Dr Panagiotis Alevras Dipl.-Ing., PhD

Dr Panagiotis Alevras

Department of Mechanical Engineering
Lecturer

Contact details

Telephone
+44 (0) 121 414 8251
Email
p.alevras@bham.ac.uk
View my research portal
Address
University of Birmingham
Edgbaston
Birmingham
B15 2TT
UK

Panagiotis Alevras is a Lecturer in Mechanical Engineering.

Panos’ research focuses on nonlinear engineering dynamics and vibrations with a keen interest in the mathematical modelling of nonlinear mechanical and structural systems, particularly under uncertainty. He is pursuing research on fundamental concepts and industrial problems, concentrating on nonlinear energy transfer, electromechanical energy conversion and stochastic response analysis and optimisation. His research employs the generally undesirable nonlinearities in innovative technologies such as energy harvesters and nonlinear energy sinks, for a wide array of applications including automotive, self-powered wireless electronics, offshore renewable energy.

Panos has developed analytical and computational methods for complex engineering systems that along with extensive experimental activities have led to the publication of over 15 peer-reviewed journal papers and over 25 conference papers and presentations.

His main areas of teaching are on vibrations and vehicle dynamics.

Qualifications

  • PhD in Mechanical Engineering, Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh, UK (2015)

 

  • Diploma in Mechanical Engineering, National Technical University of Athens, Athens, Greece (2011)

Biography

Panos graduated with a Diploma in Mechanical Engineering from the National Technical University of Athens in 2011. He then received a PhD in Mechanical Engineering from Heriot-Watt University in 2015, working on a novel design to convert the kinetic energy of ocean surface waves to useful electricity, for which he was awarded the EPS postgraduate research prize.

In early 2016, Panos joined the Dynamics Research Group in Loughborough University under an EPSRC-funded project, leading the work packages related to the development of nonlinear Vibration Energy Harvesters (VEH) for automotive applications. He spent summer 2017 as a Visiting Researcher in the Linear and Nonlinear Dynamics and Vibrations Laboratory of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign working on bi-stable VEHs, and following that, he was supported by the EPSRC Impact Acceleration Account to carry out experimental work on a nonlinear torsional vibration absorber for automotive powertrains. In October 2018, Panos joined the Department of Mechanical Engineering in the University of Birmingham as a Lecturer.

Teaching

BEng/MEng Mechanical Engineering

Postgraduate supervision

Potential postgraduate supervision in the following areas:

  • Vibration energy harvesting
  • Vibration absorbers/isolation
  • Vehicle/Powertrain dynamics
  • Nonlinear dynamics, targeted energy transfer, stochastic dynamics
Prospective PhD applicants please contact Dr Panagiotis Alevras (p.alevras@bham.ac.uk), or see the list of available PhD opportunities in the department here.

Research

Research Themes

Nonlinear Engineering Dynamics, Random Vibrations, Vibration Energy Harvesting, Nonlinear Vibration Absorbers.

Vibration Energy Harvesting

Development of vibration energy harvesters for remotely powered electronics, such as wireless sensors. Exploring the advantages of nonlinearities towards broadening the frequency range of efficient harvesting and improving electromechanical energy conversion. Complex electromechanical systems are investigated involving magnetic levitation, nonlinear geometric and material properties, and advanced dynamics such as parametric resonance, bi-stability and chaos. Passive self-tuning for wideband power output.

Nonlinear Vibration Absorbers

Design of vibration absorbers with emphasis on torsional powertrain vibrations. Targeted Energy Transfer for the development of passive vibration absorbers with modal energy redistribution. Analytical and computational methods are used to understand nonlinear interactions and to facilitate vibration mitigation in mechanical and structural systems, validated through experiments.

Wave Energy Harvesting

Doctoral research on a novel Wave Energy Converter based on the rotational motion of a heaving pendulum, parametrically excited by random ocean surface waves. Conception of feasible design with adjustable properties and optimised power capture. Development of computational algorithms for reliable probabilistic quantification of harnessed energy. Methodological advances for efficient execution of the computational algorithms and experimental verification of the novel design.

Other activities

Member of Professional Bodies

  • American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME)
  • Technical Chamber of Greece (TEE)

Publications

Selected peer-reviewed journal publications:

  • Alevras, P., Theodossiades, S., (2019) Vibration energy harvester for variable speed rotor applications using passively self-tuned beams, Journal of Sound and Vibration, 444: 176-196.
  • Alevras, P., Theodossiades, S., Rahnejat, H., (2018) On the dynamics of a nonlinear energy harvester with multiple backbone curves, Nonlinear Dynamics, 92(3):1271-1286.
  • Yurchenko, D., Alevras, P., (2018), Parametric pendulum based wave energy converter, Mechanical Systems and Signal Processing; 99: 504-515.
  • Alevras, P., Theodossiades, S. and Rahnejat, H., (2017), Broadband energy harvesting from parametric vibrations of a class of nonlinear Mathieu systems, Applied Physics Letters, 110(23): 233901.
  • Alevras, P., Yurchenko, D., (2016), GPU computing for accelerating the numerical Path Integration approach, Computers & Structures, 171: 46-53.
  • Andreeva, T., Alevras, P., Naess, A., Yurchenko, D. (2016), Dynamics of a parametric rotating pendulum under a realistic wave profile, Int. J. Dynam. Control, 4(2): 233-238.
  • Alevras, P., Brown, I. and Yurchenko, D. (2015), Experimental investigation of a rotating parametric pendulum, Nonlinear Dynamics, 81: 201-213.
  • Alevras, P., Bobryk, R.V. and Yurchenko, D. (2014) Stability of an autoparametric pendulum system with impacts, Journal of Sound and Vibration, 333(26): 7233-7247.
  • Alevras P, Yurchenko D., (2014), Stochastic rotational response of a parametric pendulum coupled with an SDOF system. Probabilistic Engineering Mechanics, 37: 124-131.
  • Alevras P, Yurchenko D, Naess A., (2014), Stochastic synchronization of rotating parametric pendulums, Meccanica, 49(8): 1945-1954.
  • Yurchenko, D., Naess, A., Alevras, P., (2013), Pendulum's rotational motion governed by a stochastic Mathieu equation. Probabilistic Engineering Mechanics, 31: 12-18.
  • Yurchenko, D., Alevras, P., (2013), Dynamics of the N-pendulum and its application to a wave energy converter concept, Int. J. of Dynamics and Control, 1(4): 290-299.

View all publications in research portal