Dr Dennis De Pellegrin
This person does not currently hold a position at QUT.
Biography
Broad area of research: Nanotechnology and Molecular Science Dr De Pellegrin completed his PhD with distinction in the field of tribology in 2003 at the University of Western Australia. In 2004 he moved to Trinity College Dublin (Ireland) after being awarded an Irish Research Council postdoctoral fellowship. He has now joined Queensland University of Technology as a senior lecturer, where he is engaged in teaching, supervision of QUT's Formula SAE team and research in many areas related to tribology. Research Areas- Contact mechanics and surface physics
- Surface topography measurement and characterization
- Mechanical behaviour of polymer surfaces measured by nanoindentation and scratching
- Grinding and abrasive wear modelling
- Rail wear mechanisms, material modeling, rolling contact fatigue
- Mineral grinding, wear material modelling
- Lubrication of biofuelled engines
- Teaching excellence in tribology and automotive engineering
Grants Dr De Pellegrin has managed over $ 400000 in research funding since 2004
- 2004: IRCSET Post Doctoral Fellowship (Irish Research Council for Science Engineering and Technology)
- 2007: HIROP – High Resolution Optical Photogrammetry (Enterprise Ireland)
- 2008: Early Career Research Grant (QUT )
- 2008: Rail Curve Lubrication (CRC Rail)
- 2012: World Auto Tour 2012 (QUT External Mobility Grant)
- 2012: Optimising gaseous and particulate emissions from diesel engines (ARC Linkage)
Awards
- 2002: Young Investigator Award - Austrib ’02 Perth, Australia
- 2003: Runner-up Poster Prize - ICEAW ’03 Cambridge, UK
- 2004: PhD Distinction
- 2004: Irish Research Council Science Engineering & Technology Postdoctoral Fellowship
Career History
- 2004 - 2008: Trinity College Dublin - Research Fellow & Lecturer
- 1999 - 2003: University of Western Australia - PhD
Personal details
Discipline
Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering
Field of Research code, Australian and New Zealand Standard Research Classification (ANZSRC), 2008
Qualifications
- PhD (distinction) (University of Western Aust.)
- Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) (University of Western Aust.)
Professional memberships and associations
- Society of Tribologists and Lubrication Engineers (STLE)
- American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME)
Teaching
Teaching Areas Units which Dr De Pellegrin coordinates or lectures in.
Teaching Supervision
Dr De Pellegrin teaches in many areas of engineering, but his passions are tribology and vehicle design. Among numerous teaching activities that he conducts some of his favourites include:
- ENB215 Fundamentals of Mechanical Design
- EGB314 Strength of Materials
- ENB315 Motor Racing Vehicle Design
- ENB316 Design of Machine Elements
- ENB317 Design and Maintenance of Machinery
- ENB434 Tribology
Teaching Supervision
- BEB801 and BEB802 Engineering Project
- Masters and PhD students
- QUT Motorsport
Dr De Pellegrin teaches in many areas of engineering, but his passions are tribology and vehicle design. Among numerous teaching activities that he conducts some of his favourites include:
- Finite Element Analysis of hydrodynamic bearing project
- 3D printing of a clock mechanism project
- Design and build innovation project
- Formula SAE racing car chassis design project
- Gearbox lubrication system design project
- Suspension design laboratory
Experience
Community and Professional Service Dr De Pellegrin regularly engages with industry to solve problems related to mechanics, materials science and tribology. Examples include:
Read more
- Mechanical degradation of uPVC plastic
- Micro-valve sticking and leakage
- Bearing analysis and selection
- Abrasive characterisation
- Vision-based quality control
- Metallographic assessment of welds
- Dynamometry
- Hydrodynamic and hydrostatic bearing design and modelling
- Studies of friction, wear and failure
- Nanoindentation of coated glass surfaces and polymers
- Oil, filter and wear debris analysis
- Mechanism analysis and design
- Slip and hazard frictional studies
Selected publications
- Athukoralalage A, Wickramasinghe M, De Pellegrin D, (2015) Effect of different surface profile on wear of rail steel (AS1085.1) used in Australian heavy-haul railways, International Journal of Materials Engineering Innovation, 6 (4), pp. 225-242.
- De Pellegrin D, Sweeney C, (2015) Teaching engineering tribology: Elements of assessment design for different learning styles, International Journal of Engineering Education, 31 (5), pp. 1321-1333.
- De Pellegrin D, (2014) Measuring the mechanical properties of ground ophthalmic polymer surfaces using nanoindentation, Materials Science Forum, 773 - 774, pp. 488-495.
- De Pellegrin D, (2014) Benefits and risks of large hydrostatic recesses in hydroelectric turbine thrust bearings, Presented at: European Conference and Exhibition on 'Lubrication, Maintenance and Tribotechnology', pp. 1.
- De Pellegrin D, Wickramasinghe M, Hargreaves D, (2013) Predicting crack initiation due to ratchetting in rail heads using critical element analysis, World Academy of Science, Engineering and Technology: International Journal of Mechanical, Aerospace, Industrial, Mechatronic and Manufacturing Engineering, 7 (5), pp. 851-856.
- De Pellegrin D, Hargreaves D, (2012) An isoviscous, isothermal model investigating the influence of hydrostatic recesses on a spring-supported tilting pad thrust bearing, Tribology International, 51, pp. 25-35.
- Wickramasinghe M, Hargreaves D, De Pellegrin D, (2012) The suitability of using accumulated plastic strain to assess the damage at the rail-wheel interfaces, Proceedings of the First International Conference on Railway Technology: Research, Development and Maintenance, pp. 1-21.
- De Pellegrin D, Torrance A, (2009) Abrasive surfaces measured by digital optical stereopsis, Advanced Materials Research, 76-78, pp. 465-470.
- De Pellegrin D, Torrance A, Haran E, (2009) Wear mechanisms and scale effects in two-body abrasion, Wear, 266 (1-2), pp. 13-20.
- De Pellegrin D, Corbin N, Baldoni G, Torrance A, (2009) Diamond particle shape: Its measurement and influence in abrasive wear, Tribology International, 42 (1), pp. 160-168.
QUT ePrints
For more publications by Dennis, explore their research in QUT ePrints (our digital repository).
Selected research projects
- Title
- Optimising gaseous and particulate emissions from diesel engines
- Primary fund type
- CAT 1 - Australian Competitive Grant
- Project ID
- LP110200158
- Start year
- 2012
- Keywords
- Internal combustion engines; particulate emissions; dual fuel technology; Alternative fuels; transport emissions
Projects listed above are funded by Australian Competitive Grants. Projects funded from other sources are not listed due to confidentiality agreements.