Faculty

Dr Rehan Ahmed, CEng, Fellow HEA.
Professor of Mechanical Engineering
College of Engineering
Alfaisal University
Riyadh, KSA

Email: rahmed@alfaisal.edu
Tel: (+966 1) 2157763

Education:
Ph.D.	1998	Department of Mechanical Engineering, Brunel University, London, UK

Research Management

Member of the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) Review College, UK.
Member of Editorial Committee of Journal of Thermal Spray Technology.
Member of Editorial Board of Advances in Mechanical Engineering.
Member of the Tribology-Program for Industry course team at the University of Cambridge (1999).
Member of Miscellaneous International Conference Committees and chair of research sessions at International Conferences.

Academic Leadership

Director of Graduate Program, Engineering Materials Design and Applications, School of Engineering and Physical Sciences, Heriot-Watt University, UK, 2005-2010.
Director of Year 2 Studies, School of Engineering and Physical Sciences, Heriot-Watt University, UK, 2003-2010.
Academic Liaison Officer for IMechE at Heriot-Watt University UK, 2007-2010.
Chair of Postgraduate Staff Student Committee, School of Engineering and Physical Sciences, Heriot-Watt University, UK, 2003-04.
Radiation Protection Supervisor, School of Engineering and Physical Sciences, Heriot-Watt University, UK, 2007-2010.
Subject Leader for Mechanics of Materials, School of Engineering and Physical Sciences, Heriot-Watt University, UK, 2008-10.
Member of Faculty recruitment, Student Recruitment, Safety and Research Committees at Heriot-Watt University UK.

Professional Memberships

IMechE (Institution of Mechanical Engineers), UK
Thermal Spray and Surface Engineering Association (TSSEA), UK
Higher Education Academy (HEA), UK
ASM International, USA

Employment History

Apr. 2003 – Dec. 2009 Lecturer B, Mechanical Engineering, School of Engineering and Physical Sciences, Heriot-Watt University, UK.
Aug. 1999 – Mar. 2003 Lecturer A, Mechanical Engineering, School of Engineering and Physical Sciences, Heriot-Watt University, UK.
Feb. 1998 – Aug.1999 Post-Doctorate (Research Associate), University of Cambridge, UK.
Mar. 1996 – Feb. 1998 Teaching Assistant, Brunel University, UK.
Jul. 1992 – Mar. 1993 Site Engineer, ASIACON Pvt. Ltd in collaboration with F. L. Smith of Denmark.

Industrial Consultancy Work

Dr Ahmed acts as a consultant for a number of industrial sectors to help provide solutions for a wide range of engineering problems. These consultancies have involved accidental damage investigations, e.g. for BBC Scotland, defense related projects e.g. with Raytheon Systems UK, design evaluation of Remote Operated Vehicles (ROV’s) for sub-sea oil installations. Following is a list of most recent clients.

2008 BAC Group, UK; Fatigue Evaluation of Anode Assemblies.
2008 Weatherford, UK; Creep and Finite Element Modeling of ROV’s Display Unit.
2008 Inframat/(Farmingdale State College, USA); Fatigue of CVD Coatings for Aerospace Applications.
2007 OPTOS Ltd, UK; Three Dimensional Topography of Bearings.
2007 BBC Radio Scotland, UK; Investigation of Satellite Dish Failure.
2005 Raytheon Systems, UK; Tensile Evaluation of Keenserts.
2005 Raytheon Systems, UK; Structure Property Evaluation of Cu-Ni Alloy.

Current Research Projects

Nano- micro-mechanics and modeling of engineering microstructures and nano-composite coatings. Nonlinear Finite Element Modeling (YouTube Channel) and planned Molecular Dynamics Simulations (MDS) of engineering designs provide a comprehensive model base for this research.
Design and characterization of optical and dielectric nano-coatings to improve the efficiency of solar cells using Chemical Vapor Deposition coatings.
Hydroxyapatite coatings for biomedical implants in orthopedics and dentistry.
Optimizing the design of high stress components for energy, oil and gas, aerospace sectors to combat design, durability and failure issues in gas turbines, gears/bearings/cam-tappet arrangements in automotive and transportation industries, and development of new durable alloys for a range of industrial applications.

Patent(s)

R. Ahmed, M. Gerard, R. Bedi, “The Coating”, Patent Corporation Treaty Application, Submitted May 2010.

Recent Research Grants

Ahmed, R., Fitzpatrick, M, Edwards, L., Paradowski, A., (2008), Science and Technology Facilities Council, RB910205, Nano-structured Hydroxyapatite Coatings for Orthopedic Implants - Modeling the role of residual stress, 2009.
(Principal Investigator)
Project selected for the forthcoming ISIS Highlight report 2010

This collaborative project with Monitor Coatings UK and Nanyang Technological University, Singapore considers the modeling of nano-composite coatings for biomedical implants. State of the art Finite Element Modeling using complex nonlinear computing form a major part of this project.

