Research
Facilities

Used to evaluate the impact resistance and penetration behaviour of materials and protective structures under high-velocity projectile impact. The system enables controlled ballistic firing tests for studying energy absorption, deformation patterns, and failure mechanisms in metals and composites materials.

A versatile load-frame for tensile, compressive, flexural, and fatigue testing of metals, polymers, and composites. Delivers full stress–strain curves, Young's modulus, yield strength, and ultimate tensile strength essential for material qualification and process optimisation.

Used to analyze internal stresses in transparent materials such as glass, plastics, and polymers. It works by passing polarized, diffused light through the specimen, allowing stress patterns to appear as colored or dark fringes. It helps in detecting residual stresses, strain distribution, and structural defects.

Used to measure hardness of metals by pressing a hardened steel into material’s surface under a specific load. The diameter of the indentation left on surface is measured to determine material’s Brinell Hardness Number.

A conventional machining tool used to shape metal or other materials by rotating the workpiece against a cutting tool. It is operated manually by the operator to perform operations such as turning, facing, drilling, threading, and knurling.

A machine tool used to produce flat surfaces, slots, and grooves by moving a single-point cutting tool back and forth across a stationary workpiece. The cutting action occurs during the forward stroke, while return stroke is idle. Shaping machines are commonly used in tool rooms, workshops, and manufacturing units for precise metal shaping and surface finishing.

A computer-controlled multi-axis milling and turning centre for precision component fabrication. Supports experimental specimen preparation, prototype manufacturing, and systematic research into cutting tool wear, surface roughness, and machining parameter optimisation across metals/composites.

An advanced additive manufacturing process that creates parts using materials reinforced with fibers like carbon fiber, glass fiber, Kevlar. By combining polymers with reinforcing materials, this technology produces components that are stronger, lighter, and more durable than standard 3D printed parts.

Captures thermal radiation emitted from surfaces to produce high-resolution temperature maps for non-contact thermal analysis. Used to detect heat distribution, thermal gradients, insulation defects, and hot spots in mechanical systems, electronic components, and experimental setups during performance and failure studies.

A non-contact optical measurement device used to determine the velocity of particles or fluids by analyzing the Doppler shift of laser light scattered from moving particles. It provides highly accurate and real-time velocity measurements without disturbing the flow.

High-resolution surface imaging and elemental mapping using a focused electron beam. Enables microstructural analysis, fractography, and EDS-based compositional studies at nanometre resolution for metals, ceramics, and polymer composites.

Identifies crystalline phases, measures lattice parameters, and quantifies residual stress in bulk and thin-film specimens using Bragg-diffraction patterns. Essential for validating alloy design, heat-treatment outcomes, and additive-manufactured microstructures.

Measures friction coefficient, wear rate, and surface degradation under controlled normal load, sliding speed, and temperature. Used to evaluate performance of thermal spray coatings, surface-engineered materials, and lubricant formulations under dry and lubricated conditions.

Deposits metallic and ceramic coatings via plasma or flame spray processes for thermal barrier, wear-resistant, and oxidation-protective applications. Supports research in aerospace TBC development and industrial surface hardening.

Programmable tube and box furnaces operating up to 1600 °C for annealing, sintering, homogenisation, and oxidation studies. Equipped with controlled atmosphere capability (argon, nitrogen) to prevent oxidation during heat treatment of reactive alloys.

A scaled axial-turbine test bench for measuring stage efficiency, pressure ratio, and velocity triangles. Supports aerodynamic design validation for compressor and turbine blading used in gas-turbine research at the Turbomachinery Aerodynamics Lab.

A pressurised combustion chamber with optical access for laser diagnostics, enabling study of spray atomisation, droplet evaporation, and flame stabilisation at conditions representative of gas-turbine combustors and propulsion systems.

Produces ultrafine polymer and composite nanofibres by applying high voltage to a polymer solution. Used to fabricate nano-structured membranes, self-cleaning surfaces, and functional coatings for filtration, energy harvesting, and biomedical scaffolding applications.

Measures static and dynamic contact angles to characterise surface wettability, hydrophobicity, and adhesion properties of coatings and nano-structured surfaces. Central to research on anti-icing, self-cleaning, and drag-reduction surfaces.

A 3-axis vertical machining centre with CAM integration for precision milling, drilling, and contouring of metallic workpieces. Used for producing test specimens, tooling inserts, and prototype components for forming and manufacturing research.

Probes surface topography, adhesion, and mechanical properties at the nanoscale using a sharp cantilever tip. Used for characterising thin films, graphene/CNT composites, and nano-structured coatings with sub-nanometre height resolution.

Evaluates low-velocity impact resistance of composite laminates, sandwich structures, and lightweight alloys via a guided drop-mass. Measures absorbed energy, peak force, and damage initiation thresholds critical for aerospace structural qualification.

Non-intrusive optical technique that captures instantaneous 2D and stereoscopic velocity fields in fluid flows by tracking seeded tracer particles with a pulsed laser and high-speed camera. Used for turbulence characterisation, wake analysis, and aero-acoustic flow studies.

Characterises viscosity, viscoelasticity, and flow behaviour of complex fluids including nanofluids, polymer melts, and biological fluids across a wide shear-rate range. Supports non-Newtonian flow research and nanofluid heat-transfer enhancement studies.

Cuts electrically conductive materials using a thin wire electrode and controlled spark erosion, achieving tolerances of ±5 µm. Ideal for producing intricate test specimens, forming dies, and complex 2D profiles in hardened tool steels and titanium alloys without mechanical contact.

Produces complex sheet-metal geometries without dedicated dies by incrementally deforming blanks with a hemispherical tool. Used in forming-limit and plasticity research for automotive and aerospace sheet materials, and to validate digital-twin models of the forming process.

Generates non-destructive 3D volumetric images of internal defects, porosity, crack networks, and fibre architecture in materials at micron-level resolution. Critical for quality assessment of WAAM deposits, composite lay-ups, and additive-manufactured metallic parts.

Measures point-wise fluid velocity with high temporal resolution using the Doppler shift of laser light scattered by seeding particles. Used for detailed turbulence intensity and Reynolds-stress measurements in confined flows, combustors, and micro-channel experiments.

A programmable pulsatile-flow circuit that mimics physiological cardiovascular conditions for patient-specific haemodynamic studies. Enables measurement of wall shear stress, pressure waveforms, and flow distribution in 3D-printed arterial and cardiac valve models.

Full-field non-contact strain and deformation measurement technique that tracks a speckle pattern on the specimen surface using stereo cameras. Provides surface strain maps, crack-tip fields, and displacement histories for fracture mechanics, fatigue, and composite failure research.