Hui Tong Chua
Associate Professor Hui Tong Chua is passionate about thermodynamics - a branch of physics that deals with heat energy. Heat transfer, cooling science and engineering are a couple of Hui Tong's main research interests.
A vibrant research program in materials and structural engineering at UWA is supported by leading researchers and state-of-the-art facilities.
Materials research
Current research interest lies in the design of sensor and actuator systems.
Areas of interests include:
- hardware and software for active noise and vibration control systems
- adaptive signal processing, control and filtering
- acoustic/vibration transducers and instrumentation
- room acoustics for improving sound quality
- optimising techniques for sensor/actuator placement.
Functional materials are also known as intelligent or smart metals.
Research is currently focused on shape memory alloys and magnetoelastic materials.
These materials are used in a wide spectrum of applications with innovative designs in the fields of:
- medical technology
- automobile manufacturing
- space and aeronautical engineering
- sports products
- robots.
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Structural research
Research interests include:
- active noise and vibration control
- room acoustics
- coupled acoustical and vibration systems.
Research activities include:
- controlling vibrational power flow into structures
- controlling noise transmission into rooms
- developing techniques for pipeline noise and vibration control
- investigating sound absorption and reflection from extensively reactive boundaries
- investigating room acoustics in the medium frequency range
- investigating ship structural response to wave and machinery excitation
- developing practical techniques to control noise from power transformers.
This group conducts research into interlocking materials and structures as well as rock fracture mechanics, stress reconstruction, and flexural toppling.
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Centres
Chemists, engineers, physicists and biochemists develop novel technologies with a wide range of applications at this centre.
With Australian and international collaborations, the centre is developing state-of-the-art nano-technologies.
Key issues include:
- high temperature flash-heating and high pressure, UV and microwave capabilities
- light-based surgery
- system performance enhancement via nanotechnology.
The objectives of this centre are to:
- undertake collaborative contract research with government and industry
- encourage postgraduate research in acoustics, dynamics and vibration
- act as a focal point for the advancement of acoustics, dynamics and vibrations in this region
- undertake collaborative research and teaching exchange with overseas affiliates.
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