India 2004

The September 2004 Sterling Group lecture tour to India visited two centres Mumbai
and Bangalore during the week commencing Monday 13 September.

The tour party consisted of the Sterling Lecturer, Professor Graham J Davies FREng,
Executive Head of the School of Engineering at the University of Birmingham, supported
by a party of eight senior academics from member institutions of the Sterling Group.
These institutions were the Universities of Bath, Cardiff, Durham, Liverpool, Loughborough,
Southampton, Strathclyde and Surrey.

Mumbai

Professor Davies gave his Sterling Lecture on Exploring the Micro/Nano Interface to an
audience of 350 at IIT Bombay. In addition the supporting party gave a series of
presentations in seven departments of the IIT with useful discussions being held with staff
and students. Fourteen lectures were also given in six of the local engineering colleges
and discussions were held with college principals and senior government officials.

Bangalore

Professor Davies gave a presentation of his Sterling Lecture at the IISc, again to a very
large audience. The supporting party met staff of the IISc appropriate to their research
disciplines and established useful contacts which can be developed in future visits.
Supporting lectures were given in nine local engineering colleges and a visit was made to
a technology park.

This was a very successful tour. In addition to the two Sterling Lectures, the supporting
party gave 31 lectures at 16 locations to nearly 3000 students.

The tour was organised in collaboration with the British Council with encouragement and
financial support from the Royal Academy of Engineering.

Details of the Sterling Lecture and the supporting lectures are given below:-

STERLING GROUP LECTURE

Exploring the Micro/Nano Interface

Professor Graham J Davies FREng
University of Birmingham

The scaling from the micro to the nano world promises much. It promises more for less
faster, cheaper devices with increased functionality and consuming less energy and using
less raw materials. Is this the real situation and, if it is, is it sustainable? This
presentation will examine the situation as we find it today and make comments as to how
the subject is likely to develop in the near future with particular reference to the shift
from the micro to the nano world.

Graham Davies is the Sir James Timmins Chance Professor of Engineering at the University of
Birmingham and Executive Head of the School of Engineering. He trained as a chemical
physicist at the University of Wales, where he completed his PhD. After a year at the
Physics Department, Kings College, London, he joined the Post Office Research Labs London
where he worked on polymer millimetre wave guides. When the organisation became British
Telecom Research Labs he pioneered the growth of III-V semiconductors by Molecular Beam
Epitaxy and established a large group investigating optoelectronic materials and devices.
In 1994 he became a Director in charge of British Telecom’s Corporate Research and had
responsibility for Technology Acquisition. This involved Research with academic
institutions, suppliers, venture funds and government laboratories. He was also
instrumental in establishing technology exploitation at BT through exploitation of IPR and
spin-out companies. He is a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering, the IEE, IoP and
IoM3. He has published 150 papers, contributed to 7 books and has 4 patents. He is a
Board and Bureau Member of EURAB.

SUPPPORTING LECTURES

Professor William M Banks FREng
Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Strathclyde
Title:- Marvellous Materials

Abstract
A stunning variety of developments are taking place in the materials world at the moment.
This ranges from the nano scale (less than the diameter of a hair of the head!) to the
macro scale (eg parts of an aircraft structure). At the lower end designer materials are
being introduced to meet a variety of requirements, whereas at the other end of the
spectrum the applications are so numerous that they are literally changing our way of life.

Professor Jonathon Chambers
School of Engineering, University of Cardiff
Title:- Marvellous Materials

Abstract
Todays anywhere, anytime, communications society is founded upon the exploitation of
many aspects of electronic engineering, from the latest advances in integrated circuit
technology to the mathematical fundamentals underlying information theory. This progress
has been paralleled by the move to almost universally represent signals, information
bearing quantities, in digital rather than analogue form. This presentation will
demonstrate how the digital future is being advanced in fields as diverse as biomedicine
and 4th generation wireless communications, thereby providing Cardiffs ffordd.

Dr Andrew J. Chipperfield
School of Engineering Sciences, University of Southampton
Title:- Challenges in Modern Control System Engineering

Abstract
The basic mechanism by which systems, whether mechanical, electrical or biological,
maintain their equilibrium is feedback control. Increasingly, we are demanding more and
more of our systems and they are becoming correspondingly more complex. For example, we
want our cars to go faster but also to use less fuel while being more reliable, safer and
less polluting. These conflicting demands require better control systems if we are to
realise the full potential of advances in materials, electronics, combustion technology,
etc. In this presentation, the main ideas and developments in control will be introduced
and some of the important problems described using examples from transportation,
manufacturing and medicine. It will be demonstrated that many of the techniques used in
the control of modern complex systems can be applied to a far wider range of problems such
as modelling cellular behaviour or designing renewable energy systems.

