Professor Csaba Sinka

PhD, DIC

T: +44 (0)116 252 2555
E: ics4@le.ac.uk

Location: Room 138, Michael Atiyah Building

Research interests

My area of research is the mechanics of granular and porous materials with applications to particle science and engineering. 

A wide range of goods are manufactured by die compaction of powders. A major theme in my research is related to improving the fundamental understanding of the mechanics of powder and particulate materials and developing appropriate constitutive laws for the processes involved. My active research areas are highlighted in green.

1. Powder flow

The details of the delivery process of powder into the die are important for achieving weight and content uniformity. A model shoe-die facility and high speed video system enabled a 
detailed study of the powder-air interaction and air pressure build-up during powder flow into constrained cavities:

The experimental facility is used to assess the flowability of powders, assist powder formulation design and selection of process parameters relevant to single station presses as well as high speed rotary presses.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qkj1J9GSJkQ

2. Compaction
The behaviour of particulate materials depends on the details of particle-particle interactions which involve elastic and plastic deformation and fracture.

• Theoretical tools (micromechanical models)
• Numerical modelling (material point method for particle impact)
• Experimental facilities (state of the art 700 MPa capacity triaxial testing system):

The constitutive models developed are implemented into finite element packages for practical applications.

3. An integrated approach to powder compaction
The relationships between material properties, process parameters and product performance is investigated through the development of an integrated process model developed for 
the manufacturing of pharmaceutical solid dosage forms.

The process model supports rational product, process and tool design.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lvx56uUOQyo

Current research grants (PI)

EPSRC EP/N025261/1 Virtual Formulation Laboratory for prediction and optimisation of manufacturability of advanced solids based formulations 2017-2020. http://gow.epsrc.ac.uk/NGBOViewGrant.aspx?GrantRef=EP/N025261/1

IFPRI Adhesion of powders to metal surfaces during compaction 2018-2021. https://ifpri.net/

Publications

https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=S2kOUEoAAAAJ&hl=en

Recent publications:

Elmsahli H.S. and Sinka I.C. 2021. A discrete element study of the effect of particle shape on packing density of fine and cohesive powders. Computational Particle Mechanics Vol. 8(2), pp. 183-200. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40571-020-00322-9

Edmans B.D. and Sinka I.C. 2020. Unloading of elastoplastic spheres from large deformations. Powder Technology Vol. 374, pp. 618-631 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.powtec.2020.06.094

Edmans B.D. and Sinka I.C. 2019. Numerical derivation of a normal contact law for compressible plastic particles. Mechanics of Materials. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mechmat.2019.103297

Baserinia R. and Sinka I.C., 2019. Powder die filling rate under gravity and suction fill mechanisms. International Journal of Pharmaceutics. Vol. 563, pp. 135-155. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpharm.2019.01.068

Al-Sabbagh M., Polak P., Roberts R.J., Reynolds G.K., Sinka I.C. 2019. Methodology to estimate the break force of pharmaceutical tablets with curved faces under diametrical compression. International Journal of Pharmaceutics. Vol. 554, pp. 399–419. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpharm.2018.10.014

Members of research group

Current:

Dr. Ben Edmans, Honorary Fellow in the School of Engineering, 3 September 2020 - 2 September 2021.

Dr. Hasan Elmsahli, Honorary Fellow in the School of Engineering, 1 June 2021 - 31 May 2022.

PhD candidate Ahmad Rahmani, Adhesion of powders to metal surfaces during compaction. Estimated start date July 2021.

PhD candidate Junguo Zhao. Novel powder materials for additive manufacturing.

PhD candidate Peter Polak. Understanding densification and crack propagation in pharmaceutical tablet manufacturing.

Past members:

Dr. Ben Edmans, Post-Doctoral Research Associate, 2017-2020

Dr. Abdulrahman Alharbi: Modelling of droplet drying mechanisms,  2019.
Dr. Hasan Elmsahli. Numerical Analysis of powder flow using computational fluid dynamics coupled with discrete element modelling, 2018.
Dr. Amnani Binti Shamjuddin. Swelling and disintegration of multi-component polymeric structures, 2018.
Dr. Muhanad Al-Sabbagh. Influence of contact strength between particles on the constitutive law for powder compaction, 2018.
Dr. Lida Che. Numerical constitutive laws for powder compaction, 2017.
Dr. Reza Baserinia. Flow of fine and cohesive powders under controlled air pressure conditions, 2016.
Dr. Chenglong Shang. Modelling powder compaction and breakage of compacts, 2012.

Teaching

EG4113/EG7037 Advanced Solid Mechanics. 2019 – date

EG4017 Engineering in Society, Ethics and Professional Development. 2019 - date

EG1101 Mechanical Engineering. Solid Mechanics. 2017 – date.

EG1002 Design and CAD module convenor. 2006 - 2016

EG3070 Elastic analysis/EG3103 Mechanics of Structures 2 module convenor. 2006 - 2016

Admin

REF 2021 Deputy Lead UoA12 Engineering, 2019 - date.

REF 2021 Impact Lead, Department of Engineering, 2018-date.

PGR Director, College of Science and Engineering 2016–2018.

Programme Director for MSC in Advanced Mechanical Engineering and MSC in Advanced Engineering 2012 – 2016.

Liaison Officer with the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE), 2008 – date.

Chair of Second Year Exam Board, Department of Engineering 2012 – 2015.

Chair of Safety Committee, Department f Engineering 2006 – 2012.