Sophia Immanuel | Textile-Reinforced Concrete | FRP Product Development Excellence Award

Mrs. Sophia Immanuel | Textile-Reinforced Concrete | FRP Product Development Excellence Award

Research Scholar| National Institute of Technology, Tiruchirappalli|India

Mrs. Sophia Immanuel is an enthusiastic and highly motivated researcher in Textile-Reinforced Concrete with strong expertise in structural engineering and sustainable construction materials. She holds a Bachelor of Engineering in Civil Engineering from 2011 to 2015, followed by a Master of Technology in Structural Engineering with excellent academic performance, and a Doctor of Philosophy focused on advanced composite materials from 2022 to 2025. Additionally, she pursued an MBA in Human Resource Management through correspondence between 2020 and 2022. Her research expertise covers Textile-Reinforced Concrete, fibre reinforced composites, impact dynamics, structural dynamics, and magnetorheological dampers for seismic-resistant structures. Sophia has significant experimental experience in tensile behaviour of TRC composites, coir fibre characterization, tensile testing of Textile-Reinforced Concrete, and has received training in Digital Image Correlation technology. Her professional journey includes roles as a Project Intern at Flinders University, Assistant Professor (Guest) at Dr. B. R. Ambedkar Institute of Technology where she also served as NBA Coordinator and Faculty Advisor, and Project Officer at IIT Madras in the BTCM division. She has taught key structural engineering subjects to undergraduate students and was recognized with the Best Faculty Award in 2018. Sophia has published impactful research articles in reputed international journals such as Elsevier and Springer, contributing to the advancement of innovative TRC systems and sustainable low-cost housing. Proficient in tools like MATLAB, ABAQUS, AutoCAD, and Python basics, she continues to build strong collaborations with leading researchers while upholding integrity, dedication, and a deep sense of responsibility in her scientific pursuits.

Featured Publications

Immanuel, S., & Baskar, K. (2025). Low-velocity impact induced damage and dynamic response of two-way textile reinforced concrete slabs. Structures, 80, 110164.

Immanuel, S., & Baskar, K. (2025). Investigating the effect of textile layers on the flexural response of textile reinforced concrete panels. Structures, 71, 1108112.

Immanuel, S., O., Aniket, Baskar, K., & Arun, M. (2023). A state-of-art review on the mechanical performance of basalt textile reinforced concrete (BTRC). The Journal of Mechanics of Materials and Structures, 18(4), 593–618.

Immanuel, S., & Baskar, K. (2023). A state-of-the-art review on sustainable low-cost housing and application of textile reinforced concrete. Innovative Infrastructure Solutions, 8(1), 1–16.

Immanuel, S., & Kaliyamoorthy, B. (2023). Comparative study on the flexural behavior of BTRC and CTRC panels. In Structural Engineering Convention (pp. 569–579). Springer Nature Singapore.

Cruze, D., Gladston, H., Immanuel, S., Loganathan, S., Dharmaraj, T., & Solomon, S. M. (2018). Experimental investigation on magnetorheological damper for RCC frames subjected to cyclic loading. Advances in Civil Engineering Materials, 7(3), 413–427.

Touha Nazrun | Composite Materials | Best Researcher Award

Mrs. Touha Nazrun | Composite Materials | Best Researcher Award

Mrs. Touha Nazrun | Western Sydney University | Australia

Mrs. Touha Nazrun is an emerging researcher in fire safety engineering whose work demonstrates strong scientific promise, technical depth, and consistent research productivity. Her role as a Casual Research Assistant at Western Sydney University involves conducting experimental studies on the application of developed intumescent coatings on aluminium sheets, ACP cladding panels, gypsum boards, and concrete materials, with a focus on enhancing fire resistance and evaluating material performance under high-temperature conditions. She has authored several peer-reviewed publications in reputable journals, including contributions to Sustainability, Progress in Organic Coatings, and Fire, covering topics such as sustainable biopolymer-based cladding materials, fire performance improvements of aluminium composite panels, and comprehensive reviews of intumescent coating formulations and manufacturing methods. Her conference paper on the fire behaviour of aluminium sheets coated with intumescent materials earned a Best Paper Award, underscoring the originality and impact of her research. She maintains an active research pipeline with submitted and ready-to-submit manuscripts addressing material characterization, polymer–mineral filler compositions, and the use of recycled silicon dioxide in coating systems. Her scientific contributions extend to practical fire safety advancements, sustainable material development, and performance evaluation of protective coatings, reflecting her commitment to solving real-world engineering challenges. Beyond research, she has participated in technical conferences, volunteered in professional events related to fire safety engineering, and engaged in community and organizational activities, demonstrating a strong service orientation alongside academic excellence. Her growing body of work positions her as a promising researcher contributing valuable knowledge to the fields of fire protection materials, sustainable cladding technologies, and applied fire safety engineering.

