Research Areas

The school comprises of research faculties and staff from different disciplines of engineering, therefore the main stream research is organised in different research groups to preserve the multidisciplinary work nature.Each group has its own vision depending on the cutting edge demand of research in the country. There are many sub themes with in a group to converse the research interest of its members. The webpage will provide you all the information regarding the group activities, member expertise and research facilities.

Smart Structure & System:

Faculty members: Dr. Rajeev Kumar, Dr. Vishal S. Chauhan, Dr. Rahul Vaish, Dr Subhamoy Sen, Dr. S. C Jain

Vision

To be known worldwide for the expertise in design and fabrication of smart structure and system.

Mission

1. • To propose new designs for active vibration control and shape control for smart structure
2. • To develop active-sensing based structural heath monitoring
3. • Development of smart sensors & actuators
4. • Development of Fuzzy logic based, and neural network based controls for smart structure
5. • To develop piezoelectric and tribolelectric energy harvesters
6. • To impart education to produce professionals capable of leading efforts towards innovative product

Design against Failure and Fracture

Faculty members: Dr. Himanshu Pathak, Dr. Rajesh Ghosh, Dr. M. Talha, Dr. Arpan Gupta, Dr Rajneesh Sharma

Vision

To become a leading hub for innovative and collaborative research that provide fracture resist design standard and computational tool for engineering applications

Mission

1. • To be pioneer in structural design using fracture and fatigue mechanics concept.
2. • Propose relevant design methods and tools for engineering and bio-mechanical components
3. • To establish design analysis hub for industrial support and assistance.
4. • To collaborate with leading international research groups working on similar research domain(s)

Composite Design and Manufacturing

Faculty members: Dr. Sunny Zafar, Dr. Himanshu Pathak, Dr Satvasheel Powar

Vision

To provide research platform for composite structures for engineering applications through energy efficient sustainable manufacturing processes and advanced design analyses.

Mission

1. • To be a pioneer in design and manufacturing of sustainable composite structure/materials.
2. • To develop energy efficient manufacturing processes to fabricate composite for engineering applications
3. • To develop advanced computational packages for efficient designing of composite structures.
4. • To collaborate with leading international research groups working on similar research domain(s)

Thermo-Fluid

Faculty members: Dr P. Anil Kishan, Dr Atul Dhar, Dr Pradeep Kumar,, Dr Gaurav Bhutani,, Dr Sumit Sinha Ray, Dr Parmod Kumar

Vision

Thermo- Fluid research theme of the IIT Mandi focuses on understanding basic concepts of heat and mass flow through the numerical and experimental studies with strong focus on their application on improving the performance and sustainability of real systems.

Mission

1. • Development of strong numerical experiment and computational capability for exploring the basic concepts of heat transfer and fluid flow and energy conversion.
2. • Development of experimental facilities for understating the applied concepts of heat transfer and fluid flow and energy conversion in identified focus areas
3. • Implementation of basic understating of concepts for improving the performance and sustainability of real systems.

Structural Safety against Natural and Man-Made Hazards

Faculty members: Dr Sandip Saha, Dr Subhamoy Sen, Dr Maheshreddy Gade

Vision

To ensure safety of civil infrastructure against natural hazards (e.g. earthquake, wind, flood etc.) and man-made or accidental hazards (e.g. blast, fire, mining etc.).

Mission

1. • To engage in theoretical, experimental and computational (numerical and simulation) research for updating the state-of-the-art in earthquake hazard, seismic risk.
2. • To conduct extensive research on identification of vulnerable existing structures through monitoring their health focusing on low-cost applications.
3. • To carryout cutting edge research towards development of mitigation strategies for protection of natural and man-made hazards through new design approach, application of advanced techniques and use of innovative devices.

Building Physics and Advanced Material Mechanics

Faculty members: Dr Kaustav Sarkar, Dr Rajneesh Sharma, Dr Sandip Saha, Dr Subhamoy Sen

Vision

To establish a team with expertise in the domains of structural engineering and the science of construction materials that would work towards the design of materials and components for optimal structural and thermal performance in buildings and other structures.

