Research projects
MAterials and STructures (MAST) Research Group

Discover some of the research projects our students and staff have been involved in
Design and analysis of integrally-heated tooling for polymer composites
Rzgar Mhammed Abdalrahman (PhD, 2015)
Supervisors: Stephen Grove, Adam Kyte and Md Jahir Rizvi (Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research - Iraq)
Mahdi Hameed Mohammad Al-Farttoosi (PhD, 2016)
Supervisors: Yaqub Rafiq, John Summerscales and Clive Williams (Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research - Iraq)
Processing-performance relationships for fibre reinforced composites
Amjed Saleh Mahmood (PhD, 2016)
Supervisors: Neil James, John Summerscales and Richard Cullen (Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research - Iraq)
Fatigue failure of fibre reinforced plastics for marine environment
Maozhou (Leo) Meng (PhD, 2016)
Supervisors: Jahir Rizvi, Huirong Le and Stephen Grove (CnTech for living expenses and School Research Committee Grant for tuition fees)
Vlad Zamorovskii (MPhil, 2017)
Supervisors: John Summerscales, Dmitriy Makhnovskiy (SoCM) and Mansel Davies (SoCM) (self funded with partial Faculty fee waiver)
Pluggable optical connector interfaces for electro-optical circuit boards
Richard Pitwon (PhD, 2017)
Supervisors: Jasper Graham-Jones, Alistair Cree and John Summerscales (Xyratex Limited)
Raymond Sieh (PhD, 2017)
Supervisors: Alistair Cree and Huirong Le (University of Derby)
Ganlin Feng (PhD, 2018)
Supervisors: Long-yuan Li and Boksun Kim (China Scholarship Council)
Urvashi (Fowdar Danookdharree) Gunputh (PhD, 2018)
Supervisors: Long-yuan Li, Richard Handy, Christopher Tredwin and Huirong Le (University Research Scholarship).
The sensitivity of biocomposites to environmental conditions
Hossein Mohammad Khanlou (PhD, Griffith University – Australia, 2018)
Supervisors: Wayne Hall (GU), Peter Woodfield (GU) and John Summerscales (UoP)
The Design and Manufacture of a Glass FibreReinforced Polymer (GFRP) Bolted Flange Joint for Oil and Gas Applications
Muhsin Ali Marie Aljuboury (PhD, 2019)
Supervisors: Jahir Rizvi, Stephen Grove and Richard Cullen (Iraq Higher Committee for Education Development)
Natural fibre reinforced composite materials
Aitor Hernandez Michelena (PhD, 2019)
Supervisors: John Summerscales, Wayne Hall (Griffith University - Australia) and Jasper Graham-Jones (in collaboration with Acciona Windpower/Nordex and University of Zargoza).
Fatigue properties of novel recycled rubber compounds
Dayang Habibah binti Abang Ismawi Hassim (PhD, 2019)
Supervisors: Frank Abraham and John Summerscales (Malaysian Rubber Board funding)
Mohammed Al-Bahrani (PhD, 2019)
Supervisors: Alistair Cree, Jasper Graham-Jones and Sourajyoti Basu (Iraqi Ministry of Oil funding).
Analysis and design of castellated beams
Sahar Sahib Elaiwi (PhD, 2019, ETHOS 791794)
Supervisors: Long-yuan Li and Boksun Kim
Development of sustainable electrochemical corrosion protection systems for reinforced concrete structures
(DOSECOPS, 294955) (FP7-MC-IRSES-2011, July 2012-June 2016, coordinated by Plymouth).
Partnership for Research in Geopolymer Concrete
(PRIGeoC, 689857) (H2020-MSCA-RISE-2015, June 2016-May 2020, coordinated by Plymouth).
RESET - REliability and Safety Engineering and Technology for large maritime engineering systems
(RESET, 730888) (H2020-MSCA-RISE-2016, May 2017-April 2021, coordinated by LJMU).
Multifunctional Transport Road Coating System for Winter Maintenance
(Rees Jeffreys Road Fund) (November 2018 – October 2019)
Recycled Aggregate Concrete in South East Asia
Royal Academy of Engineering ~ Frontiers Champion