Key details
Professor Andrew Kao
Professor of Materials Science and Engineering
Andrew is a Programme Lead on Greenwich’s £9M Multi-Scale, Multi-Disciplinary, Modelling for Impact (M34Impact) expansion, leading the Materials Science and Engineering theme and leads the Centre for Advanced Simulation and Modelling.
He has 20 years of experience investigating the intricate coupling of microstructure solidification to various other phenomena, and leads the development of the ‘ThermoElectric Solidification Algorithm’ (TESA) software that has been used to predict the complex interaction of solidification, electromagnetism, fluid flow and heat and mass transport, revealing fundamental coupled mechanisms.
His expertise has been applied to a wide range of projects and applications from fundamental high undercooled solidification in microgravity to industry relevant applications such as casting and additive manufacturing.
Responsibilities within the university
- Programme Lead M34Impact
- Lead – Centre for Advanced Simulation and Modelling
- Co-Lead – Computational Science and Engineering Group
Research / Scholarly interests
Microstructure Solidification - Dendritic Growth
Thermoelectric Magnetohydrodynamics
Computational Fluid Dynamics
Electromagnetism
High Performance Computing
Key funded projects
2023 – 2028: £9.1M - Multi-Scale, Multi-Disciplinary, Modelling for Impact (M34Impact), Research England (PI)
2023 – 2028: £4.5M - Advanced Research in to Crystal Anisotropy and Nucleation Effects (ARCANE), EPSRC Prosperity Partnership (Greenwich PI)
2023 – 2026: £781k – Tailored Microstructures via Thermoelectric-Magnetohydrodynamics for Additive Manufacturing (TEAM), EPSRC (PI)
2022 – 2024: £12k – UK-Latvian Thermoelectric Magnetohydrodynamics in Additive Manufacturing (UK-LatTE-AM), Royal Society International Exchange (PI)
2022 – 2024: €200k – Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst (DAAD) Scholarship (Co-I/Host)
2022: £52k – £52k – Phase Transition in External Fields, British Council Researcher Links (PI)
2013 – 2016 - £278k - Disruptive Solidification Microstructures via Thermoelectric Control (TECalloy), EPSRC (named researcher)
2012 – 2016 - €20M Physical processing of molten light alloys under the influence of external fields (EXOMET), EU (Researcher)
2009 – Present – >£8M (in kind) Peritectic Rapid Solidification with Electromagnetic Convection (PARSEC), ESA (Co-I)
Recent publications
Article
Kaldre, Imants , Felcis, Valdemars, Krastins, Ivars, Soar, Peter , Tonry, Catherine E. H. , Kao, Andrew (2025), Model experiment for the investigation of thermoelectric magnetohydrodynamics in metal additive manufacturing. Springer Minerals, Metals and Materials Society (TMS). In: , , , . Springer Minerals, Metals and Materials Society (TMS), JOM: The Journal of the Minerals, Metals and Materials Society (JOM) ISSN: 1047-4838 (Print), 1543-1851 (Online) (doi: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11837-025-07458-0) NB Item availability restricted.
Fan, Xianqiang , Fleming, Tristan G., Clark, Samuel J., Fezzaa, Kamel , Getley, Anna C. M. , Marussi, Sebastian , Wang, Hongze , Lun Alex Leung, Chu , Kao, Andrew , Lee, Peter D. (2025), Magnetic modulation of keyhole instability during laser welding and additive manufacturing. American Association for the Advancement of Science. In: , , , . American Association for the Advancement of Science, Science, 387 (6736) . pp. 864-869 ISSN: 0036-8075 (Print), 1095-9203 (Online) (doi: https://doi.org/10.1126/science.ado8554).
Fan, Xianqiang , Shevchenko, Natalia, Tonry, Catherine E. H., Clark, Samuel , Atwood, Robert C. , Eckert, Sven , Pericleous, Kyriacos A , Lee, Peter D , Kao, Andrew (2023), Controlling solute channel formation using magnetic fields. Elsevier - Acta Materialia. In: , , , . Elsevier - Acta Materialia, Acta Materialia, 256: 119107 . pp. 1-11 ISSN: 1359-6454 (Print), 1873-2453 (Online) (doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actamat.2023.119107).
