Biographical note

Jawahar Paulraj, PhD, is a member of the Faculty in the Mechanical Engineering Department, National Institute of Technology Agartala, Agartala, Tamil Nadu, India, and has 17 years of academic and research experience. He earned a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering in 1999 at Manonmaniam Sundaranar University, Tamil Nadu, Indi, a master’s degree in production engineering in 2001 at Annamalai University, Tamil Nadu, India, and a PhD in metallurgical and materials engineering in 2007 at the Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Tamil Nadu, India. He has published more than 50 research articles in reputed international journals and at international conferences and has published three chapters in peer-reviewed books. Dr. Jawahar has ongoing/completed research projects worth Rs. 62 lakhs in the fields of polymer composites and the friction stir welding of nonferrous metals/alloys. His areas of interest include tribology, nanocomposites, polymer composites, elastomeric composites, friction stir welding of nonferrous alloys, and metal casting.

Prasun Chakraborti, PhD, is the senior-most Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the National Institute of Technology Agartala, an institute of national importance in Tripura, India. He earned a PhD in machine design at the Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur, and an MTech in the design of mechanical equipment at IIT Delhi. With an extensive career spanning nearly 40 years of teaching and research experience, Professor Chakraborti has a rich background in academics and research and as a professional. His contributions extend beyond academia, as he has successfully led various projects at the National Institute of Technology Agartala and has collaborated with renowned funding agencies. Under his guidance, 11 PhD scholars and more than 20 postgraduate scholars have completed their thesis, as Professor Chakraborti has helped to shape the next generation of researchers. Professor Chakraborti’s commitment to academic enrichment is further demonstrated through his active participation in numerous workshops, faculty development programs, and conferences over the last three decades. He also has organized several events, showcasing his leadership in academics through the formation of two dozen academic and research memorandums of understanding (MoUs) with premier institutions in India and abroad. His scholarly pursuits are evident through the presentation of keynote lectures at several national and international conferences, coupled with the publication of more than 75 articles in peer-reviewed international journals. Beyond his academic and research endeavors, Professor Chakraborti plays a pivotal role in the scholarly community by serving as an editorial board member and reviewer for various journals and PhD theses. His multifaceted contributions underscore his commitment to advancing knowledge, fostering academic growth, and nurturing the talents of aspiring scholars.

V. Anandakrishnan, PhD, is a Professor in the Department of Production Engineering, National Institute of Technology Tiruchirapalli, Tamil Nadu, India. He earned a BSME in 1999 at Bharathidasan University, Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu, and an ME and PhD in production engineering at Annamalai University, Tamil Nadu, India, and the National Institute of Technology, Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu, India, in 2001 and 2010, respectively. Currently he is the Associate Head of the Center of Excellence in Manufacturing at the National Institute of Technology, Tiruchirapalli, Tamil Nadu, India. He has completed research/consultancy projects worth Rs. 40 lakhs in the field of metal additive manufacturing and unconventional manufacturing processes for DRDO laboratories. He has produced six PhD degrees and is currently guiding eight PhD scholars. He has delivered more than 125 guest lectures at various engineering colleges. He has also published more than 100 research articles in reputed international journals and published 8 chapters in peer-reviewed books. His research interests include materials design, powder metallurgy, metal forming, unconventional manufacturing processes, metal additive manufacturing, tribology, automation, robotics, and CNC technology.

S. Sathishkumar is a PhD Research Scholar in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the National Institute of Technology, Agartala (Ministry of Education, Government of India). He earned a BE in mechanical engineering and an ME in engineering design at Anna University in Tamil Nadu, India, and an MBA in the operation management division at the University of Madras. He previously held the position of Assistant Professor at Chennai’s Vel Tech Rangarajan Dr. Sagunthala Research and Development Institute of Science and Technology. He has presented more than ten research articles at national and international conferences and has published more than 20 research articles in various reputed national and international publications. Additionally, he serves as one of the editors of the Futuristic Trends in Mechanical Engineering book series. In 2018, he received the Research Excellence Award from the Institute of Scholars (InSc) and obtained a lifetime membership in the Indian Society for Technical Education (MISTE), ISRD, and IAENG. He also has contributed as a reviewer and editorial member at various reputed high-impact factored international journals. His research interests include solid mechanics, polymer composites, biomaterials, tribology, fatigue, and material characterization.