Postgraduate Scholarships

Title: Design and Modeling of Microwave Heating System

Summary:
Microwave (MW) technology is perceived to provide rapid heating as well as improving the process efficiency. The rapid heating process can effectively reduce the power and time required, yet capable of achieving the common desired temperature. This technology has been implemented in various industries and believe could provide greater controllability, rapid drying,
and has proven to be able to provide uniform volumetric heating. This project involves design of MW heating system by simulation. The model will account for the actual MW field, heat and mass transfer phenomenon.

Eligibility:

  • Malaysia citizen with relevant Engineering degree (with CGPA 3.0 and above)
  • Possess good command of English, strong interpersonal skills, dynamic, and independent.
  • Good knowledge in Mathematics, Physics, modeling software such as COMSOL, STAR-CCM+ is preferred.

The Scholarship includes both tuition fee and stipend for a period of two years. Interested
candidate please send a copy of CV and cover letter to:

Dr Stephanie Chan Yen San
Faculty of Engineering & Science
Curtin University Sarawak Malaysia
Tel: +60 85 443824
Fax:+60 85 443838
Email: chanyensan@curtin.edu.my

Student is required to design a cement based nano particle composition which can resist the supercritical CO2 attack during sequestration practices.

PhD scholarship in Petroleum is available immediately at Curtin University, Sarawak Malaysia. This provide an exciting opportunity for academically able student holding Master degree in Petroleum Engineering to conduct advanced research study leading to a doctorate degree. Successful applicants will be awarded the same degrees as those from Curtin University, Australia.  

Duration of Studentship: 3 Years

Nature of support available: Complete tuition fee waiver plus stipend of 2,000 RM per month

Supervisor: Dr. Raoof Gholami Co-Supervisor: Dr Muhammad Ekhlasur

Description: Application of different nano particles including nano graphene and green surfactant will be evaluated through a series of tests. Selected nano particles should be cost effective and capable of maintain the initial thickening time and viscosity of cements. The API standard does not really exist for cement to water ratio determination when different nano-particles are added. Thus, careful analysis and interpretation of slurry’s properties is required before curing. Upon curing under HPHT condition, a series of experiments will be performed including carbonation test to evaluate the changes and degradation of cements when they are exposed to supercritical CO2.

Eligibility: The candidate must have a bachelor or master degrees in petroleum, civil or chemical engineerings and a past experience in conducting experimental works.

Contact Details: To obtain further information, potential applicants should contact Dr. Raoof Gholami (Raoof.Gholami@curtin.edu.my).

Applications for a MPhil scholarship are invited from interested and qualified candidates:

Research Topic: Development of a mathematical model of a circular force transducer with uniform
stress distribution

Duration of Studentship: 2 years

Nature of support available:
This project is funded by the Ministry of Higher Education, (MOHE), Malaysia under the Fundamental Research Grant Scheme (FRGS). Thus, a full scholarship is available for this project, which include full tuition fee waiver, a monthly stipend of RM 2,100.00 for 2 years.

Project summary:
Circular force transducers play a vital role in applications like material testing, electronic weighing balance, may act as dynamometers, weighing of aircrafts, thrust measurement of jet and rocket engines, monitoring cutting forces in different machining operations etc. In these kinds of applications repetitive accurate reading from the transducer is desired. In case of material testing, frequent calibration of testing machine need to be maintained in order to obtain reliable testing results. A portable precision elastic circular device known as proving ring is generally used for this purpose. Though the proving ring has been used for many decades, its sensitivity to the applied load is measured by costly vibrating reeds. Furthermore, these conventional circular transducers have non-uniform stress distributions. The aim of this project is to develop a mathematical model of a ring shaped portable precision force transducer with uniform stress distribution. Castigliano’s thorem and
evolutionary shape optimization will be used to develop and validate the model of circular force transducer having continuously variable cross-sectional area. In terms of material cost, significant amount of materials can be saved for such type of devices. Moreover, given all similar conditions, the sensitivity will be increased significantly compared to a conventional circular force transducer thus eliminating the need of expensive vibrating reed mechanism.

Eligibility:
1. Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering with CGPA 3.0 and above.
2. Fundamental understanding of stress analysis by finite element method.
3. Working knowledge of FE code ABAQUS and design software such as SOLIDWORKS.
2. Good communication skills and able to interact well with other people.
3. Fluent in written and spoken English.
4. Proactive and able to carry out research independently.
5. Strong reporting and documentation skills.
6. Pleasant personality, hardworking, independent, self-motivated.
7. Malaysian nationality.

Interested candidates should contact:
Dr. Neamul Ahsan Noman Khandoker,
Department of Mechanical Engineering,
Faculty of Engineering and Science,
Curtin University, Sarawak.
Phone: +6085443939 ext. 5043
Mobile: +60168086352.
E-mail: noman.khandoker@curtin.edu.my