School of Engineering (ENG)

Hom Nath Dhakal

Dr Hom Nath Dhakal

Senior Lecturer

School of Engineering

Anglesea Building, Anglesea Road, Portsmouth, Hants, PO1 3DJ

hom.dhakal@port.ac.uk

http://www.port.ac.uk/research/composites/

Profile

Areas of Expertise

Polymer composites and nanocomposites, natural fibres and bio-based materials, sustainable manufacturing.

Teaching

Hom teaches various degree pathways in the school of Engineering covering both undergraduate and postgraduate courses. He teaches on a range of subjects including Materials and Manufacturing, Sustainable Development and Environmental Management, Strategies for Resource Conservation and Recovery, Product Analysis, Project Management and Operations and Quality Management. He is course leader for BEng Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering distance learning (DL) courses.

Research

Hom is active researcher and consultant at the Advanced Polymer and Composites (APC) research group associated with polymeric composite Materials Engineering specialising in natural fibre composites, thermoplastic and thermosets nanocomposites. His research interests involve characterisation, analysis, design and manufacturing and evaluation of various properties of these advanced and modern materials. Hom supervises numerous undergraduate, MSc and PhD research projects in the areas of composites and nanocomposites, metallic and non-metallic materials, lean manufacturing (LM) and total quality management (TQM). Hom’s current research projects include developing light materials using renewable resins based on natural fibre reinforcements and investigating their mechanical, thermal and environmental properties. Hom alos investigates the critical issues of lean implementation within SMEs.

Major Research Interests:

• Composites from conventional reinforcement and from renewable raw materials

• Development of light weight hybridised materials

• Nanocomposites (layered silicate and graphite filled)

• Structure property relationship in composites and nanocomposites

• Environmental aspects of composites (durability, water absorption and its effect on properties)

• Sustainable manufacturing

Current PhD supervision (Director of study)

Name: Barjas Aldoisiri
Research Title: The Manufacture, Properties and Characterisation of Layered Silicate Reinforced Spent Polymer Nanocomposites
Expected completion date: PhD Awarded May 2011

Name: Ifechukwude K. Dibia
Research Title: Implementation of the Leadership, People, Processes and Outcome Model for Lean using Soft Systems Methodology in Triangulation
Expected completion date: PhD Awarded February 2012

Name: Prawate Kluaypa
Research Title: Development of a Quality Management Model for Thai SMEs
Expected completion date: September 2012

Name: Mohamad Al-Najem
Research Title: Critical issues for Lean Implementation within Kuwaiti SMEs
Expected completion date: September 2013

Name: Abdulrahman I Alateyah
Research Title: Vinyl Ester Matrix Nanocomposites based on Layered Silicate: Syntheses, Characterisation and Properties
Expected completion date: January 2014

Name: Abdullah Alkhader
Research Title: Study of Quality Management Systems (QMS) in the Manufacturing Sector in Gulf Countries
Expected completion date: January 2015

Publications in Scientific Journals:

Latest Publications:

  1. Dhakal, H. N., Zhang, Z. Y., Bennett, N, Reis, P. N. B.  Low-velocity impact response of non-woven hemp fibre reinforced unsaturated polyester composites: Influence of impactor geometry and impact velocity. Article in press, Composite Structures. Doi: 10.1016/j.compstruct.2012.04.004
  2. Rosa, Igor M. De, Dhakal, H. N. Santulli, C., Sarasini, F.  Zhang, Z.Y. Post-Impact Static and Cyclic Flexural Characterisation of Hemp Fibre Reinforced Laminates. Composites: Part B, 2012, 43:1382-1396. 
  3. Aldousiri, B., Dhakal, H. N., Onuh, S., Zhang, Z. Y., Bennett, N., Richardson, M. O.W.   Effect of layered silicate reinforcement on the structure and mechanical properties of spent polyamide-12 nanocomposites. Composites: Part B, 2012, 43:1363-1367.
  4. Aldousiri, B., Dhakal, H. N., Onuh, S., Zhang, Z. Y., Bennett, N., Nanoindentation behaviour of layered silicate filled spent polyamide-12 nanocomposites.  Polymer Testing 2011, 30:688-692.
  5. MacMullen J, Zhang, Z.Y. Rirsch, E., Dhakal H. N., Bennett, N. Brick and Mortar Treatment by Cream Emulsion for Improved Water Repellence and Thermal Insulation. Building and Environment, 2011, 43, 1560-1565. .
  6. Zhongyi Zhang, Siti Norasmah Surip, Hom Nath Dhakal, Ivan Popov and Nick Bennett. Characterisation of roof tile coating degradation using nano-indentation test and surface profilometry. Journal of Polymer Degradation & Stability, 2011, 96(5), 833-838.
  7. Dhakal, H. N., Zhang, Z. Y., Reis, P. N. B., Surip, S. N., Bennett, N. Evaluation of water absorption damage in hemp fibre reinforced unsaturated polyester composites by the nanoindentation testing, Journal of Biobased Materials and Bioenergy 2011 (Accepted).
  8. Surip, S.N., Zhang, Z.Y., Dhakal, H.N., Bonnia, N.N. Nanoindentation characteristic of nanoclay/rubber toughened UPE nanocomposites. World Journal of Engineering, Volume 8, Supplement 1, 2011 (ISSN:1708-5284).
  9. Dibia, I.K., Dhakal, H.N., Onuh, S. A lean study using the soft systems methodology. International Journal of applied Science and Technology, Volume 1, Number 6; November 2011.
  10. Dhakal, H. N., Zhang, Z. Y., Bennett, N. Influence of fibre treatment and glass fibre hybridisation on thermal degradation and surface energy characteristics of hemp/unsaturated polyester composites, Composite Part B, 2011 (Accepted).