Mission

1. • To set up a lab dedicated to the testing of mechanical, hygrothermal and durability characteristics of structural materials.
2. • To attract sponsored research projects for the continuing development of research infrastructure available with the lab.
3. • To work towards the solution of engineering problems specific to mountains in partnership with local stakeholders.
4. • To nurture R&D in the design and development of efficient products and systems for a sustainable habitat

Geohazard

Faculty members: Dr K V Uday, Dr Dericks P Shukla, Dr Mousumi Mukherjee , Dr Mahesh Reddy

Vision

To develop research infrastructure and work towards the susceptibility, vulnerability, analysis, preparedness, assessment, monitor, mitigation, rehabilitation and management of Risk associated with Geohazards

Mission

1. • To develop computational, experimental and application oriented research infrastructure facilities to address the research problems of Geohazards
2. • To introduce and impart research and education at various levels in curriculum.
3. • Work towards attracting international collaborations, fundings and associations.
4. • To improve Geohazard based research publications, properties and writing
5. To organise information dissemination in form of capacity building, workshops, seminars and conferences related to the work areas of Geohazard.
6. To impart design consultancy and monitoring services at various levels from local to international

Environment & Water Resource Management

Faculty members: Dr. Deepak Swami, Dr Kasiviswanathan K S, Dr. Dericks P Shukla, Dr Ajit P. Annachatre

Vision

To develop research infrastructure and work towards the analysis, assessment, monitor, mitigation and management of environmental and water resources in Himalayan Hydrological regimes and Indian water crisis scenario

Mission

1. • Domestic and industrial wastewater treatment and reuse
2. • Environmentally sustainable solid waste management
3. • Industrial and hazardous waste treatment and management
4. • Environmental preservation in the Himalayan region
5. • To develop experimental, computational and application oriented research infrastructure facilities to address the research problems of Water Resources and Environmental Hydraulics
6. • To introduce and impart research and education at various levels in curriculum.
7. • Work towards attracting international collaborations, funding and associations
8. • To improve and increase the research publications, properties and writing.
9. • To organize information dissemination in form of capacity building, workshops, seminars and conferences related to the work areas of Watershed engineering and management and crisis.
10. • To impart design consultancy and monitoring services at various levels from local to international.

Advance manufacturing from functional material to devices

Faculty members: Dr Viswanath Balakrishnan, Dr Rahul Vaish, Dr. Sudhir Kumar Pandey, Dr. Jaspreert Kaur Randhawa, Dr Satvasheel Powar, Dr Rik Rani Koner, Dr Sumit Sinha Ray

Vision

he research group consisting of faculties, students and post-doctoral researchers strives to achieve excellence in advanced manufacturing from functional material to devices by bridging the materials science concepts and latest advancement in both “top down” and “bottom up” approaches to overcome fundamental challenges with aid of complementary expertise that we have from engineering, chemistry, physics and materials.

Mission

Advanced manufacturing from functional material to devices group actively engages research in some of the thrust areas of advanced materials which includes

1. • Nanomaterials like carbon nanotubes, polymer fibers, and metal organic framework
2. • 2D materials like Graphene, transition metal dichalcogenides.
3. • Functional ceramics like ferroelectrics, thermoelectrics, transition and post-transition metal oxides.

The aim of this group is to investigate such materials’ properties for energy, environment, clean water, drug delivery, electronic/optoelectronic devices and sensor applications. In this endeavor, we established world class expertise in the development of advanced materials. The major impetus is bestowed upon detailed materials characterization and large-scale manufacturing towards development of prototypes and devices for practical applications to cater industry, academia and societal issues. We emphasize on bringing more interdisciplinary collaboration with academic institutions and industries to nurture our vision on creating a hub of advanced material manufacturing at IIT Mandi.