Fan, Xianqiang , Fleming, Tristan G., Rees, David T., Huang, Yuze , Marussi, Sebastian , Leung, Chu Lun Alex , Atwood, Robert C. , Kao, Andrew , Lee, Peter D. (2023), Thermoelectric magnetohydrodynamic control of melt pool flow during laser directed energy deposition additive manufacturing. Elsevier. In: , , , . Elsevier, Additive Manufacturing, 71: 103587 (5) . pp. 1-11 ISSN: 2214-7810 (Print), 2214-8604 (Online) (doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.addma.2023.103587).
Soar, Peter , Kao, Andrew, Pericleous, Kyriacos A (2023), The impact of two and three dimensional assumptions on coupled structural mechanics and microstructure solidification modelling. MDPI. In: , , , . MDPI, Crystals, 13 (114) . pp. 1-15 2073-4352 (Online) (doi: https://doi.org/10.3390/cryst13010114).
Xu, Zhuocheng , Tonry, Catherine E. H., Beckwith, Christopher, Kao, Andrew , Wong, Hayley , Shaffer, Milo S. P. , Pericleous, Koulis A , Li, Qianqian (2022), High-speed imaging of the ultrasonic deagglomeration of carbon nanotubes in water. Springer. In: , , , . Springer, JOM (The Member Journal of The Minerals, Metals & Materials Society), 74 (6) . pp. 2470-2483 ISSN: 1047-4838 (Print), 1543-1851 (Online) (doi: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11837-022-05274-4).
Soar, Peter , Kao, Andrew, Djambazov, Georgi, Pericleous, Kyriacos A (2022), Modelling three-dimensional microstructure evolution influenced by concurrent structural mechanical mechanisms. Springer - Minerals, Metals and Materials Society (TMS). In: , , , . Springer - Minerals, Metals and Materials Society (TMS), JOM (The Member Journal of The Minerals, Metals & Materials Society) . pp. 1-9 ISSN: 1047-4838 (Print), 1543-1851 (Online) (doi: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11837-022-05232-0).
Soar, Peter , Kao, Andrew, Shevchenko, Natalia, Eckert, Sven , Djambazov, Georgi , Pericleous, Kyriacos A (2022), Predicting concurrent structural mechanical mechanisms during microstructure evolution. The Royal Society. In: , , , . The Royal Society, Philosophical Transactions of The Royal Society A: Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences, 380 (2217) . pp. 1-11 ISSN: 364-503X (Print), 1471-2962 (Online) (doi: https://doi.org/10.1098/rsta.2021.0149).
Alexandrov, Dmitri V. , Toropova, Liubov V., Titova, Ekaterina A., Kao, Andrew , Demange, Gilles , Galenko, Peter K. , Rettenmayr, Markus (2021), The shape of dendritic tips: a test of theory with computations and experiments. The Royal Society. In: , , , . The Royal Society, Philosophical Transactions of The Royal Society A: Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences, 379: 20200326 ISSN: 1364-503X (Print), 1471-2962 (Online) (doi: https://doi.org/10.1098/rsta.2020.0326) NB Item availability restricted.
Toropova, L V , Titova, E A, Alexandrov, D V, Galenko, P K , Rettenmayr, M , Kao, Andrew , Demange, G (2021), Dendritic growth of ice crystals: a test of theory with experiments. IOP Publishing Ltd.. In: , , , . IOP Publishing Ltd., Journal of Physics: Condensed Matter, 33: 365402 ISSN: 0953-8984 (Print), 1361-648X (Online) (doi: https://doi.org/10.1088/1361-648X/ac0dd5).
Kao, Andrew , Shevchenko, Natalia, He, Shengya, Lee, Peter D. , Eckert, Sven , Pericleous, Koulis (2020), Magnetic effects on microstructure and solute plume dynamics of directionally solidifying Ga-In alloy. Springer Nature. In: , , , . Springer Nature, JOM: The Journal of The Minerals, Metals & Materials Society (TMS), 72 (10) . pp. 3645-3651 ISSN: 1047-4838 (Print), 1543-1851 (Online) (doi: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11837-020-04305-2).
Kao, A. , Toropova, L. V., Krastins, I., Demange, G. , Alexandrov, D. V. , Galenko, P. K. (2020), A stable dendritic growth with forced convection: A test of theory using enthalpy-based modeling methods. Springer Nature. In: , , , . Springer Nature, JOM Journal of the Minerals, Metals and Materials Society, 72 (9) . pp. 3123-3131 ISSN: 1047-4838 (Print), 1543-1851 (Online) (doi: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11837-020-04292-4).
