Profile
My research interests lie in the wide and interdisciplinary areas of soft polymeric and active functional materials from experiments to computational modelling. I have been active in the areas of biological tissue modelling and polymeric material characterizations. Recently I am interested in responsive gels (e.g. hydrogels, ferrogels) and self-healing soft materials. I have obtained research grants from industry for energy harvesting using electro-active polymers from Ocean Waves in the Wales Coast.
Area of Expertise
- Soft, responsive, and smart materials
- 3D printing of soft materials
- Experimental mechanics
- Numerical methods for solid mechanics
- Modelling composite materials at finite strain
- Low carbon renewable energy
Projects
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Fatigue-resistant Elastomers with Integrated Electrodes for Modular Self-sensing DEGs and DFGs
Project Overview The project aims to develop fatigue-resistant novel self-sensing elastomers with integrated compliant electrodes that will be used for modular metamaterial-based Dielectric Elastomer Generators (DEGs) and Dielectric Fluid Generators (DFGs). In this project, 2D conductive fillers (e.g. MXene) will be used in achieving superior dielectric materials with extremely high dielectric permittivity and in making…
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In-silico Framework for the Design, Characterisation and Topology Optimisation of Electroactive Polymers for Soft Robotics
Project Overview This PhD project focuses on the development of advanced Machine Learning (ML) techniques to generate accurate and efficient constitutive models for complex smart materials – particularly Electroactive Polymers (EAPs). Traditional modelling approaches for such materials often rely on computationally intensive homogenisation schemes within Finite Element Methods (FEM), which can limit their practicality for…
Specialist Areas
Events
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Zienkiewicz Institute Community Event – 19th November 2025
Date: 19th November 2025 Time: 13:30 – 15:30 Location: Engineering North, 102 Speakers: Oubay Hassan, Siraj Shaikh Overview of Event: Dear colleague, For the upcoming ZI community event, Professor Oubay Hassan and Professor Siraj Shaikh have kindly agreed to share their recent experience in winning a Programme Grant and a Prosperity Partnership Grant. Date: Wednesday…
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Networking Session and Lunch at the Distinguished Zienkiewicz Institute Seminar Organized by ZI PGR Society
Time: 12:00 pm – 15:00 pm, 8th October 2025 Location: The atrium area in the computational foundry Speakers: Dr Royston Jones is CTO, Altair Product Design & Senior Vice President, Global Automotive Vertical List of Participants: ZI-PGR society and members of ZI community Contact Information: Mohsin Ali (ZI-PGR society President), email: mohsin.ali@Swansea.ac.uk Overview of the…
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Zienkiewicz Institute Community Event – July 2025
Time: 23rd July 2025 Location: B001, Engineering Central, Bay Campus Speakers: Chenfeng Li, Arnold Beckmann, Djordje Peric, Khiêm Vu Ngoc, Fabio Caraffini, PhD Students Overview of the Conference: Programme:• 09:30-10:00: Welcome coffee & collection of your FREE ZI polo shirt• 10:00-11:00: Celebrating ZI’s achievements and looking ahead to new opportunities.• 11:00-12:00: Launch of the ZI…
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Modeling and simulation of viscoelastic liquid crystal elastomers
Speaker: Rabin Poudel is currently a PhD student in the School of Mathematics at Cardiff University. His PhD Research is on mathematical modelling and numerical simulation of the mechanical behaviour of liquid crystal elastomers. His Research interest lies in solid mechanics, material modelling and finite element simulation. He obtained his MSc degree in Civil Engineering…
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Liquid Crystalline Elastomers for Reversible Actuation and Energy Dissipation
Speaker: Mohand Saed Time: 14:00-16:00, 18th June 2025 Location/Room: Engineering Central, Bay Campus, B003 Liquid crystalline elastomers (LCEs) are a versatile class of functional materials exhibitingexceptional properties, including large-stroke reversible actuation, anomalous mechanicaland vibration energy damping, and reversible pressure-sensitive adhesion. A defining featureof LCEs is their soft elasticity, characterised by a plateau of low, nearly constant stress during…
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From Mechanics to AI: Engineering Lightweight Composites for Green Energy Systems
Speaker: Dr Wei Tan Time: 14:00-16:00, 28 May 2025 Location/Room: Engineering Central, B003 (Bay Campus) Lightweight composite and porous architected materials are pivotal enablers of the global transition to net-zero emissions, offering transformative potential across sectors such as transportation, aerospace, and renewable energy. By reducing structural weight while maintaining performance, these materials minimise energy consumption and carbon footprints.…
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Morphing and moving matter: mimicking nature
Speaker: Mingchao Liu, Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK Time: 14:00-15:30, 31st October 2024 Location/Room: Room 010 (ground Floor), Engineering North, Bay Campus How to find us Nature’s ingenuity serves as a profound source of inspiration for developing advanced materials and robotic systems. In this presentation, we explore how biological phenomena inform innovative engineering solutions, focusing on…