Exciting projects
The UWA Motorsport (UWAM) team is a group of students who compete in Formula SAE. Every year UWAM builds a completely new car to compete in the Australasian Competition as well as an international competition.
The UWA Renewable Energy Vehicle project (REV) hopes to “revolutionise personal transport” by building zero emission vehicles, powered by electricity from renewable sources.
REV provides a unique opportunity for UWA engineering undergraduates to learn and develop multi-disciplinary teamwork plus innovative, design, leadership, management, marketing, finance and practical skills.
Second year Mechanical Engineering students participate in the Weir-Warman and Engineers Australia Design and Build Competition each year. The competition involves students being set a design challenge and creating a physical model to complete the challenge. This year the students will design, build and prove a prototype device in a laboratory environment that serves to navigate difficult terrain and deploy a response payload
Research projects by our students cover a variety of topics.
- Anti-scaling in the alumina industry: financial and environmental assessment
- Rehabilitation of the hand: A tool to aid in and analyse the progress of hand rehabilitation
- Deterioration of reticulation piping
- Optimum aluminium sheet alloy for panel manufacture
- Conformance of low-cost wheelchair to Australian and WHO standards
- Alternate energy storage technologies for remote PV systems
Anti-scaling in the alumina industry: financial and environmental assessment
- Student: Jiate Guo
- Supervisor: Matthew Hardin
- External partner: Savcor Finn
The Bayer process was invented in 1887 by Karl Joseph Bayer, and to this day is still the main industrial method of alumina extraction. Despite many new developments and innovations, such as advanced vessels and equipments, to improve the productivity of the process, the formation of scale throughout all stages in the Bayer process still causes significant problems with regard to falling production of alumina. These aspects can include: downtime to remove the scale, safety issues to individuals involved in removing the scale and loss of process efficiencies. The anti-scaling technology developed by Savcor is utilised to reduce the rate of scale formation in the precipitation tanks. This project aims to investigate the problems of extensive scale formation on the different internal surfaces of facilities by quantifying the rate of scale deposition in the Bayer process and seeks to explore the benefits of the anti-scaling technology from a financial and environmental stand points.
Back to topRehabilitation of the hand: A tool to aid in and analyse the progress of hand rehabilitation
- Student: Alison Barnes
- Supervisor: Adrian Keating
- External partner: Austrailian Neuromuscular Research Institute
I plan to design a tool/device that will help patients with loss of hand motor skills regain strength and coordination again. The device will require the patient to de certain tasks. These results of the tasks will then be assessed by the tool and provide statistical feedback to the doctor so that the areas of concern can be addressed. Gary, who work with UWA and ANRI has agreed to be a co supervisor, and the tool is being designed for in the hopes of it to be used in there clinic.
Back to topDeterioration of reticulation piping
- Student: Thulasi Sathiyaseelan
- Supervisor: Yinong Liu
- External partner: Water Corporation
Asbestos cement (AC) pipes make up 33% of the Water Corporation's total pipe network, mainly reticulation piping. It has recently been found that they are not resistant to corrosion as assumed upon installation and the piping has experienced some damages over the past few decades. The replacement cost of the AC piping is estimated to be more than $1B for the existing system managed by Water Corporation. A strategy to minimise the cost is to be able to predict more accurately the failure of the pipes. For this, proper understanding of the AC pipes and their deterioration behaviour is to be established. The aim of this project is to analyse the structure of the original AC pipes and pipes that have been in service for a number of years so to elucidate the possible mechanisms of pipe deterioration and failures. The knowledge gathered is expected to aid to the evaluation of the performance and assessment of residual life of the AC pipes.
Back to topOptimum aluminium sheet alloy for panel manufacture
- Student: Jayden Mair
- Supervisor: Yinong Liu
- External partner: Ayres Composite Panels
Ayres Composite Panels produces AYRLIGHT® composite panels which consist of a variety of aluminium honeycomb panels combined with specialised assembly systems. The panels suit a selection of applications including the interior fit-out of marine craft, rail cars and other recreational vehicles. Currently Ayres Composite Panels employs 0.5mm 5052 H38 Aluminium sheet for the exterior skin of the AYRLIGHT® honeycomb panels which was recommended by clients but never known to be optimum. The project involves the study of various other aluminium sheets to obtain the optimum aluminium sheeting that maintains the cost and corrosion resistance properties of the 5052 alloy while improving the panels impact resistance. This will be achieved through obtaining sample sheets, which will be made into honeycomb panels before being tested with an impact testing rig. Improving the panels impact resistance would lead to a higher quality product and may lead to wider applications or business opportunities for Ayres Composite Panels.
Back to topConformance of low-cost wheelchair to Australian and WHO standards
- Student: Darryl Jones
- Supervisor: Nathan Scott
- External partner: Wheelchairs for Kids
Design and build test equipment (as per Australian and WHO Standards) to check compliance of current wheelchair design. Pending the results of testing, a redesign of the wheelchair may be necessary in order to achieve conformance.
Back to topAlternate energy storage technologies for remote PV systems
- Student: Marina Bradley-Meyers
- Supervisor:James Trevelyan
- External partner: Engineers without Borders (EWB) and Rural Integrated Development Services (RIDS)
The project was initiated by Engineers without Borders (EWB) in conjunction with Rural Integrated Development Services (RIDS). For several years, RIDS Nepal have been working in villages in the remote northwest region of Humla.They have developed the concept of 'Family of 4' which reflects four basic requirements fundamental for long-term sustainable development. The concept incorporates Pit Latrines, Smokeless Metal Stoves, Light and Water. Small-scale solar PV systems provide lighting to the villages. This project aims to improve the solar PV systems in Humla by suggesting alternative energy storage technologies. The batteries that are currently used often fail and create significant waste management concerns. The project will contribute to RIDS aim of holistic community development by factoring in the harsh environment (isolation and lack of transport, high altitude) and the social needs of the villagers (traditional lifestyles, education levels).
Back to topSchool of Mechanical Engineering
University information
CRICOS Code: 00126G
