Newcastle University in Singapore

Staff Profile

Dr Mohammed Abdul Hannan

Assistant Professor & Degree Programme Director (Marine Technology, UG)

Background

I received my BSc degree (first class honours) in Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering from Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (Mar 2009) and later obtained my Ph.D. from the National University of Singapore in Nov 2014. Before joining Newcastle University as a lecturer in Aug 2016, I was working as a Research Fellow at National University of Singapore. My research activities involve Sustainable Engineering & Design, Renewable Energy, Design and Control of Marine Vehicle, Fluid Mechanics, Application of AI and Machine Learning in Ocean Engineering. 

Roles and Responsibilities:

Teaching and Learning, Research and Innovation, Outreach/public Engagement, Administration and Management.

Qualifications:

Ph.D., National University of Singapore (NUS) [Nov 2014]
BSc in Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering, Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) [Mar 2009]
Associate Fellow, Higher Education Academy, UK [Dec 2017]

Previous Positions:

Research Fellow, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, National University of Singapore [Dec 2014 - Jul 2016] 
Research Engineer, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, National University of Singapore [Aug 2013 - Nov 2014]
Lecturer, Department of Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering, Bangladesh University of Engineering & Technology [April 2009 - July 2009]

Professional Affiliations:

Associate Member, The Royal Institution of Naval Architects (AMRINA) [Since 2006]
Member, American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) [Since 2016]
Member, The Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh (MIEB) [Since 2012]
Member, SouthEast Asia Petroleum Exploration Society (SEAPEX) [2011]

Languages:

Bengali (Mother tongue)
English (Fluent)

Research

My research interests mainly cover the design of floating structures, fluid mechanics, machine learning/automation and sustainability in engineering design. These research efforts can broadly be subdivided into two main categories - Computational and Experimental. Computational works involve the development of efficient numerical tools to perform computational simulation in the above research areas and at the same time use of these tools as the driver of highly sophisticated computationally expensive simulations to provide an accurate description/solution of the relevant physical phenomena. While developing of numerical tools are mostly related to academic track research; application/modification of existing tools or commercial software on the other hand, generally involve solving industry focused problems. The experimental analysis in this regard serves as a bridge between the industry and academia, most of the cases by investigating the simplified setup of a complex system to understand the fundamental physics and mechanism associated with it, and by performing prototype model testing to address the challenges related to the real-life applications.

Research Area:

Renewable energy & sustainable development
Wave interaction with fixed or floating structures
Computational Fluid Dynamics
Ice structure interactions
Ship/Marine system design/optimization 
Data analytics and Artificial Intelligence in fluid dynamics
Sustainability in Engineering design 

Research Supervision/Co-Supervision:

MSc:

- Design and optimisation of floating sub-structure for offshore wind turbines, [R Deshmukh, AY17/18, Completed]
- A sustainable ship design approach with the application of multi-objective optimisation using Genetic Algorithm [N Z Tun, AY16/17, Completed]
- Development of analytical formulation based on a truly coupled ice-floater interaction [A A Maruf, AY16/17, Completed]

Ph.D.:

- Hybrid/Electric propulsion technology for marine vehicles [K J Toh, AY17/18, withdrew]                                                    - Motion minimization suppression device for ocean platforms [J X Kelvin, AY17/18 withdrew]
- Safety Risk Analysis and Ergonomic Risks Assessment of User Driver In-vehicle Interface Systems and Related Components [R A Halek, AY18/19 - present]

Esteem Indicators:

Reviewer: Energies, 2019
Reviewer: Ocean Engineering, 2017
Reviewer: Cogent Engineering, 2017
Reviewer: Journal of Marine Science and Application, 2016
Reviewer: International Conference on Advances in Civil and Environmental Engineering, 2015
Reviewer: Engineering Applications of Computational Fluid Mechanics, 2015
Reviewer: International Conference on Ocean, Offshore and Arctic Engineering (OMAE)
Organizing Committee: Offshore Technology Conference (OTC) Asia, 2018
Scientific Committee: International Conference on Advances in Civil Infrastructure and Construction Materials (CICM), 2015

