The Faculty of Engineering is located at the University's main campus and offers tuition and supervision to about 477 students at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels while conducting research in all fields covered by its departments. https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/519 2026-09-09T15:26:54Z 2026-09-09T15:26:54Z Harrison, Daniel Mark Briffa, Sophie M. Mazzonello, Antonino Valsami-Jones, Eugenia https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/148817 2026-09-01T06:25:31Z 2023-01-01T00:00:00Z

Title: A review of the aquatic environmental transformations of engineered nanomaterials Authors: Harrison, Daniel Mark; Briffa, Sophie M.; Mazzonello, Antonino; Valsami-Jones, Eugenia Abstract: Once released into the environment, engineered nanomaterials (ENMs) undergo complex interactions and transformations that determine their fate, exposure concentration, form, and likely impact on biota. Transformations are physical, chemical, or biological changes that occur to the ENM or the ENM coating. Over time, these transformations have an impact on their behaviour and properties. The interactions and transformations of ENMs in the environment depend on their pristine physical and chemical characteristics and the environmental or biological compartment into which they are released. The uniqueness of each ENM property or lifecycle results in a great deal of complexity. Even small changes may have a significant impact on their potential transformations. This review outlines the key influences and outcomes of ENM evolution pathways in aquatic environments and provides an assessment of potential environmental transformations, focusing on key chemical, physical, and biological processes. By obtaining a comprehensive understanding of the potential environmental transformations that nanomaterials can undergo, more realistic models of their probable environmental behaviour and potential impact can be developed. This will, in turn, be crucial in supporting regulatory bodies in their efforts to develop environmental policy in the field of nanotechnology.

2023-01-01T00:00:00Z Tran, Tien Anh Bolbot, Victor Tam, Ivan CK https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/148758 2026-08-27T11:27:03Z 2026-01-01T00:00:00Z

Title: IoT technologies for renewable energy generation : assessment, monitoring, and control of resources Authors: Tran, Tien Anh; Bolbot, Victor; Tam, Ivan CK Abstract: This book provides an understanding of the significant applications of IoT technologies in renewable energy. It explores their integration with various renewable energy sources, including solar, wind, bioenergy, piezoelectric materials, and solutions addressing water shortage challenges, highlighting advancements and practical implementations in each area. A comparative analysis of recent techniques is presented to evaluate the efficiency of IoT‑based renewable energy systems. This book also focuses on the economic feasibility of IoT-enabled renewable energy solutions.; Features:; • Addresses multiple renewable energy technologies with IoT-based monitoring and control.; • Explores solar, wind, and hybrid energy systems, including energy storage and microgrid integration.; • Investigates renewable energy microgrid systems.; • Focuses on climate goals and the Sustainable Development Goals.; • Includes discussions of marine renewable energies and offshore wind turbine generation.; This book is aimed at graduate students and researchers in renewable energy engineering, IoT and embedded systems, and electrical engineering.

2026-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/148634 2026-08-25T06:39:09Z 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z

Title: Development of a force sensitive prosthetic finger Abstract: Many modern prosthetic hands lack the ability to sense applied forces and those that do, often cannot accurately detect the location at which the force is acting, limiting the user’s feedback and dexterity. This project aims to create a practical force sensor for a prosthetic finger. The design consists of four strain gauges mounted on an internal beam structure enabling accurate detection of both force magnitude and location. The sensor was developed with careful attention to mechanical structure, signal processing and physical constraints for effective operation. A prototype sensor was fabricated, assembled and thoroughly tested to evaluate its performance. The results obtained from testing were critically analysed, followed by an extensive discussion about the sensor’s performance over different force and location ranges. Across all testing points, the median force uncertainty was ±2.36% and the median location uncertainty was ±1.87 mm. Overall, this project contributes to the advancement of tactile sensing in prosthetic fingers by demonstrating a compact, robust, and feasible sensor design capable of force and position detection. This supports the development of more functional and user-appropriate prosthetic hands with the potential to improve the quality of life of amputees. Description: B.Eng. (Hons)(Melit.)

2025-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/148632 2026-08-25T06:37:18Z 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z

Title: Vertical dynamics characterisation of formula student suspension Abstract: Surfaces of motorsport race tracks are not perfectly smooth and lead to driver discomfort and variation in the tyre vertical force that reduce the performance of the driver and the vehicle. The aims of the project are to quantify the effect of several parameters that influence the vertical behaviour of a formula student vehicle such as stiffness and damping using numerical simulations and experimental tests. A numerical model is implemented in MATLAB/Simulink allowing the behaviour of a quarter car vertical dynamics model to be simulated on any road profile defined by the user. The vertical tyre stiffness and shock absorber damping are modelled using empirical fits based on experimental data from a dedicated tyre testing rig and a suspension damper dyno. Three road profiles with different roughnesses are generated in accordance to ISO 8608 and tested using various vehicle speeds, tyre pressures, shock absorber damping settings, spring stiffnesses, sprung masses and unsprung masses. From a review of literature, it was found that the tyre damping is expected to be significantly higher for a non-rolling tyre compared to a rolling tyre. Additionally, tyre damping is observed to be highly nonlinear and difficult to quantify and model. Therefore, a common approach in literature is to assume negligible tyre damping. However, the validity of the assumption for the required results is analysed throughout the project. A multi-purpose experimental test rig is designed and constructed for the project. Tests to estimate the tyre damping of a non-rolling tyre are conducted using a free vibration logarithmic decrement method and a forced vibration method based on a gradient-based optimisation using the numerical model. The tyre damping is estimated and observed to be deformation, frequency and/or velocity dependent. The uncertainty related to Coloumb friction in the linear bearings of the experimental test rig is estimated and found to have a significant impact on the results at low velocities. Tests are conducted on the experimental test rig to validate the numerical quarter car model. The correlation of the numerical model to the experimental test rig is considered satisfactory although Coloumb friction in the shock absorber is found to have a significant impact at low damping settings and low damper speeds indicating that the empirical fit used should be adjusted to capture the stick-to-slip transition near zero velocity. The optimal shock absorber valve settings for driver comfort and tyre load variation are found and the effect of tyre damping on the results is considered negligible. The sensitivity of driver comfort and tyre road holding to tyre pressure, spring stiffness, sprung mass and unsprung mass is found. However, the non-rolling tyre damping value used significantly impacts the results indicating that a negligible tyre damping assumption is not adequate for sensitivity analysis. Further work is required to estimate the tyre damping for a rolling tyre to achieve representative sensitivities. Description: B.Eng. (Hons)(Melit.)

2025-01-01T00:00:00Z