Ahmed, R., Edwards, L., Oliver, E., Science and Technology Facilities Council, RB810413, Residual strain in thermally sprayed ceramic nano-coatings, 2007.
(Principal Investigator)

This collaborative project with Fujmi Incorporated Japan considers the role of residual stress on the structure property relationships of Al2O3 coatings. Evaluations using the state of the art neutron diffraction technique form a major part of this project.
Reuben, R. L., Prior, K. A., Moore, A. J., Jones, J., Kar, A. K., Warburton, R. J., Ocone, R., Ahmed, R., Dhariwal, R., Desmulliez, M., Scottish Higher Education Funding Council, Micro-nano fabrication and characterization facility, 2006, Total project cost £1.2Million.
(Co-Investigator)

Supervision & Examination of Graduate Students

Supervised a number of PhD, MPhil and MSc students and have been the external PhD and MPhil examiner for a number of universities in UK.

Selected Journal Publications (last five years)

J. Parry, R. Ahmed, F. Dear, J. Shephard, M. Schmidt, L. Li, D. Hand, “Fiber-Laser Process for Cutting Thick Yttria-Stabilized Zirconia: Application and Modeling”, Applied Ceramic Technology, DOI: 10.1111/j.1744-7402.2010.02559.x, 2010.
M. Salehabadi, M. Jin, J. Yang, H. Haghighi, R. Ahmed and B. Tohidi, “Finite Element Modeling of Casing in Gas Hydrate Bearing Sediments”, SPE Drilling & Completion Journal, Volume 24, Number 4, pp. 545-552, 2009.
Paper considered for the Cedric K. Ferguson Medal
H. Yu, R. Ahmed, H. de Villiers Lovelock and S. Davies, “Influence of Manufacturing Process and Alloying Element Content on the Tribomechanical Properties of Cobalt-Based Alloys”, ASME Journal of Tribology, 131(1), 2009.
Paper nominated for the Best Paper Award in ASME Jr of Tribology
N. H. Faisal, J. A. Steel, R. Ahmed and R. L. Reuben, “The Use of Acoustic Emission (AE) to Characterize Vickers Indentation Behavior of HVOF Thermally Sprayed WC-12%Co Coatings”, Jr. of Thermal Spray Technology, Volume 18, Number4, 525-535, 2009.
Paper featured as Jr. of Thermal Spray Technology Highlight by ASM International
R. Ahmed, H. Yu, L. Edwards and J. Santisteban, “Neutron Diffraction Residual Strain Measurements in Post-treated Thermal Spray Cermet Coatings”, Material Science and Engineering-A, 498, 191-202, 2008.
R. Ahmed, H. Yu, S. Stewart, L. Edwards and J. Santisteban, “Residual Strain Measurement in Thermal Spray Cermet Coatings Via Neutron Diffraction”, ASME Journal of Tribology, 129(2), 411-418, 2007.
S. Osawa, T. Itsukaichi and R. Ahmed, “Influence of Substrate Properties on the Impact Resistance of WC Cermet Coatings”, Journal of Thermal Spray Technology, 14(4), 495-501, 2005
S. Stewart, R. Ahmed, and T. Itsukaichi “Rolling Contact Fatigue of Post-treated WC-NiCrBSi Thermal Spray Coatings”, Surface and Coatings Technology, 190 (Issue 2-3), 171-189, 2005.

Selected Refereed Conference Publications (last five years)

M. Salehabadi, SPE, M. Jin, J. Yang, R. Ahmed and B. Tohidi, “The Effect of Casing Eccentricity on the Casing Stability Analysis of a Wellbore Drilled in Gas Hydrate Bearing Sediments”, SPE EUROPEC/EAGE Annual Conference and Exhibition, Barcelona, Spain, 14-17 June 2010.
R. Ahmed, N. Faisal, R. L. Reuben, A. Paradowska, M. Fitzpatrick, J. Kitamura and S. Osawa, “Neutron Diffraction Residual Strain measurements in Thermally Sprayed Alumina Coatings Deposited Via Air Plasma and High Velocity Oxy-Fuel Techniques”, International Conference on Neutron Scattering, Tennessee, USA, Journal of Physics: Conference Series, Expected 2010.
R. Ahmed, N. H. Faisal, S. M. Knupfer, A. M. Paradowska, M. E. Fitzpatrick, K. A. Khor and J. Cizek, “Neutron Diffraction Residual Strain Measurements in Plasma Sprayed Nanostructured Hydroxyapatite Coatings for Orthopedic Implants, Materials Science Forum Vol. 652 (2010) pp 309-314.
J.P. Parry, F. C. Dear, R. Ahmed, J. D. Shephard and D. P. Hand, “Fiber Laser Processing of Thick Yttria Stabilized Zirconia”, 27th International Congress on Applications of Lasers & Electro-Optics, CA, USA, October 2008.
H. Yu, R. Ahmed, H. de Villiers Lovelock and S. Davies, “Tribo-Mechanical Evaluations of Cobalt-Based (Stellite 4) Alloys Manufactured Via HIPing and Casting”, World Congress on Engineering, ISBN 978-988-98671-2-6, 1385-1390, 2007.
N. H. Faisal, J. A. Steel, R. Ahmed, R. L. Reuben, G. Heaton and B. Allcock, “Application of Acoustic Emission for Monitoring the HVOF Thermal Spraying Process”, Advanced Materials Research, 13-14, 291-297, 2006.

Book Contribution(s)

R. Ahmed, ASM Handbook, Vol. 11, Section 6E, Failure Analysis and Prevention, Shipley and Becker Edition, ISBN 0-87170-704-7, Nov. 2002.

MicroMechanics and Materials (M3) Research Group

Related Research Facilities at Alfaisal University

Some research and teaching equipment

Alfaisal University
Master Plan Video