Industrial Relevance:

Worked for the industry-academic project "Phase 2 of RTC: Low-cost Decentralized Sanitary System for Treatment, Water and Resource Recovery. [Funding organization: Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, USA]" - Aug 2013 to Jul 2013
Worked for the industry-academic collaboration "Keppel-NUS corporate lab, which is established by Keppel Corporation (Keppel) and NUS, in collaboration with National Research Foundation (NRF), Prime Minister’s Office, Singapore" - Aug 2014 to Jul 2016

Knowledge Exchange & Impact Activities:

[2018 Dec] Talk on 'Understanding the Mysteries of Fluid, Part I', at Bangladesh University of Engineering & Technology.
[2017 Jul] Presentation at Seminar organized by 'The institution of Engineers, Bangladesh (Singapore Chapter)'.
[2017 May] Talk on 'Engineering Inspired by Nature: In the Context of Fluid Dynamics', at Bangladesh University of Engineering & Technology.
[2016 Apr] Presentation at Seminar organized by 'The institution of Engineers, Bangladesh (Singapore Chapter)'.
[2016 Apr] Talk on 'Research and Development at Offshore: Towards a Sustainable Future', at Bangladesh University of Engineering & Technology.

Professional Activities as a Session Organizer/Chairman/Co-Chairman:

[2018 Apr] Offshore Technology Conference (OTC) Asia, Malaysia.
[2018 Jun] International Conference on Ocean, Offshore and Arctic Engineering (OMAE), Spain.
[2019 Jun] International Conference on Ocean, Offshore and Arctic Engineering (OMAE), Scotland.

Teaching

Study of fluids, hydrodynamics, numerical algorithms and similar other topics are often considered as full of boring equations and mathematical theories by the students. Therefore, my teaching is primarily motivated by the desire to spark the ‘interest-driven learning’ inside the students’ mind which will help them to rethink these fields of engineering as an interactive and colourful realm ready for their exploration. One approach to doing so might be, correlating the classical theories of fluids with real-life phenomena and incorporating the aids of modern visualization techniques to explain the recent progress in this area. These always help to convey the scientific concepts in a simple and appealing way and to develop the intuitive understanding (part of interest-driven learning) of a student. The ‘interest-driven learning’ attitude helps the student to become an enthusiastic, independent and creative learner. Thus, at the end of the course, the student not only assimilates the basics of that specific course but also continues to evolve as a critical and analytical thinker.

Postgraduate Teaching:

MAR8227 Advanced Marine Design* (80%)
MAR8228 Advanced Offshore Technology* (50%) 
MAR8270 Mooring Riser and Drilling Systems (50%)

* I lead the module

Undergraduate Teaching:

MAR2108/MNO2111 Naval Architecture II* (Full module, from AY16-17)
MAR3111/MNO3104 Drilling Engineering* (Full module, from AY 17-18)
MAR3127 Future Marine Projects* (Partial from AY 16-17 to AY 17-18)
MAR3134/MNO3112 Ship Design* (Full module, from AY 16-17)
MAR3136/ MNO3109 Advanced Ship and Offshore Hydrodynamics (Partial, from AY 16-17)
MAR3143 Project and Report in Marine Engineering (Supervision of Final Year Projects, from AY 16-17 to AY 17-18)
MAR3144 Project and Report in Naval Architecture (Supervision of Final Year Projects, from AY 16-17 to AY 17-18)
MAR3145 Project and Report in Offshore Engineering (Supervision of Final Year Projects, from AY 16-17 to AY 17-18)
MNO3101 Integrated Work Study Program (Industry Attachment Supervision, from AY 18-19)
MNO3114 Capstone Project & Report (Supervision of Final Year Projects, from AY 18-19)

* I lead the module

Previous Teaching:

Fluid Mechanics, Statics and Mechanics of Materials, Computer Aided Engineering Design, Hydraulics Lab


Publications