Our current materials research covers the design of sensor and actuator systems, friction and wear.

Research areas

• hardware and software for active noise and vibration control systems
• adaptive signal processing, control and filtering
• acoustic/vibration transducers and instrumentation
• room acoustics for improving sound quality
• optimising techniques for sensor/actuator placement.

Functional materials

Functional materials are also known as intelligent or smart metals. Research is currently focused on shape memory alloys and magnetoelastic materials.

These materials are used in a wide spectrum of applications with innovative designs in the fields of:

• medical technology
• automobile manufacturing
• space and aeronautical engineering
• sports products
• robots.

Tribiology

Tribology is the science and technology of controlling friction and wear. The subject originated from the art of lubrication but has since developed to a much broader range of applications. The research is important as most mechanical equipment is subject to damage by wear or else wastes energy by frictional dissipation.

Established in 1985, the Tribology Laboratory at UWA is currently researching: 

• numerical characterisation and classification of wear particles and surfaces
• characterisation of particle angularity
• erosive wear in slurries
• lubricating properties of bio-degradable oils
• synergism between corrosion and abrasion
• wear in synovial joints and early detection/prediction of osteoarthritis.