Can you tell us a bit about your background, and how you came to be involved in research in the pipeline industry?
I grew up in a very rural area of Mississippi in the United States, where I lived my entire life until coming to Australia. I stayed in my home state to graduate in aerospace engineering from Mississippi State University in 2012. Growing up, I always wanted to be an engineer, and as I got older, I gravitated to the area of astronautics. I developed a strong affection for space exploration and thought that one day I wanted to make that my career. That was until the first semester of my junior year when I took Aerospace Structural Analysis under Dr James C. Newman Jr.
As Dr Newman led my class through the fundamentals of structural mechanics and told us tales of his experiences in the fatigue and fracture world, I became convinced that I wanted to divert my attention to the study of materials and their applications to specialised industries.
I had a score of other great professors, including Dr Thomas Lacy Jr and Dr Masoud Rais-Rohani, who did a lot to hone my interest around the structural problems we face today. These men served a pivotal role in my interest in the materials engineering field.
During my senior year, I worked as an undergraduate research assistant under Dr Mohsen Zaeem at the Center for Advanced Vehicular Systems, a research affiliate of my university. Under Dr Zaeem, I was introduced to the use of finite element analysis to solve material related problems. More specifically, I studied the effects of grain boundary energy anisotropy and second-phase particles on the grain growth of hexagonal closed packed metals.
During that same year, I began my search for graduate schools. While I was aware of most my options within the US, I felt that I would benefit to look at universities abroad. I believe that not only is graduate school a place to further your knowledge of your chosen field, but it is also a place to develop global networking skills required in the close-knit global community of today. I looked at universities from Great Britain to Germany and all the way to the “˜Land Down Under’. I don’t have much fondness for the cold or rain, and since Australia has one of the best climates on the planet, I decided to focus my attention there. I spoke with several researchers at various universities but was particularly drawn to the University of Wollongong due to my correspondence with Dr Cheng Lu and Dr Guillaume Michal. Dr Lu and Dr Michal showed genuine interest in me coming to the University of Wollongong to conduct research under their supervision, and after speaking with my family, I decided to embark on the journey to Australia.
I landed in Australia on Independence Day ready to tackle a new adventure. This was my first time ever leaving the confines of the continental US and I arrived anxious but armed with high expectations. After a week of settling in, I met with Dr Lu and Dr Michal, and we discussed the aim of my research project. They introduced me to the Australian pipeline industry and the problems it faces. Since then, we have been working to find solutions to the difficulties facing the Australian pipeline industry.
My current research project investigates the effectiveness of computer simulations to model the fracture phenomena found in real world, modern line pipe steels. Line pipe steels have gone through a drastic advancement over the last decade. As the pipeline industry seeks to implement the new steels in the construction of the pipeline infrastructure, the methods used to determine the steels’ ability to arrest a propagating fracture must be highly scrutinised. I take advantage of computer simulations to determine the fracture phenomena in modern steels in hopes to develop a better understanding of the anomalies found in contemporary steels. Compared to the cost of an experimental Charpy V-notch (CVN), drop weight tear test or full-scale burst test, computer simulations provide a cheap method to evaluate the effectiveness of modern steels in the pipeline industry. As we increase our confidence in computational results, we can limit our need for costly, experimental tests, while still obtaining the crucial information we need to secure the safety of the pipeline infrastructure.
When will you complete your degree?
I project to have my PhD completed before 2016.
What are your areas of expertise which are being developed from this research, and why is this sort of expertise necessary in the Australian pipeline industry and its companies?
With my aerospace background, I was exposed to a field where the newest, most advanced materials were always desired for implementation. Whether the material is fibre composites or advanced metals, there is always a push to have the most structurally sound, cost-effective option. The pipeline industry has the same mindset, and with the advancement of high-strength, high-toughness metals such as X70 and above, the options for replacing vintage steels with modern steels have drawn considerable attention. Unfortunately, with new steels come new challenges. The methods currently used to rate a line pipe’s ability to arrest a propagating fracture have suffered when applied to advanced steels. My expertise in the area of continuum fracture mechanics and finite element analysis are consistently being developed, as I work to derive a solution to predict the fracture phenomena in modern steels.
What research programs are you currently involved with that are applicable to the Australian pipeline industry?
My current research is a component of the Fracture Simulation of Gas Pipelines – Phase II research path in the Energy Pipelines Cooperative Research Centre (CRC) framework. The primary concern of this program path is to determine the effect of plastic strain on the fracture speed in high strength line pipe steels.
Have you been involved in any practical applications of your research, with relevance to the pipeline industry?
I have not been involved with any practical applications yet, but plan to do so very shortly. Now that I have a little knowledge about the Australian pipeline industry, I plan to take advantage of the field trips hosted by our wonderful industry advisors with the Energy Pipelines CRC. Furthermore, we will soon be acquiring a CVN impact testing station at the University of Wollongong, which will allow me to experience firsthand the process of testing materials for their application to pipeline transmission.
What do you think will be your plan when you complete your research? Are you looking to further develop your broader knowledge in the industry?
For quite some time, I have wished to stay in the research field, whether in academia or in the industry. I really enjoy discovering new ideas and the emotions involved with contributing to the knowledge base of the engineering realm. As a researcher, I have a unique opportunity to be on the cutting edge of technological development. Whether I stay in the research field or not, I know that wherever my path leads me, I’ll be well equipped to handle the challenges ahead of me.
Are you involved in any associations within the Australian or overseas pipeline industry?
I am not currently involved in any associations with the pipeline industry, but as soon as an opportunity presents itself, I’d love to join. Associations are great for student researchers as they provide a great opportunity to meet other members of the pipeline industry and gather all the information you can about the problems that need to be solved.
What are your interests outside of research and development?
I am currently the head coach of the local American football team, the Wollongong Mustangs. Coaching provides me the opportunity to meet Australians from all walks of life and help them develop the skills necessary to be successful both on and off the field.
