4
Felipe Velásquez-Ruiz ● Investigador Postdoctoral
Grado Académico
Doctor en Ciencias, mención en Geología, Universidad de Chile.
Título(s) Profesional
Ingeniero en Geología, Universidad Nacional de Colombia (Medellín, Colombia).
Descripción
Dr. Felipe Velásquez Ruiz es un geólogo altamente calificado de Medellín, Colombia, con un PhD en Ciencias con Mención Geología por la Universidad de Chile, y MSc en geoquímica y yacimientos minerales por la Universidad de Brasília. Su investigación se centra en dilucidar los mecanismos de formación de minerales críticos esenciales para la transición energética, particularmente en el contexto de sistemas magmáticos-(carbo)hidrotermales. Felipe posee una amplia experiencia en mapeo geológico regional, exploración greenfield y trabajado como profesor asistente y de cátedra, fomentando la difusión del conocimiento. Impulsado por un fuerte deseo de aprovechar la experiencia científica para el beneficio de la sociedad, Felipe está firmemente comprometido con la realización de investigaciones que tengan un impacto real.
- SA19I0106
- Abril 2025 - Marzo 2028
En EjecuciónAgencia Nacional de Investigación y Desarrollo - ANID
Determination of magma fertility and sulfide saturation for giant porphyry copper deposits in central Chile: A platinum-group element perspective
Uso de la química de elementos altamente siderófilos y calcófilos para discriminar rocas asociadas a yacimientos minerales productivos
Investigador/a Responsable
Mail de contacto
felipe.velasquez@uoh.cl
Juan José Maulén Muñoz ● Investigador Postdoctoral
Grado Académico
PhD, Mathematics. Universidad de Groningen (Países Bajos)
Título(s) Profesional
Ingeniero Matemático, Universidad de Santiago de Chile
Descripción
Juan José realizó sus estudios de pregrado en la Universidad de Santiago, donde obtuvo el título profesional de Ingeniero Matemático. Posterior a eso, obtuvo su grado de Doctor en Modelación Matemática en la Universidad de Chile, en cotutela con la Universidad de Groningen, en Países Bajos.
Su área de investigación corresponde a Optimización y Análisis Convexo. En particular, algoritmos de punto fijo y métodos de primer orden en tiempo continuo y discreto.
Sebastián Herrera León ● Profesor Asistente
Grado Académico
Doctor of Science (Technology) in Industrial Engineering and Management, LUT University (Finlandia).
Título(s) Profesional
Ingeniero Civil Químico, Universidad Católica del Norte.
Descripción
Sebastián Herrera León obtuvo su Licenciatura en Ciencias de la Ingeniería y su Título Profesional de Ingeniero Civil Químico en la Universidad Católica del Norte en 2014. Posteriormente, obtuvo un Doctorado en Ingeniería de Procesos Minerales en la Universidad de Antofagasta en 2019 y un Doctorado en Ingeniería Industrial y Gestión en
LUT University (Finlandia) en 2024.
Actualmente, el Dr. Herrera-León centra su investigación en el estudio de las interacciones entre tecnología, medioambiente y sociedad en la industria minera y energética. Su enfoque interdisciplinario vincula las Ingenierías con las Ciencias Sociales para comprender y analizar las transformaciones industriales y territoriales desde un enfoque de sustentabilidad.
Mail de contacto
sebastian.herrera@uoh.cl
Alexander Vergara Robles ● Profesor Asistente
Grado Académico
Doctor en Ciencias, mención Biología Molecular, Celular y Neurociencias, Universidad de Chile.
Título(s) Profesional
Ingeniero en Biotecnología Molecular, Universidad de Chile
Descripción
Alexander Vergara es Ingeniero en Biotecnología Molecular y Doctor en Ciencias de la Universidad de Chile. Su investigación se centra en el campo de la Bioinformática, donde utiliza análisis multiómicos y análisis de redes para estudiar el estrés en plantas y cómo éstas interactúan con su entorno. Actualmente se desempeña como profesor asistente en el Instituto de Ciencias de la Ingeniería de la Universidad de O'Higgins (UOH).
- REVISTA Scientific Reports
- 2024
Pseudomonas syringae infectivity correlates to altered transcript and metabolite levels of Arabidopsis mediator mutants
• Jeanette Blomberg • Viktor Tasselius • Alexander Marcell Vergara Robles • Fazeelat Karamat • Qari Muhammad Imran
- REVISTA Nucleic Acids Research
- 2024
Growth-regulated co-occupancy of Mediator and Lsm3 at intronic ribosomal protein genes
• Wael R Abdel-Fattah • Mattias Carlsson • Guo-Zhen Hu • Ajeet Singh • Alexander Marcell Vergara Robles
- REVISTA Plant, Cell & Environment
- 2024
CDK8 of the mediator kinase module connects leaf development to the establishment of correct stomata patterning by regulating the levels of the transcription factor SPEECHLESS (SPCH)
• Carmen Hermida • Alexander Marcell Vergara Robles • Luis Cervela-Cardona • Xu Jin • Stefan Björklund
- REVISTA Physiologia Plantarum
- 2024
Nitrogen Stress Memory in Quinoa: Maternal Effects on Seed Metabolism and Offspring Growth and Physiology
• Catalina Castro • Javiera Rojas • José Ortíz • Rodrigo Sanhueza-Lepe • Francisco Poblete
- REVISTA Foundations
- 2024
Effects of Colored Noise in the Dynamic Motions and Conformational Exploration of Enzymes
• Pedro Ojeda-May • Alexander Marcell Vergara Robles
- REVISTA Journal of Experimental Botany
- 2022
SeedTransNet: a directional translational network revealing regulatory patterns during seed maturation and germination
• Bing Bai • Bastian Schiffthaler • Sjors van der Horst • Leo Willems • Alexander Marcell Vergara Robles
- REVISTA New Phytologist
- 2022
GENOMES UNCOUPLED1 plays a key role during the de-etiolation process in Arabidopsis
• Tamara Hernández-Verdeja • Linda Vuorijoki • Xu Jin • Alexander Marcell Vergara Robles • Carole Dubreuil
