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THIRUNAVUKKARASUASAIMUTHU, PHD
Email:thirunavukkarasu.asaimuthu@gmail.com; Cell:+91 8903311081
EDUCATION
Indian Institute of Technology - Madras, India2005
PhD (Metallurgical and Materials Engineering)
Doctoral Research Subject: Synthesis and Characterization of Alumina Zirconia Nanocomposite
University of Illinois – USA2001
MS (Materials Science Engineering)
University of Missouri – USA1997
MS (Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering)
MS Thesis: Densification of Nanopowders at Low Pressures
Indian Institute of Technology - Madras, India1993
B.Tech (Metallurgical Engineering)
TEACHING CERTIFICATIONS
Mission10X MxLA Certification by Wipro (results awaited)
Dale Carnegie Certification in High Impact Teaching skills
Cambridge International Certification for Teachers and Trainers
TEACHINGEXPERIENCE
School of Computer Science and Engineering and Manufacturing Engineering 2009-Present
Associate Professor
VIT University, Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India
Teach materials engineering to post graduate students and methods like microscopy and
spectroscopy.
Taught computer courses - Java, Problem Solving Techniques, C++ and RDBMS.
Apply learning techniques like Bloom’s Taxonomy and Wipro MISSION10X.
Successfully impart knowledge about VLSI Silicon Processing, Mechanics, Engineering
Materials Fracture and Fatigue, Taguchi Quality Methods and Neural Networks.
Underwent training on high impact teaching skills, e-learning, mind matters, data mining
and data-warehousing.
Government College of Engineering - Salem, Tamil Nadu, India2006 – 2007
Lecturer - Metallurgical Engineering
Successfully developed curriculum, learning aids, and other materials such as
presentations, laboratory renewal and new software based courses for students.
Reviewed student performance and provided support for research subjects in the broader
material sciences engineering area.
Conducted lectures on Mechanical Behavior and testing of materials, Experimental
Techniques in Metallurgy, Extractive Physical Metallurgy, Metallurgical Thermodynamics,
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Foundry Technology, Metal Forming Technology, C++ Computer Applications in
Metallurgy, Heat Treatment Laboratory.
Coordinated and conducted training on engineering materials and metallurgy for 20
engineering lecturers.
Served as a judge on a conference panel to guide and enhance doctoral research of
engineering professors of a large number of universities in the region.
IIT MadrasJan 2000 – Jul 2005
Teaching Assistant
Taught laboratory courses in Transmission Electron Microscopy and X-ray diffraction.
Taught material preparation methods for TEM with exposure to actual equipment.
RESEARCH EXPERIENCE
VIT University - Vellore, India 2009-Present
Associate Professor
Conducted research on and proposed 3-D nanocomposites with ceramic nanoparticle
reinforcement say Aluminum Matrix – Alumina nanopowder reinforcements leading to 3-
D strengthening.
Since nanopowderhas high surface area to volume ratio they are greater than critical length
in all directions in 3-D space, hence they are 3-D nanocomposite.
Utility application filed at the US Patent Office on 16thApril, 2014.
Number of pieces of innovative research in progress, usually associated with material
mixtures.
Research Mentor / Guide 2007 – 2008
Contractual Basis, India
Aided in the selection of PhD research studies and provided guidance for complex study
topics – diamond machining of metal matrix composites and low alloy steel welding.
US Provisional patent on “Unified process for nanopowders and composites”
University of Illinois - USA1996 –1997
Research Assistant
Identified/resolved problems relating to thermodynamics and developed recommendations
to improve scope and efficiency.
Involved in the modeling program of the sintering process.
Created a new system for analysis and framework of graphical quantification; contributed
to point set theory.
IIT Madras - India 1993 – 1994
Project Research Associate
Instrumental in Composites Products Design Manual compilation and publication.
Offered research guidance to fellow research associates.
OTHER EXPERIENCE
NIIT Vadapalani - Chennai, India 2009
IT Trainee
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Underwent training in various IT Technologies such as Object Oriented Programming
using C++, Java/J2EE, Oracle 9i SQL and Oracle PL/SQL.
Updated computing skills and certifications.
Masterlabs Inc. - Dallas, USA1998-1999
Computing Trainee
Learnt software technologies viz. Oracle, SQL and Visual Basic over the course of a year.
THESES
IIT Madras - Chennai2000 - 2005
PhDThesis
Doctoral Research Topic: Synthesis and Characterization of Alumina Zirconia Nanocomposite
Description: Synthesis of composite nanopowders from precursors, consolidation to bulk and
mechanical properties.
Involved in sol gel process from high purity organometallics in non-aqueous medium to
produce composite nanopowder of unprecedented fine nanosize.
Dealt with process parameters analysis and optimized utilizing artificial neutral network.
Oversaw consolidation and sintering of nanopowders to nanocomposite with sub-
nanometric grain size.
Sintered nanocomposites characterized for grain size and mechanical properties by micro-
indentation.
Developed the project by explaining mechanical properties based on quantum physics.
University of Missouri1996
MS Thesis
Project Title: Densification of Nanopowders at Low Pressures
Description: Model Van Der Waals interactions in nanopowders by using a FORTRAN modeling
program and application to understand compaction of these ceramic nanopowders and AFM
characterization.
Modeled Van Der Waals forces with Lennard Jones 6-12 potential to develop a model.
Derivedagglomerate structure as loose form and understood phenomenon behind high
forces.
Derived a theoretical mathematical relation for inter particle Van Der Waals from
molecular Van Der Waals by analytical closed form integration.
Design of special die and compaction of nanopowders of silica, zirconia, alumina and
titania and explain the high friction/surface.
