Adeel Ikram, Ph.D.
Principal Investigator SMART-Lab & Associate Professor
Department of Mechanical Engineering, The Superior University, Lahore, Pakistan
Email: adeel.ikram@superior.edu.pk; dr.adeelikram@gmail.com
Phone: +92-333-422-9060
Research Interests:
Welding and additive manufacturing technologies with a focus on the process-structure-property relationships
Renewable energy and biofuel systems optimization using data-driven and physics-based approaches
Smart heat exchangers design, optimization, and performance enhancement
Multiphysics simulation of coupled thermal, fluid, and metallurgical phenomena
Machine learning-enabled digital twin for intelligent manufacturing and energy systems
Qualification
2013 – 2018, Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering, KAIST, Daejeon, South Korea.
2009 – 2012, M.S. in Manufacturing Engineering, University of Engineering & Technology (UET), Lahore, Pakistan.
2005 – 2009, B.S. in Industrial & Manufacturing Engineering, University of Engineering & Technology (UET), Lahore, Pakistan.
Experience
2025 – Present: Associate Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering, The Superior University, Lahore, Pakistan.
2024 – Present: Chairperson, Department of Mechanical Engineering, The Superior University, Lahore, Pakistan.
2023 – 2025: Assistant Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering, The Superior University, Lahore, Pakistan.
2022 – 2023: Senior Engineer (Manufacturing & Engineering), EEPCON, Lahore, Pakistan.
2018 – 2022: Postdoctoral Researcher, Chungnam National University (CNU), Daejeon, South Korea.
2012 – 2013: Lecturer, Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Gujrat, Gujrat, Pakistan.
Awards & Honors
2018 – 2022: Fully Funded Postdoctoral Fellowship at Chungnam National University, South Korea
2013 – 2018: KAIST International Student Scholarship for PhD Mechanical Engineering, South Korea
2019: Awarded Research Grant for Visual-JW & WSE Conference, Osaka Japan, Nov. 21-22, 2019.
2017: Awarded Prestigious Brain Korea (BK21) Research Grant for 70th IIW Annual Assembly & International Conference, Shanghai China, Jun. 26-30, 2017.
2016: Awarded Prestigious Brain Korea (BK21) Research Grant for 69th IIW Annual Assembly & International Conference, Melbourne, Australia, Jul. 10- 15, 2016.
2024: Best Researcher in Faculty of Engineering and Technology (FET), Superior University, Lahore.
2023 – 2025: Recognition Award for Successfully Leading and Conducting Departmental Pakistan Engineering Council (PEC) Accreditation Visits
2008 – Best CAD Design Award, University of Engineering & Technology, Lahore, Pakistan
Membership of Professional & International Societies
American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) – Member
American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) – Member
Pakistan Engineering Council (PEC), Pakistan – Registered Engineer / Member
Selected Research/Industrial Projects
1. Peak Performance Forecasting in Steam Power Plants
Industry Partner: Balloki Power Plant, District Kasur, Punjab, Pakistan
Role: Principal Investigator
Summary: Developed a data-driven performance forecasting framework for steam power plants, enabling early detection of efficiency degradation and operational anomalies.
Output: Peer‑reviewed journal publication
Publication: View Article
2. Hybrid Multiscale Modeling of Wire Arc Additive Manufacturing (WAAM) and Digital Twin Development
Funding Agency: Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE), Republic of Korea
Grant No.: 20006978
Project Title: IoT and AI‑based Development of a Digital Twin for Block Assembly Process
Summary: Developed a hybrid multiscale numerical framework for WAAM and established key steps toward a physics‑based digital twin integrating process modeling and data analytics.
Output: High‑impact journal publication
Publication: View Article
3. Induction Heating Assisted Gas Metal Arc Welding (IH-GMAW) for Thick Steel Plates
Funding Agency: Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE) & Korea Institute of Energy Technology Evaluation and Planning (KETEP), Republic of Korea
Grant Nos.: 10050495, 30124030200300
Summary: Developed and validated an IH‑GMAW process to improve penetration, thermal efficiency, and weld quality in thick steel plate welding for shipbuilding applications.
Output: High‑impact journal publication
Publication: View Article
4. Advanced Welding Power Supplies in Shipbuilding
Funding Agency: MOTIE, Republic of Korea
Grant Nos.: 10067156, 10050495
Summary: Designed and analyzed advanced welding power supply systems to enhance dimensional accuracy, productivity, and process stability in heavy shipbuilding structures.
Outcome: Industrial deployment and journal publication
Publication: View Article
5. Numerical Modeling of Alternating Current Gas Metal Arc Welding
Funding Agency: MOTIE, Republic of Korea
Grant No.: 20006978
Summary: Developed a physics‑based numerical model of AC‑GMAW, contributing to digital twin development through integration of welding process simulation and AI‑based analytics.
Output: Peer‑reviewed journal publication
Publication: View Article
6. Alternating Current Gas Metal Arc Welding for Single-Pass Welding Investigation
Funding Agency: Chungnam National University Research Fund
Summary: Investigated the feasibility and process characteristics of alternating current gas metal arc welding for single-pass welding, focusing on arc stability, heat input control, and weld quality improvement.
Output: Peer‑reviewed journal publication
Publication: View Article
Professional Services
Technical Advisory Roles
Member, Technical Advisory Board, 11th International Conference on Engineering and Emerging Technologies (ICEET 2025)
(Co-sponsored by IEEE)
Member, Technical Committee, HVACR Student Innovation Conference & Project Expo 2025 (Lahore Region)
(Co-sponsored by University of Central Punjab & Pakistan HVACR Society)
Member, Technical Advisory Board, 10th International Conference on Engineering and Emerging Technologies (ICEET 2024)
(Co-sponsored by IEEE)
Peer Review Activities
Journal Reviewer (Reviewed 50+ peer-reviewed manuscripts)
- Renewable Energy — Elsevier
- International Journal of Hydrogen Energy — Elsevier
- Journal of Manufacturing Processes — Elsevier
- Journal of Mechanical Science and Technology — Springer
- Chemistry Africa — Springer
- International Journal of Ambient Energy — Taylor & Francis
- Case Studies in Thermal Engineering — Elsevier
- Energy Strategy Reviews — Elsevier
- Results in Engineering — Elsevier
- International Journal of Thermal Sciences — Elsevier
- Analytica Chimica Acta — Elsevier
- Energy Conversion and Management — Elsevier