Institutional-Repository, University of Moratuwa
Welcome to the University of Moratuwa Digital Repository, which houses postgraduate theses and dissertations, research articles presented at conferences by faculties and departments, university-published journal articles and research publications authored by academic staff. This online repository stores, preserves and distributes the University's scholarly work. This service allows University members to share their research with a larger audience.
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Recent Submissions
item: Conference-Extended-Abstract
Proceedings of the ERU Symposium 2025 (Pre Text)
(Engineering Research Unit, 2025) Gamage, JR; Mawathage, SA; Dharmasri, N; Dasanayaka, S
item: Conference-Extended-Abstract
Effect of sepiolite clay on reinforcement and chemical performance of NR latex films
(Engineering Research Unit, 2025) Fernando, C; Ratnayake, UN; Vigneswaran, S
Natural rubber (NR) latex is extensively used in dipped products such as gloves due to its high elasticity and flexibility. However, its low resistance to chemicals and moderate mechanical properties restrict its wider use [1]. Traditional fillers such as silica improve properties but are costly and less sustainable [2]. Sepiolite clay, a naturally occurring fibrous magnesium silicate, provides high surface area and active silanol groups that can enhance filler–matrix interactions [3]. This study investigates the potential of sepiolite clay to reinforce NR latex films and improve chemical resistance, targeting optimized formulations for protective glove applications. This study aims to investigate how sepiolite clay reinforces natural rubber gloves and how its concentration affects their chemical performance. Gloves will be formulated with varying sepiolite loadings using a newly developed incorporation method. The reinforcing effect, mechanical strength, and chemical resistance will be evaluated to identify the optimal sepiolite loading.
item: Conference-Extended-Abstract
Electroactive HA/BT biocomposites for bone tissue engineering: synthesis, dielectric evaluation, and computational modeling
(Engineering Research Unit, 2025) Wickramasinghe, HDS; Lakshan, KGI; Adikary, SU
The dielectric behavior of bone, driven by Hydroxyapatite (HA) –collagen hydrogen bond separation under electric fields, is vital for cell regulation and repair[1]. Replicating this property is a key requirement in electroactive biomaterials for bone tissue engineering.
HA provides biocompatibility, osteoconductivity, and bioactivity, while lead-free barium titanate(BT) offers high dielectric coefficients, comparable to or exceeding those of hydrated bone, along with good cytocompatibility[2], [3]. Combining HA and BT yields composites that couple bioactivity with electromechanical responsiveness, thereby promoting osteointegration and electrical stimulation. Computational modeling provides an efficient alternative to trial-and-error experiments in piezoelectric bone scaffold research, reducing costs, time, and ethical concerns while enabling optimized, patient-specific scaffold design for bone defect healing.[4] While HA/BT composites have been previously explored, most solely focus on experimental dielectric characterization.
In this work, HA and BT are synthesized, and HA/BT composites are fabricated to evaluate their dielectric properties experimentally. Finite element method (FEM) simulations are further employed to predict dielectric behavior, and the results are compared with experimental data.
item: Conference-Extended-Abstract
Design and development of a metal additive manufacturing system using metal inert gas (MIG) technology
(Engineering Research Unit, 2025) Manishi, PPA; Mandis, PLPM; Dinusara, JGDJ; Ephraims, SCP; Amarasekara, KS; Atadaswala, AGCO; Samarasinghe, T; De Silva, E; Jayaweera, N
Metal Additive Manufacturing (AM) has advanced significantly due to its ability to fabricate complex geometries with reduced waste and lead time, proving economic viability compared to conventional manufacturing methods [1]. Among metal AM technologies, Wire Arc Additive Manufacturing (WAAM) is particularly suited for large-scale components, leveraging the arc welding process for high deposition rates. WAAM is cost-effective due to its use of inexpensive welding wire and standard equipment. Gas Metal Arc Welding (GMAW), a widely used WAAM technology, uses an electric arc to melt a continuously fed wire, depositing material layer by layer under shielding gas. It is classified as Metal Inert Gas (MIG) and Metal Active Gas (MAG) depending on the type of shielding gas used. However, its main limitations include reduced dimensional accuracy, difficulties in fabricating complex geometries, and the need for extensive post-processing [2]. The primary objective of this study is to develop a lowcost metal AM system that incorporates a readily available welding technology, MIG, thereby offering small-scale manufacturers and developing nations an alternative solution for fabricating and repairing complex metallic components.
item: Conference-Extended-Abstract
Aerodynamic analysis of a VTOL fixed-wing UAV aircraft with conventional control surfaces
(Engineering Research Unit, 2025) Wijerathna, A; Annasiwaththa, B
Vertical Take-Off and Landing (VTOL) Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) offer significant advantages in operations requiring both vertical lift and efficient forward flight. However, VTOL aircraft design is challenge in terms of stability, control, and aerodynamic efficiency across flight
regimes. Aerodynamic analysis is conducted to determine the variations of pressure distributions, lift and drag forces and center-of-pressure (CP) movement all of which are important towards design optimization and control modeling. This study focuses on aerodynamic analysis of a small VTOL fixed-wing UAV without using any additional actuators or complex tilting mechanisms. The designed UAV only uses the regular control surfaces such as Aileron, Rudder and Elevator of the fixed wing aircraft for maneuverability. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) has become a essential tool in aerodynamic design and analysis. Studies of flyingwing VTOL UAVs revealed that CFD is effective in the prediction of stability and flow separation which is critical in transition controllability [1]. The structural and CFD studies were also coupled which showed that aeroelastic effects at high lift and inertia can be critical to performance and safety [2]. CFD has also been useful in wing and fuselage optimization to minimize drag and preserve lift as well as in the prediction of aerodynamic coefficients by use of turbulence models to provide reliable control inputs [3]. In addition to CFD, low-order methods like XFLR5 have been used to facilitate initial design through evaluation of centerof-gravity balance and optimization of wing geometry under structural constraints [4] [5]. On this basis, th present work implements CFD and XFLR5 to examine the aerodynamic forces, pressure field, and CP-CG interaction in a fixed-wing UAV-VTOL.