Kenneth Williams

Professor Kenneth Williams is a leading academic in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Newcastle's School of Engineering. His research focuses on advancing bulk material handling technologies, including pneumatic conveying systems, moisture migration in materials, and biomass feedstock optimization. He has driven interdisciplinary collaborations with institutions in Germany, China, Brazil, Turkey, and the USA, enhancing research and innovation in materials handling. Williams has secured over $11.4M in competitive and industry grants, leading projects in areas like dense phase conveying and coal ore transport. He holds patents for a vibrational belt cleaning system and advanced de-watering technology. Awards include the 2016 Excellence in Innovation Award and 2015 Best Paper at the Iron Ore conference. Williams has mentored over 15 PhD/Master’s students annually, fostering a research group with cross-disciplinary ties to civil engineering, chemical engineering, and environmental science. His work emphasizes translating research into industry solutions, such as improving materials handling logistics and reducing operational wear through advanced system design.

Education:

• PhD (Mechanical Engineering), University of Newcastle
• Diploma in Aviation Science, University of Newcastle
• Bachelor of Engineering (Mechanical) (Hons), University of Newcastle

Research Interests: Professor Williams' work spans bulk material dynamics, pneumatic conveying optimization, moisture migration modeling, and biomass handling innovation. His team uses advanced computational tools like Discrete Element Modelling (DEM) and coupled CFD-DEM to simulate material behavior under varying conditions. Recent efforts include studying ship-motion induced moisture migration in coal and developing predictive frameworks for chute blockages.

Awards:

• 2016 Excellence in Innovation Award, Newcastle Innovation
• 2015 Best Paper, Iron Ore 2016 conference

Grants and Supervision: Williams has led 21 projects totaling $4.4M and contributed to 33 additional projects ($7M). His supervision fosters interdisciplinary research, with students focusing on topics like particle dynamics and industrial system optimization. Collaborations include the ARC Research Hub for Iron Ore Technologies and the Global Centre for Environmental Remediation.

Labs & Teams: He leads the Bulk Materials Handling group within the Centre for Bulk Solids and Particulate Technologies (CBSPT), part of the Particle Technology and Transport Research Program (PRC-PTT). This group develops cutting-edge solutions for material flow challenges, integrating experimental and computational methods.