Akshay Krishna Ambika Harikumar

University of Queensland

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.

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.

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

2023 Participants Workshop IMPACT submission