Surface Engineering

• Grinding and precision finishing of engineering components.
• Mass finishing of metal, plastic, composite and 3D printed parts.
• Ultrasonic finishing and polishing.
• Laser finishing and surface modification.
• Abrasive water jet finishing.
• Surface finishing of complex-geometry additive manufactured components.
• Electrical Discharge Machining.
• Surface integrity, roughness, texture and materials characterisation.
• Process optimisation and quality control in surface finishing.
• Fatigue, tribology, wear and corrosion performance of surface-treated components.
• Data analysis, modelling and simulation to support surface performance evaluation.
• AI-enabled surface engineering, including:
  • data-driven process optimisation
  • surface quality prediction
  • intelligent manufacturing

Researchers working in surface engineering recognise the growing industrial need for:

• improved component performance
• longer service life
• reduced maintenance cost
• more sustainable manufacturing processes

Surface engineering provides a practical route to improve product quality, reliability and resource efficiency. We are interested in collaborating with companies, research organisations and academic partners on:

• surface finishing
• testing and characterisation
• process development
• student projects
• collaborative funding applications

Surface engineering research draws on facilities and expertise across GERI and the wider University, including:

• manufacturing
• finishing
• measurement
• testing
• characterisation
• modelling
• simulation

Capabilities may include:

• surface finishing and modification processes, including:
  • grinding
  • mass finishing
  • ultrasonic finishing
  • laser finishing
  • abrasive water jet finishing
• surface roughness, texture and profile measurement
• microscopy, imaging and materials characterisation
• mechanical testing and performance evaluation
• corrosion, wear and durability assessment
• data analysis, process optimisation and quality control
• computational modelling and simulation
• AI-enabled surface engineering, including data-driven process optimisation, surface quality prediction and intelligent manufacturing
• access to wider GERI and LJMU engineering facilities

Access to facilities is subject to:

• project requirements
• operational availability
• health and safety procedures

Our research supports the finishing and performance improvement of a wide range of materials and components, including:

• metals
• plastics
• composites
• 3D printed parts
• complex-geometry components

This work is relevant to high-value engineering applications in:

• advanced manufacturing
• additive manufacturing
• energy
• transport
• aerospace
• marine
• other sectors where surface quality, durability and component performance are critical

Surface engineering activities are also linked to GERI’s conference and event engagement, providing opportunities to connect with researchers, students, industry partners and external stakeholders.

• Dr Xiaoxiao Liu (Abrasive Finishing Technology, Tribology, Additive Manufacturing Technologies)
• Dr Tahsin Opoz (Electrical Discharge Machining, Additive Manufacturing Technologies, Grinding Technology, Digital Manufacturing)
• Professor Xun Chen (Advanced Manufacturing Technology, Abrasive Finishing Technology, Digital Manufacturing)
• Dr Andre Batako ( Advanced Manufacturing Technology, Digital Manufacturing)
• Dr Hiren Kotadia (Materials science, Corrosion, Advanced Manufacturing Technologies)
• Professor James Ren (Materials science, Welding, Material Modelling)
• Dr Andrew Naylor (Computer aid-design Engineering, Tribology)
• Dr Mehdi Seddighi (Fluid Mechanics, Surface Modelling)