10 Questions with Sriram Ravisankar Padma

Our PhDs are playing a significant role within our program, and in the broader industry.

Here, we introduce you to Sriram Ravisankar Padma  from one of ACM CRC’s university partners, University of Western Australia (UWA).

Sriram is an Aerospace Engineer, currently pursuing his doctorate in structural health monitoring using embedded sensor technology. Along with a joint Master’s degree from Nanyang Technological University (Singapore) and Technical University of Munich (Germany), Sriram has extensive experience in the repair and development of composite aero-engine structures in industry-leading projects with the Rolls Royce UTC. Passionate about innovation and structural integrity, he strives for sustainable engineering methods while aiming to achieve enhanced safety and reliability of components through cutting- edge monitoring techniques.

Q1. Under which ACM CRC Research Program does your PhD project sit?

 My PhD project sits under RP4 Design and Integration.

Q2. What is the focus of your PhD?

With the advancements in the field of composite materials, there is an imminent need in the development of the real time structural integrity assessment that revolves around embedded sensor technology. That made me set my focus on the structural health monitoring (SHM) technology of composites and their repairs.

Q3. When did you become interested in this field?

While carrying out my research work in the domain of repair of composite structures, I realised the importance of damage prediction and assessment to effectively develop a repair solution that benefits the engineering team as well as the end user in terms of reliable solutions.

Q4. What made you interested in it?

The call for sustainable advancements in the field of research is quintessential for the circular economy. These SHM tools help in reducing the material wastage by utilising the entire design life of a component. It also plays a pivotal role in helping industries to accurately predict the mean time between failure (MTBF) leading to cost efficient operations.

Q5. What do you hope to achieve through your PhD? What challenges are you hoping to solve?

My primary focus is to contribute to the development of smart material systems that can monitor the structural integrity in real-time. The technology exists, but the challenge is to take them through the doors of higher readiness levels for industrial applications through rigorous testing and novel sensor packaging approaches.

Q6. What are your long-term goals/ambitions?

Being an Aerospace Engineer by profession, my long-term goal upon completing my PhD is to contribute to the Aerospace industry, pushing the boundaries further in the field of smart-materials and structures.

Q7. What’s the best thing about being an ACM CRC PhD student?

The ACM CRC lays a foundational platform that connects researchers from different groups. This facilitates collective problem-solving and research collaborations that then facilitate higher quality of work.

Q8. What one piece of advice would you give to people thinking of undertaking a PhD in the composites manufacturing area?

My one piece of advice is to try and incorporate the advancements in other fields of research like 3D Printing, Machine Learning, IOT and Nanotechnology for the benefit of the realm of composite materials.

Q9. Tell us something about you that would surprise/impress people.

I am a wildlife and landscape photographer enthusiast who loves to stargaze. My works have been featured by Nikon Singapore and the Nanyang Technological University media.

Q10. Anything to add?

Dedication and hard work are indispensable. It is very essential in pursuing a PhD to perform research that contributes positively to the global community.