Prof. James Nyabega Keraita

Position: Associate Proffesor

Areas of Research Interests

  • Manufacturing Automation
  • Industrial Engineering
  • Design of Mechatronic Systems

Academic Background

Qualification Institution Year
Post Doctorate Manufacturing Automation Yeungnam University, Korea South 2007
Ph.D. Manufacturing Automation Yeungnam University, Korea South 2006
M.Sc. Mechanical Engineering University of Nairobi, Kenya 2001
B.Sc. Mechanical Engineering University of Nairobi, Kenya 1994

Professional Qualifications

Qualification Institution Year
Graduate Engineer Engineers Board of Kenya 2015

Publications
Books and Book Chapters

  • Ndeda R., Kioni P. N. and Keraita J. N., “Effect of Cut Parameters on Laser Micromachining of Polymers: Case Study on Bulge Formation”, Lambert Academic Publishing, 2012. ISBN: 978-3-8484-3925-6.
  • Keraita J. N., “Development of Automatic Combination Weighers using Combination with Bit Operations and Least Squares-Based Line Feeder Algorithms”, Ph.D. Dissertation, Yeungnam University (Korea), June 2006.
  • Keraita J. N., “An Investigation into Chatter Arising During the Turning Process Using Acoustic Emission”, M.Sc. Thesis, University of Nairobi (Kenya), Sept. 2001.

Peer Reviewed Journal Publications

  • Martin M.Ruthandi, Bernard W.  Ikua, George N. Nyakoe and James N. Keraita, “Mathematical Modeling of Percussion Drilling of Stainless Steel using a Pulsed Nd:YAG Laser”,  Journal of Sustainable Research in Engineering Vol. 2 (2), pp. 53-62, 2015.
  • Sultan. M. Hamid, Nyakoe. G. Nyakoe and Keraita. N. James, “Energy harvesting and optimisation from ambient RF sources: A review”, Journal of Innovative Systems Design and Engineering, ISSN 2222-1727 (Paper) ISSN 2222-2871 (Online) Vol.6, No.10, 2015, pp. 23-28.
  • Titus Mulembo, B. W. Ikua, J. N. Keraita, A. Niyibizi and C. Kagiri, “Numerical study of scan speed selection and kerf depth prediction in silicon laser machining”, Journal of Innovative Systems Design and Engineering, Vol.6, No.5, P. 97-103, 2015.
  • Martin M. Ruthandi, Bernard W. Ikua, George N. Nyakoe and James N. Keraita, “Neuro-fuzzy Control of Laser Percussion Drilling”,  Journal of Sustainable Research in Engineering, Vol. 1, No. 2, p. 11-19, 2014.
  • Keraita J. N., “A Study on the Optimum Vibration Angle for the Transport of Granular Materials on Linear Conveyors”, International Journal of Precision Engineering and Manufacturing, Vol. 9, No. 2, pp.3-7, 2008.
  • Keraita, J. N. and Kim, K. H., “PC-Based Low-Cost CNC Automation of Plasma Profile Cutting of Pipes”, ARPN Journal of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Vol. 2, No. 5, pp. 1-7, 2007.
  • Keraita, J. N. and Kim, K. H., “A weighing algorithm for multihead weighers”, International Journal of Precision Engineering and Manufacturing, Vol. 8, No. 1, pp. 21- 26, 2007.
  • Keraita, J. N. and Kim, K. H., “Development of a 2-D CNC pipe cutting machine: An example of low cost automation”, Proc. of Mechanical Engineering Conference, JKUAT- Kenya, 2007.
  • Keraita, J. N. and Kim, K. H., “A study on the optimum scheme for determination of time of operation of line feeders in automatic combination weighers”, Journal of Mechanical Science and Technology, Vol. 20, No. 10, pp. 1567-1575, 2006.
  • Keraita, J. N., Onyango, H. J. and Misoi, G. K., “Correlation of acoustic emission parameters with tool wear in turning process”, International Journal of BioChemiPhysics, 2001.
  • Keraita, J. N., Onyango, H. J. and Misoi, G. K., “Lathe stability charts via acoustic emission monitoring”, African Journal of Science and Technology, Vol. 2, No. 2, pp. 81-93, 2001.