Dr Sally E. Clift
Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Bath
Title:- Computer Based Stress Analysis in Orthopaedic Biomechanics

Abstract
Total hip replacement (THR) has become an increasingly standard and successful surgical
procedure, with approaching 1 million operations per year worldwide. However, the revision
rate of THR after 10-20 years can be as much as 5%, with approximately 80% of this due to
implant loosening. The reasons for loosening are multi-factorial, including implant design,
patient-related factors, and operative technique. One possible cause of implant loosening
is an unsatisfactory bone remodelling response associated with the design or placement of
the new device. Although we commonly associate joint replacement with the elderly, young
people do on occasion need such help due to, perhaps, an unfortunate accident or illness.
Such active individuals can place much greater demands on their new joints, applying higher
loads and expecting their new joints to function for many years longer. This need provides
a key driving force for the development of new implant designs. The successful development
of a new implant depends on strong multi-disciplinary collaboration between engineers and
surgeons. This presentation will focus on the contribution of computer based stress
analysis to the development of understanding of how the new joint will interact with its
physiological surroundings.

Professor Bernard Hon
Department of Engineering, University of Liverpool
Title:- Manufacturing For a Better Future: Challenges and Opportunities

Abstract
We live in a world full of manufactured goods which meet our daily needs. There is general
feeling that the manufacturing engineers aim for producing better, cheaper and faster in the
process of creating more economic values. This lecture explores the technology push as well
as demand pull in the form of technology challenges and market opportunities. New and
emerging developments in manufacturing technology will be presented, especially in the area
of high speed machining, rapid manufacturing, Microsystems packaging. Finally, the new
demand on design and manufacture for sustainable development will also be highlighted as a
major driver for a better future.

Professor Gerry A.R. Parke
School of Engineering, University of Surrey
Title:- The Design of Tall Buildings

Abstract
Tall buildings are major civil engineering structures and numerous factors have to be taken
into consideration in their design. The major points requiring careful attention are, wind
forces, earthquake forces, blast loading, aircraft and missile impact and fire. This
presentation describes the background to these various loadings and explains how they are
catered for in the design of modern high-rise buildings. In addition, the lecture will
briefly describe the failure of the World Trade Centre towers and considers if it is now
necessary to design new structures to resist such high impact forces to prevent the
likelihood of progressive structural collapse.

Professor Gerry A.R. Parke
School of Engineering, University of Surrey
Title:- The Design of Tall Buildings

Abstract
Tall buildings are major civil engineering structures and numerous factors have to be taken
into consideration in their design. The major points requiring careful attention are, wind
forces, earthquake forces, blast loading, aircraft and missile impact and fire. This
presentation describes the background to these various loadings and explains how they are
catered for in the design of modern high-rise buildings. In addition, the lecture will
briefly describe the failure of the World Trade Centre towers and considers if it is now
necessary to design new structures to resist such high impact forces to prevent the
likelihood of progressive structural collapse.

Dr Richard H. Scott
School of Engineering, University of Durham
Title:- Deflections of Reinforced Concrete Beams: Are Code Provisions Correct?

Abstract
Codes of Practice for structural concrete all prescribe design rules for the calculation of
the long term deflections of reinforced concrete beams. These rules make provision for the
effects of creep, shrinkage and tension stiffening (the contribution of the concrete in
tension to the stiffness of the member). The effects of creep and shrinkage are well
documented but this is not the case with tension stiffening where very little work has been
undertaken to study the decay of tension stiffening with time. This is important because
tension stiffening can have a major influence on the calculated deflection values. Recent
research indicates that tension stiffening decays much more rapidly than is currently
assumed and current rules all fail to take this into account. The presentation will review
the problems associated with long term deflection calculations, summarise recent research
and then discuss how design rules should be modified in the light of the results obtained.

Professor Ayodhya N. Tiwari
Department of Electronic and Electrical Engineering, University of Loughborough
Title:- Flexible Solar Cells for Power Generation on Earth and in Space

Abstract
The solar cell is a device for direct conversion of solar light into electricity.
Remarkable progress has been made in the development of solar cells, bringing the cost down
and increasing the production volume in recent years. Flexible and lightweight solar cells
are attractive for a variety of terrestrial and space applications. Science and technology
of thin film solar cell manufacturing and their potential will be discussed.