Acoustics and signal processing for welding process monitoring with acoustic sensing

The following PhD project is available for both domestic and international students starting in early 2019 to work with Prof Xiaojun Qiu at the University of Technology Sydney.

Duration: 3 years, commencing by March 2019 in F/T PhD

Topic: Acoustics and signal processing for welding process monitoring with acoustic sensing

Enquiries: Prof Xiaojun Qiu

School/Centre: School of Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering

Closing date for next intake
Australian Domestic students: 30th April 2019 (for commencement July 2019) or 30 September 2019 (for commencement January 2020)
International Candidates: 30 June 2019 (for commencement January 2020) or contact me if looking for an earlier start date

The Project
Gas Metal Arc Welding (GMAW) is an arc welding process widely used in industry and well suited to automatic welding. The proposed monitoring method is an urgent need identified by industry for improving process control and quality. Auditory cues have been found to be critical for expert welders to adjust the weld process and to maintain quality, but the mechanisms underpinning the process are not well understood. This project investigates the physical mechanisms of the GMAW sound generation, establishes an acoustic model that correlates the acoustic signal with other welding parameters, explores key acoustic features and identification algorithms for process monitoring, and develops a prototype GMAW process monitoring system.

The successful applicant will work on acoustics aspects and/or the signal processing aspects of the project, which include a study of the mechanism of welding sound, development of the acoustic model for the welding process, and conducting psychoacoustic ‘listening’ experiments to the welding sound, acoustic feature extraction and identification, multimodal analysis of weld phenomena, and data fusion based on the multimodal database for using multimodal features to improve the accuracy of welding process stability assessment. The successful applicant will gain industry experience on manufacturing processes and applications of acoustics and signal processing technologies.

Eligibility
The scholarship is available to local and international PhD students commencing with Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology of University of Technology Sydney (UTS) in 2019. To be eligible for this scholarship you must:

be enrolled on a full-time basis in a PhD at the Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology
be able to commence full-time study in Semester 1, 2019 (by March 31, 2019)
satisfy entry requirements for a PhD program within UTS Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology
have an undergraduate or master degree in the area of acoustics or signal processing or a related discipline
demonstrate excellent academic results and research capability.

How to apply
Applicants should submit the following, by email, to Prof Xiaojun Qiu:

cover letter (maximum 1 page) detailing any relevant experience
curriculum vitae (maximum 4 pages) detailing educational background (with scores/GPAs), research experience, citizenship details, and any relevant prizes, awards, scholarships and publications
copy of transcripts from relevant educational degrees.

About the Faculty
The Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology at UTS is a world-class faculty with a growing reputation for its quality and impact. Our research is highly advanced, industry-focused and part of the lively and rigorous research culture at UTS.

Focused on ’practical innovation’, our researchers are pioneering research solutions with real-world impact. They’re recognised leaders in their fields, responsible for delivering new, better and more cost-effective innovative solutions to current national and international challenges.

Over the last five years, the Faculty has received more than 60 Australian Research Council projects and attracted a total research funding well in excess of $30 million.

About the University
UTS is a dynamic and innovative university in central Sydney. One of Australia’s leading universities of technology, UTS has a distinct model of learning, strong research performance and a leading reputation for engagement with industry and the professions.

UTS has a culturally diverse campus life and vibrant international exchange study and research programs that prepare graduates for the workplaces of today and the future.

Our world leading research centres span a range of disciplines, including physical, biological and engineering sciences, and contemporary fields such as design, nanotechnology and sustainability. Our researchers provide practical and relevant solutions to issues of national and international importance and equip graduates with the latest discipline specific skills and practices.

We also maintain strong relationships with the local community, industry, business and the professions through a wide range of partnerships, projects and events.

https://www.uts.edu.au/

https://www.uts.edu.au/about/faculty-engineering-and-information-technology