Zhao, Dandan , Gao, Jianrong, Kao, Andrew (2020), Modeling of tip kinetics of undercooled Ti dendrites with consideration of forced flow and oxygen impurity effects. Elsevier. In: , , , . Elsevier, International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer, 159: 120113 ISSN: 0017-9310 (Print), (doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijheatmasstransfer.2020.120113).
Cai, B. , Kao, A., Boller, E, Magdysyuk, O. V. , Atwood, R. C. , Vo, N. T. , Pericleous, K. , Lee, P. D. (2020), Revealing the mechanisms by which magneto-hydrodynamics disrupts solidification microstructures. Elsevier. In: , , , . Elsevier, Acta Materialia, 196 . pp. 200-209 ISSN: 1359-6454 (Print), (doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actamat.2020.06.041).
Soar, P. , Kao, A., Djambazov, G., Shevchenko, N. , Eckert, S. , Pericleous, K. (2020), The integration of structural mechanics into microstructure solidification modelling. IOP Publishing. In: , , , . IOP Publishing, IOP Conference Series: Materials Science and Engineering, 861: 12054 ISSN: 1757-8981 (Print), 1757-899X (Online) (doi: https://doi.org/10.1088/1757-899X/861/1/012054).
Krastins, Ivars , Kao, Andrew, Pericleous, Koulis, Reis, Timothy (2020), Moment-based boundary conditions for straight on-grid boundaries in three dimensional lattice Boltzmann simulations. Wiley. In: , , , . Wiley, International Journal for Numerical Methods in Fluids, 92 (12) . pp. 1948-1974 ISSN: 0271-2091 (Print), 1097-0363 (Online) (doi: https://doi.org/10.1002/fld.4856).
Kao, A. , Gan, T., Tonry, C., Krastins, I. , Pericleous, K. (2020), Thermoelectric magnetohydrodynamic control of melt pool dynamics and microstructure evolution in additive manufacturing. The Royal Society. In: , , , . The Royal Society, Philosophical Transactions of The Royal Society A: Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences, 378 (2171) ISSN: 1364-503X (Print), 1471-2962 (Online) (doi: https://doi.org/10.1098/rsta.2019.0249).
Toropova, Liubov V. , Galenko, Peter K., Alexandrov, Dmitri V., Demange, Gilles , Kao, Andrew , Rettenmayr, Markus (2020), Theoretical modeling of crystalline symmetry order with dendritic morphology. Springer Verlag. In: , , , . Springer Verlag, European Physical Journal: Special Topics (229) . pp. 275-286 ISSN: 1951-6355 (Print), 1951-6401 (Online) (doi: https://doi.org/10.1140/epjst/e2019-900103-0).
Kao, A , Toropova, L V, Alexandrov, D V, Demange, G , Galenko, P K (2020), Modeling of dendrite growth from undercooled nickel melt: sharp interface model versus enthalpy method. IOP Publishing. In: , , , . IOP Publishing, Journal of Physics: Condensed Matter, 32: 194002 (19) ISSN: 0953-8984 (Print), 1361-648X (Online) (doi: https://doi.org/10.1088/1361-648X/ab6aea).
Zhao, Rijie , Gao, Jianrong, Kao, Andrew, Pericleous, Koulis (2019), Verification of thermoelectric magnetohydrodynamic flow effects on dendritic tip kinetics by in-situ observations. Elsevier. In: , , , . Elsevier, International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer, 136 . pp. 1139 ISSN: 0017-9310 (Print), (doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijheatmasstransfer.2019.03.055).
Kao, A. , Shevchenko, N., Alexandrakis, M., Krastins, I. , Eckert, S. , Pericleous, K. (2019), Thermal dependence of large scale freckle defect formation. The Royal Society. In: , , , . The Royal Society, Philosophical Transactions A: Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences, 377 (2143) ISSN: 1364-503X (Print), 1471-2962 (Online) (doi: https://doi.org/10.1098/rsta.2018.0206).
Cai, B. , Kao, A., Lee, P. D., Boller, E. , Basevi, H. , Phillion, A. B. , Leonardis, A. , Pericleous, K. (2019), Growth of β intermetallic in an Al-Cu-Si alloy during directional solidification via machine learned 4D quantification. Elsevier. In: , , , . Elsevier, Scripta Materialia, 165 . pp. 29-33 ISSN: 1359-6462 (Print), (doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scriptamat.2019.02.007).
