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Research

We use both theoretical and experimental methods in all our problems

Acoustic materials and metamaterials

Minimization of sound pollution, commonly called as noise, has been a long-standing problem. In heavy industries, aeroplanes, and automobiles the sound of low frequencies (< 2000 Hz) is absorbed, traditionally, by synthetic materials.  Although effective to some extent, these materials are often non-biodegradable. A class of structured materials if employed for acoustic purposes are called phononic crystals. The topology of these materials can be optimized to ensure reflection of sound over different spectral regimes, called bandgaps.

We attempt to develop acoustic (meta)materials by using either biodegradable materials or phononic crystals.

Keywords: Acoustic (meta)materials, phononic crystal, bandgaps, absorption, low-frequency sound. Source of plane and car photographs: https://pixabay.com/     https://www.pexels.com

Thermal nondestructive evaluation

The goal of non-destructive testing is two-fold: (a) to measure the material properties such as elastic modulus, shear modulus, stiffness constants, thermal conductivity, etc. and (b) to detect inhomogeneities, quantitatively and qualitatively. The inhomogeneities can be cracks, debonding, corrosion, etc. Nondestructive techniques  (NDT) based on temperature measurements are referred to as thermographic nondestructive evaluation (NDE) techniques. More here

We excite the materials with mechanical or thermal loads, and measure the changes in surface temperature. The changes in microstructure, inhomogeneities in the material are correlated to the thermal response. These correlations are performed by phenomenological and continuum models.

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Keywords: Thermomechanics, microstructure, thermographic NDE, viscoplasticity, continuum mechanics

Soft robotics
Instrumentation

1. Development of broadband dynamic mechanical analyzer

 

2. Computer vision-based instrumentation

 

Funding

I am grateful for the financial support from Mechanical Engineering, IIT Kanpur,  and various organizations:

Ongoing Projects

  1. Practical modeling aspects of thermomechanical NDE and vibrothermography, MATRICS, SERB  2023-2025

  2. Development of UHMWPE fibers and disentangled melt for impact mitigation - 65 lakhs. Sponsor:  NTTM, Ministry of Textiles.  2023-2025. (Co-PI)

Completed Projects

  1. Silicon carbide coating on carbon-fiber fabric, L & T Defense - 3 lakhs - 2018 [Co-PI: Prof. Rajeev Gupta]

  2. Sterlite Technologies - 1 lakh - 2019

  3. Multisensor characterization of solid materials for non-destructive evaluation, Initiation grant, IIT Kanpur 2019-2021

  4. Soft acoustic metamaterials: Fabrication, computation, and instrument development, Early career research award, SERB  2019-2022

  5. Study and validation of technical task 227 & 214 recommended by  OEM & identification of alternate methods, Air Force, India - 35 lakhs- 2019-2022 [Equal Co-PI: Prof. Shakti S. Gupta]

  6. Optimization of Extruder and Godets, Lohia Corp, Kanpur - 10 lakhs - 2021-22 [Equal Co-PI: Prof. Mohit S. Law]

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