Publications in Conference Proceedings

  • Byiringiro J. B., Juma D. W. and Keraita J. N., “Micro-Stereolithography process for fabrication of mask onto a 3D freeform workpiece”, 2013 International Engineering Conference, Dedan Kimathi University of Technology, Kenya, 2013.
  • Kagiri C., Ikua B. W., Keraita J. N. and Wangui E. “Overview of the modelling and simulation of laser machining of glass”, Proc. 2012 Mech. Engin. Conf. SR&I, Vol.4, 3- 4 May 2012, ISSN 2079-6226, p.126-131.
  • Mulembo T., Ikua B. W., Keraita J. N., Niyibizi A. and Wangui E., “Developments in silicon wafer micromachining”, Proceedings of the 2012 Mechanical Engineering Conference on Sustainable Research and Innovation, SR&I, Vol.4, 3-4 May 2012, ISSN 2079-6226, p.122-125.
  • MulemboT., Ikua B. W., Keraita J. N., Niyibizi A., Kagiri C. and E. Wangui, “A review for modelling of laser micromachining of crystalline materials”, Proceedings of the KSEEE JSAEM international engineering conference, 2012, p.1-4.
  • Ndeda R., Kioni P. N. and Keraita J. N., “Effect of Laser Parameters on PMMA during Laser Micromachining: A FEMLAB Simulation”, Proceedings of the 2011 Mechanical Engineering Conference on Sustainable Research and Innovation, Volume 2, 5th-6th May 2011, pp. 49-53.
  • Kiragu, K. K., Kihiu, J. M. and Keraita, J.N., “Determination of stress intensity factors in multiply cracked thick-walled cylinders using MVCCT”, Proc. of KSEEE-JSAEM Conference, Nairobi-Kenya, pp. 28-36, 2010.
  • Ndeda, R., Kioni, P. N. and Keraita, J. N., “Modeling of Bulge formation in polymers during laser micromachining”, Proc. of Mechanical Engineering Annual Conference, AICAD-Juja, Kenya, pp. 108-112, 2010.

Papers Presented in Conferences, Seminars and Workshops

  • Nyota B. W., Ikua B. W. and Keraita J. N., “On modeling of sandwich panels with continuous piezoelectric PVDF cores”, 2013 International Engineering Conference, Dedan Kimathi University of Technology, Kenya, 2013.
  • Ruthandi M. M. , Ikua B. W. , Nyakoe G. N. and J. N. Keraita; “Modeling and control of laser percussion drilling of super-alloys”, Proceedings of the 2013 Mechanical Engineering Conference on Sustainable Research and Innovation, 2013.
  • Sultan M. H., Nyakoe G. N. and Keraita J. N., “Energy Harvesting and Optimisation from Ambient RF Sources: A Literature Survey and Review” Proceedings of the 2013 Mechanical Engineering Conference on Sustainable Research and Innovation, 2013.
  • Mulembo T., Ikua B. W., Keraita J. N. and Niyibizi A., “Study of a 1D to 3D coupling of an infinitesimal width moving laser on a silicon substrate”, Proceedings of the 2013 Mechanical Engineering Conference on Sustainable Research and Innovation, 2013.
  • Keraita, J. N. and Kim, K. H., “Development of a 2-D CNC pipe cutting machine: An example of low cost automation”, Proc. of Mechanical Engineering Conference, JKUAT- Kenya, 2007.
  • Keraita, J. N. and Kim, K. H., “Improvement of the accuracy of combination weighers under unpredictable feed rates”, JSSUME (Joint Symposium for Sister Universities in Mechanical Engineering), Jeju-Korea, August 2006
  • Keraita, J. N., Onyango, H. J. and Misoi, G. K., “In-Process monitoring of tool chatter using acoustic emission”, JKUAT Mechanical Engineering Conference, Nairobi-Kenya, 2001.

Research

  • Energy harvesting from ambient sources – ongoing
  • Laser micromachining of glass
  • Laser micromachining of polymers – Bulge formation
  • Laser micromachining of silicon
  • Neuro-fuzzy control of laser percussion drilling
  • Development of a CNC plasma profile cutting machine

Postgraduate Thesis Supervision and Examination
Supervision
i)    Doctorate  – One ongoing
ii)    Masters – 4 ongoing, 8 Completed

Examination

  • Over 20 Ph.D. and Masters thesis examination as either external or internal examiner.

Affiliation/Membership to Professional Bodies

  • Registered Graduate Engineer – Engineers Board of Kenya (EBK).
  • Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers (KSME).
  • Korean Society of Precision Engineers (KSPE).

Awards, Scholarships  and Recognitions

  • Joint JICA-JKUAT scholarship for M.Sc. studies at the University of Nairobi, 1998.
  • Korean Government Scholarship for Ph.D. studies at Yeungnam University, 2003.
  • Brain-Korea Scholarship for Post Doctorate studies at Yeungnam University, 2006.

Other Academic and Professional Achievements

  • Best student, undergraduate second year, 1991.

Other University and National Responsibilities
2015- Present
Chairman, Kenya Bureau of Standards Technical Committee on Steel.
2015 – Present
Editor, International Journal of Electro-Mechanics and Automation, ISBN 978-9966-092-70-0.
2013 – Present
Key Reviewer, Journal of Sustainable Research in Engineering, ISBN 2409-1243.
2012 – 2014
Ag. Dean, School of Engineering, Dedan Kimathi University of Technology.
2011 – 2013
Chairman, Department of Mechatronic Engineering, Dedan Kimathi University of Technology.
2010 – 2011
Chairman, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology.

Social Responsibilities
2012 – Present
Evaluation of research project proposals and project progress e.g. from Jomo Kenyatta University of Technology.