Gobinda Saha

Awards and fellowships

• Visiting Professor, Institut de Recherche sur les Céramiques (IRCER) at the Université de Limoges, France, April to June 2023
• Fellow of the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining IOM3, United Kingdom, 2022
• Fredrik and Catherine Eaton Visitorship Award, University of New Brunswick, 2022

Research interests

Dr. Gobinda Saha’s research expertise is in composite, biocomposites, and nanostructured materials. The priority technology development focus areas include 1) nanostructured materials synthesis; 2) Cold spray additive manufacturing; 3) Coatings and 3D architectures; 4) Biopolymers and biocomposites; and 5) Computational modeling.

Under his leadership, since 2015, the UNB’s Nanocomposites and Mechanics Laboratory has challenged the current metal-based additive manufacturing approach with nanostructured cermet (ceramic-metallic) and biomass derived composite materials driven mechanically-superior and environmentally-sustainable solutions.

The work covers conceptual material design, predictive modeling, nanoscale synthesis, advanced manufacturing, testing and characterization, field trial and recycle of materials using state-of-the-art high-pressure cold spray, pultrusion and other technologies to give rise to lightweight, high-strength, high-impact-resistant, 3D materials/technologies with extended operational and safe lifetimes.

Very recently, the lab has joined the world initiative to respond to the risk and threat from COVID-19 pandemic by accelerating the research work on developing surface-protective nanocomposite films that will render the virus inert on contact.

Dr. Saha’s strength in research and innovation is tied with the fact that the work has always been directly linked with industry partners. In recent past he has led the applied R&D at two advanced nanomaterials and structures companies in Calgary (AB).

Dr. Saha has served as the Chair of Composites and Heterogeneous Materials Technical Committee of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) Materials Division, as well as the founding member of the Joint Canada-USA Regulatory Cooperation Council on developing strategies for nanomaterials including risk assessment and management and uses of industrial nanomaterials. Currently, he is serving as a member of the Board of Directors on the Canadian Association for Composite Structures and Materials (CACSMA).

Selected publications

J.V.S.N. Sripada, G.C. Saha, D.C., Saha, H. Jahed, “Bonding mechanism and microstructural evolution in mechanically-alloyed nanodiamond-reinforced Al6061 composite particle deposits in cold spray”, Surface and Coatings Technology, Vol. 466, pp. 129611

A. Morehouse, K.C. Ireland, G.C. Saha, “An investigation into the effects of electric field uniformity on electrospun TPU fiber nano-scale morphology”, Micromachines: Materials and Processing, Feature Article, 2023, pp. 1-15

V. Menon, C. Aranas, G.C. Saha, “Cold spray additive manufacturing of copper-based materials: review and future directions”, Materials Science in Additive Manufacturing, Vol. 1(2), 2022, pp. 1-20

D.C. Saha, J.V.S.N. Sripada, G.C. Saha, H. Jahed, “Microstructure and interfacial bonding evolution of cold spray deposited graphene-reinforced composite feedstock on AZ80 Magnesium substrate”, Journal of Thermal Spray Technology, 2022, pp. 1-18

C.D. Mackin, G.C. Saha, “Design, pultrusion manufacturing, characterization, and reliability testing of a novel PMMA-based glass FRP composite material”, Transportation Engineering, Vol. 8, 2022, pp. 100108

C. Brown, T. McCarthy, K. Chadha, S. Rodrigues, C. Aranas, G.C. Saha, “Constitutive modeling of the hot deformation behavior of CoCrFeMnNi high-entropy alloy”, Materials Science and Engineering: A, Vol. 826, 2021, pp. 141940

C.D. Mackin, B.T. Saulnier, G.C. Saha, A Novel Life Cycle Framework (LCF) to Study the Comparative Mechanical, Environmental, and Economic Impact of Pultruded Thermoplastic vs. Thermoset Glass FRP Composites, Encyclopedia of Materials: Plastics and Polymers, Reference Module in Materials Science and Materials Engineering, Elsevier, 2021.

