About Me

Dr. Kirthika Subramanian Kala

Email: sakurakirthi@gmail.com/subramk4@lsbu.ac.uk,

Phone: +44-07388315505

Qualification Highlights

  • Partnered with A2i program and TFI network_ of the European Regional Development Funds of H2020 to develop prototype of the various stone rock solutions, and other waste products in making sustainable and circular economic value-added products

  • Visiting fellow at London South Bank University (LSBU). Involved in material characterisation using advanced instrumentation techniques (scanning electron microscope, scanning acoustic microscope, X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, EDAX, MATLAB, LCA tools etc.) and their deployment into ongoing projects

  • Recently pursuing research activities involving antimicrobial solutions to construction sector by developing antimicrobial cements and activities pertaining to Life cycle analysis of different composites

  • Involved in various stages of system and production support including presenting to industry leaders on the benefits of using anti-microbial cement in production stage for construction industries

  • Part time lecturer in LSBU teaching subjects like track, geo-technical and surveying for railway apprentice students

  • Developed and evaluated building materials like cement, concrete, aggregates, fibres (steel, basalt, polypropylene, glass), waste products (steel slags, coal bottom ash, stone dust) and bricks into value added products towards sustainable development

  • Managed a team of 4 junior associates in developing artificial neutral networking using MATLAB tools to understand the prediction of particle packing density in concrete

Education

Ph.D. Civil Engineering

Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research, CBRI – India, September 2020

Dissertation: “Alternate fine aggregates in concrete as a replacement to river sand”

Advisor: S.K. Singh

M.Tech. Civil Engineering

Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research, CBRI – India, August 2016

Advisor: S.K. Singh

B.Tech. Civil Engineering

Sastra University – India, July 2014

Work Experience

Post Doctorate Research Fellow, London South Bank University – March 2020 – Present

TFI Feasibility Study on Valorisation of Paper Mill Sludge (PMS) to manufacture eco-bricks

  • Established structural property relationship and links by microscopic/mineralogical/metallographic examination and analysis of the raw materials using advanced instrumentation like XRD, SEM, EDS, FTIR, Raman, Surface profilometer, TGA/DTG, rheology

  • Analysed the mechanical and durability properties of newly developed bricks

  • Performed techno-economic and sustainability assessment of valorised bricks using life cycling analysis (Simapro)

  • Separated calcium carbonate and cellulose in pure form to develop nano cellulose using bio 3D printing

  • Developed light weight brick that could be used for decorations, partition walls that acts as an insulator

  • Produced feasibility assessment report and delivered to industry bodies and leading researchers

Material Characterisation of Waste Stone Waste and Cement Materials

  • Characterisation of waste stone waste materials and cements with different composition for finding pozzolanic activity, surface profilometer, scanning acoustic images etc. to understand if a newly developed cement could be manufactured that is eco-friendly and aids in reducing CO2 thus promoting circular economy

  • Development of engineering blocks using waste materials that could be used for cement production that could substitute the clinker issue

  • Developed reports and presented to industry leaders (Stanrocc) on the potential advantages of the newly developed cement

Teaching Experience

Conducting part time teaching on subjects like geotechnical, surveying and track engineering for railway apprentice students for a period of two years at London South Bank University

Significant Achievement

  1. Papers entitled, "Mix proportioning of coal bottom ash as fine aggregate in concrete by minimum paste theory approach ". has got the "Best Paper" award in 2022 at the Indian Concrete Institute, a high-powered professional body in India.

  2. Papers entitled, "Experimental Investigations on Basalt Fibre-Reinforced Concrete". J. Inst. Eng. India Ser. A. pp. 1-10" has got the "Best Paper" award in 2019 at the Institute of Engineers, a high-powered professional body in India.