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Tech Talk – Cold-formed Stainless Steel Structures under Concentrated Bearing Loads

Innovation Wing Two, TechTalk / By

The application of stainless steel (SS) as an alternative construction material has been developing in the last decade. SS construction has an outstanding structural performance, excellent corrosion resistance, and long-term durability. Moreover, the SS construction has a relatively low maintenance cost with possibility of a longer occupancy period, and thus it promotes sustainability in the construction industry. In combination with the cold-forming technique during the fabrication process, SS structures offer additional strength and a faster construction speed. However, the available international design standards for cold-formed stainless steel (CFSS) structures have not been developed thoroughly, specifically on the strength prediction of a member under concentrated bearing loads, which causes a web crippling. Therefore, a series of laboratory testing and computational simulations were conducted in this research to evaluate the existing design standards. The reliability analysis shows that the available strength predictions in the design standards are not safely used even though they are conservative. This research proposes new strength predictions that are safe and conservative, and it can be used for an improvement of the design standards.

Tech Talk – Engineering of quantum nanodiamonds

Innovation Wing Two, TechTalk / By

Diamond, the most famed of all gemstones, is unique in many ways. However, beyond the sparkle, diamonds have many unique properties for copious applications. In particular, nanoscale diamond particles, generally known as nanodiamonds (NDs), have several outstanding material qualities, offering a wide range of potential for basic science and industrial applications. The practical applications of the quantum NDs are highly dependent on obtaining a well-defined surface through cleaning. Here, this talk will first present a simple, reliable, and reproducible purification method, namely, the salt-assisted air oxidation treatment, which enables scale-up manufacturing of clean NDs. At the same time, it is discovered that NDs could work as an effective agent against oral infections. These findings will significantly enhance the scope of these little gemstones in diverse scientific and industrial fields, particularly in demanding areas such as biomedical and quantum sensing.

Tech Talk – Re-understanding of Active Volcanoes

Innovation Wing Two, TechTalk / By

The conventional understanding of active volcanoes is based on the theory of hot magma (molten rock) from mantle. Although this magma theory has been widely believed in Earth Science, the prediction of volcano eruption can be incorrect. For example, the recent massive eruption of the Tonga Hunga volcano was not predicted. The devastating eruption of the Mount Ontake volcano in Japan on Sept. 27, 2014 was also not predicted and/or warned at all, consequently caused 55 fatalities, 9 missing and more than 60 injured.

In this Tech Talk, Professor Yue will present his re-understanding of active volcanoes using his methane gas theory. This methane gas theory of active volcanoes is original and can interpret all the observed phenomena associated with active volcanoes. It can be used to correctly predict and effectively reduce the occurrence of damaging volcano eruptions. It can be further used to obtain the huge amount of natural gas resources from gas chambers of active volcanoes at several kilometers below the ground rocks

Wetlab Safety Arrangement

Uncategorized / By

        This document is mounted at innowings.engg.hku.hk/safety_wetlab/ and it details the precautions for using the equipment items and conducting polymerase chain reaction (PRC) related experiments in the Room LG-09 (wetlab) of InnoWing. 1. Balance · Keep the balance in a vibration-free environment. · Place in an area with controlled humidity and temperature. …

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Abrasive waterjet cutting machine

Equipment & Facilities / By

The Abrasive Waterjet Cutting Machine is a versatile and innovative tool that offers precision cutting capabilities for a wide range of materials. With its ability to cut complex shapes and patterns, and its clean and environmentally friendly process, it has become a popular choice for professionals and hobbyists alike.

Acrylic laser cutting and engraving machine

Equipment & Facilities / By

An acrylic laser cutting and engraving machine is a powerful tool for creating high-precision designs in acrylic materials. These machines use a high-powered laser to cut and engrave designs onto acrylic sheets, resulting in intricate and detailed finished products. Acrylic is a popular material for laser cutting and engraving due to its versatility, durability, and transparency. With a laser cutting and engraving machine, users can create a variety of products, including signage, jewelry, awards, and decorative items. These machines typically offer a range of settings to adjust the laser’s power and speed, allowing for precise control over the cutting and engraving process.

Machine shop

Equipment & Facilities / By

The machine shop in Tam Wing Fan Innovation Wing is only accessible to trained members with approved skills by the technical manager. The facility offers an opportunity for students and researchers to develop their skills in precision manufacturing and fabrication using heavy-duty machines such as CNC machines, lathe machines, and bench saws. The machines are capable of producing high-quality parts and prototypes from a variety of materials, including metal, plastic, and wood. Safety protocols are strictly followed to ensure a safe and controlled environment, and access is limited to trained members to maintain the equipment and ensure proper usage.

HKU Robocon 2020

Industrial and Manufacturing Systems Engineering, SIG project / By

The annual Robocon competition project allows HKU engineering students from different disciplines to design and fabricate innovative robots with an integration of various advanced technologies, including IoT sensors, AI, computer vision, and mobile computing. Besides, it provides hands-on experiences on product design, prototyping, CNC machining, design and fabrication of electric circuit and PCB, control program development, etc.