- REVISTA Tree Physiology
- 2021
Candidate regulators and target genes of drought stress in needles and roots of Norway spruce
• Julia C Haas • Alexander Marcell Vergara Robles • Alonso R Serrano • Sanatkumar Mishra • Vaughan Hurry
- REVISTA Plant, Cell & Environment
- 2021
Norway spruce deploys tissue-specific responses during acclimation to cold
• Alexander Marcell Vergara Robles • Julia C. Haas • Tuuli Aro • Paulina Stachula • Nathaniel R. Street
- REVISTA BMC Plant Biology
- 2020
Seed characterization and early Nitrogen metabolism performance of seedlings from Altiplano and Coastal ecotypes of Quinoa
• Katherine Pinto/Irish • Rodrigo Alvarez • Teodoro Coba de la Pena • Cristian Ibanez • Alexander Marcell Vergara Robles
- REVISTA Journal of Cellular Biochemistry
- 2001
Iron-induced oxidative stress up-regulates calreticulin levels in intestinal epithelial (Caco-2) cells
• Marco T. Núñez • Andrea Osorio • Victoria Tapia • Alexander Marcell Vergara Robles • Casilda V. Mura
Mail de contacto
alexander.vergara@uoh.cl
Moisés Rojas ● Investigador Postdoctoral
Grado Académico
Doctor en Ciencias, mención Investigación y Desarrollo de Productos Bioactivos, Universidad de Talca
Título(s) Profesional
Ingeniero en Bioinformática, Universidad de Talca
Descripción
El Dr. Moises A. Rojas recibió su título como Ingeniero en Bioinformática el año 2012 en la Universidad de Talca, como mejor estudiante de su promoción; y es Doctor en Ciencias de la misma casa de estudios (2022) gracias a una beca entregada por la ANID.
Durante su doctorado se especializó en nanotecnología aplicada a la formulación de novedosos agentes antimicrobianos en contexto de resistencia a antibióticos, lo cual le permitió participar de diversas actividades de difusión, proyectos de investigación y publicaciones científicas, además de una estadía en el Instituto de Cardiología de la Universidad de Ottawa en Canadá (UOHI) como estudiante visitante (2018-2019).
La línea de trabajo que desarrolla como investigador postdoctoral en el Instituto de Ciencias de la Ingeniería de la Universidad de O’Higgins, bajo el alero del Centro Systemix la supervisión del Dr. Alex Di Genova, es la implementación de métodos y algoritmos computacionales avanzados para el análisis masivo de datos en metagenómica asociados a sistemas biomineros.
- REVISTA Polymers
- 2023
Biopolymer-Based Composite Hydrogels Embedding Small Silver Nanoparticles for Advanced Antimicrobial Applications: Experimental and Theoretical Insights
• Moisés Rojas
- REVISTA Journal of Mass Spectrometry
- 2018
MALDI coupled to modified traveling wave ion mobility mass spectrometry for fast enantiomeric determination
• Moisés Rojas
- REVISTA European Polymer Journal
- 2017
An experimental and theoretical comparative study of the entrapment and release of dexamethasone from micellar and vesicular aggregates of PAMAM-PCL dendrimers
• Moisés Rojas
- REVISTA European Polymer Journal
- 2016
Interfacial behavior of PAMAM-PCL dendrimers and in situ spontaneous formation of gold nanoparticles at the toluene-water and air-water interfaces: Experimental and theoretical studies
• Moisés Rojas
Mail de contacto
moises.rojas@uoh.cl
Juan Carlos Pozo Vera ● Profesor Asistente
Grado Académico
Doctorado en Ciencias con mención en Matemáticas, Universidad de Chile
Título(s) Profesional
Licenciado en Ciencias con mención en Matemáticas, Universidad de Chile
Descripción
El Dr. Juan Carlos Pozo obtuvo su doctorado en Matemáticas en la Facultad de Ciencias de la Universidad de Chile el año 2013. Como parte de su tesis doctoral, estudió la propiedad de regularidad maximal de ciertas ecuaciones de evolución no-locales en tiempo, y estudió propiedades de regularidad de familias resolvente asociadas a ecuaciones integro-diferenciales. Además, realizó un postdoctorado en la Universidad de Santiago de Chile, donde comenzó a estudiar la teoría de semigrupos de operadores y algunas generalizaciones. Posteriormente, fue professor asociado de la Universidad de Chile. Actualmente, es Profesor Asistente en el Instituto de Ciencias de la Ingeniería de la Universidad de O'Higgins. Sus intereses de investigación se centran en el estudio de ecuaciones en derivadas parciales (EDPs) y en las propiedades dinámicas de sus soluciones. Particularmente, se ha enfocado en analizar la influencia de operadores no locales en la dinámica de las soluciones. Además, le interesa explorar las interrelaciones de estas ecuaciones con otras ramas de las matemáticas, como los procesos estocásticos, la geometría y la física matemática.
Vicente Salinas Barrera ● Profesor Asistente
Grado Académico
Doctor en Ciencias mención Física, Universidad de Santiago
Título(s) Profesional
Ingeniero Físico, Universidad de Santiago
Descripción
Doctor en Física por la Universidad de Santiago de Chile (USACH), donde también obtuvo los títulos de Ingeniero en Física y Licenciado en Física Aplicada. Hasta el año el 2024, se desempeñó como Académico Investigador en la Universidad Autónoma de Chile, donde dirigió el Grupo de Investigación Aplicada en Robótica e Industria 4.0.
Su investigación abarca áreas de la ciencia de materiales, la ingeniería y la tecnología, incluyendo el estudio de propiedades mecánicas y aplicaciones de aleaciones avanzadas, así como el uso de ultrasonido para monitorear deformaciones y plasticidad en metales. Ha contribuido a la caracterización del comportamiento mecánico de materiales como aleaciones de titanio y aceros de alta resistencia, además de explorar técnicas ultrasónicas para entender el comportamiento de dislocaciones en metales.
