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TrendSST-2009
WORKSHOP REPORT
The departments of Mechanical Engineering at the Coimbatore
Institute of Technology (CIT), India and the Texas Tech
University (TTU), Lubbock, USA conducted a joint International
Workshop titled “Future Trends in Sustainable Surface
Transportation (TrendSST-2009)”. The workshop dealt with
issues related to Fluid Mechanics, Aerodynamic Drag of
Passenger Cars, Engine Cooling Systems, Heating Ventilating
and Air-conditioning of Passenger Cars, Hybrid Drive-Trains,
Alternative Fuels and Fuel Cells for Ground Transportation.
The three-day workshop was conducted in the A.C. Conference
Hall, CIT during March 17 to 19, 2009.
Dr. Siva Parameswaran, Professor and Director of Computational
Fluid Dynamics Laboratory, TTU, and Dr. Timothy Maxwell,
Professor and Director of the Advanced Vehicle Engineering
Laboratory, TTU were the lead Resource Persons for this
Workshop. Dr. Javad Hashemi, Associate Dean of Research,
College of Engineering, TTU, was the Honorary Chairperson for
the Workshop.
The proposed lectures were intended to benefit R&D engineers
from India's automotive design industry, specialists from
public-sector transportation organizations, senior faculty,
and masters or doctoral-level students from engineering
colleges involved in the research pertaining to vehicle
aerodynamics, engine cooling, and fuel-cells.
Shri P. S. Krishnan, Outstanding Scientist and Director,
Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE), Bangalore was
the Chief Guest for the Workshop Inaugural held on March 17,
2009 at 9:45 AM. The Inaugural was presided over by Dr. S. R.
K. Prasad, Correspondent, CIT. After Welcoming Addresses by
Dr. V. Selladurai, Vice-Principal, and Dr. R. Prabhakar,
Principal, there was a Presidential Address by the
Correspondent, CIT. The Inaugural Address by the Chief Guest
using film and power-point presentation, on developments made
at ADE to equip the Indian Defence Forces via cutting-edge
research and development, generated a lot of interest in the
audience that filled the Conference Hall. The function
concluded with a Vote of Thanks delivered by Dr. Sridhar
Thyageswaran, the Organizing Secretary for the Workshop.
On March 18, 2009 there was an Invited Lecture titled “50 Top
Technologies in Automobiles” by Dr. C. L. Dhamejani, Director,
Vehicles Research and Development Establishment (VRDE),
Ahmednagar. On March 19, 2009 there was another Invited
Lecture titled “Role of CFD in Design Optimization of Positive
Displacement Pump for Engine Cooling”, by Mr. M. Suresh Kumar
of Pricol Technologies, Coimbatore. Apart from these two
special lectures there were other routine lecture sessions,
during all three days, that were delivered by Dr. Parameswaran
and Dr. Maxwell. All lectures were well-attended by the
delegates, and generated healthy interactions between the
speaker(s) and their audiences.
On the afternoon of March 19, 2009 there was an Invited
Lecture by Dr. Javad Hashemi, Associate Dean, TTU and Honorary
Chairperson of TrendSST-2009, on his special research
interests in the area of bio-mechanics. His lecture on studies
related to the factors that make females more susceptible to
ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) injuries generated a lot of
interest among the CIT faculty members and final-year students
of mechanical engineering, who had been invited to attend. Dr.
Hashemi also gave an overview of Texas Tech University for the
benefit of students wishing to pursue higher studies.
The International Workshop ended with a Valedictory Function
immediately thereafter (on the afternoon of March 19, 2009)
with Dr. Javad Hashemi presiding. Dr. R. Prabhakar, Principal,
CIT chaired the Valediction. After the customary speeches, all
the delegates were awarded certificates of participation by
the President of the function. A final Vote of Thanks was
delivered by Dr. Sridhar Thyageswaran, Organizing Secretary,
TrendSST-2009.
Sincere appreciation is offered to all the members of the
Organizing Committee for their support and cooperation that
lead to the successful outcome of this workshop. Thanks are
due to all the delegates and the faculty of the Indian
Railways Institute of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering,
Jamalpur, Bihar who registered for this Workshop.
TrendSST-2009 provided a unique forum for exchange of
technical ideas among all its participants, and hopefully
would lead to long-term global collaborations. The student
community of CIT benefited from the depth of knowledge and the
rich experience of the resource persons who delivered the
lectures.
Dr. Sridhar Thyageswaran
B.Tech. (IIT-D), M.S. (USA), Ph.D. (USA)
Assistant Professor (Mech. Engg.), and
Organizing Secretary, TrendSST-2009
Date: April 08, 2009
Place: CIT, Coimbatore-641014 |