Kao, Andrew , Krastins, Ivars, Alexandrakis, Matthaios, Shevchenko, Natalia , Eckert, Sven , Pericleous, Koulis (2018), A parallel cellular automata Lattice Boltzmann Method for convection-driven solidification. Springer US. In: , , , . Springer US, JOM Journal of the Minerals, Metals and Materials Society, 71 (1) . pp. 48-58 ISSN: 1047-4838 (Print), 1543-1851 (Online) (doi: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11837-018-3195-3).
Kao, A. , Gao, J., Pericleous, K. (2018), Thermoelectric Magnetohydrodynamic effects on the crystal growth rate of undercooled Ni dendrites. The Royal Society. In: , , , . The Royal Society, Philosophical Transactions of The Royal Society A: Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences, 376 (2113) ISSN: 364-503X (Print), 1471-2962 (Online) (doi: https://doi.org/10.1098/rsta.2017.0206).
Zhao, Rijie , Gao, Jianrong, Kao, Andrew, Pericleous, Koulis (2017), Measurements and modelling of dendritic growth velocities of pure Fe with thermoelectric magnetohydrodynamics convection. Elsevier. In: , , , . Elsevier, Journal of Crystal Growth, 475 . pp. 354-361 ISSN: 0022-0248 (Print), (doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcrysgro.2017.07.020).
Book
Lappa, Marcello , Hamerton, Ian, Roberts, Peter C E, Kao, Andrew , Domingos, Marco , Soorghali, Hamid , Carvil, Philip (2024), Why space? The opportunity for materials science and innovation. Catapult Satellite Applications - UKRI Science and Technology Facilities Council. In: , , , . Catapult Satellite Applications - UKRI Science and Technology Facilities Council, Didcot, UK (1st) . ISBN: 9781914241680 (doi: https://d11avd6t8zdcx0.cloudfront.net/uploads/2024/02/Why-Space_Feb-2024-1.pdf).
Conference proceedings
Soar, Peter , Krastins, Ivars, Brown, Paul, Draper, Owen , Green, Nick , Kao, Andrew (2025), Three-dimensional effects in the dendritic growth competition of Bi-crystals. Springer. In: , , In: Alexandra Anderson, Adrian S. Sabau, Chukwunwike Iloeje, Adamantia Lazou, Kayla M. Molnar (eds.), Materials Processing Fundamentals 2025: Thermodynamics and Rate Phenomena. Springer, Cham, Switzerland The Minerals, Metals & Materials Series (1st) . pp. 119-121 . ISBN: 9783031810527 ; 9783031810534ISSN: 2367-1696 (Print), (doi: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-81053-4_11) NB Item availability restricted.
Soar, Peter , Kao, Andrew, Djambazov, Georgi, Pericleous, Kyriacos A (2023), A study of the complex dynamics of dendrite solidification coupled to structural mechanics. IOP Publishing Ltd. In: , , , 16th International Conference on Modelling of Casting, Welding and Advanced Solidification Processes (MCWASP 2023). 18th - 23rd June 2023. Banff, Canada. IOP Publishing Ltd, Bristol, UK and Philadelphia, PA , 1281 (12045) (1st) . pp. 1-10 ISSN: 1757-8981 (Print), 1757-899X (Online) (doi: https://doi.org/10.1088/1757-899X/1281/1/012045).
Kao, A , Tonry, C, Soar, P, Krastins, I , Fan, X , Lee, PD , Pericleous, K (2023), Modulating meltpool dynamics and microstructure using thermoelectric magnetohydrodynamics in additive manufacturing. IOP Publishing Ltd. In: , , , IOP Conference Series: Materials Science and Engineering. IOP Publishing Ltd, , 1281 . pp. 12022 ISSN: 1757-8981 (Print), 1757-899X (Online) (doi: https://doi.org/10.1088/1757-899X/1281/1/012022).
Kao, A , Gan, T, Tonry, C, Krastins, I , Pericleous, K (2020), Study of thermoelectric magnetohydrodynamic convection on solute redistribution during laser additive manufacturing. IOP Publishing. In: , , , IOP Conference Series: Materials Science and Engineering. IOP Publishing, IOP Conference Series: Materials Science and Engineering, 861 . pp. 12009 ISSN: 1757-8981 (Print), 1757-899X (Online) (doi: https://doi.org/10.1088/1757-899X/861/1/012009).