Research
Engineering Research
In addition to teaching, our faculty members are engaged in a diverse range of cutting-edge research activities. We welcome inquiries from all interested parties, particularly undergraduate students wishing to gain summer research experience or senior-level undergrads interested in pursuing a Master's degree. Please get in touch with the faculty member whose research activities align most closely with your interests and career goals.
Dr. Ehab ElsharkawiMicrostructure and mechanical properties of cast alloys
Dr. Adel MerabetControl systems for renewable energy technologies
Dr. Jason RhinelanderMachine learning and optimization
Dr. Vlodek TarnawskiThermal and transport properties of soils
Dr. Samuel VeresStructure-function relationships in biomechanical materials
Dr. Ehab Elsharkawi
Publication list:
The research interests of Dr. Elsharkawi centre on the development of aluminum casting alloys, mechanical properties, material characterization, heat transfer, surface analysis techniques, semi-solid casting, fracture analysis and composite materials.
The primary focus of Dr. Elsharkawi research work is related to the effects of heat treatment, casting techniques and alloying elements on the microstructure and mechanical properties of cast aluminum alloys.
The current research project is associated to the effects of metallurgical parameters on the Composite Metal Foam (CMF), metallic foams have many unique functional properties, including projectile energy absorption, great heat insulators, sound absorption and electromagnetic shielding.
Dr. Elsharkawi is currently seeking MSc students and welcomes inquiries from any person or party interested in his research. Please contact Dr. Elsharkawi at ehab.elsharkawi@smu.ca.
Selected scientific articles:
- A. Elsharkawi, M. M. Ibrahim and M. Gouda, “Aging Characteristics of Cu-Sn/Sintered Iron Ore Composite,” proceedings of the 9th International Mining, Petroleum, and Metallurgical Engineering, Feb. 21-23, 2005, Cairo, Egypt.
- A. Elsharkawi, F. H. Samuel, A. M. Samuel, G. K. Sigworth, J.C. Lin and G. Dufour “The Effect of Solution Heat treatment and Alloying Elements on the Formation of π-Phase in Al-7Si-Mg Alloys,” The Encyclopaedia of Research on Aluminum, REGAL, 2008, pp.34.
- A. Elsharkawi, F. H. Samuel, A. M. Samuel,J.C. Lin, E. A. Simielli and G. Dufour “Effects of Metallurgical Parameters on the Decomposition of π-AlFeMgSi Phase in 357 Alloys,” The Encyclopaedia of Research on Aluminum, REGAL, 2009, pp.44.
- A. Elsharkawi, F. H. Samuel, A. M. Samuel,J.C. Lin, E. A. Simielli and G. Dufour “Role of π-phase Decomposition in the performance of Al-7Si-Mg Alloys,” The Encyclopaedia of Research on Aluminum in Quebec, REGAL, 2011.
- PhD Thesis, “Effects of Metallurgical Parameters on the Decomposition of π-Phase and Mechanical Properties of Al-Si-Mg,” Université du Québec à Chicoutimi, Quebec, Canada, June 2011.
- A. Elsharkawi, E. Samuel, A. M. Samuel and F. H. Samuel, “Effects of Mg, Fe, Be Additions and Solution Heat Treatment on the π-AlMgFeSi Iron Intermetallic Phase in Al-7Si-Mg Alloys”, Journal of Materials Science, Vol.45, No.6, March 2010.
- A. Elsharkawi, A. M. Samuel, F. H. Samuel and G. K. Sigworth “The Influence of Solutionizing Time, Modification and Cooling Rateon the Decomposition of Mg-Containing Iron Intermetallic (AlMgFeSi) Phase in 357 Alloys”, International Journal of Metalcasting,2012.
- A. Elsharkawi, S. Alkahtani “Role of the Decomposition of AlMgFeSi Phase in the Mechanical Properties and Fracture Behavior of 357 Alloys”, Journal of Cast Metals Research, Vol.5, No.5, October 2013, pp. 262-272.