Asimismo, trabaja en cavitación acústica como método para la generación de péptidos a partir de residuos de la industria salmonera, contribuyendo al desarrollo sostenible mediante la valorización de subproductos industriales.
Se ha destacado por su compromiso con la comunicación científica y las iniciativas de ciencia abierta, desempeñando un papel activo en proyectos como InES Ciencia Abierta, que buscan acercar la investigación científica a la comunidad. Su trayectoria integra tanto la investigación teórica como aplicaciones prácticas, impulsando la innovación interdisciplinaria en ingeniería y salud, por medio de iniciativas educativas basadas en proyectos y tecnología aplicada.
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- REVISTA Materials Letters
- 2024
Highly porous CP-Ti foams manufactured with powder compaction, the space holder method and plasma-assisted sintering for biomedical applications
• Francisco Cavilha Neto • Vagner Kretiska Medeiros • Vicente Reinaldo Salinas Barrera • Edgar Pio • Claudio Aguilar
- REVISTA Biosensors
- 2024
Ultrasonic Sensor: A Fast and Non-Destructive System to Measure the Viscosity and Density of Molecular Fluids
• Romina Muñoz Buzeta • Juan-Francisco Fuentealba • Sebastián Michea • Paula A. Santana • Juan Ignacio Martinez.
- REVISTA Materials
- 2024
Acoustic Assessment of Microstructural Deformation Mechanisms on a Cold Rolled Cu30Zn Brass
• Maria Fernanda Sosa • Linton Carvajal • Vicente Reinaldo Salinas Barrera • Fernando Lund Plantat • Claudio Aguilar
- REVISTA Metals
- 2024
Synthesis and Characterization of Ti-13Ta-6Sn Foams Produced Using Mechanical Alloying, the Space Holder Method and Plasma-Assisted Sintering
• Francisco Cavilha Neto • Vagner Kretiska Medeiros • Vicente Reinaldo Salinas Barrera • Edgar Pio López • Claudio Eduardo Aguilar Ramirez
- REVISTA Materials Science and Engineering: A
- 2023
Nonlinear acoustic characterization of heterogeneous plasticity in bent aluminium samples
• Carolina Espinoza • Vicente Reinaldo Salinas Barrera • Makarena Osorio • Edgar Pio López • Aguilar
- REVISTA Physical Review E
- 2023
Stability of a tilted granular monolayer: How many spheres can we pick before the collapse?
• Eduardo Rojas Parra • Héctor Alarcón • Vicente Reinaldo Salinas Barrera • Gustavo Emilio Castillo Bautista • Pablo Andrés Gutiérrez Matus
- REVISTA Physical Review Letters
- 2023
Swirling fluid reduces the bounce of partially filled containers
• Klebbert Andrade • Javiera Catalán • Juan Marín • Vicente Reinaldo Salinas Barrera • Gustavo Emilio Castillo Bautista
- REVISTA Journal of Materials Research and Technology
- 2023
Improving mechanical properties and antibacterial response of ?/? ternary Ti-Ta alloy foams for biomedical uses
• Vicente Reinaldo Salinas Barrera
- REVISTA Journal of Materials Research and Technology
- 2023
Improving mechanical properties and antibacterial response of \alpha/\beta ternary Ti-Ta alloy foams for biomedical uses
• Claudio Eduardo Aguilar Ramirez • Carola Martínez • Mamié Sancy • Vicente Reinaldo Salinas Barrera
- REVISTA Materials Science and Engineering: A
- 2022
In-situ monitoring of dislocation proliferation during plastic deformation of 304L steel using ultrasound
• Vicente Reinaldo Salinas Barrera
- REVISTA Scientific Reports
- 2021
Triggering avalanches by transverse perturbationsin a rotating drum
• Vicente Reinaldo Salinas Barrera • Cristóbal Sebastián Quiñinao Montero • Sebastián González • Gustavo Emilio Castillo Bautista
- REVISTA Materials & Design
- 2020
Improving the mechanical strength of ternary beta titanium alloy (Ti-Ta-Sn) foams, using a bimodal microstructure
• Vicente Reinaldo Salinas Barrera
- REVISTA Materials Science and Engineering: C
- 2020
Effect of added porosity on a novel porous Ti-Nb-Ta-Fe-Mn alloy exposed to simulated body fluid
• Vicente Reinaldo Salinas Barrera
- REVISTA Metals
- 2019
Influence of Porosity on the Elastic Modulus of Ti-Zr-Ta-Nb Foams with a Low Nb Content
• Vicente Reinaldo Salinas Barrera
- REVISTA Materials
- 2018
Linear Versus Nonlinear Acoustic Probing of Plasticity in Metals: A Quantitative Assessment
• Vicente Reinaldo Salinas Barrera
- REVISTA International Journal of Plasticity
- 2017
In situ monitoring of dislocation proliferation during plastic deformation using ultrasound
• Vicente Reinaldo Salinas Barrera
- REVISTA Ultrasonics Sonochemistry
- 2014
Influence of the liquid viscosity on the formation of bubble structures in a 20 kHz field
• Vicente Reinaldo Salinas Barrera
- 1251905
- Abril 2025 - Marzo 2028
AdjudicadoAgencia Nacional de Investigación y Desarrollo - ANID
Real-time characterization of microstructural changes of metals under uniaxial tension: A nonlinear acoustics approach.
The primary objective of this research is to evaluate the feasibility of using ultrasonic acoustic imaging as a
non-intrusive, in situ technique to assess the plastic behavior of commercial metals and alloys. Specifically,
it aims to explore the potential of ultrasonic acoustic imaging to identify and monitor various plastic
deformation mechanisms in stainless steel and aluminum. The selection of materials is based on their distinct
plastic deformation behaviors: aluminum releases internal energy through dislocation mechanisms, while
stainless steel releases energy through deformation, first by dislocation and then by twinning. To achieve
this goal, the study will continuously measure changes in sound velocity and the nonlinear acoustic parameter
β while subjecting the materials to uniaxial tensile tests at different levels of applied stress.
