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Professor Ken Mao

Professor Ken Mao

Professor of Mechanical Engineering

K dot Mao at warwick dot ac dot uk
+44 (0) 24 7652 3163

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Biography

Engineering Researchers in the top 2% of the world’s leading academics

https://warwick.ac.uk/fac/sci/eng/news/top16globalacademics/

Research Interests

1. Polymer Composite Gears and lightweight gearbox design for EV and motorcycle as well as healthcare applications

2. Contact Simulation and Design (non-linear FEM):

  • Gear transmission system design
  • Tyre Contact Simulations

3. Design Optimisation

Teaching Interests

  1. Finite Element Methods and their Engineering Application Skills
  2. Advanced Mechanical Design - lightweight gearbox design
  3. Structure Design Optimisation

Selected Publications

Over 100 papers (60+ journal and 50+ conference papers) have been published and the following is a list of selected recent publications:
  1. P. Zengeya, K. Mao, V. Goodship, ‘The effects of cooling rate (mould temperature) on HDPE gears produced through injection moulding’, Wear, Volumes 530-531, 15 October 2023, 205000, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wear.2023.205000.
  2. K. Mao, D. Greenwood, R. Ramakrishnan, V. Goodship, C. Shrouti, Derek Chetwynd and P. Langlois, ‘The Wear Resistance Improvement of Fibre Reinforced Polymer Composite Gear’, Wear, pp1033-1039, 2019.
  3. K. Mao, P. Langlois, N. Madhav, D. Greenwood and M. Milson, ’Experimental Investigations of Polymer Composite Gear Performance’, Gear Technology, November/December, pp. 68 - 72, 2019.
  4. K. Mao, D. Chetwynd and M. Milson, ‘A New Test Method for Polymer Gear Wear Rate and Performances’, Polymer Testing, 82,106323, 2020.

  5. Y. Zhang, C. Purssell, K. Mao and S. Leigh, ‘A physical investigation of wear and thermal characteristics of 3D printed nylon spur gears, Tribology International, 141,105953, 2020.
  6. Zhang, K. Mao, S. Leigh, A. Shah, G. Ma and Z. Chao, ‘A Parametric Study of 3D Printing Polymer Gears’, International Journal of Advanced Manufacturing Technology, 107(11-12), pp. 4481-4492, 2020.
  7. Z. Hu and K. Mao, ‘An investigation of misalignment effects on the performance of acetal gears’, Tribology International., 116, p. 394-402, 2017
  8. Z. Wang, D. Chetwynd and K. Mao, ‘Friction characteristics of polymers applicable to small-scale devices’, Tribology International, Vol. 119, pp. 698-706, 2018.
  9. C. Wang, K. Mao, ‘A calculation method of sliding friction coefficient on tooth surface for helical gear pair based on loaded tooth contact analysis and elastohydrodynamic lubrication theory’, Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part J: Journal of Engineering Tribology, https://doi.org/10.1177/1350650120966894, 2020.
  10. Z Wang, J Lia, X Ge, Y Liu, J Luo, D. Chetwynd, and K Mao, ‘Investigation of the lubrication properties and synergistic interaction of biocompatible liposome-polymer complexes applicable to artificial joints’, Colloids and Surfaces B: Biointerfaces, pp469–478, 2019.

Projects and Grants

  • 'Light weight gearbox design for motorcycle transmission system', funded by TVS Motors, SMT, DSM (2016 - )
  • 'Polymer gear design', funded by Innovate UK and Smart Manufacturing Technology (2014 - 2017)
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