Ali Daraji is a lecturer in mechanical engineering at the School of Mechanical, Aerospace and Automotive Engineering. He joined Coventry University on 15th Sep2015. He is a member of the structural integrity research group in the Insitute of Future Transport and Cities. Prior to this, he worked two years as a research associate at Lancaster University for the project entitled Energy Harvesting Powered Wireless Monitoring Systems Based on Integrated Smart Composite Structures and Energy Architecture. This project is collaborative research work with Lancaster, Exeter and Central Lancashire Universities. He joined Newcastle University and was awarded a PhD in mechanical engineering in Nov2013. His PhD research is entitled Active Vibration Control of Flexible Structures by Optimally Placed Piezoelectric Sensors and Actuators. After that, he joined the University of Technology in Baghdad as a lecturer at Electromechanical Department for two years. 

He was awarded a first-class BSc in mechanical engineering in the summer of 1988 and a first-class MSc in mechanical engineering/ dynamic structures in Nov1995. He worked as a lecturer directly after graduation in 1988 for more than fifteen years at the University of Technology, at the same time, he worked as a consultant, leading engineering and technician teams and conducted a number of industrial projects between the University and companies in the engineering industry. 

I accept Master by Research and PhD study in the field of smart structures covering active vibration control, piezoelectric energy harvesting and structural health monitoring.

Teaching:

• M49MAE: Stress and Dynamic Analysis II/ MEng Fourth-year, lead the Dynamic Analysis part, lectures, coursework and tutorials. 
• 5034MAA: Analytical Modelling/ Second-year, Module leader, lead lectures and tutorials. 
• 5035MAE: Solid Mechanics and Dynamics/ Second-year, lead tutorials in solid mechanics and dynamics. 
• 326MAE: Stress and Dynamic Analysis I/ Third year, lead tutorials stress and dynamic analysis 
• 340MAE: Extended Stress and Dynamic Analysis/Third-year lead tutorials in stress and dynamic.  
• Coordinator of the CAE software. 

MSc and PhD Supervision:

• I'm DoS for the PhD project entitled Optimisation of Piezoelectric Energy harvesting Within Allowable Strain for a Flexible Structure.
• I supervise PhD student for the project entitled energy harvesting from dynamic strain in pavement road.  
• I supervise BSc, MSc and MEng students for research projects in the area of smart structures including active vibration control, energy harvesting and structural health monitoring.

Funded Project:

I’m working on a European funded international project related to aerospace structural health monitoring to make flight safer for people.  

Ali Daraji is interseted in modelling of passive and smart structures using finite element, ANSYS simulation and experimental methods to investigate: 

1. Active vibration control of flexible structures by optimally placed of discrete piezoelectric sensors and actuators using genetic algorithms. 

2. Optimisation of energy harvesting from structural vibration.

3. Cracks and damage detection in concrete, composite and steel structures using ultrasonic waves and wave propagation.

4. Optimal placement of discrete piezoeelectric sensors and actuators using genetic algorithms and developed methodologies for active vibration control, energy harvesting and structure health monitoring. 

Selected published papers 

Daraji, A. H., J. M. Hale, and J. Ye, New methodology for optimal placement of piezoelectric sensor/actuator pairs for active vibration control of flexible structures. Journal of Vibration and Acoustic transactions of the ASME, 2018, v.140(1),01105-13 

Daraji, A. H. and J. Ye, Optimisation of energy harvesting for stiffened composite shells with application to the aircarft wing at structural flight frequency, 20ICCS, Pairs,2017.

Daraji, A. H. and J. Ye, Energy harvesting of composite cantilever beam mounted on flexible structures to protect piezoelectric sensor and maximisation of the output power,20ICCS,Pairs, 2017. 

Daraji, A. H. and J. M. Hale, Reduction of structural weight, costs and complexity of control system in active vibration reduction of flexible structures. Journal of Smart Materials and Structures. 2014,v.23, 115018.

Daraji, A. H. and J. M. Hale, Active vibration control by optimally placed piezoelectric sensors and actuators with application to stiffened plate by beams. Journal of Smart Materials and Structures, 2014, v.23, 115018.

Daraji, A. H. and J. M. Hale, Active vibration reduction of a flexible structure bonded with optimised piezoelectric pairs using half and quarter chromosomes in genetic algorithms. Journal of Physics,  Confrence series, 2012, 328(1). 

 The following link includes Ali Daraji PhD thesis.

https://theses.ncl.ac.uk/dspace/handle/10443/2484

 The following link shows a movie of a PhD rig and experiment for vibration control.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ITlzOYQb6M

 The following link shows a movies of optimal placement of sensors and actuators using genetic algorithms.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YDUP5oHuChE

PhD in mechanical engineering