Previous studies conducted by our research group have demonstrated that changes in sound velocity, in
relation to strain, offer a reliable means of quantifying dislocation density in local measurements on
aluminum, copper, and stainless steel specimens. Furthermore, these studies have observed that alterations
in the nonlinear acoustic parameter, specifically second harmonic generation, exhibit more pronounced
changes compared to variations in linear acoustics (speed of sound). Building upon these findings, the
proposed research involves the generation of both linear and nonlinear acoustic images over wider spatial
regions to advance our understanding of the plastic behavior of materials undergoing different
microstructural changes.
The challenge of applying the results of this research to in situ measurements in the industry is not trivial,
as the highly controlled laboratory conditions are not maintained in service components. In this regard, the
incorporation of machine learning tools in the proposal aims to identify the parameters most sensitive to the
various deformation mechanisms through clustering techniques. It is expected that the correlation of different
acoustic parameters with the various plastic deformation mechanisms of both materials under study will
generate an optimal database that reflects the variety of scenarios present in service components, thus
paving the way for the industrial use of the proposed characterization system.
The adoption of diagnostic techniques and the utilization of metallic material state analysis in service
significantly enhance our ability to comprehend and control plastic deformation mechanisms, contributing to
improved material reliability and robustness, and facilitating informed decision-making and maintenance
strategies.
Additionally, ex-situ standard microstructural tests, including XRD (X-ray diffraction), EBSD (electron
backscatter diffraction), and TEM (transmission electron microscopy), will be performed to characterize the
materials state after deformation. These complementary tests will provide valuable microstructural
information, enabling the correlation of deformation states with the acquired acoustic images.
All the acoustic and microstructural information described above, in conjunction with previous research group
data, will be stored in a robust and comprehensive database. This database will serve as the input for a
Machine Learning algorithm, which will facilitate the identification of patterns of correspondence between
acoustic and microstructural parameters. This approach aims to enable the future prediction, with a high
level of probability, of the specific type of plastic deformation mechanism that a material is undergoing based
on the acoustic parameter measurements.
The successful development of this research proposal would yield several significant outcomes. Firstly, it
would enable the early detection of microstructural changes in materials long before fractures occur.
Moreover, it would establish a non-intrusive tool for characterizing materials by identifying the underlying
mechanisms driving plastic deformation and monitoring the evolution of materials in service over time.
Ultimately, this research has the potential to advance our understanding of the plastic behavior of stainless
steel and aluminum, opening avenues for improved analysis, design, and performance evaluation of materials
in various industrial applications.
Investigador/a Responsable
- 1250472
- Abril 2025 - Marzo 2029
AdjudicadoAgencia Nacional de Investigación y Desarrollo - ANID
The stability of austenite in medium Mn steels
Medium manganese steels (MMnS) are currently a subject of active scientific research due to a number of
reasons. First, their unique combination of strength and ductility makes them promising candidates for
lightweight structural applications in automotive and aerospace industries, where reducing weight without
sacrificing mechanical properties is critical. Second, their ability to retain austenite at room temperatures
offers advantages in terms of formability and resistance to hydrogen embrittlement, which are significant
challenges in steel manufacturing. Third, medium Mn steels have shown potential in enhancing wear and
impact resistance, making them suitable for applications in mining, construction, and machinery sectors.
Additionally, their corrosion resistance and potential for cost-effective alloying with other elements further
expand their utility across various engineering fields. Scientific research on medium Mn steels aims to
optimize their microstructure, processing parameters, and alloy compositions to unlock their full potential,
thereby contributing to the development of advanced materials that meet the performance requirements of
modern industries while promoting sustainability and efficiency in manufacturing processes.
The proposed research aims to investigate the stability of austenite in medium manganese steels within
ternary Fe-C-Mn and Fe-C-Mn-X systems (X: Al, Si, Cr), focusing on its correlation with processing
parameters. The primary objective is to assess the stability of austenite via (i) experimentally determining
the martensite start temperature (thermal stability) using dilatometry and thermal analysis techniques, and
(ii) to evaluate the fraction of austenite as a function of strain (mechanical stability) under tensile test. These
measurements will provide crucial data to understand how variations in processing conditions influence
austenite stability. Else, the study will correlate austenite stability with mechanical properties through
mechanical tests and in-depth microstructural characterization, aiming to establish predictive models.
Additionally, thermodynamic and kinetic calculations will aid in assessing the phase transformation behavior
under different thermal histories. The research will extend its scope to evaluate impact and wear properties
in relation to austenite stability, crucial for applications in industries requiring high strength and toughness,
such as mining and construction.
By systematically exploring these relationships, the project seeks to advance the fundamental understanding
of medium Mn steels, potentially leading to the development of lightweight, durable materials with enhanced
performance characteristics. Ultimately, the findings aim to contribute to the optimization of steel
manufacturing processes and the realization of more efficient and reliable engineering solutions in demanding
operational environments
Co-Investigador/a
- 1241649
- Abril 2024 - Mayo 2026
En EjecuciónAgencia Nacional de Investigación y Desarrollo - ANID
DICATIONIC DERIVATIVES OF AZOBENZENE AS PHOTOACTIVE SURFACTANTS FOR DRUG TRANSPORT SYSTEMS: STUDY OF PHOTOREVERSIBLE BEHAVIOR AND LOAD CAPACITY IN MOLECULAR AGGREGATES
This project aims to investigate how structural modifications of a dicationic derivative of azobenzene can
affect the drug release and load capacity of its photoactive molecular aggregate.
To evaluate this, three types of structural modifications are proposed. First, the introduction of functional
groups on the photoactive nucleus of dicationic azobenzene is expected to shift the absorption band of the
molecular photoswitch.
Second, the replacement of the fluorescent organic cations over the structure of the molecular
photoswitch, which confer luminescent and amphipathic properties to the system.
And third, the modification of the length of the chains over the molecular photoswitch could change the
aggregate size.
