Biography
Dr Ratul Das is an Indian researcher, engineer and part-time football enthusiast (supporting FC Barcelona). He is a Postdoctoral Research Associate in the Department where his research focuses on the mechanics of hydrogen embrittlement in steel pipelines, a critical area of study for the global energy and infrastructure sectors.
Ratul employs advanced computational tools to thoroughly assess the susceptibility of metallic components to hydrogen-assisted cracking, with a particular focus on the interaction between hydrogen, plastic strain, and pre-existing defects such as dents or gouges in steel pipes.
Ratul earned his PhD in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Cambridge in 2023, supervised by Professor Norman A. Fleck, a pioneer in the field of mechanics and materials science. Before PhD, he completed a research-based master's degree from The University of British Columbia in Canada in 2019 and obtained a bachelor's degree from the Indian Institute of Technology in 2016.
Research interests
Hydrogen embrittlement: Hydrogen embrittlement in metal has been well-known for over a century and poses a significant risk to Hydrogen transport and storage infrastructure. My present research plays a critical role in tackling this well-known yet poorly understood critical problem. It focuses on ensuring robustness of hydrogen transport pipelines through the development of advanced finite element models, which will predict safe conditions for hydrogen transport in existing natural gas pipelines. These models can also assess the integrity of high-pressure hydrogen storage tanks and devices. It is essential to ensure the safety of hydrogen transport and storage for a swift and secure transition to a hydrogen- powered economy. This research aligns with the UK's hydrogen economy commitments and will become increasingly relevant as the country advances toward its net zero goals by 2030.
Liquid Transport in porous media: It is a very challenging problem of significant engineering application, based on observations going back 100 years but without a sound physical interpretation: observations and explanations for water rise kinetics in a porous engineering solid. This has very wide application in the UK from rising damp in buildings, cheap medical tests to fluid separation and groundwater movement. In fact, it builds upon the work pioneered by the Nobel prize winner French scientist Philip de Gennes. I design novel experiments and modelling techniques to predict liquid transport in highly complex porous engineering material.
Research Projects
Assessment of Hydrogen Embrittlement in Dented Steel Pipeline (Funded by Shell): The goal of this project is to build Finite Element Model of H-transport to thoroughly assess the susceptibility of X65 steel pipe to hydrogen-assisted cracking, with a particular focus on the interaction between hydrogen, plastic strain, and pre-existing defects such as dents or gouges.
