Jeff Loughran

Research Interests

• Application of computational porous media mechanics to the crushing of prepared sugar cane
• Innovative experiments on an advanced experimental milling facility
• Application of fracture mechanics to cracks in heavy low-speed gearing
• Finite element and durability modelling of roller shells and shafts
• Calibration of elasto-plastic constitutive models
• Finite element modelling of hyper-elastic materials
• Non linear modelling of laminated rubber bearings
• Finite element analysis of non-linear material and geometric problems
• Development of friction models for contact mechanics
• Discrete element modelling of dragline bucket filling
• Characterisation of blasted rock and soil as a continuum and at a discrete level
• Experimental and mathematical modelling of the effect of dirt on the mechanics of crushing prepared sugar cane
• Characterisation of the elasto-plastic properties of sugar crystals using nano-indentor techniques
• Finite element modelling of the fracture of sugar crystals under dynamic loading
• Constitutive modelling of cane comminution
• Development of finite element procedures for large strain modelling and contact
• The dissemination of finite element and design for manufacture technology to industry

Teaching Interests

• Finite element methods and computational mechanics
• Machine element design
• The development of inclusive mechanical engineering curriculum that stimulates students, both male and female, to understand the fundamentals of engineering and to be divergent thinkers in the application of these concepts, to become competent practitioners and future leaders in their areas of specialisation

Current Post Graduate, Post-Doctoral and Research Officer Topics

1. Finite element modelling of cracks in heavy gearing (M.Eng.Sc.)
2. Mathematical and experimental modelling of the effect of dirt on the mechanics of crushing sugar cane (PhD)
3. Application of computational mechanics to crushing sugar cane (PhD)
4. Determination of the fracture properties of sugar crystals (Post-Doc)
5. Application of discrete element methods to modelling of flow in silos (PhD)
6. Experimental modelling of the reabsorption phenomenon in milling (RO)
7. Discrete element modelling of the filling of dragline buckets (RO, PhD)
8. Modelling of cane harvester and transport systems (RO)
9. Development of specialised discrete element code for 3D modelling of the flow of fragmented rock (Post-Doc, University of Wales, Swansea, UK)
10. Modelling of elasto-plastic behaviour of thin stainless steel mother-plates (M.Sc.)

Selected Publications

Books and Book Chapters

Refereed Journal and Conference Papers

1. Downing, C.M., Domanti, S.A. and Loughran, J.G. (1998). Particle size effects during constant rate expression of liquid from soil contaminated comminuted sugar cane. Trans. IChemE, Vol 76, Part C. pp (143-148).
2. Owen,D.R.J, Neto,E.A.d.S., Zhao, S.Y., Peric, D. and Loughran, J.G. (1998). Finite element simulation of the rolling and extrusion of multi-phase materials - Application to the rolling of prepared sugar cane. Computer Methods in Applied Mechanics and Engineering. V151, Issue 3-4, pp (479-495).
3. Adam, C. and Loughran, J.G. (1998). Application of computational crushing models to rolling of a saturated porous material. NUMIFORM98. University of Twente, Netherlands. pp (503-508).
4. Adam, C., Loughran, J.G. and Owen, D.R.J. (1997). Development of a Computational Tool for Simulation of the Rolling of Prepared Sugarcane, World Congress: Manufacturing Technology Towards 2000, Cairns, Australia. pp (271-280).
5. Adam, C.J., Loughran, J.G., and Owen, D.R.J. (1997). Large strain analysis of a porous elasto-plastic material. Proc. 2nd Symposium on Computational Mechanics, Sydney, Australia. pp (1-10).
6. Downing, C.M., Loughran, J.G. and Domanti, S.A. (1997). Experiments into the effect of soil on the expression of liquid from comminuted sugar cane. Proceedings CHEMICA97, New Zealand. pp (BP3C, 6)
7. Anderson, S. and Loughran, J.G. (1997). Investigation of the Complex Stress State in a Sugar Mill Roll Using the FE Method. World Congress: Manufacturing Technology Towards 2000, Cairns, Australia. pp (359-366).
8. Domanti, S., Larsson, J., Loughran, J.G. (1997). Explicit finite element modelling of the comminution of sugar cane billets. China and Australia Symposium on Computational Mechanics, Sydney, Australia. pp (71-80).
9. Leitch, C., Adam, C.J., and Loughran, J.G. (1997). On the capacity of prepared cane to penetrate grooved surfaces. Proc. Aust. Soc. Sugar Cane Technol. Conf., Cairns, Australia. pp (341-349).
10. Larsson, J., Domanti, S. and Loughran, J.G. (1997). Numerical Modelling of Comminution of Cane Billets Proc. Aust. Soc. Sugar Cane Technol. Conf., Cairns, Australia. pp (350-359).
11. Neto, E.A. de Souza, Zhao, S.Y., Owen, D.R.J., Peric, D., Loughran, J.G. (1997). Finite element simulation of the rolling of multi-phase materials. Computational Plasticity, Fundamentals and Applications. Barcelona, Spain. pp (1296-1304).