Dr Habtom Mebrahtu

Habtom is an Associate Professor in our School of Engineering and the Built Environment. He has extensive experience of both working and teaching in the engineering industry.

[email protected]

Background

Habtom holds a PhD in manufacturing simulation and performance optimisation from the University of Bath. He is a fully chartered engineer and a member of the UK Engineering Council. Habtom’s research interests include additive manufacturing, Industry 4.0, manufacturing simulation and optimisation. He has also worked as a consultant for various companies.

Research interests

• Additive Manufacturing
• Industry 4.0
• Manufacturing simulation and performance optimisation

Qualifications

• PhD Manufacturing Simulation and Performance Optimisation, University of Bath
• MSc Advanced Manufacturing Systems, Kingston University
• PGCE Learning & Teaching, Kingston University
• Chartered Engineer, Engineering Council UK (CEng)

Memberships, editorial boards

• Senior Fellow, the Higher Education Academy (SFHEA)
• Member, the Institute of Engineering & Technology (MIET)
• Committee Member, Essex IET Network
• Member of the Chelmsford Science and Engineering Society Governor at GPUTC representing ARU
• Member, the Editorial Board of the International Journal of Computer Aided Engineering and Technology (IJCAET)
• Reviewer for the IMechE Journal of Engineering Manufacture and the IMechE Journal of Engineering Science
• Review papers for the annual Industrial Simulation Conference, organised by the European Simulation Society (Eurosis)
• Examined PhD and MPhil theses

Research grants, consultancy, knowledge exchange

• Successful European Interreg bid GrowIn, Industry 4.0 project in partnership with five Nordic regions (total worth 3.6m Euros),
• GIENAHS Erasmus + European project with European partners (total worth 1m Euros). 
• We have placed a bid for a European Skill Alliance project on Skillman 4.0 Additive Technologies (expected total worth of 5m+ Euros).
• Generating income with Low carbon KEEP projects.  This includes the project with Omar Homes and the project with Photocentric (total worth £100k+).
• Generating income through consultancy.  These includes working on projects with various companies including Ford, Leonardo, Calex, Tiptree Jam factory, Smiths environmental Ltd and Alcan Polymers. Examples include working on modelling and performance analysis/optimisation of two engine assembly lines for the Ford Motor Company Research centre; Scientific analysis and improvement of heating systems for Smiths Environmental Ltd; and Performance analysis and resourcing with Alcan polymers.
• Managing seconded ARU engineering staff to companies that included secondments to the Ford Motor Company and Jaguar LR.
• Generating income thorough managing international partnerships that include partnerships with HELP CAT, Malaysia, and MAHSA, Malaysia.
• Taking part in REF exercises (2014 and 2021).
• Developed and set up a full CAD/CAM centre for South East Essex College, 1998

Selected recent publications

Butt, J., Mebrahtu, H. and Shirvani, H., 2018, Numerical and experimental analysis of product development by composite metal foil manufacturing. International Journal of Rapid Manufacturing, 7(1), pp.59-82.

Butt, J., Mebrahtu, H. and Shirvani, H., 2017, August. Production of Multiple Material Parts Using a Desktop 3D Printer. In Advances in Manufacturing Technology XXXI: Proceedings of the 15th International Conference on Manufacturing Research, Incorporating the 32nd National Conference on Manufacturing Research, September 5–7, 2017, University of Greenwich, UK (Vol. 6, p. 148-153). IOS Press.

Khan, A., Mebrahtu, H., Shirvani, H., and Butt, J., 2017, August. Manufacturing Optimization Based on Agile manufacturing and Big Data. In Advances in Manufacturing Technology XXXI: Proceedings of the 15th International Conference on Manufacturing Research, Incorporating the 32nd National Conference on Manufacturing Research, September 5–7, 2017, University of Greenwich, UK (Vol. 6, p. 345-350). IOS Press.

Butt, J., Mebrahtu H., Shirvani H, 2016, Strength analysis of aluminium foil parts made by composite metal foil manufacturing Journal of Progress in Additive Manufacturing June 2016, Volume 1, Issue 1, pp 93–103 DOI: 10.1007/s40964-016-0008-5

Butt, J., Mebrahtu, H and Shirvani, H., 2016. Thermo-Mechanical Analysis of Dissimilar Al/Cu Foil; Lap Joints by composite Metal Foil Manufacturing. World Academy of Science, Engineering and Technology, International Journal of Mechanical, Aerospace, Industrial, Mechatronic and Manufacturing Engineering, 10(1). Pp.41-46. Vol:10, No:1, waset.org/Publication/10003321

Butt J, Mebrahtu H., Shirvani H, 2015, Peel and Tensile Test Investigation of Aluminium 1050 foil parts, Int. J. Rapid Manufacturing, 5 (1), pp 95-115.

Butt J, Mebrahtu H., Shirvani H, 2015, Rapid Prototyping by Heat Diffusion of Metal Foil and Related Mechanical Testing, Int J Adv Manufacturing Technology, Springer, DOI 10.1007/s00170-015-7882-8

Esfahlani S S, Shirvani H, Shirvani A,  Mebrahtu H. and Nwaubani S, 2013, Design, Development And Numerical Analysis Of Honeycomb Core With Variable Crushing Strength,  American Journal of Engineering and Applied Sciences, 6 (1): 8-19. DOI:10.3844/ajeassp.2013.8.19

Esfahlani S S, Shirvani H, Shirvani A, Nwaubani S, Mebrahtu H. and Chirwa C, 2013, Hexagonal honeycomb cell optimisation by way of meta-model techniques, International Journal of Crashworthiness,  DOI:10.1080/13588265.2013.776337

Abbasalizadeh M, Shirvani A, Mebrahtu H and Mirzaee I, Shirvani H, 2013, An Investigation into Air-Sand-Water Three-phase Flow through the Sandblasting Nozzle,  Journal of Computational Multiphase Flows, 5(3) . pp 207-222.

Filip F C, Mebrahtu H, Ărăscu-Klein V, Deaky B, 2012, Method for Optimization of Production Systems by Computer Aided Modeling and Simulation, Journal of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, 5(1), pp67-72.

Abbasalizadeh M, Shirvani H , Shirvani A, Mebrahtu H and Mirzaee I , Comparison of Premixed and Un-Premixed Multi-Phase Flow Through The Nozzle,  International Journal for Numerical Methods in Engineering

Mebrahtu H and Walker R, 2010, Automatic Analysis of Manufacturing Simulation Output, Industrial Simulation Conference 2010, Eurosis Publications pp 95-101.

Mebrahtu H., Walker R, Dionysopoulos T, Mileham A M, 2009, Manufacturing Performance Optimisation: The Simulation - Expert Mechanism Approach, IMechE, Part B, Journal of Engineering Manufacture, 223(B12), 1625-1634.  DOI: 10.1243/09544054JEM1485

Mebrahtu H and Ladbrook J, 2008, Simulation and Performance Improvement Process at Ford Powertrain Operations Manufacturing Engineering, Industrial Simulation Conference 2008, Eurosis Publications pp 126-132.