S. Pathak, G.C. Saha, M.B. Abdul Hadi, N.K. Jain, “Engineered nanomaterials for aviation industry in COVID-19 context: a time-sensitive review”, Coatings, Vol. 11, 2021, pp. 382

G.C. Saha, “Nanostructured alumina-Ni(Zn) cermet feedstock and cold spray coatings for clean transportation industries”, Invited Speaker at the joint International Thermal Spray Conference and Exposition (ITSC2021) and AeroMat 2021, Virtual Event, 24-28 May 2021

A. Alam, G.C. Saha, A.L. Kalamkarov, “Micromechanical analysis of quantum dot-embedded smart nanocomposite materials”, Composites Part C: Open Access, Vol. 3, 2020, pp. 100062

J. VSN Sripada, D.C. Saha, G.C. Saha, H. Jahed, “Study the effect of milling parameters on HE-MA nanostructured Al6061-graphene cermet feedstock particles”, Journal of Alloys and Compounds, Vol. 859, 2021, pp. 157759

G.C. Saha, “Developments in cold spray coatings and 3D material architecture”, Invited Speaker at the CIMTEC 2020 - 15th International Ceramics Congress & 9th Forum on New Materials, Montecatini Terme, Italy, 15-23 June 2020

C. Wallace, G.C. Saha, M.T. Afzal, A. Lloyd, “Experimental and computational modeling of effective flexural/tensile properties of microwave pyrolysis biochar reinforced GFRP biocomposites”, Composites Part B: Engineering, Vol. 175, 2019, pp. 107180

R.K. Dahal, B. Acharya, G.C. Saha, R. Bissessur, A. Farooque, A. Dutta, “Biochar as a filler in glass fiber reinforced composite: experimental study of thermal and mechanical properties”, Composites Part B: Engineering, Vol. 175, 2019, pp. 107169

L. Cui, A.G. Gerber, G.C. Saha, “Cold gas dynamic spray technology: the simulation of aerodynamics of flow”, Key Engineering Materials, Vol. 813, pp. 7-12, 2019

J.P. Campbell, A. Astarita, A. Viscusi, G.C. Saha, “Investigation of strain-hardening characteristics of cold-sprayed Al-Al2O3 coatings: a combined nanoindentation and expanding cavity models approach”, Surface Engineering, 2019, pp. 1-10.

G.C. Saha, “Nanostructured ceramic-metallic (cermet) composites and 3D architecture components for sustainable energy applications”, Keynote Speech at the International Conference on Innovative Applied Energy (IAPE’19), University of Oxford, UK, 14-15 March 2019.

O.I. Kalu, B. Subramanian, B.J. MacLean, G.C. Saha, “A novel approach to the sol-gel synthesis of titanium dioxide-coated SBA-16 type silica mesoporous microspheres for water purification”, Materialia, Vol. 5, 2019, pp. 100237.

J. Tang, G.C. Saha, P. Richter, J. Kondás, A. Colella, P. Matteazzi, “Effects of post-spray heat treatment on hardness and wear properties of Ti-WC high-pressure cold spray coatings”, Journal of Thermal Spray Technology, Vol. 27, 2018, pp. 1153-1164.

L.K. Bowlby, G.C. Saha, M.T. Afzal, “Flexural strength behavior in pultruded GFRP composites reinforced with high specific-surface-area biochar particles synthesized via microwave pyrolysis”, Composites Part A: Applied Science and Manufacturing, Vol. 110, 2018, pp. 190-196.

L. Nath, G.C. Saha, R. Brüning, “Nanocrystalline Al2O3-Ni(Cr) particle synthesis by high-energy mechanical alloying method”, Journal of Alloys and Compounds, Vol. 758, 2018, pp. 224-236.

G.C. Saha, “Cold spray as a method to develop additive manufacturing 3D components targeting high wear applications”, Invited Talk at the European Cold Spray Symposium, Paris, France, 8-13th July 2018.

S. Pathak, G.C. Saha, "Development of sustainable cold spray coatings and 3D additive manufacturing components for repair/manufacturing applications: a critical review", Coatings, Vol. 7, 2017, pp. 1-27.

A.L. Kalamkarov, F. Tornabene, P.M.C.L. Pacheco, M.A. Savi, G.C. Saha, “Geometrically non-linear elastic model for a thin composite layer with wavy surfaces”, European Journal of Applied Mathematics and Mechanics, Vol. 97, 2017, pp. 1381-1392.

