How Metal Works – Let Me Compute the Ways

Engineering expert to give inaugural public lecture at the University of Leicester on Tuesday 21 May

Professor Hongbiao Dong, from the Department of Engineering, will give a free public lecture entitled 'How Metal Works – Let me Compute the Ways' at the University of Leicester on Tuesday 21 May.

The lecture will explain, through case studies, how to develop models for metal processing and how these can be used to simulate metal processing.

Processing of metals is a science, art and hobby and its history can be dated back to 5000BC when small pieces of copper were hammered and ground to make the first tools and weapons. Today, metal processing, through innovation, has been industrialised and is the most economic and effective way to make individual parts, assemblies or large scale structures.

Professor Hongbiao Dong has three main research interests that include the evolution of materials – such that materials are evolving faster than at any other time in history.  The development of new materials has been regarded as an 'underpinning technology' – which can stimulate innovation in all branches of engineering, making possible new designs for structures, engines, electrical and electronic devices, energy conservation equipment and many more. Finally, the materials industry in the UK has traditionally supported a diverse set of industry across the power generation, transportation and construction sectors.

Professor Dong said: "Most important innovations in metal processing throughout history were made through trial and error experiments. However this has changed dramatically over the last 20 years as computational modelling becomes a more and more powerful tool in metal processing research.

"Simulations of the movement of iron atoms during steel solidification can reveal information that would not be available otherwise. Modelling how to grow a single crystal turbine blade that can operate at 1500C next to the combustion chamber of a modern jet engine is another example. These examples demonstrate that predictions based on modelling can provide an innovative and more rapid way to design and optimise new processes than by the trial and error methods."

'How Metal Works – Let Me Compute the Ways' will be held at the Ken Edwards Building, Lecture Theatre 1, University of Leicester, University Road, on Tuesday 21 May at 5.30pm.

The lecture is free and open to the public.

Professor Hongbiao Dong from the University of Leicester Department of Engineering.

Provided by University of Leicester