Akshay Krishna Ambika Harikumar
Akshay Krishna Ambika Harikumar
Thesis Topic
Developing a robust collar tie
PhD Start Date
April 2020
PhD Project Objectives
The attachment point of fish farming nets to the floatation structure, referred to as the Collar Tie, has been identified as a weak point for particularly for areas where pens are deployed in high energy environments. With industry partner Tassal, the project will develop a new and robust methodology, and a marketable product as a replacement to the current Collar Tie solution. The project will employ a novel injection-over-moulding technology to provide more robust and wear resistant rope-to-rope connections. As part of the research, the present wear mechanisms will be investigated and the results used to select appropriate materials and develop designs that effectively mitigate wear. Field trials of prototypes will be conducted to validate the product performance and to gain valuable insights for future improvements.
THESIS ABSTRACT
February 2025: Developing a robust collar tie
Biography
I am currently pursuing a PhD at The University of Queensland in Mechanical Engineering. During my Master of Engineering Course at The University of Queensland prior to joining a PhD, I had the opportunity to work on a number of industry focused research projects related polymer matrix composites and their applications. This experience has invigorated my interest in this field and provided me with a solid foundation for this project. In my spare time I enjoy photography, playing cicket, cooking up new recipes and travelling to new locations.
Supervisory Team
Primary Supervisor: Dr. Michael Heitzmann
The University of Queensland
Co-Supervisor: Dr. Martin Veidt
The University of Queensland
Research Advisor: Brad Evans
Tassal