Dr. Awani Bhushan | Best Researcher Award

Velllore Institute of Technology, University (Chennai Campus) | India

Dr. Awani Bhushan is an Assistant Professor (Senior Grade) in the School of Mechanical Engineering at Vellore Institute of Technology, Chennai, with an h-index of 6, 33 documents, and 113 citations. He earned his Ph.D. in Machine Design from the Indian Institute of Technology (BHU), Varanasi, and holds prior degrees in machine and mechanical engineering. His research and teaching experience span nuclear engineering, solid mechanics, fracture mechanics, finite element analysis, and reliability assessment, combining analytical, experimental, and numerical approaches. He develops and validates computational models using ANSYS and COMSOL Multiphysics alongside custom FORTRAN and C++ implementations, and applies statistical Weibull-based methods for strength and size-effect characterization. His publications appear in Journal of Nuclear Materials, Journal of Testing and Evaluation, RSC Advances, and other peer-reviewed outlets. Key contributions include Weibull design criteria for nuclear graphite, fracture parameter correlation for unimodular and bimodular graphite, and studies on composites and functionally graded materials. He has secured research funding, filed patents, led collaborative proposals, and mentors students in interdisciplinary projects aimed at energy, defense, and structural-integrity applications. Overall, his work advances computational mechanics and material reliability with practical engineering impact and ongoing scholarly growth.

Profiles : Google Scholar | Scopus | Orcid

Featured Publications

Bhushan, A., & Panda, S. K. (2018). Experimental and computational correlation of fracture parameters KIc, JIc, and GIc for unimodular and bimodular graphite components. Journal of Nuclear Materials, 503, 205–225.

Kumar, H., Tengli, P. N., Mishra, V. K., Tripathi, P., Bhushan, A., & Mishra, P. K. (2017). The effect of reduced graphene oxide on the catalytic activity of Cu–Cr–O–TiO₂ to enhance the thermal decomposition rate of ammonium perchlorate: An efficient fuel oxidizer. RSC Advances, 7(58), 36594–36604.

Bhushan, A., Panda, S. K., Khan, D., Ojha, A., Chattopadhyay, K., & Kushwaha, H. S. (2016). Weibull effective volumes, surfaces, and strength scaling for cylindrical flexure specimens having bi-modularity. Journal of Testing and Evaluation, 44(5), 1978–1997.

Ram, S. C., Chattopadhyay, K., & Bhushan, A. (2023). A literature review on Al–Si alloy matrix based in situ Al–Mg₂Si FG-composites: Synthesis, microstructure features, and mechanical characteristics. Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part C: Journal of Mechanical Engineering Science.

Suman, S., Yadav, A. M., Tomar, N., & Bhushan, A. (2020). Combustion characteristics and behaviour of agricultural biomass: A short review. Renewable Energy – Technologies and Applications.

Suman, S., Yadav, A. M., Bhushan, A., Bhaskara Rao, L., & Rajak, D. K. (2022). Substitution of coking coal with biochar for thermal and metallurgical utilisation. International Journal of Sustainable Energy, 41(11), 1778–1794.*

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Yueguang Gao | Best Researcher Award

North University of China | China

Dr. Yueguang Gao is an Associate Professor at the North University of China, specializing in impact dynamics, explosion mechanics, and material fragmentation. He earned his Ph.D. from the State Key Laboratory of Explosion Science and Technology, Beijing Institute of Technology, and his Bachelor’s degree in Engineering Mechanics from the North University of China. His research focuses on the dynamic fracture of materials under explosive loading, simulation of structural responses under extreme conditions, and theoretical modeling of fragment behavior and velocity distribution. Dr. Gao has published 12 research papers in internationally reputed journals such as the International Journal of Impact Engineering, Defence Technology, and the International Journal of Mechanical Sciences. His scientific contributions have earned him 79 citations and an h-index of 5, reflecting the growing influence of his work in the field of explosion mechanics. He has been recognized with several distinctions, including the National Scholarship (2022) and the North University of China Excellence Scholarship. Through his innovative studies on fragment dynamics and material failure, Dr. Gao continues to contribute significantly to the advancement of defense technology and applied mechanics research.

Featured Publications

Gao, Y., Fu, J., Wu, S., Lan, X., Ren, K., & Yang, R. (2025). Effects of end caps of cylindrical casing on fragment velocity distribution. Defence Technology.

Gao, Y., Fu, J., Wu, S., Feng, S., Zhao, T., Chen, Z., Li, Y., & Liu, H. (2024). A theoretical model for the oblique impact of fragments. International Journal of Impact Engineering, 184, 104837.

Gao, Y., Feng, S., Xiao, X., Feng, Y., & Huang, Q. (2023). Fragment characteristics from a cylindrical casing constrained at one end. International Journal of Mechanical Sciences, 248, 108186.

Gao, Y., Feng, S., Xiao, X., Zhang, B., & Huang, Q. (2023). Fragment characteristics of cylinder with discontinuous charge. International Journal of Impact Engineering, 173, 104479.

Gao, Y., Feng, S., Huang, G., Feng, Y., & Huang, Q. (2022). Experimental study of the oblique impact and ricochet characteristics of cylindrical fragments. International Journal of Impact Engineering, 170, 104334.