To determine whether these potential modifications can modulate the light-induced release activity of the
photoswitchable aggregate, an enzyme inhibitor will be loaded and released by illumination in the presence
of the enzyme.
Under this scenario, any modification of the enzymatic activity will be correlated with the drug's
photorelease.
Co-Investigador/a
- 1230938
- Abril 2023 - Mayo 2026
En EjecuciónAgencia Nacional de Investigación y Desarrollo - ANID
IN SITU MONITORING OF PLASTIC DEFORMATION OF HIGH ENTROPY ALLOYS USING ULTRASOUND
It is proposed to assess the feasibility of using ultrasound as a nonintrusive, in-situ, probe of plastic behavior
in high-entropy alloys (HEAs). More specifically, whether it is possible to use ultrasound to reliably
characterize the plasticity deformation mechanism---slip, TWIP, TRIP---of Fe80-xCo10Cr10Mnx. To this end,
the speed of sound will be measured, continuously, as a function of applied stress in uniaxial tensile tests.
In previous work, proposers have shown that the speed of sound as a function of stress provides a reliable
tool to measure dislocation density in aluminum, copper, and stainless steel. In the latter case, it has also
been shown to reliably discriminate between slip and twinning as a deformation mechanism. It is now
proposed to study the possibility of extending this capability not only to new materials, HEAs, but also to a
new mechanism, phase transformation.
We will start with the materials whose plastic deformation is slip-dominated, since we have robust experience
in this case. We shall then move to the TWIP material, where our more recent experience will be brought to
bear, to end up with the unexplored, from the point of view of ultrasound, TRIP material. Samples for tensile
loading will be prepared. They will be tested using a universal testing machine and ultrasound measurements
of longitudinal wave velocity will be carried out in-situ. A decrease in the wave velocity as a function of
applied stress will indicate a proliferation of dislocations; the dislocation density will be determined as a
function of stress as will the parameters of Taylor's rule. An increase in wave velocity as a function of stress
will indicate a decrease in average grain size. Modeling will be applied to determine whether this is due to
twinning or phase transformation. These results will also be validated with post-mortem XRD, TEM, and
metallography measurements, as well as ex-situ acoustic measurements.
The success of the proposed research would have short-term and long-term benefits: In the short term it
would provide a non-intrusive tool---ultrasound---to assist in the search for HEAs with pre-determined
properties, as needed for specific applications. In the long-term, it would pave the way for the development
of a practical, non-intrusive, tool for the evaluation of HEA pieces in service.
Co-Investigador/a
- 1220058
- Abril 2022 - Mayo 2026
FinalizadoAgencia Nacional de Investigación y Desarrollo - ANID
UNDERSTANDING THE STRUCTURE-PROPERTY RELATIONSHIPS ON ADVANCED HIGH STRENGTH STEELS OBTAINED VIA CHEMICAL PATTERNING OF AUSTENITE
Society is facing an unprecedented challenge in terms of combining sustainability, economic growth and
technological development. The industry has tackled these demands by developing novel products and
innovative service strategies, taking the maximum advantage of the installed capabilities and cutting edge
technologies. Steel industry has taken the lead by supporting internal research and scientific collaborations
worldwide, enabling an ever increasing number of scientific developments. Steel plays a major role as the
backbone material of civilization for a number of reasons, namely (i) abundance, (ii) relatively cheap, (iii)
wide range of properties and applications, (iv) 100% recyclable, (v) potential to improve in-service
performance.
In the framework of (v), the current proposal aims to provide new grades of steel by means of chemical
patterning of austenite. The concept of austenite patterning consists in producing layers in the microstructure
with a chemical composition different from the bulk composition, via specific alloying elements and thermal
cycles. These layers, after fully austenitization, deliver transformation products on cooling different than
expected from the average austenite, allowing a new degree of freedom for tailoring of microstructures. So
far there is only one scientific paper on the subject, which has reported outstanding mechanical strength
(ultimate) of ca. 2 GPa, with uniform elongations of 7% in a lamellar martensite-austenite microstructure in
a single 0.51C-4.35Mn steel.
The present proposal sets a detailed working plan to investigate the impact of the initial microstructure and
thermal path upon the chemical patterning of austenite in a number of different steel chemistries. The aim
is two-folded: to analize the evolution of the phase transformations at different stages of the process as a
function of the initial microstructure and heat-treatment parameters, and to gain fundamental insights on
the mechanical behavior of the new steel grades. It is hypothesized that the correct interplay of the
parameters mentioned above can yield optimized final microstructures with enhanced in-service
performance.The methodology incorporates up-to-date assessment tools of thermodynamic equilibria and
kinetics (ThermoCalc & Dictra) in selected steel chemistries, accurate tracking of phase transformations via
Dilatometry experiments, in-depth characterization of the microstructure and mechanical properties and insitu/ex-situ ultrasound probing of tensile test specimens to better understand the hardening mechanisms.
The experimental results will be compared with modeling strategies for both phase transformations and
mechanical behavior.
The expected results of the proposal will be of interest to the scientific community due to the novelty of the
experimental concept and the potential contribution to the understanding of structure-property relations.
Else, the findings will be of significance for the design of structural parts, such as high strength and impact
toughness for car body crash worthiness. In the case of Chilean mining industry, wear and impact wear
resistance are potential applications of the new steel grades to be tested. The proposal is lay out within a
novel cooperation framework between a group of specialists on specific aspects of materials science (phase
transformations in steel, constitutive modeling, ultrasound probing), oriented to contribute to the
fundamental understanding of the microstructure-property relations resulting from chemical patterning of
austenite. Additionally, three universities and one industrial partner (University of Twente, The Nederland,
Gent University, Belgium; University of Alberta, Canada; and ME Elecmetal, Chile-US, respectively) are
supporting the proposal with resources such as workshops, sample preparation, specific characterization
techniques, software for post-processing, among others.
