systems and control devices that are used in modern high-tech production.
 

Members: Professor AJ Day, Professor AS Wood, Professor F. Campean, Dr. P. Olley, Dr. H. Qi, Dr. Jian-Ping Li, Dr. K. Hussain 

Computer Aided Process Engineering is a leading-edge research topic in chemical engineering. We strongly encourage national and international collaboration on short and long term projects on the development and use of computational tools in all aspects of process engineering activities. Our current research focuses on modelling, optimisation & control of processes such as desalination, refinery (hydrotreating &, heat exchanger network), distillation, chemical reactor, solvent extraction, and polymerisation.

Members: Professor IM Mujtaba, Professor AS Wood, Professor M Ebrahimi, Dr. CS Wright, Dr. C. Kara-Zaitri, Dr. Jian-Ping Li  

 

Dynamics and Control

Dynamics and control of powertrains and drivelines of mechatronic systems with specialization in mathematical modelling, identification and validation using short distance telemetry and condition monitoring for energy recovery. Current activities include: Turbocharger blade tip timing, powertrain testing and calibration, model based electric vehicle control.

Members: Professor M Ebrahimi, Dr. Jian-Ping Li, Dr. B. Mason 

Manufacturing & Materials

Manufacturing and Materials group is researching into the broad system’s aspect of manufacturing: strategy, planning, control, maintenance, supply chain, process improvement and scheduling through the use of AI tools (Knowledge-Based systems, Expert Systems, Artificial Neural Networks and Genetic Algorithms), with particular emphasis in the automotive manufacturing environment. The materials aspect of the research group focuses on powder metallurgy processing of ferrous-based materials with specific interests in optimising material compositions to enhance processibility, microstructure and end-use properties.

Members: Dr.M.K. Khan, Dr. J.E. Munive, Dr. C.S. Wright, Dr. H. Qi, Mr. J.D. Philby 

Risk and Reliability Modelling

This research sub-group explores new methods for modeling complex risk and reliability applications in large installations in the Nuclear, Military and Aerospace industries. New models are being developed to determine Minimal Cut Sets of complex Fault Trees and extended further to handle advanced Markov Modeling with particular application to Protective Systems - to properly account for different failure, repair and testing regimes. The research has already yielded a hardware-oriented solution (as opposed to software-oriented solution), using Application Specific Integrated Circuits (ASIC) and Programmable Logic Device (PLD) simulation software to store and analyse the failure logic of large and complex systems.
 

Members: Dr. C. Kara-Zaitri, Professor IM Mujtaba, Dr. S.M.R. Jones, Dr. J.M.  Noras 

Advanced Engineering Systems Optimisation

The aim of this group is to improve the design process and designed products by effectively exploiting the combination of computational modelling and optimisation algorithms and tools to support and enhance the creativity and decision-making of engineering designers.

 

Members: Professor AS Wood, Professor F. Campean, Dr. Jian-Ping Li, Professor IM Mujtaba



   

Professor William Wilkinson revisits University to open New Chemical Engineering Laboratory in his name

Dr.Rajamani from the school of engineering visited Botswana to meet with prospective students. the school expects to welcome high flying students from Botswana.

Following our successful relaunch of Chemical Engineering, the University played host to Dr. David Brown, CEO of the IChemE.

Read the full story about the relaunch of chemical engineering on the IChemE's tce website and listen to why chemical engineering is an increasingly popular subject to study at University. BBC - Material World