He is 2020 year’s recipient of the GKN award scholarship
10 Dec 2020
Now 2020 year’s GKN award scholarship holder has been decided and it is Arun Ramanathan Balachandramurthi. Arun has recently become doctor in powder bed additive manufacturing at University West, a technology that enables manufacturing of complex geometries almost impossible to manufacture by using conventional manufacturing techniques.
Congratulations from Per Nylén, University West and Henrik Runnemalm, GKN Aerospace to the winner.
In the powder bed additive manufacturing process a high-energy beam is used to melt metallic powder in a layer-onto-layer procedure into complete near net shape components. Before this type of technology can be fully utilized by industry and replace conventional manufacturing methods, they must be completely investigated.
- In my research I have investigated and increased our understanding of the relationship between microstructure and fatigue properties of the Ni-Fe superalloy Alloy 718 manufactured by powder bed additive manufacturing, says Arun.
During a digital ceremony the 7th of December at University West, Henrik Runnemalm, Research Director at GKN Aerospace, announced this years’ winner. The scholarship was established in 2015 when GKN Aerospace turned 85 and University West turned 25 to reward special and innovative collaborative efforts. The scholarship covers SEK 15,000 and is awarded annually for 10 years from 2016.
- I am very happy to have been awarded the GKN scholarship and it means a lot to me in my future research. I have had a fantastic research group and very good supervisors who have believed in me and my sometimes crazy ideas, which has been of great importance to be able to receive this scholarship. It is a great honor, concludes Arun Ramanathan Balachandramurthi.
Extract from the motivation:
Arun Ramanathan Balachandramurthi is highly passionate, industrious, and independent. His remarkable grasp of fundamentals and the ability to understand, analyze and solve problems are praiseworthy. His ability to identify not only the scientific research gaps but also his consideration of the industrial relevance of these research gaps, is impressive. This is reflected in his journal publications with 50% of his articles being co-authored by industrial partners, who appreciate his application-oriented research.
He has a flair for expression of ideas, which has helped him set up collaborations with his peers in the department, PhD students from other universities besides the industrial partners.
It is fair to say that he has made a significant contribution, both directly and indirectly, towards making University West the second most publishing organization in the world on PBF of Alloy 718*, which is within the area of additive manufacturing.
In these four years as a PhD student Arun has demonstrated qualities of an independent and proactive researcher and has the potential to be an excellent researcher in future. Therefore, we believe he fulfills the requirements for the GKN stipendium.
About the scholarship (in Swedish)
Contact: Arun Ramanathan Balachandramurthi arun.ramanathan.balachandramurthi@hv.se +46520223327
* The Alloy 718 is a precipitation hardened Ni-Fe based superalloy that also includes significant amounts of chromium, niobium, and molybdenum, together with small amounts of aluminium and titanium.