Co-Investigador/a
- 1210841
- Abril 2021 - Mayo 2026
En EjecuciónAgencia Nacional de Investigación y Desarrollo - ANID
UTILIZATION OF PHOTO-FENTON AND ULTRASOUND PROCESSES IN THE DEPURATION OF LANDFILL LEACHATE
The importance of water for life is indisputable. Nevertheless, water quality and availability are affected by
increases in consumption and climate change. Indeed, several areas of Chile are suffering acute water
scarcity. Consequently, there is a critical need to develop efficient technologies for wastewater recovery.
However, considerations must be given to the fact that some wastewaters have toxic recalcitrant pollutants
requiring complex treatments, such as landfill leachate (LL). The general goal of the project is to evaluate
the viability of experimentally improving LL quality by conjointly using the solar photo-Fenton process and
ultrasound (US), thereby enhancing photocatalysis, ultimately reducing wastewater toxicity.
The specific goals are to (i) measure the H2O2 and UV irradiation produced by US in LL (laboratory scale);
(ii) evaluate the hydroxyl radicals generated during treatment processes (laboratory scale); (iii) maximize
organic-pollutant removal in LL by defining the optimal operating conditions for the photo-Fenton/US process
(laboratory scale); (iv) maximize organic-pollutant removal in LL by defining optimal US power/frequency in
the sonolytic process (pilot-plant scale); and (v) evaluate toxicity elimination and energy consumption in LL
treatments with solar-photocatalytic and US processes (laboratory and pilot-plant scales). The proposed
investigation will use a scientific methodology, developing reproducible methods to observe the effects of
diverse parameters, all with a focus on maximizing contaminants removal. To characterize LL, several
parameters will be evaluated, including chemical oxygen demand, biological oxygen demand, total organic
carbon, total dissolved nitrogen, pH, metals, ammonia, colour, biodegradability, toxicity, total suspended
solids, conductivity and humic acid.
To determine the amount of H2O2 generated by US in a simulated LL, a set of experiments will be run
to produce the sonochemical process, applying different US frequencies (100 kHz, 200 kHz and 300 kHz)
and powers (100 W, 170 W and 250 W), thus obtaining the kinetic reaction to H2O2 production. The
amount of UV irradiation formed due to sonoluminescence will be quantified in the same beaker in
the simulated LL. Sonoluminescence intensity during the runs will be measured using a spectro-radiometer.
To evaluate the hydroxyl radicals (·OH) generated in the simulated LL during treatment processes,
a method based on the oxidation of 2-proponol will be used. To determine the optimal operating
conditions for the photo-Fenton/US process to maximize the removal of organic pollutants
present in the simulated LL, a set of experiments will be carried out in the same photoreactor (1 L),
applying different reagent concentrations, treatment times, and pH levels. To establish optimal US power
and frequency in the sonolytic process to maximize the removal of organic pollutants present in
a real LL (after its pretreatment), a set of runs will be carried out at pilot-plant scale in a solar
photoreactor compound parabolic concentrator (CPC; 12 L useful volume). To evaluate toxicity
elimination from the real LL an Aliivibrio fischeri test, respirometer assay, and phytotoxicity assay will be
used, followed by determining median effective concentrations (EC50) according to the Probit model. Since a
main disadvantage of the proposed treatments is high-energy consumption, specific energy consumption
(SEC) and electrical energy per order (EEO) will be determined for all processes. All experiments will be done
in triplicate, and filtration and coagulation/flocculation processes as a pretreatment will be used prior to all
runs. The expected results of the proposed project are to (i) obtain new knowledge related to joint photo-
Fenton and ultrasound wastewater treatments, (ii) demonstrate treatment synergies, and (iii) validate the
use of advanced oxidation processes for improving LL. Project results will be reported in papers, through
thesis work, and at scientific congresses, strengthening national and international research networks.
Co-Investigador/a
- 11190900
- Noviembre 2019 - Mayo 2026
FinalizadoAgencia Nacional de Investigación y Desarrollo - ANID
REAL TIME CORRELATION BETWEEN THE STRAIN RATE IN STANDARD MECHANICAL TESTS AND MICROSTRUCTURAL CHANGES IN METALS: AN ACOUSTIC POINT OF VIEW
Dislocations are the main source of plastic behavior of metals, however, it is very difficult to quantitatively
study their influence. In order to improve this situation, it is proposed to use its interaction with elastic waves
as a non-invasive probe in Aluminum and Steel 304L at different strain-rates. The long-term objective of the
research presented in this proposal is to obtain a standardized methodology for the characterization of
materials by means of ultrasonic tests.
The proposed technique is based on in-situ measurements of wave pulse propagation in rectangular samples
(with ASTM Standard) under standard tensile tests, with maximum deformations of the order of 3% to 7%,
which includes both the elastic regime and the plastic, additionally considers traction speeds between 0.001
mm / s and 0.5 mm / s. The results are contrasted with measurements of ultrasonic resonance spectroscopy
(RUS) and density measurements of dislocations by XRD of pieces of the material obtained from the test
pieces under traction study, which will be carried out in collaboration with Prof. Claudio Aguilar of the
University Santa Maria. We will also explore a correlation of the results with the microstructural
characterization using TEM images
On the other hand, it is proposed to implement non-linear measures in-situ during tensile tests, which have
been shown to be much more sensitive to the presence of dislocations of a material. The non-linear
measurements are based on the application of a continuous ultrasonic wave and the analysis is performed
on the amplitude of the first harmonic A2ω as a function of the amplitude of incident mode Aω, those that
are related of the form A2ω = βAω, with β a non-linear parameter. For this analysis it is proposed to develop
the theory, until now non-existent, between the non-linear parameter and the density of dislocations in
collaboration with Prof. Fernando Lund of the Physics Department of the FCFM of the University of Chile.
Emphasis will then be placed on in situ measurements, where a quantitative and continuous relationship
between the density of dislocations and the stress applied during a tensile test has recently been found, as
well as an indication of universality and independence of the initial condition once that the system enters the
plastic deformation regime.