Profile:  Scopus | ORCID | Google Scholar | ResearchGate

Featured Publications

Nazrun, T., Hassan, M. K., Hossain, M. D., Ahmed, B., Hasnat, M. R., & Saha, S. (2024). Application of biopolymers as sustainable cladding materials: A review. Sustainability, 16(1), 27.

Nazrun, T., Hassan, M. K., Hasnat, M. R., Hossain, M. D., Ahmed, B., & Saha, S. (2025). A comprehensive review on intumescent coatings: Formulation, manufacturing methods, research development, and issues. Fire, 8(4), 155.

Nazrun, T., Hassan, M. K., Hasnat, M. R., Hossain, M. D., & Saha, S. (2025). Improving fire performance of solid aluminium and composite cladding panels incorporating intumescent coatings. Progress in Organic Coatings, 201, 109142.

Nazrun, T., Hassan, M. K., Hasnat, M. R., Hossain, M. D., & Saha, S. (2024). Comparative study on fire behaviour of solid aluminium sheets coated with intumescent materials. Proceedings of the International Conference on Fire Safety Engineering Research and Practice.

Suresh Vellingiri | Matrix Composites | Pioneer Researcher Award

Dr. Suresh Vellingiri | Matrix Composites | Pioneer Researcher Award

Associate Professor | Kalaignar karunanidhi Institute of Technology | India

Dr. Suresh Vellingiri is a distinguished academic and researcher in the field of Mechanical Engineering, currently serving as an Associate Professor at KIT–Kalaignarkarunanidhi Institute of Technology, Coimbatore. He holds a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from Anna University, obtained in 2014, along with an M.E. in Engineering Design and a B.E. in Mechanical Engineering, both with first-class distinction. With over two decades of academic and research experience, including 11 years post-Ph.D., Dr. Vellingiri has made notable contributions in materials and manufacturing processes, composite materials, CAD/CAM, FEA, and additive manufacturing technologies. His doctoral research focused on the mechanical testing and machining parameter analysis of LM25 aluminium hybrid metal matrix composites reinforced with boron carbide and graphite. A recognized research supervisor under Anna University, he has published extensively in reputed journals, achieving over 970 citations with an h-index of 13 and i10-index of 16. His research includes innovative works on intelligent control systems, solar energy applications, and biofuels with nano-additives. Beyond research, Dr. Vellingiri has played several academic leadership roles, including Research Coordinator, NBA/NAAC Criteria Coordinator, and International Conference Organizer at various engineering institutions. His consistent efforts in promoting academic excellence, mentoring young researchers, and integrating modern design and manufacturing concepts into education exemplify his dedication to advancing engineering science and technology. Through his scholarly impact, leadership, and research innovation, Dr. Vellingiri continues to be a driving force in the evolving field of mechanical and manufacturing engineering.

Profile:  ORCID Google Scholar

Featured Publications

  • Perundyurai, T. S., Vellingiri, S., Rajendrian, S., Munusamy, S., & Chinnaiyan, S. (2020). K-nearest neighbour technique for the effective prediction of refrigeration parameter compatible for automobile. Thermal Science, 24(1 Part B), 565–569.

  • Vigneshkumar, N., Venkatasudhahar, M., Kumar, P. M., Ramesh, A., Subbiah, R., & Vellingiri, S. (2021). Investigation on indirect solar dryer for drying sliced potatoes using phase change materials (PCM). Materials Today: Proceedings, 47, 5233–5238.

  • Vasanthaseelan, S., Kumar, P. M., Anandkumar, R., Ram, K. H., Subbiah, R., & Vellingiri, S. (2021). Investigation on solar water heater with different types of turbulators. Materials Today: Proceedings, 47, 5203–5208.

  • Saravankumar, P. T., Suresh, V., Vijayan, V., & Godwin Antony, A. (2019). Ecological effect of corn oil biofuel with SiO₂ nano-additives. Energy Sources, Part A: Recovery, Utilization, and Environmental Effects, 41, 1–10.

  • Sathish Kumar, A., Naveen, S., Vijayakumar, R., Suresh, V., Asary, A. R., & Others. (2023). An intelligent fuzzy-particle swarm optimization supervisory-based control of robot manipulator for industrial welding applications. Scientific Reports, 13(1), 8253.