The primary scope of ICAMSE2021 was to bring professional engineers, academics and researchers of matching interests on a common platform to share new ideas, experiences, and knowledge in various fields of Materials Science and Engineering.
CPUT was represented by Physics Lecturer, Velaphi Msomi, who is part of the International Technical Advisory Committee and Technical Session Chair, and four paper presenters, Luyanda Meyers, Zamavangeli Mdletshe, Noxolo Hlongwa and Sipokazi Mabuwa. The Best Research Paper category was won by Luyanda Meyers and the Best Paper Presentation was won by Sipokazi Mabuwa, both from the Mechanical Engineering Department. All the papers presented at the conference have been published in the journal Materials Today: Proceedings.
As a Technical Advisory Committee member, Msomi was chairing the session that is related to his research field as a Technical Session Chair. He says: “As chair, I was responsible for the whole control of the session like introducing the presenters and also judge the best paper and presentation using the guides that were provided to everyone who attended the conference.”
Msomi who is also a supervisor to a PhD candidate, Mabuwa, enthused: “I felt very motivated after hearing the announcement of the names of my students or colleagues. I believe these achievements were indications of the quality of our research”.
Meanwhile, the 32-year-old mother of three, Mabuwa, who is also a DEng: Mechanical Engineering candidate, has published 24 journal articles. The Mechanical Engineering Strength of Materials Laboratory Technician started working at CPUT as an in-service trainee in the mechanical engineering Computer Numerical Control workshop from 2010 to 2011.
Her topic is: The Analysis of mechanical properties between submerged and normal multiple-pass friction stir processing of the friction stir welded dissimilar aluminium joints. The focus is on comparing the mechanical properties of the normal and submerged (underwater) friction stir processing of friction welded dissimilar aluminium alloys, highlighting the best preferred FSP method that can be used for quality weldments.
“It feels very overwhelming, honestly I never thought I’d come this far, but God made it possible. I mean I’m just a technician, most participants had interesting positions in there... It means that the department is capable of producing world-class quality postgraduates. As a department we are heading the right way.”
Another winner, a Lecturer and Extended Curriculum Coordinator in the Department of Mechanical Engineering, Meyers says: “The victory was awarded as the Best Research Paper and Presenter in technical session 4… As an early upcoming researcher, this is a motivation to push me to even greater levels…This is my first research award paving the way for more to come.”
The topic of his research paper is: Hydrodynamic analysis of an underwater glider wing using ANSYS fluent as an investigation tool.
Msomi adds that Mabuwa is a humble student who always eager to learn new things and she gives it all when it comes to her work. “She is one of those students who grow each day academically. I believe this achievement will boost her confidence and also encourage her to keep on growing in her field of research. I feel so excited about her achievement.”
