There are 2 laboratories under the Mechanics of Materials Group:

• Mechanics of Machines Lab (N3-B1c-03) 
• Mechanics of Materials Lab (N3.2-B2-01) 

Research Projects

Micromechanics of interfaces
Estimate the interface stiffness by using micromechanics concepts together with a statistical consideration. Solutions to the problems are usually involving analytical and numerical formulation and procedure associated with the hyper-singular integro-differential equations.

Principal Investigator: Associate Professor Fan Hui

Surface energy effect in solid, liquid and solid/liquid/air systems
When the dimensions of devices are getting smaller to the level of micrometers and below, the surface energy plays the dominant part in total energy of the system. Traditional formulation in solid and fluid mechanics where the bulk energy associated with volume of the system is dominant part failed to describe the physics. A new branch of theory is proposed to bridge the classical continuum mechanics and lower dimensional physics. 

Principal Investigator: Associate Professor Fan Hui

Integral equation solutions for functionally graded materials
Integral equations are derived for the numerical solution of boundary value problems concerning heat conduction and elastic deformations in functionally graded materials. 

Principal Investigator: Associate Professor Ang Whye Teong

Dynamic analysis of multiple interacting cracks in piezoelectric materials
Semi-analytic solutions are derived in the Laplace transform domain for dynamic interacting planar cracks in an infinite piezoelectric space and an infinitely long piezoelectric strip.

Principal Investigator: Associate Professor Ang Whye Teong

Design Optimization Using Advanced Structural Dynamics Techniques.
Develop advanced structural dynamics testing and analysis capabilities for structural dynamics design optimization.

Principal Investigator: Associate Professor Lin Rongming

Durability, long-term behavior and performance of composite riser materials.
The objective of this research is to study the long-term behaviour of composite risers made of new composite materials, subjects to harsh environmental factors including diffusion, cyclic loading, and other external loading. Based on Time-temperature superposition, the long term degradation of the materials can be predicted using short term tests. 

Principal Investigator: Associate Professor Seah Leong Keey

Fatigue Life Prediction Methodology for Offshore Structures, Risers and Pipelines starting from Multiple Small Surface cracks relevant to Welded Structures.
The research will develop a methodology for fatigue life prediction of multiple weld toe cracks in welded offshore structures. A fatigue crack growth algorithm will model multiple surface cracks and predict surface crack coalescence and crack propagation life. 

Principal Investigator: Professor Pang Hock Lye John

Development of High-Efficiency Numerical Computational Methods (Meshless and Multiscale Algorithms)
So far the eight novel meshless methods have been developed in both strong- and weak-forms. They have been validated numerically and are able to very efficiently solve differential or integral equations approximately with controllable computational accuracy. Six of them are in the strong form, termed the random integral quadrature (RIQ) method, the random differential quadrature (RDQ) method, the Hermite-cloud method (MCM), the point weighted least-squares (PWLS) method, the hybrid meshless-differential order reduction (hM-DOR) method, and the meshless finite mixture (MFM) method. The other two are in the weak form, called the local Kriging (LoKriging) method, and the variation of local point interpolation method (vLPIM). They have been presented systematically in a monograph book, entitled Meshless Methods and Their Numerical Properties published by CRC PRESS in 2013, focusing on their numerical properties including the convergence, consistency, stability, and adaptivity. Their applications in MEMS modeling have been summarized and published in 2006 in the form of “Chapter: Techniques for Efficient Analytical and Simulation Methods in the Prototyping of MEMS Systems”, in “MEMS/NEMS Handbook: Techniques and Applications”, Cornelius T. Leondes (ed.), Kluwer Academic Publishers, Norwell, MA. 

Principal Investigator: Associate Professor Li Hua

Elastic-plastic Fracture and Fatigue Analysis for offshore pipe lines
The submarine pipelines transporting gases and liquids can be subjected to a variety of loads ranging from internal pressure to external wave loading. Flaws contained in the parent material or in the weldments can occur in service by mechanical damage, corrosion, etc. The significance of flaws in welds due to the combination of static and cyclic stresses will be assessed in this project. 

Principal Investigator: Associate Professor Xiao Zhongmin

Nonlinear mechanics of biogels
The stresses and displacements in composite gels subjected to axial, torsion, shear and dilatational loadings are determined using second-order elasticity. The development of normal and out-of-plane shear stresses in a soft solid subjected to generalized simple shear is investigated in terms of the geometric and elastic parameters. The results have important implications for regenerative medicine and drug delivery applications. 

Principal Investigator: Associate Professor Wu Mao See

Mitigating shock and vibration of crystal oscillators

Principal Investigator: Associate Professor Yap Fook Fah

Reducing Fuel Consumption Using Flywheel Battery Technology for Rubber Tyred Gantry Cranes in Container Terminals

Principal Investigator: Associate Professor Yap Fook Fah

Driving simulation as an assessment of elderly driver fitness to drive and driver rehabilitation method

Principal Investigator: Associate Professor Yap Fook Fah

Fabrikz: A Computer-Supported Collaborative Learning Platform for Engineering Physics and Dynamics

Principal Investigator: Associate Professor Yap Fook Fah

Modelling fracture initiation and arrest in weldments containing local brittle zones for maritime applications
The existence of local brittle zones (LBZs) in carbon-manganese steel welds has caused great concern to the marine and offshore industries as their detrimental effect on material fracture toughness is not well understood. This project will assess fracture characteristics of multi-pass welds containing LBZs for failure prediction and prevention.

Principal Investigator: Associate Professor Zhou Kun

Wear life characterization and enhancement for rails and wheels performance
Wear of rails and wheels influences the running performance and service life of rail vehicles greatly. This project aims: (i) to develop a theoretical mechanics model for predicting and analyzing wear of rails and wheels and validate the model through experimental wear testing; (ii) to develop surface treatment and coating technology to increase wear resistance; (iii) to optimize the wear performance of rails and wheels through surface treatment and coating technology based on the theoretical model and experimental test.

Principal Investigator: Associate Professor Zhou Kun

Failure Mode Map for Polymer Foam Cored Circular Composite Sandwich Plates
Competing failure modes are investigated for circular sandwich plates comprising quasi-isotropic E-glass/epoxy composite faceplates (with [-60/0/60]ns configuration) and Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) foam core under bending. Clamped sandwich plates are loaded using flat ended punch at the center of the plate. Three competing failure mechanisms, viz., core indentation, core shear and face failure/microbuckling, are considered. 

Principal Investigator: Associate Professor Sridhar Idapalapati