- A. Elsharkawi, Agnes M. Samuel, and Fawzy H. Samuel, “Influence of Iron Intermetallic Phases on the Mechanical Properties of Heat Treated Al-Si-Mg Alloys,” Proceedings of the 12thinternational Aluminum Conference, INALCO, Montreal, Canada, October 21, 2013
- A. Elsharkawi, Pucella, G., Côte, P., & Chen, X. G, `` Rheocasting of Semisolid Al-359/20%SiC Composite using the SEED Process”, Canadian Metallurgical Quarterly, 53(2), (2014),160-168.
- E. A. Elsharkawi, F. H. Samuel, H. W. Doty, “Effect of AL5FeSi and AL8Mg3FeSi6 phases on the Impact Toughness and Fractography of Al–Si–Mg-based alloys,” International Journal of Metalcasting, April (2017).
Dr. Adel Merabet
Publication list:
Dr. Merabet's Laboratory of Control Systems and Mechatronics is a research laboratory of the Division of Engineering at Saint Mary's, centered in mechatronics engineering and technology, offering a broad range of research opportunities in automation, control and energy conversion systems.
Currently, the laboratory is concerned with the development of advanced control and power management systems for renewable energy conversion systems such as wind solar to enhance their capability of optimum power extraction while operating at all regimes and in hybrid mode with storage systems. Also, it will contribute to provide high performance solutions to a wide variety of problems in renewable energy.
The laboratory is committed to finding innovative, cost-effective solutions in the area of control systems related to renewable energy systems (wind, solar and hybrid). Control design and prototyping for wind and solar energy conversion systems are investigated through emulation at a laboratory scale for test and validation under complex load conditions.
Contact Information:
If you would like to speak with Dr. Merabet about his research, or if you are interested in graduate studies (MSc in Applied Science, PhD) in areas of control systems, please contact Dr. Merabet at:
adel.merabet@smu.ca
Dr. Jason Rhinelander
Publication list:
Dr. Jason Rhinelander’s research focuses on the areas of machine learning and optimization, which are important contributing sub-fields to Artificial Intelligence. The primary focus of Dr. Rhinelander’s research group is to apply both machine learning and optimization to embedded, real-time system development (both in hardware and software).
Dr. Rhinelander specializes in the use of kernel machine algorithms for online machine learning and big data applications. Kernel machine algorithms can solve problems in computer vision, signal processing, system optimization and extraction of knowledge from large data sets.
Contact information:
Dr. Rhinelander is currently seeking highly skilled MSc students and welcomes inquiries from any person or party interested in his research or consulting activities. Please contact Dr. Rhinelander at: jason.rhinelander@smu.ca
Dr. Vlodek Tarnawski
Research website: 
Dr. Vlodek Tarnawski studies the thermal and transport properties of soils and how these properties change with mineral composition and moisture level. Reliable estimates of soil thermal conductivity are needed for heat and moisture flow analyses of in-ground engineering systems, facilities, and structures. For example, proper or efficient design of in-ground heat exchangers and heat-pumps, high voltage power cables, hot water or steam pipelines, chilled gas pipelines, and nuclear waste vaults may all require or benefit from thermal analyses, which require detailed knowledge of the local soil’s thermal properties. Analyses requiring thermal properties may also be of benefit when designing buildings, roads, airfields, or extraction processes for natural deposits, such as tar sands.
To date, Dr. Tarnawski has characterized the thermal properties of 40 distinct Canadian field soils, and defined how these properties vary with differing levels of moisture content. Full mineral analysis has enabled Dr. Tarnawski to relate changes in mineral composition to changes in thermal properties. In order to complete these studies, Dr. Tarnawski has designed, built, and characterized both laboratory-based thermal conductivity probes, and portable, smart conductivity probes. Using his extensive knowledge of the thermal properties of soils, Dr. Tarnawski has also conducted several studies of in-ground heat pump feasibility, efficiency, and optimization.
Contact information:
Dr. Tarnawski welcomes inquiries from any person or party interested in his research. Please contact Dr. Tarnawski at: vlodek.tarnawski@smu.ca
Dr. Samuel Veres
Research website:
Publication list:
Dr. Veres' lab group undertakes both basic science and applied research problems dealing with inter-relationships between structure and function in biological tissues and biomaterials. For more information please visit our .
Nanoscale mechanical damage to tendon fibres. The left side of image shows undamaged fibres, while the right side shows damaged fibres. 15,000X magnification.