Chapters in Books:

  1. Dhakal, H.N., Zhang, Z. Y. Polymer Matrix Composites: Moisture Effects and Dimensional Stability. Encyclopaedia of composites to be published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc, 2012. (Accepted).

Recent Publications:

  1. Zhang, Z. Y. Shen, M. Bennett, N. Study on electrical conductivity and mechanical performance of polymeric composite flow field plates for fuel cell applications.  Journal of Composite Interfaces 2010;17:633-648.
  2. Panigrahi, S. Mishra,S. Panaigrahi, S. Kushwaha,R. L. Dhakal. H. N. Mechanical Performance of Recycled Thermoplastic and Flax Fibre Based Composite; 2010, SAE International.
  3. See, S.C., Zhang, Z. Y., Dhakal, H. N., Richardson, M.O.W. Nanomechanical behaviour and thermal degradation of nanoclays and supernanoclays enhanced marine gelcoat system. Int. J. Materials Engineering Innovation, 2009; 1: 21-39.
  4. Panigrahi, S., Li, S., X., Panaigrahi S., Kushwaha,R. L. Dhakal, H. N. Development of flax oil-based Biopolymer for Biocomposites; 2009, SAE publications
  5. Dhakal, H.N., Zhang, Z. Y. and Richardson, M. O. W. Creep behaviour of hemp fibre reinforced unsaturated polyester composites. Journal of Biobased Materials and Bioenergy 2009; 3:232-237.

Selected Publications before 2008:

  1. Dhakal, H. N., Zhang, Z. Y., Richardson, M. O. W., Errajhi, O. A. Z. The low velocity impact response of non-woven hemp reinforced unsaturated polyester composites. Composites Structures 2007; 81: 559-567.
  2. Dhakal, H. N., Zhang, Z. Y. and Richardson, M. O. W. Effect of water absorption on the mechanical    properties of hemp fibre reinforced unsaturated polyester composites. Composites Science and Technology 2007; 67:1674-1683.  
  3. Dhakal, H. N., Zhang, Z. Y. and Richardson, M. O. W. Nanoindentation behaviour of layered silicate reinforced unsaturated polyester nanocomposites. Polymer Testing 2006; 25: 846-852.
  4. Errajhi, O.A.Z., Osborne, J. R. F., Richardson, M. O. W. Dhakal, H. N. Water absorption characteristics of aluminised E-glass fibre reinforced unsaturated polyester composite. Composites Structures 2005; 71:333-336.

