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Dr. KAMINENI, Pitcheswara Rao

Photo of Dr. KAMINENI

Acting Head


BEng-MetalE(Karnataka), MTech-MetalE(KanpurIIT), PhD(MadrasIIT), MCIMMP, CEng(India), MIE(India), MIIM, MPMAI(India), MASTM, MIEM(HK)

Email: mehead@cityu.edu.hk

Personal Email: mekprao@cityu.edu.hk

Research Areas: Hot working of magnesium and other new generation materials: Optimal processing, Metal forming and green lubrication

EDUCATIONAL QUALIFICATIONS

2003 MBA in Technology Management
APESMA LaTrobe University, Australia
(via Graduate Diploma in Technology Management, APESMA Deakin University)
1983 PhD Programme - Metal Forming (Metallurgical Engineering)
Indian Institute of Technology, Madras - 600 036, India.
1978 Master of Technology (MTech) - Metallurgical Engineering
Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur - 208 016, India.
1976 Bachelor of Engineering (BEng) - Metallurgical Engineering
Karnataka Regional Engineering College, Surathkal 574 157, India.

RESEARCH AND PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

1990 - now Associate Professor / University Senior Lecturer / Principal Lecturer / Senior Lecturer
Dept. of Manufacturing Eng. & Eng. Management, City University of Hong Kong

Also, Honorary Visiting Professor (during 2000 - 2002)
Padmasree Dr. B.V. Raju Institute of Technology, Narsapur, Hyderabad, India

1988 - 1990 Post-doctoral Fellow
Dept. of Metals & Materials Eng., University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
1986 - 1987 Post-doctoral Fellow
Dept. of Mechanical Eng., University of New Brunswick, Fredericton, Canada
1983 - 1986 Engineer - Research
Central Metal Forming Institute, HMT Ltd., Hyderabad, India
1979 - 1983 PhD Research Student
Dept. of Metallurgical Eng., Indian Institute of Technology, Madras, India
1979 MetallurgisT
Nava Bharat Ferro-Alloys Ltd., Paloncha, India
1977 - 1978 Junior Research Assistant
Dept. of Metallurgical Eng., Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur, India

MAIN CONTRIBUTIONS IN DIFFERENT RESEARCH AREAS

A. Sheet Metal Working
Developed a mathematical model for predicting formability and fracture limits based on parameters that can be obtained from simple tension tests of the chosen sheet materials. The model accommodates moderate changes in temperature and strain rate that is common in cold forming of sheet materials.

B. Lubrication and Friction in Metal Forming
Studied the effectiveness of an environmetally friendly lubricant for cold forming operations of some commonly used metallic materials, and developed a route for developing coatings on the materials to be formed while it will be easy to remove the lubricant after forming.

C. CAD/CAM for Sheet Metal Working
Developed an unique theoretical benchmark called "Universal Compact Utilization (UCY)" for use in cutting stock problems (CSP) involving nesting/clustering/packing of any 2-dimensional shapes on flat sheets. Probably, this is the only measure in the literature that can uniquely compare the effective utilization of sheet materials with different stock layouts that may be obtained using computer-aided design (CAD) algorithms and solutions. Developed one of the fastest and accurate algorithms for layout of single and or multiple pattern shapes using compact neighbourhood approach with stringy effect and brach and bound techniques. Complimentary contribution is on computer aided manufacturing (CAM) involving cutting of the nested blanks utilizing efficient routings dependiong on the nature of cutting machine/technology used. Use of heuristic and genetic algorithms has been made to provide near-best solutions. Developed a knowledge-based CAD/CAM system for design and manufacture of stamping dies. The system utilized decision tables to capture the general industry practice as well as the theory of forming.

D. Application of Artificial Neural Networks (ANN) for Metal Forming
Among the first few reseachers (early nineties) who applied neural networks for use in metal forming.

E. Warm and Hot Working of Coppers
Though coppers have been used for a long time and is an important industrial material, their hot workability were not fully studied. Probably, only our studies encompassed the broadest range of process parameters, namely temperature and strain rate, and clearly established the role and criticality of oxygen content in hot working as well as mechanisms of core and grain boundary diffusion (besides the commonly believed self diffusion mechanism) that provide better processing opportunities. Processing maps have been developed for two important coppers, namely, oxygen-free high conductivity (OFHC) and electrolytic tough pitch (ETP) coppers, and microstructure evolutions have been fully studied over the entire range of processing.

F. Development of High Performance Titanium Aluminide-based in situ Composites
Developed a novel technique for synthesizing high-strength and high-temperature resistant titanium aluminide based composites involving ternary (Ti-Al-Si) or quaternary (Ti-Al-Si-C) metastable precursors. Characterized the entire stages involved in the synthesis and the mechanical properties obtained compared simple titanium aluminides.

G. Development and Processing of Magnesium Alloys
With the collaboration of Magnesium Processing Group, Institute of Materials Research, GKSS Research Centre (GKSS Forschungszentrum), National research facility of the HGF (Hermann von Helmholtz Society of German Research Centres), Germany, new generation magnesium alloys are being developed. A series of alloys based on Mg-Sn-Ca system has been developed and tested for their corrosion and creep behaviour, and a shortlist of alloys with high potential for further development has been identified. These alloys are currently thermo-mechanically processed so that entire processing routes will be available soon with the development of processing maps based on dynamic materials modelling. Besides these alloys, the most popular magnesium wrought alloy AZ31 has been investigated and found that the alloy is highly texture sensitive even at high temperatures (which is not the case for most of the metallic materials). For the first time, we have established the best processing routes for this alloy and clarified the role of texture for this alloy. A larger programme is in progress to expand the availability of number alloys and develop fully the associated processing technologies for industrial applications.


FUNDED RESEARCH PROJECTS UNDERTAKEN AS PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Projects in Progress

"High temperature strength and workability of Mg/nano-alumina composite" - Strategic Research Grant Project (#7002335), Year of grant: 2008.

"Hot-workability studies of Ti-Al-based intermetallic composites with in situ synthesized silicide and carbide reinforcements" - Central Earmarked Research Grant (#114407), Year of grant: 2007.

"Effect of thermo-mechanical treatments on the hot workability of magnesium alloy AZ31" - Strategic Research Grant Project (#7002077), Year of grant: 2007.

"Development and processing of next generation magnesium materials" - Strategic Research Grant Project (#7002013), Year of grant: 2006.

Current Research Collaborators:
Dr. Norbert Hort and Prof. K.U. Kainer, GKSS, Germany
Dr. Manoj Gupta, National University of Singapore, Singapore
Dr. Y.V.R.K. Prasad, Processingmaps.com (formerly Professor, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore)

Projects Completed


SELECTED PUBLICATIONS IN JOURNALS


Last modified on 31 March, 2009