Atomic force microscopy of nanopowders compacts with special process for preparing un-
sintered nanopowder compacts.
Explanation of high forces in Silica amorphous nanopowders.
Results provided comprehensive understanding of all these ceramic nanopowders, their
forces and the high resistance to compaction.
PUBLICATIONS
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S.K.Malhotra, Paramanand Singh, A.Thirunavukkarasu; “Synthesis of Alumina-Zirconia
Nanocomposites by Sol Gel process”, Journal of Materials and Manufacturing Processes,
Vol.21, pp652-657; 2006
A. Thirunavukkarasu, S.K. Malhotra, ParamanandSingh;“Synthesis of composite Alumina
Zirconia Nanopowders by the Sol Gel Process”, Transactions of PMAI (Powder Metallurgy
Association of India), Volume 28, December 2002.pp43-55; 2002
S. Harrington, Da-Ming Zhu, A.Thirunavukkarasu, A.Misra;“Atomic Force Microscopy
Study of Silica Nanopowder Compacts”, Journal of Materials Science, Vol.34, No.9, pp
2075-2079; 1999
PAPER PRESENTATIONS AND CONFERENCES
S.K. Malhotra, Paramanand Singh, A. Thirunavukkarasu, “Synthesis of Alumina-Zirconia
Nanocomposites by SolGel Process”, Nano 2004, Invited Lecture, India International
Conference on Nanomaterials Synthesis, Characterization and Application, Kolkata, India;
Nov 4-6, 2004
A. Thirunavukkarasu, S.K. Malhotra, Paramanand Singh, “High Toughness Alumina-
Zirconia Nanocomposites from Sol Gel Nanopowders”, International Symposium on
Research Students, 2004, IIT, Madras, India; Dec 21-24, 2004
A. Thirunavukkarasu, S.K. Malhotra, Paramanand Singh, “Development of Alumina
Zirconia Nanocomposites by Sol Gel Process, Nanopowder Synthesis, Characterization,
Consolidation and Mechanical Properties”, INAE Conference on Nanotechnology, CSIO,
Chandigarh, India, Pp566-576; Dec 22-23, 2003
A.Thirunavukkarasu, S.K.Malhotra, Paramanand Singh, Prakash Ramachandran
Apte;“Application of Taguchi Method for Optimal Experimental Design of Sol Gel process
for Alumina-Zirconia Nanocomposites”, Perspectives in Physical Metallurgy and Materials
Science, IISc, Bangalore, India; 2002
A.Thirunavukkarasu, S.K.Malhotra, Paramanand Singh;“Synthesis of Composite Alumina
Zirconia Nanopowders by the SolGel Process”, International Conference on Powder
Metallurgy for Automotive Components, New Delhi, India; Jan 02, 2002
A.Thirunavukkarasu, S.K.Malhotra, Paramanand Singh;“Synthesis of Nanocrystalline
Alumina Zirconia Composite Powders by the SolGel Process”, Amalgam 2002, IIT Madras,
India; 2002
A.Thirunavukkarasu, S.K.Malhotra, Paramanand Singh, C.Vijayan, “Characterization of
Composite Alumina Zirconia Nanopowders Synthesized by Sol Gel Process”, National
Symposium on Nanostructured Materials, IIT, New Delhi, India; Dec 02, 2002
A.Thirunavukkarasu;“Synthesis and Fabrication of Composite Alumina Zirconia
Nanopowders and Nanocomposites”, COMPOSIT 2003,IIT, Kharagpur, India; Jan 03 2003
A.Thirunavukkarasu, S.K.Malhotra, Paramanand Singh, “Composite Alumina Zirconia
Nanopowders, Sol Gel Synthesis and Characterization”, International Symposium on
Recent Advances in Inorganic Materials, IIT Bombay, pp390-393; Dec 11-13, 2002
Steven Harrington, Da-Ming Zhu, A. Thirunavukkarasu, Anil Misra;“Macroscopic and
Microscopic Mechanical Properties of Compacted Nanopowders”, The American Physical
Society March 1997, Meeting Program, Kansas City, MO, USA; May 17-21, 1997
TRAININGS
Thermo-Calc and Dictra by Thermocalc AB, Sweden at Hyderabad, India, 2007
Labview at GCE, Salem, India, 2006
Probability and Random Stochastic Processes in GCE, Salem, India, 2006
5. ThirunavukkarasuAsaimuthu/ Page 5 of 5
Advanced Engineering Materials, Engineering Materials and Metallurgy at GCE, Salem,
India, 2006
Transmission Electron Microscopy at IIT Madras, Chennai, India, 2002
Taguchi Methods at IIT Madras, Chennai, India, 2001
WORKSHOPS
Composite Materials by NIT, Trichy, India, 2006
AWARDS
Best Paper Presented (PG/PhD Category) in National Level Conference, COMPOSITE2003,
IIT Kharagpur, India
ASSOCIATIONS
Member, University of Missouri Alumni Association
Member, University of Illinois Alumni Association
COMPUTING CERTIFICATIONS
Object Oriented Programming using C++
Certificate in Web Component Development using Java Technologies- Java & J2EE
Introduction to Oracle 9i-SQL
Oracle 9i Programming with PL/SQL
SOFTWARE SKILLS
Programming Language : SQL, Fortran, Pascal, VB and C
Database : Oracle, dBase
Software Development Environment :Lab Windows
Plotting Software : PSI Plot
Spreadsheet Application : Quattro Pro
Image Editing Software : Adobe Photoshop
Platform : HP, RISC, Maple and IBM PC
Office Automation : MS-Office Package
Packages : Thermo-Calc, Dictra