Papers Submitted for Publication:

  1. James MacMullen*, Zhongyi Zhang, Jovana Radulovic, Hom Nath Dhakal, Nick Bennett. An investigation of hydroxyl end-terminated polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) in exterior oil-in-water (O/W) facade emulsion treatments - Construction and Building Materials.
  2. JamesMacMullen*, Zhongyi Zhang, Jovana Radulovic, Constandinos Herodotou,Miltiadis Totomis, Hom Nath Dhakal, Nick Bennett .Titanium dioxide and zinc oxide nano-particulate enhanced oil-in-water (O/W) facade emulsions for improved masonry thermal insulation and protection - Energy and Buildings.
  3. JamesMacMullen*, Zhongyi Zhang, Jovana Radulovic, Constandinos Herodotou,Miltiadis Totomis, Hom Nath Dhakal, Nick Bennett. Enhanced water repellence and thermal insulation of masonry by zinc oxide treatment - Energy and Buildings.
  4. Dibia, I.K., Dhakal, H.N. and Onuh, S. (2011). Lean Six Sigma and the Crane Maintenance Challenge. International Journal of Lean Six Sigma.
  5. Dibia, I.K. and Dhakal, H.N. (2011). Lean ‘Leadership People Process Outcome’ (LPPO) Implementation Model.  Journal of Manufacturing Technology Management, JMTM-Aug-2011-0076
  6. Dibia, I.K., Dhakal, H.N., Onuh, S. and Bennett, N. (2011). Lean Implementation and Soft Systems Methodology: An Interpretive Paradigm. International Journal of Operations and Production Management, IJOPM-Sept-2011-0323
  7. Dibia, I.K., Dhakal, H.N. and Onuh, S. (2011). Lean a continuous improvement philosophy based on quality management principles. International Journal of Agile Systems and Management, IJASM-29737
  8. Dibia, I.K., Dhakal, H.N. and Onuh, S. (2011). A ‘Lean’ Study using the Soft Systems Methodology. International Journal of Applied Science and Technology, IJAST S-10354
  9. Dibia, I.K., Dhakal, H.N., Onuh, S. and Bennett, N. (2011). Soft Systems Methodology in Triangulation: A Proposed Research Methodology for Lean Implementation Investigation. European Journal of Operational Research EJOR-D-11-02293
  10. Dibia, I.K., Dhakal, H.N. and Bennett, N. (2011). Lean Philosophy in Practise from a Nigerian Perspective. International Journal of Lean Six Sigma.
  11. AL-Najem, M., Dhakal, H. N. Role of culture and leadership in lean transformation: a review, Journal of Total Quality Management and Business Excellence, 2011.
  12. Dibia, I.K., Dhakal, H.N., Onuh, S., Bennett, N. Lean implementation and the soft systems methodology: an interpretive paradigm, International Journal of Operations and Production Management, 2011.
  13. Dibia, I.K., Dhakal, H.N. Lean six sigma and the crane maintenance challenge, International Journal of Operations and Production Management, 2011.
  14. Dibia, I.K., Dhakal, H.N. Lean ‘leadership, people, process outcome’ implementation model, Journal of Operations and Production Management, 2011.
  15. Kluaypa, P., Dhakal, H.N., Popov, I., Bennett, N. A relationship between TQM practices, ISO 9000 certification and business excellence in Thai SMEs: a conceptual framework, Journal of Total Quality Management and Business Excellence, 2011.
  16. Kluaypa, P., Dhakal, H.N., Popov, I., Bennett, N (2011). Developing an instrument for measuring total quality management practices in Thai small and medium-sized enterprises: A conceptual model; International Small Business Journal.

Conference and Symposium Papers:

