| Qumrul Ahsan |
Biography |
Abstract |
- Professor
- Department of Materials and Metallugical Engineering
- Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology
- Bangladesh
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Dr. Qumrul Ahsan was born on 1st January 1963 in Dhaka Bangladesh. Raised in Dhaka, Qumrul now lives with his wife Rooma and daughter Rodela. He completed his high school studies in 1980. Then he earned B.Sc. and M.Sc. Engineering degrees in Metallurgical Engineering from Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET), Dhaka. After his graduation he first joined the largest steel plant in Bangladesh and then he joined Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission. Finally he joined as a faculty in the department of Materials and Metallurgical Engineering (MME) in 1991. His pre engineering background helps MME Department in developing course curriculum and laboratory infrastructure. In 1993 he was awarded a Commonwealth Scholarship to pursue higher studies in the University of Birmingham, UK. After completion of his Ph.D in 1997, he came back and resumed his charges in the MME Department at BUET. At present he is discharging duties as the Head of the Department.
Dr. Ahsan thoroughly enjoys teaching and mentoring students. Over the years he developed his teaching philosophy based on the modern pedagogic principles and students’ feed back. Dr. Ahsan takes pride in his work and his dedication is evident in all his endeavors. He is keen on updating his knowledge on the latest advances in his field He is very serious about specializing in composite materials and his recent research studies in natural fiber reinforced plastic composite deserve a special mention. He is now co-ordinating an academic linkage program between MTM department of K. U. Leuven Belgium and MME department of BUET. The current emphasis of the linkage is on ‘Valorization of natural resources of Bangladesh: polymer composite materials based on jute fibers’.
Over the years with whom Dr.Ahsan has collaborated extensively and intensively include Prof J. F. Knott, The University of Birmingham, UK, Prof. Ignaas Verpoest, Katholieke University of Leuven, Belgium, Prof. Hiroshi Kato, Saitama University, Japan and others. Before receiving this prestigious award Dr. Ahsan has also been honored by several national and international research awards.
In addition to activities in academic arena, Dr. Ahsan also has been providing expert services to various leading industries and engineering infrastructures in Bangladesh. He is directly involved as resource person for the capacity building of light engineering industries and ‘reverse engineering’. He is also willing to learn and put his expertise at the disposal of industrial partners so as to build a long relationship with industries.
Title of the Project : Composites Reinforced with Natural Fibers – A Challenge for Innovative Products
The interest in using natural fibers as reinforcement agents in engineering polymer or plastic has drawn much attention in the developed countries for fabricating components used in automobile, railway and house hold sectors. Bangladesh at present is showing initial interest on the development of natural fiber reinforced composites because of the expected enhanced economic returns from natural fiber (jute, coconut choir etc) reinforced composite. The natural fibers have the potential to be used as substitute of synthetic fibers in applications such as ply wood /fiber board as panels, flush doors, false ceilings, partitions storage devices (crate boxes) and common household products (lampshades, tray, furniture etc ). In this natural resource deprived country, jute is a very vital renewable raw material. But because of the lack of systematic research, Bangladesh so far could not produce value added products based on jute. The present research project focuses on the development of jute composites as diversified products with value addition to jute. Both the project promoter and the concerned department take academic challenge for the utilization of jute in high value added products which will lead to increase economic activities and better price of raw jute. To achieve the goal of producing high value added products based on natural fiber, the present research will attempt to identify shortcomings which originate from a poor interface quality of jute fiber reinforced composites and to concentrate on the optimisation of the interfacial properties to increase the composite performance. Input of expert opinion from relevant researchers of other countries in the project will be helpful to develop innovative composite products. This project will also address environmental issues by seeking substitution of non-renewable synthetic fiber with renewable jute fiber in composite materials. The direct beneficiary from the research will be the MME department which will be able to play pivotal role in the development and producing of natural fiber reinforced composites. Once the natural fiber reinforced composite industries grow in the country, farmers producing natural fiber especially jute will get benefit in the long run and the general population will also gain benefit from the greater use of the eco friendly material.
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