L.K. Bowlby, J.J. Lander, M.T. Afzal, G.C. Saha, “Evaluating the potential of biochar as reinforcing filler in glass fiber-reinforced polymer composites”, Canadian-International Composites Conference (CANCOM2017), University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, 17-20 July 2017.

D.A. Hadjiloizi, A.L. Kalamkarov, G.C. Saha, H.G. Christoforidis, A.V. Georgiades, "Micromechanical modeling of thin composite and reinforced magnetoelectric plates - effective elastic, peizoelectric and piezomagnetic properties", Composite Structures, Vol. 172, 2017, pp. 102-118.

D.A. Hadjiloizi, A.L. Kalamkarov, G.C. Saha, I. Christofi, A.V. Georgiades, “Micromechanical modeling of thin composite and reinforced magnetoelectric plates – effective electrical, magnetic, thermal and product properties”, Composites Part B, Vol. 113, 2017, pp. 243-269.

L. Nath, G. Saha, "Synthesis and characterization of nanocrystalline Al2O3-NiCr particles using high-energy mechanical alloying process”, Surface and Coatings Technology, Vol. 318, 2017, pp. 262-269.

H. Asgari, G. Saha, M. Mohammadi, "Tribological behavior of nanostructured HVOF thermal sprayed WC-17NiCr coatings", Ceramics International, 43(2), 2017, pp. 2123-2135.

G.C. Saha, N. Dolgov, M. Mohammadi, “Modeling of stress singularity fields at the interface between substrate and coating in HVOF thermally sprayed nanostructured WC-17Co coatings”. 30th International Conference on Surface Modification Technologies, Milan, Italy, 29 June-01 July 2016.

M. Mohammadi, G.C. Saha, A.K. Shafaroudi, "Elastic field in composite cylinders made of functionally graded coatings, International Journal of Engineering Science, 101, 2016, pp. 156-170.

G.C. Saha, T.I. Khan, “Novel nanocrystalline Al2O3-Ni(Cr) cermet powder using high energy ball milling in a cryogenic environment”, 7th RIPT (Les Rencontres Internationales sur la Projection Thermique), Limoges, France, 10-11 December 2015.

T.A. Ben Mahmud, G.C. Saha, T.I. Khan, “Mechanical property changes in HVOF sprayed nanostructured WC-17wt.%Ni(80/20)Cr coating with varying substrate roughness”, Materials Science and Engineering, Vol. 60, 2015, pp. 1-8.

M.A. Farrokhzad, G.C. Saha, T.I. Khan, “Three-body wear performance of co-electrodeposited cermet coatings”, Wear, Vol. 313, 2014, pp. 34-42.

M.A. Farrokhzad, G.C. Saha, T.I. Khan, “Wear performance of co-electrodeposited cermet coatings”, Surface and Coatings Technology, Vol. 235, 2013, pp. 75-85.

G.C. Saha, T.I. Khan, “Comparative abrasive wear study of HVOF coatings obtained by spraying WC-17Co microcrystalline and duplex near-nanocrystalline cermet powders”, ASME Journal of Engineering Materials and Technology, Vol. 133, 2011, pp. 041002-1 – 041002-8.

G.C. Saha, T.I. Khan, G.A. Zhang, “Erosion-corrosion resistance of microcrystalline and near-nanocrystalline WC-17Co high velocity oxy-fuel thermal spray coatings”, Corrosion Science, 2011, pp. 2106-2114.

A. Mateen, F.A. Khalid, T.I. Khan, G.C. Saha, “Wear behavior of HVOF sprayed WC-Cobalt coatings”, Advanced Materials Research, Vol. 326, 2011, pp. 144-150.

T.I. Khan, G.C. Saha, L.B. Glenesk, “Nanostructured composite coatings for oil sands applications”, Surface Engineering, Vol. 26, 2010, pp. 540-545.

G.C. Saha, A.L. Kalamkarov, “Micromechanical thermoelastic model for sandwich composite shells made of generally orthotropic materials”, Journal of Sandwich Structures and Materials, Vol. 11, 2009, pp. 27-56.

Teaching interests

• Dynamics for Engineers (ME 2003)
• Mechanics of Materials (ME 2111)
• Design Optimization (ME 2352)
• Manufacturing Engineering (ME 3222)
• Machine Design Project (ME 3345)
• Advanced Solid Mechanics (ME 5122)
• Continuum Mechanics (ME 6003)