  1. Al-Khadar, A., Dhakal, H. N., Al-Najem, N., Kluaypa, P. (2012). Study of Quality Management Systems (QMS) in GCC countries, 6th Quality Conference in the Middle East, Dubai, 30 Jan -2nd February. (Paper accepted).
  2. Kluaypa, P.,  Dhakal, H. N., Al-Khadar, A., Popov, I., Bennett, N. (2012). Quality Management and Business Excellence in Small and Medium-sized Enterprises: A Literature Review, 6th Quality Conference in the Middle East, Dubai, 30 Jan -2nd February. (Paper accepted).
  3. Dibia, I.K. and Dhakal, H.N. (2011). Introduction to the Lean ‘Leadership, People, Process, Outcome’ (LPPO) Implementation Model. International Conference on Material Science, Metal & Manufacturing, 12th-13th December, Singapore.
  4. Dhakal, H. N., Zhang, Z. Y., Reis, P. N. B., Surip, S. N., Bennett, N. Evaluation of water absorption damage in hemp fibre reinforced unsaturated polyester composites by the nanoindentation testing, 3rd International conference on Innovative Natural Fibre Composites for Industrial Applications, Rome, October 12-14, 2011.
  5. Surip, S.N., Zhang, Z.Y., Dhakal, H.N., Bonnia, N.N. Nanoindentation characteristic of nanoclay/rubber toughened UPE nanocomposites. The Nineteenth Annual Conference on Composites/Nanoengineering (ICCE-19) ICCE-19 Shanghai, China, July 24-30, 2011.
  6. Dhakal, H.N., Zhang, Z. Y., Bennett, N, Reis, P. N. B.  Low-velocity impact response of non-woven hemp fibre reinforced unsaturated polyester composites: Influence of impactor geometry and impact velocity, Porto, Portugal, 28-30 June, 2011.
  7. AL-Najem, M, Dhakal, H. N., Dibia, I. K. Effect of culture in implementation of lean manufacturing. Third European Research Conference on Continuous Improvement and Lean Six Sigma and lean, Scotland, March, 2011.
  8. Dhakal, H.N., Zhang, Z. Y., Bennett, N., Richardson, M O W. Effect of water immersion ageing on the impact resistance and flexural behaviour of hemp fibre reinforced unsaturated polyester composites. International Conference on Flow Processing in Composite Materials, Ascona, Switzerland, July 11 – 15, 2010.
  9. Aldousiri, B., Alenezi, D., Alhubail, M., Onuh, S.O., Dhakal, H.N. Characterisation of the mechanical properties of layered silicate reinforced spent Nylon 11. In: Rapid Design, Prototyping and Manufacturing; Eleventh National Conference, 11 June 2010. Edited by: Prof. D.M. Jacobson, Dr A. E. W. Rennie and Dr C. E. Bocking (ISBN 978-0-9566643-0-3).
  10. Dibia, I.K., Onuh, S., Al-Najem, M. and Dhakal, H.N. (2010). Lean Production System and the Human Resource Aspects. 2nd International Conference on the Role of Social Sciences and Humanities in Engineering (ICoHSE) 12-14 November, Penang, Malaysia
  11. Dhakal, H.N., Zhang, Z. Y., Richardson, M O W. Creep behaviour of natural fibre reinforced polymer composites. 2nd International Conference on Innovative natural Fibre Composites for Industrial Applications, Rome, April 15-18, 2009.
  12. Dhakal, H.N., Zhang, Z. Y., Richardson, M O W. Effect of water immersion ageing on the low-velocity impact behaviour of hemp fibre reinforced unsaturated polyester composites. International Conference on Flax and Other Bast Plants, Saskatoon, Canada, July 20-24, 2008.
  13. Dissanayake N. P. J., Dhakal, H. N., Grove, S.M., Singh, M. M., Summerscales, J. Optimisation of energy   use in the production of flax fibre as reinforcement for composites. International Conference on Flax & Other Bast Fibres, July 21-23, 2008, Saskatoon, Canada.
  14. Dhakal, H.N., Zhang, Z. Y. and Richardson, M. O. W. Study on thermal properties of hemp fibre reinforced polyester composites. International Conference on Flax and Other Bast Plants, Saskatoon, Canada, July 20-24, 2008.
  15. Cullen, R., Grove, S. M., Vronsky, T, Summerscales, J, Dhakal, H. N. Flow convergence and void formation in resin-infused cored sandwich structures. 9th International Conference on Flow Processing in Composite Materials, Quebec, Canada 8th – 10th July 2008.
  16. Dhakal, H.N. Zhang, Z. Y., Shen, M., Bennett,N., Murray, G., Stannard, M. Study on electrical conductivity and mechanical performance of electrically conductive graphite/phenolic composite flow plates for fuel cell applications. In: Functional Fillers for Advanced Applications, Eurofillers 2007, August 26- 30, 2007, Zalakaros, Hungary.
  17. Shen, M., Zhang, Z.Y., Dhakal, H.N. Bennett,N. A new criterion and model for PEM fuel cell performance. In: Advances in Manufacturing Technology-XXI; Proceedings of the 5th International Conference on Manufacturing Research (ICMR2007). Edited by: D.J.Stockton, R.A. Khalil and R.W. Baines (978-0-9556714).
  18. Errajhi, O.A.Z., Osborne, J. R. F., Richardson, M. O. W. and Dhakal, H.N. (2005). Characteristics of Water Absorption of Aluminised E-glass Fibre Reinforced Unsaturated Polyester Composite. American University Sharjah, United Arab Emirate, Conference Proceedings.