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Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering Research
The Department of Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering (DMME) focuses on five research areas.
- Renewable energy: encompasses standalone (off-grid) solar PV, solar thermal systems such as solar ORC, biomass gasification, wind and small hydropower, building-integrated renewable energy and nanomaterials for renewable energy systems.
- Material science and metallurgy: Friction Stir Welding & Processing Research Unit (FSW&PRU) that focuses on friction stir welding and processing aluminium alloys. The Unit has extensive capabilities in material science and metallurgy.
- Robotics and autonomous systems: an emerging field in the department. Currently, robotics research focuses on lower body exoskeleton support systems.
- Vibrations of mechanical structures and components: such as wind-induced vibrations on overhead transmission lines, road-induced vibrations in commotion machines and vibrations of shafts.
- Non-destructive evaluation: such as radiographic testing, infrared thermography, laser testing method, microwave testing and electromagnetic testing.
These research areas are supported by world-class research equipment, a full-fledged mechanical engineering workshop and in-department expertise in numerical modelling.
Prof Tiyamike Ngonda
Email: Department: Department of Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering Office: Room 1.57, Mechanical, Mechatronic and Industrial Engineering, Bellville Campus Qualifications: Professional Affiliation: Research Interests: Undergraduate Teaching: Publication Profile:
Position: Associate Professor
Dr Olukayode Ayodele
Email: Department: Department of Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering Office: Room 1.66, 1st floor, Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering Building, Bellville Campus Qualifications: Professional Affiliation: Research Interests: Undergraduate Teaching: Publication Profile:
Position: Lecturer
Dr Daniel Barnard
Email: Department: Department of Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering Office: Room 1.123, 1st floor, Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering Building (Workshops), Bellville Campus Qualifications: Professional Affiliation: Research Interests: Undergraduate Teaching: Publication Profile:
Dr Howard Fawkes
Email: 
Department: Department of Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering
Office: Room 1.37, 1st floor, Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering Building, Bellville Campus
Qualifications:
- DEng (Mechanical, CPUT); MSc Eng (Mechanical) (UCT); BSc Eng (Mechanical) (UCT); BCom (UNISA)
Professional Affiliation:
Research Interests:
- Energy storage
- Renewable energy
- Turbine rotor design
Undergraduate Teaching:
- Fluid Mechanics
- Refrigeration & Air-conditioning
- Engineering Design
Publication Profile:
Dr Mfanafuthi Mthandeni Mkhize
Email: Department: Department of Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering Office: Room 1.68, Mechanical, Mechatronic and Industrial Engineering Building, Bellville Campus Qualifications: Professional Affiliation: Research Interests: Undergraduate Teaching: Publication Profile:
Position: Lecturer
Dr Ouassini Nemraoui
Email: Department: Department of Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering Office: Room 1.15, Mechanical, Mechatronic and Industrial Engineering, Bellville Campus Qualifications: Research Interests: Undergraduate Teaching: Publication Profile:
Position: Lecturer
Dr Efe Orumwense
Email: Department: Department of Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering Office: Room 1.21, Mechanical, Mechatronic and Industrial Engineering Building, Bellville Campus, CPUT Qualifications: Professional Affiliation: Research Interests: Undergraduate Teaching: Publication Profile:
Position: Senior Lecturer
Mr Tendai Chipanga
Email: Department: Department of Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering Office: Room 1.35, 1st floor, Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering Building, Bellville Campus Qualifications: Professional Affiliation: Research Interests: Undergraduate Teaching: Publication Profile:
Position: Lecturer
Mr Deen Ebrahim
Email: Department: Department of Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering Office: Mechanical, Mechatronic and Industrial Engineering, Bellville Campus Qualifications: Research Interests: Undergraduate Teaching: Publication Profile:
Position: Lecturer and PHD Student
Mr Absalom Maluleke
Email: Department: Department of Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering Office: Room 1.1, Mechanical, Mechatronic and Industrial Engineering Building, Bellville Campus Qualifications: Professional Affiliation: Research Interests: Undergraduate Teaching: Publication Profile:
Position: Lecturer in Thermo-fluids
Mr Michael Petersen
Department: Department of Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering Office: Room 1.48, 1st floor, Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering Building, Bellville Campus Qualifications: Research Interests: Undergraduate Teaching:
Email:
Mr Matthew Schouw
Email: Department: Department of Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering Office: Room 1.68, 1st floor, Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering Building, Bellville Campus Qualifications: Professional Affiliation: Research Interests: Undergraduate Teaching: Publication Profile:
Position: Lecturer