Dr Payam Khazaeinejad

Faculty of Engineering, Computing and the Environment
Department of Mechanical Engineering
Department of Aerospace and Aircraft Engineering
Department of Electrical, Electronic and Robotic Engineering
School of Engineering
Roehampton Vale

School Director of Learning and Teaching

Email:: [email protected]

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About

I hold a PhD in Engineering from the University of Edinburgh. I am a Chartered Engineer, Chartered Scientist, and Senior Fellow of Higher Education Academy (Advance HE). Additionally, I am a Senior Member of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA), and a Member of the Institute of Physics (IOP), the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE), the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), EPSRC Peer Review College, and Chartered Management Institute (CMI).

I am the Director of Learning and Teaching in the School of Engineering at Kingston University London and the Scheme Owner for the University's Monitored Professional Development Scheme (MPDS) accredited by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE). I also chair the IMechE's Structural Technology and Materials Group (STMG) and serve on the IMechE Technical Strategy Board, the IMechE Council, and the Applied Mechanics Group of the Institute of Physics (IOP).

My research centres on computational design as a transformative tool in materials science and structural engineering. Rooted in solid mechanics and advanced simulation techniques, my work integrates bio-inspired paradigms to engineer materials and systems with extraordinary properties and adaptability, from microstructural architectures to full-scale applications. By leveraging nature's design principles, I use high-fidelity algorithms and models to create structures that are optimised for performance, efficiency, and resilience. Computational methodologies are not only central to innovating material behaviour but also to understanding the mechanics of failure under extreme thermomechanical conditions. Through simulation-driven analysis, I uncover hidden structural mechanisms and inform design strategies that enhance safety and reliability. This dual focus, on materials design and structural integrity, is unified by a commitment to pushing the boundaries of what is possible through computational tools. My research spans applications from pharmaceutical compaction and biomedical scaffolds to renewable energy systems and offshore infrastructure, demonstrating the broad impact of computational design across disciplines.

Qualifications

2024: Machine Learning for Materials Informatics - MIT Professional Education
2024: Chartered Scientist (CSci) – UK Science Council
2023: Chartered Manager Bootcamp (CMI Level 5 Diploma in Management and Leadership)
2021: Chartered Engineer (CEng) – UK Engineering Council
2021: Certificate in Innovation in Teaching (Laspau – Affiliated with Harvard University)
2016: PhD in Engineering - The University of Edinburgh
2015: Fire Dynamics & Fire Safety Engineering Design Certificate – The University of Edinburgh
2006: MSc Mechanical Engineering - Applied Mechanics
2004: BEng Mechanical Engineering - Solid Mechanics

Domains

In the dynamic field of materials science and engineering, my research stands at the forefront of understanding and manipulating the intricate internal architectures of structural components. My work is driven by the fundamental belief that by tailoring these inner structures, we can customise components to meet specific application needs and performance criteria. My methodology combines advanced computational analysis with experimental techniques, allowing me to unravel the complex interactions that govern material behaviour under various loading and support conditions. This integrative approach provides a holistic understanding of structural performance, emphasising the synergistic dynamics of load-carrying mechanisms.

A distinctive element of my work is the incorporation of bio-inspired design principles into material and system development. Drawing on nature's evolved solutions, I design materials and structures with exceptional properties and adaptability across multiple scales. Utilising cutting-edge algorithms and high-fidelity simulations, I enhance the capabilities of traditional experimental methods and open new avenues for innovation. My research also focuses on identifying and mitigating failure mechanisms in structures exposed to extreme thermomechanical environments, reflecting a commitment to resilience, safety, and reliability in advanced engineering applications.

As an expert in computational design, my work spans a wide range of domains, as illustrated by the selected case studies below.

Selected Case Studies

Pharmaceutical Tablets: Utilising EDEM software's discrete element modelling, the compaction process in orodispersible tablets was simulated, enhancing their suitability for patients with swallowing difficulties.

Bone Regeneration: A series of sophisticated finite element models were developed for bio-inspired piezoelectric scaffolds. These models, optimised using the Taguchi method and calibrated with experimental results, exhibit self-adaptability, mimicking natural bone regeneration.

Floating Solar Panels: Innovatively reducing computational demands, a finite element approach was formulated for heat transfer in floating solar panels, using only a fraction of the degrees of freedom typically required in software simulations.

Structures in Fire: Through large-scale tests on plates with unrestrained edges, my research revealed the formation of a 'compressive ring', akin to a trampoline's rigid ring, under certain conditions. This phenomenon was successfully simulated, offering new insights into structural behaviour in fire.

Subsea Pipelines: Focusing on marine risers, essential in transporting fluids between floating vessels and subsea wells, the static and dynamic behaviour of risers were analysed. This research is crucial in understanding the resilience of these multi-layered components under oceanic conditions.

Qualifications

UK EPSRC Summer School on Meshless Methods in Mechanics, Cardiff University (UK)
Open System for Earthquake Engineering Simulation (OpenSees), The University of Edinburgh (UK)
Fire Dynamics & Fire Safety Engineering Design CPD, BRE Centre for Fire Safety Engineering (UK)
Fire Science and Fire Investigation CPD, BRE Centre for Fire Safety Engineering (UK)
Computer-Aided Engineering
Engineering Mechanics and Materials

Specialisms

Computational modelling and simulation
Smart materials, structures and systems
Bio-inspired design and biomaterials
Architected materials and structures
Failure mechanisms of structural systems and components

Scholarly affiliations

Chartered Engineer, Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE)
Chartered Scientist, Institute of Physics (IOP)
Member, EPSRC Peer Review College
Senior Member, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA)
Member, American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME)

Enterprising Value Award Winner - �� People Awards 2024

Qualifications and expertise

CMI Chartered Manager Bootcamp (CMI Level 5 Diploma in Management and Leadership)

University responsibilities

ECE Faculty Rep - Academic Advisory Group: Central Apply (2025-present)
Member - University's Regulatory Framework Committee (2025-present)
Member - University's Education Committee (2024-present)
School Director of Learning and Teaching - School of Engineering (2024-present)
Member - ECE Faculty Education Committee (2024-present)
Member - ECE Faculty CMMP (Course & Module Modifications Panel) (2024-present)
Member - ECE Faculty Learning & Teaching Group (2024-present)
Member - SDLT (School Directors of Learning & Teaching) Forum (2024-present)
Member - School of Engineering Education Committee (2024-present)
Member - ECE Faculty Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Action Group (2024-present)
Founding Member - Engineering Simulation Group (2024-present)
Member - ECE Faculty Course Portfolio Task Group (2023-present)
Course Director of Undergraduate Mechanical Engineering Programmes (2020-2024)
School Director of Postgraduate Research - School of Engineering (2020-2024)
Industrial Advisory Board (IAB) Liaison Officer - School of Engineering (2022-2024)
Member - ECE Faculty Research Degrees Committee (2019-2024)
Member - Mechanical Engineering Student Voice Committee (2023-2024)
Learning, Teaching & Assessment Development Lead Tutor - Department of Mechanical Engineering (2020-2023)
Extra-Curricular Events & Activities Tutor - Department of Mechanical Engineering (2020-2023)
Member - Mechanical Engineering Staff-Student Consultative Committee (2020-2023)