Investigador/a Responsable
- 1191179
- Abril 2019 - Abril 2022
FinalizadoAgencia Nacional de Investigación y Desarrollo - ANID
ULTRASOUND AS A PROBE OF PLASTICITY IN STEELS
Dislocations are at the source of plastic behavior of metals and alloys, yet it is very difficult to quantitatively study their behavior. In order to improve this situation, it is proposed to use their interaction with elastic waves as a nonintrusive probe. The long-term aim of the research presented in this proposal is to enable the development of ultrasound technology as a practical non-intrusive tool for the characterization of plastic behavior of materials.
In recent years, proposers have shown, using Resonant Ultrasound Spectroscopy (RUS), that an increase of dislocation density in aluminum by a factor of 6 leads to a change for the speed of shear waves on the order of 1%, a quantity that can be measured with an accuracy on the order of 0.1%. They have also shown that local measurements of the speed of shear waves in aluminum under standard testing conditions in tension provide a quantitative, accurate, nonintrusive and continuous relation between dislocation density and externally applied stress, and that an increase in dislocation density by a factor of ten in copper and aluminum leads to an increase in the value of the (nonlinear) parameter that characterizes second harmonic generation by 20 to 60%.
This proposal seeks to go one more step towards a practical implementation of the proposed ultrasonic testing tool for pieces in service. Materials of wide use in industry, 304L steel and TWIP steel, will be used. And in addition to bulk ultrasonic and shear waves, surface Rayleigh waves will be tested, in order to develop techniques that are useful when pieces in service have a geometry that does not lend itself to bulk wave measurement. Both linear (wave propagation velocity and attenuation) and nonlinear (second harmonic generation) acoustics measurements will be performed, using bulk and surface waves, ex situ after mechanical treatment, and in situ under standard testing conditions. In addition, dislocation density will be measured using X-ray diffraction (XRD) , using both the modified Warren-Averbach and Rietveld methods. Additional characterization will be performed using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM).
The expected result of the proposed research is a set of measurements that relate acoustics parameters to dislocation density in 304L and TWIP steels. The specific goal is that these measurements will provide a framework for the development of devices to nondestructively measure the dislocation density of pieces in service.
Co-Investigador/a
- 3160164
- Noviembre 2015 - Abril 2022
FinalizadoAgencia Nacional de Investigación y Desarrollo - ANID
MEDICIÓN IN-SITU DE LA DENSIDAD DE DISLOCACIONES EN METALES BAJO ENSAYOS DE TRACCIÓN Y COMPRESIÓN
Las dislocaciones son la principal fuente de comportamiento plástico de metales, sin embargo, es muy difícil de estudiar cuantitativamente su comportamiento. Con el fin de mejorar esta situación, se ha propuesto utilizar su interacción con las ondas elásticas como una sonda no invasiva. Recientemente, se han demostrado, utilizando espectroscopia de resonancia Ultrasonido (RUS), que un aumento de densidad de dislocaciones en aluminio por un factor de 6 conduce a un cambio de la velocidad de las ondas de cizalle del orden de 1, una cantidad que puede medirse con una precisión del orden de 0,1%.
Se propone entonces estudiar la contribución de las dislocaciones a las propiedades mecánicas en dos sistemas de interés: En primer lugar, metales poli-cristalinos, en particular muestras de cobre y de aluminio. En segundo lugar, se propone estudiar muestras con estructura de capas múltiples, en particular sistemas de capas intercaladas de cobre y de niobio. El objetivo de largo plazo de esta investigación es permitir el desarrollo de la tecnología de ultrasonido como una herramienta no invasiva para la caracterización de materiales.
Se investigará en primera instancia la contribución de las dislocaciones a las constantes elásticas de metales poli-cristalinos, continuando un estudio anterior. Se realizarán nuevas medidas con muestras más puras de aluminio y de cobre, utilizando RUS en primera instancia. Como primer objetivo se plantea obtener un número mayor de muestras, con condiciones más extremas que las ya analizadas aumentando el rango de dislocaciones estudiado. Además de las medidas en el régimen lineal usando RUS, se realizarán medidas de parámetros no-lineales que pueden ser caracterizados a mayores amplitudes de excitación. Estas medidas pueden ser realizadas con el mismo montaje experimental de RUS. Además, se propone hacer un análisis ultrasónico tanto lineal como no lineal en un montaje de deformación estándar donde las medidas se realizarán in situ.
En segundo lugar, se propone caracterizar muestras de cobre-niobio, con estructura de capas múltiples. La motivación de este tema radica en el hecho que las interfaces del estado sólido juegan un papel importante en la determinación de las propiedades de los materiales compuestos, especialmente de los materiales estructurales destinados para el servicio en aplicaciones de energía. En la actualidad, las muestras multi-capas de cobre-niobio pueden ser preparadas en tamaños útiles para RUS (desde milímetros hasta centímetros). Pueden ser fabricas con pocas capas (del orden de 10 capas) y espesores de décimas de mm cada una, o con muchas capas (del orden de 3.10⁴) y espesores de 10 nm cada una. La motivación es obtener mediciones precisas de las constantes elásticas efectivas de las muestras mediante hipótesis del tipo homogeneización, y correlacionar sus valores con la cantidad de interfaces presentes. A primer orden, si dos muestras tienen la misma cantidad de niobio y cobre pero con diferentes números de capas y espesores, el proceso de homogenización más simple indica que las propiedades mecánicas deben ser iguales. En la práctica, se espera una contribución de las interfaces, lo cual no será despreciable cuando existan una cantidad considerable de ellas. La relación con las dislocaciones radica en el hecho que estas interfases tienen dislocaciones de tipo misfit, y dependiendo de la orientación de su vector de Burgers y de su densidad, su contribución a la elasticidad de la interface será distinta.
