Masters Degrees (Mechanical Engineering)
Recent Submissions
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Computational fluid dynamic modelling of baffled open volumetric receiver operation.
(2020)An Open Volumetric Receiver (OVR) is a type of solar energy receiver that is able to heat atmospheric air volumetrically via a porous absorber exposed to concentrated solar radiation, through which the air flows. OVRs have ... -
Low level task execution, programming and control for jigs, fixtures and equipment.
(2019)Abstract available in PDF. -
Research and development of a reconfigurable robotic end-effector for machining and part handling.
(2020)Abstract available in PDF. -
Voice interfaces in mobile human-robot collaboration for advanced manufacturing systems.
(2019)Abstract available in PDF. -
The design and analysis of a novel 5 degree of freedom parallel kinematic manipulator.
(2019)Abstract available in PDF. -
Production and combustion of waste animal fat biodiesel as alternate fuel to fossil diesel.
(2020)Abstract available in PDF. -
Development of a composite oxidiser tank for the Phoenix-1B Mk. II hybrid rocket.
(2020)Abstract available in PDF. -
Development of a comprehensive energy model to simulate the energy efficiency of a battery electric vehicle to allow for prototype design optimisation and validation.
(2017)This dissertation describes the development of an energy model of a battery electric vehicle (BEV) to assist designers in evaluating the impact of overall energy efficiency on vehicle performance. Energy efficiency is a ... -
Structural analysis of a composite monocoque chassis for use in a high performance electric vehicle.
(2018)The adoption of electric vehicle technology is becoming more prevalent, as society strives to reduce the negative impact of greenhouse gas emissions and focuses on a sustainable future. This thesis details the design and ... -
Performance characterisation of metal additives in paraffin wax hybrid rocket fuel grains.
(2018)The Aerospace Systems Research Group (ASReG) at the University of KwaZulu Natal is actively developing sounding rockets in the Phoenix Hybrid Sounding Rocket Programme, for use by the South African scientific community. ... -
The development of a paraffin wax/nitrous oxide hybrid rocket slab motor.
(2019)Slab motors are used to determine and investigate the regression rate characteristics of hybrid rocket propellant combinations. This information is fundamental to the overall design and thus used to determine the payload, ... -
Development of a high concentration solar flux mapping system.
(2018)The Group for Solar Energy Thermodynamics (GSET) is in the process of commissioning the Solar Energy Research Amplified Flux Facility (SERAFF), which is South Africa’s first solar furnace facility. SERAFF is situated at ... -
Design and optimisation of a composite space frame chassis including experimental and computational analysis.
(2017)Composites are used in lightweight structural designs. In this dissertation, a robust carbon fibre reinforced polymer (CFRP) space frame chassis for a lightweight electric tricycle is produced. In large, most composite ... -
Closed-loop throttle control of a hybrid rocket motor.
(2018)Hybrid rocket motors produce thrust by reacting a solid fuel with a liquid oxidizer inside a combustion chamber. This approach has certain advantages over conventional solid propellant rockets including improved safety and ... -
Investigation into inspection system utilisation for advanced manufacturing systems.
(2017)Varied inspection is an aperiodic inspection utilisation methodology that was developed for advanced manufacturing systems. The inspection scheme was created as a solution to improve manufacturing performance where inspection ... -
Development of a design methodology of a composite monocoque chassis.
(2018)The concept of the composite monocoque chassis has been implemented in many vehicle designs; however, there is little open-access literature defining the primary considerations when simulating one. The purpose of this ... -
The hydrodynamic design and analysis of a liquid oxygen pump impeller for a rocket engine.
(2018)The deployment of micro- and nanosatellites has greatly increased over the past few decades with advances in miniaturized electronics for communication, imaging and attitude control. The South African satellite industry ... -
Long term adherence to antiretroviral therapy in a South African cohort.
(2018)Background Current treatment of HIV requires life-long antiretroviral therapy (ART) to suppress HIV replication. Adherence to medication is a critical component of treatment success, where ≥95% of doses, must be taken ...
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