Advanced Polymers and Composites (APC) Research Group
Our activities include research and development into design, creation and testing of polymers and composite materials, and analysing their effectiveness. We also investigate modelling, 3-D printing and structural integrity of sustainable biocomposites.
Our research informs teaching and knowledge transfer activities in the School of Mechanical and Design Engineering and Faculty of Technology. We contribute to the international research profile of the University of Portsmouth through high-quality publications and participations.
Our mission is to build modern work in advanced materials and manufacturing, through collaborative partnerships with industry and other partners.
Research
Advanced composites application driven areas
- Composite materials (natural fibre composites and biocomposites for light weight applications)
- Conventional composites and nanocomposites
- Polymers/plastics (thermosets and thermoplastics)
- Composite manufacturing (aimed at exploring the link between materials, process and performance)
- Additive manufacturing (Design and rapid prototyping, 3D printing of polymers and composites)
- Lean manufacturing
The APC research group has well-equipped laboratories with facilities for R&D in advanced polymers and composites. The activities we undertake range from short-term consultancy works to medium-to-long-term research and knowledge transfer projects.
The FLOWER Project
We're working with partner organisations in the UK and France on an innovative research project to develop natural fibre composites that are a viable alternative to the non-recyclable fibreglass products widely used in the automotive and marine industries.
Facilities and capabilities
- Nano-testing (indentation, scratching and impact)
- Thermal characterisation (MDSC, DSC, TGA, TMA, DMA, laser flash and hot- wire thermal conductivities)
- Materials/Mechanical testing (tensile, compression and flexural test at low and elevated temperatures, pendulum, falling weight and ballistic test impact and
hardness) - Durability testing (thermal, chemical, moisture, UV and hygrothermal degradation test)
- Surface properties test (contact angle, surface tension and surface topography)
- Structural integrity evaluation (electronic shearography, C-scan, ARAMIS and CT-scan)
- Manufacturing (vacuum bagging, compression moulding, injection moulding, thermoforming and RTM)
- Finite element analysis of engineering and biomedical systems, materials failure, damage and manufacturing processes
- Machining of materials, such as conventional and non-conventional drillings, waterjet cutting, among others
- Modelling (analytical and numerical) and simulation of artificial hip and knee joints, materials failure, damage and manufacturing processes
- Fatigue/fracture, creep and oxidation at elevated temperature
Publications
Economic appraisal of shale gas reservoirs
Mr Michael Kenomore, Dr Mohamed Hassan Sayed, Dr Hom Dhakal & Dr Amjad Shah 12 Jun 2018 SPE Europec featured at 80th EAGE Conference and Exhibition, 11-14 June, Copenhagen, Denmark. Society of Petroleum Engineers, SPE-190824-MS
Shale gas production decline trend over time in the Barnett Shale
Mr Michael Kenomore, Dr Mohamed Hassan Sayed, Dr Reza Malakooti, Dr Hom Dhakal & Dr Amjad Shah Jun 2018 In : Journal of Petroleum Science and Engineering. 165, p. 691-710
Investigation of impact damage characteristics in natural fibre composite laminates using novel micro CT imaging techniques
Barouni, A. K. & Dr Hom Dhakal 6 Feb 2018 1st International Conference on Health Monitoring of Civil & Maritime Structures: HeaMES 2018. ASRANet Ltd, p. 62-70
Investigation into Mode II interlaminar fracture toughness characteristics of flax/basalt reinforced vinyl ester hybrid composites
Almansour, F. A., Dr Hom Dhakal & Dr Zhong Yi Zhang 18 Jan 2018 In : Composites Science and Technology. 154, p. 117-127
The post-impact response of flax/ UP composite laminates under low velocity impact loading
Dr Hom Dhakal, Ghasemnejad, H., Dr Zhong Yi Zhang, Ismail, S. O. & Arumugam, V. 8 Jan 2018 17 p.
Philosophical study on composites and their drilling techniques
Dr Hom Dhakal & Ismail, S. O. 2018 Functional biopolymers. Thakur, V. K. & Thakur, M. K. (eds.). Springer, p. 239-280 (Springer Series on Polymer and Composite Materials)
Research group leader

Media ready expert
Professor Hom Dhakal
- Job Title Professor of Mechanical Engineering
- Email Address Hom.Dhakal@port.ac.uk
- Department School of Mechanical and Design Engineering
- Faculty Faculty of Technology
- PhD Supervisor PhD Supervisor
Research group members

Dr Antigoni Barouni
- Job Title Lecturer
- Email Address antigoni.barouni@port.ac.uk
- Department School of Mechanical and Design Engineering
- Faculty Faculty of Technology
- PhD Supervisor PhD Supervisor

Dr Khaled Giasin
- Job Title Lecturer
- Email Address khaled.giasin@port.ac.uk
- Department School of Mechanical and Design Engineering
- Faculty Faculty of Technology
- PhD Supervisor PhD Supervisor

Dr Jason Knight
- Job Title Senior Lecturer
- Email Address jason.knight@port.ac.uk
- Department School of Mechanical and Design Engineering
- Faculty Faculty of Technology
- PhD Supervisor PhD Supervisor

Dr Abu Saifullah
- Job Title Lecturer
- Email Address Abu.Saifullah@port.ac.uk
- Department School of Mechanical and Design Engineering
- Faculty Faculty of Technology
- PhD Supervisor PhD Supervisor

Media ready expert
Dr Zhong Yi Zhang
- Job Title Principal Lecturer
- Email Address Zhongyi.Zhang@port.ac.uk
- Department School of Mechanical and Design Engineering
- Faculty Faculty of Technology
- PhD Supervisor PhD Supervisor
Research fellows

Dr Marco Curto
- Job Title Research Associate
- Email Address marco.curto@port.ac.uk
- Department School of Mechanical and Design Engineering
- Faculty Faculty of Technology
Mr Colin Lupton
- Job Title Research Fellow
- Email Address Colin.Lupton@port.ac.uk
- Department School of Mechanical and Design Engineering
- Faculty Faculty of Technology

Dr Moumita Sit
- Job Title Research Associate
- Email Address Moumita.Sit@port.ac.uk
- Department School of Mechanical and Design Engineering
- Faculty Faculty of Technology
- PhD Supervisor PhD Supervisor
Affiliate members

Dr Krassimir Dotchev
- Job Title Senior Lecturer
- Email Address ecs90261@myport.ac.uk
- Department School of Mechanical and Design Engineering
- Faculty Faculty of Technology
- PhD Supervisor PhD Supervisor
Mr Michel Jacques Leseure
- Job Title Senior Lecturer in Supply Chain Management
- Email Address Michel.Leseure@port.ac.uk
- Department School of Mechanical and Design Engineering
- Faculty Faculty of Technology
- PhD Supervisor PhD Supervisor

Dr Burhan Saeed
- Job Title Lecturer
- Email Address burhan.saeed@port.ac.uk
- Department School of Mechanical and Design Engineering
- Faculty Faculty of Technology
- PhD Supervisor PhD Supervisor