Investigador/a Responsable
- Chile -
El efecto Moiré II
ISBN
978-956-417-087-9
N° de Páginas
30
Idioma
Español
Editorial
Ediciones Universidad Autónoma de Chile
Editores
Denisse Sepúlveda, Manuela Mendoza
Autores
Vicente Reinaldo Salinas BarreraAlejandra Mizala, Catalina Canals, Lorena Ortega
- Chile -
Con las manos en la ciencia II
ISBN
978-956-417-087-9
N° de Páginas
30
Idioma
Español
Editorial
Ediciones Universidad Autónoma de Chile
Editores
Denisse Sepúlveda, Manuela Mendoza
Autores
Vicente Reinaldo Salinas BarreraAlejandra Mizala, Catalina Canals, Lorena Ortega
- Chile -
Coronavirus. El planeta se defiende
ISBN
97895661092801132021ED1
N° de Páginas
30
Idioma
Español
Editorial
Ediciones Universidad Autónoma de Chile
Editores
Denisse Sepúlveda, Manuela Mendoza
Autores
Vicente Reinaldo Salinas BarreraAlejandra Mizala, Catalina Canals, Lorena Ortega
- Chile -
Con las manos en la ciencia
ISBN
9789568454715712020-ED1
N° de Páginas
30
Idioma
Español
Editorial
Ediciones Universidad Autónoma de Chile
Editores
Denisse Sepúlveda, Manuela Mendoza
Autores
Vicente Reinaldo Salinas BarreraAlejandra Mizala, Catalina Canals, Lorena Ortega
- Chile -
El efecto Moiré
ISBN
9789568454777742020-ED1
N° de Páginas
30
Idioma
Español
Editorial
Ediciones Universidad Autónoma de Chile
Editores
Denisse Sepúlveda, Manuela Mendoza
Autores
Vicente Reinaldo Salinas BarreraAlejandra Mizala, Catalina Canals, Lorena Ortega
Mail de contacto
vicente.salinasb@uoh.cl
Rohit Singla ● Investigador Postdoctoral
Grado Académico
Doctor en Robótica, Universidad de Delhi, India
Título(s) Profesional
Licenciado en Ingeniería Mecánica
Descripción
El Dr. Rohit cuenta con una amplia trayectoria académica y experiencia profesional. Posee un doctorado en Robótica de la prestigiosa Universidad de Delhi, India, precedido por títulos de posgrado y grado en Ingeniería de Sistemas de Manufactura e Ingeniería Mecánica, respectivamente.
Actualmente, el Dr. Rohit es investigador postdoctoral en el Laboratorio de Robótica y Sistemas Inteligentes (RISLAB) dentro del Instituto de Ciencias de la Ingeniería de la Universidad de O'Higgins en Chile. Su investigación se adentra en una gama fascinante de temas, que incluyen robótica e IA, dinámica no lineal, control de teleoperación, autonomía supervisada, háptica e interacción humano-máquina.
Diana Narváez Naspirán ● Investigadora Postdoctoral
Grado Académico
Doctora en Ciencias de la Ingeniería, mención Modelación Matemática, Universidad de Chile
Título(s) Profesional
Licenciada en Matemática, Universidad del Valle, Colombia
Descripción
Licenciada en Matemática y Magister en Matemática de la Universidad del Valle, Colombia, y Doctora en Ciencias de la Ingeniería mención Modelación Matemática de la Universidad de Chile. Su área de interés es Análisis Variacional y Optimización.
Mail de contacto
diana.narvaez@uoh.cl
Silvina Slagter ● Profesora Asistente
Grado Académico
Ph.D. Earth & Planetary Sciences. Yale University
Título(s) Profesional
B.Sc. Geology - National University of La Plata
Descripción
Silvina utiliza herramientas geoquímicas y sedimentológicas para entender los intercambios entre grandes cambios ambientales a través de la historia de la Terra y la evolución de la vida. Además, Silvina busca aplicar soluciones aplicadas a la mitigación de cambio climático. Para esto, utiliza experimentos en escala de laboratorio y basados en terreno para comprender los procesos que suceden desde la formación de sedimentos y las transformaciones durante su litificación a través del tiempo geológico.
- REVISTA Precambrian Research
- 2024
Silica cementation history of the Ediacara Member (Rawnsley Quartzite, South Australia): Insights from petrographic and in situ oxygen isotopic microanalyses
• Silvina Slagter
- REVISTA Geobiology
- 2024
Controls on authigenic mineralization in experimental Ediacara-style preservation
• Silvina Slagter
- REVISTA Scientific Reports
- 2022
Biofilms as agents of Ediacara-style fossilization
• Silvina Slagter
- REVISTA Geology
- 2021
Experimental evidence supports early silica cementation of the Ediacara Biota
• Silvina Slagter
- REVISTA Sedimentary Geology
- 2020
Depositional evolution of an extinct sinter mound from source to outflow, El Tatio, Chile
• Silvina Slagter
- REVISTA Geophysical Research Letters
- 2020
Radiocarbon Dating of Silica Sinter and Postglacial Hydrothermal Activity in the El Tatio Geyser Field
• Silvina Slagter
- REVISTA Geology
- 2019
Environmental controls on silica sinter formation revealed by radiocarbon dating
• Silvina Slagter
- FONDECYT Regular n°1231930
- Diciembre 2024 - Noviembre 2026
AdjudicadoUniversidad de O'Higgins
Evaluación del potencial de captura de carbono en relaves mineros de la Mina El Teniente, Chile
Evaluación del potencial de captura de carbono en relaves mineros de la Mina El Teniente, Chile
Investigador/a Responsable
- FONDECYT Regular n°1231930
- Diciembre 2024 - Noviembre 2026
AdjudicadoUniversidad de O'Higgins
Evaluación del potencial de captura de carbono en relaves mineros de la Mina El Teniente, Chile
Evaluación del potencial de captura de carbono en relaves mineros de la Mina El Teniente, Chile
Investigador/a Responsable
- FONDECYT Regular n°1231930
- Marzo 2023 - Noviembre 2026
FinalizadoSigma Xi Grants in Aid of Research
Experimental Ge/Si partitioning as a fossilization tracer of Earths earliest animal ecosystems
The goal of this project was to test the Ge/Si proxy in silicification processes
Investigador/a Responsable