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Eng. (Ms.) M. H. Medagedara

B.Sc. Engineering (Hons)(Moratuwa), AMIE (SL), MSLAAS, CIMA Dip Ma, PhD (Reading – Moratuwa)

Lecturer (Probationary)

Department of Textile and Apparel Engineering, Faculty of Engineering Technology
  • Colombo Regional Center, Colombo Regional Centre, 2nd Intermediate floor, Department of Textile and Apparel Technology, Faculty of Engineering Technology, The Open University of Sri Lanka, Nawala
  • Office: +942881372, Ext: 310
  • mhmed@ou.ac.lk hansikamedagedara179@gmail.com

M. Hansika Medagedara is a Lecturer (probationary) in the field of Textile Engineering, attached to the Faculty of Engineering Technology of the Open University of Sri Lanka. She completed her B.Sc Engineering (Honours) Degree in Textile & Apparel Engineering specializing in Technical Textiles, graduating with a First Class Honours from the Department of Textile and Apparel Engineering of University of Moratuwa (2021) with Dean’s List Awards in Five Semesters. She is also the recipient of the MERCON Research Award for the Best Undergraduate Research Project (Textile & Apparel Engineering Track) in 2021. She is currently reading for her PhD in the area of developing Textile-based Electromyography (EMG) sensors for Feedback Control in Active Compression.

Her work experience is in the field of Research & Innovation, having worked as an Executive – Technology Entrepreneur at MAS Innovations Pvt Ltd (Twinery), and as an R & D Engineering Intern at the Sri Lanka Institute of Nano Technology (SLINTEC).

Last Updated on 11 months

Wearable Sensors, Textile Electrodes, Textile Process Engineering, Technical Textiles, Nano Technology, Surface EMG Sensors, Active Compression, Conductive Textiles

Wearable Technology, Textile-based sensor development, Active compression, Nano Technology applications in Textiles, Smart Textiles, Shape Memory Polymers for Textile Applications

Course Coordination:

TAX 4560 – Woven Fabric Technology
TAX 5648 – Fabric Structures & Analysis
TAX 6265 – Advanced Weaving Preparations & Machinery
TAK 3237 – Introduction to Computer Applications
TAX7369 – Engineering Aspects of Weaving

  • 2018 – Real-Time Humidity and Temperature Monitoring System for Textile Ware housing and Storage :

This research involved the use of Micro C Programming, Arduino, and integration of DHT11 Humidity and Temperature Sensor for real-time data tracking to monitor the humidity levels of textile warehouses to prevent static charge accumulation on fabric rolls.

  • 2019 – Investigating the feasibility of PANI (Polyaniline) in situ polymerized textiles as a strain indicator, through conductivity analysis :

This research was aimed at addressing the strain variations imposed on a pediatric passenger, while wearing a seatbelt through measuring the imposed strain as a conductivity value. Conductivity on the textile substrate was achieved through in situ grafting of PANI Nano fibers.

  • 2020 – A conceptual design of an SMP (Shape Memory Polymer) reinforced knitted spacer structure for ballistic defense :

This research focused on developing a conceptual model and design for a shape memory polymer reinforced knitted spacer structure, where the impact energy is to be absorbed by the polymeric yarn, when the thermal energy raises the temperature of the SMP above its glass transition temperature. A theoretical model was developed to establish the fabric parameters of the structure to facilitate the purpose while, a comprehensive design methodology, including determining the SMP was introduced for the design of the ballistic protection structure. Additionally, a MATLAB simulation was conducted to model the relationship between the dissipated heat energy and the required fabric parameters.

  • 2020/2021 – The Design and development of an electro spun textile integrated device for real-time, non-invasive, health-monitoring :

The feasibility of capturing the corresponding variations in the surface resistivity of a textile platform, due to variations in the sweat composition was investigated in this research project, through the fabrication of a smart wearable platform. Effective moisture management through the platform was achieved and validated using a plain knit, three-layered sandwich structure. Surface conductivity was incorporated through a PCL electrospinning/ RGO dip coating process, which demonstrated satisfactory surface morphology under SEM and Optical Microscopy analysis. The relationship between the macro porosity of the textile platform and the surface conductivity was mathematically modeled and simulated, concluding that variations in the localized surface area for sweat accumulation and the fabric weight of the textile platform has minimal effect on the performance and accuracy, while a satisfactorily measurable surface conductivity value can be obtained at concentration levels in the order 0.01M. The corresponding surface conductivity values were successfully measured in terms of voltage variations through integration of a micro-controller and uploaded to an IOT platform to facilitate continuous monitoring.

 

Ongoing Research:

Design and development of textile based surface EMG (Electromyography Sensors for active compression

Publications:

Patents (US & International) –

Satharasinghe AS, Medagedara MH, Deshappriya D, Cooray B, Darshana A, Leanage NM, Jayamal M, Maduranga S, inventors; Mas Innovation Pvt Ltd, assignee. Textile fabric-elastomer composite. United States patent application US 18/170,075. 2023 Aug 17.

Satharasinghe AS, Medagedara MH, Deshappriya D, Cooray B, Darshana A, Leanage NM, Jayamal M, Maduranga S, inventors; Mas Innovation Pvt Ltd, assignee. A composite material, a method of making same and a garment comprising the composite material. International patent application WO Patent 2023158371A1. 2023 Aug 24.

Research Publications – 

Medagedara M.H., Anuradha Ranasinghe, Thilina D Lalitharathne, Gayani K Nandasiri., “Textile based surface EMG Sensor for Assessing Muscle Fatigue” Submitted to Advanced Healthcare Materials (November 2023).

Ranawaka E.H.K., Samarawickrama., K.G.R, Medagedara M.H., Herath C.N., ” “Investigating Pomegranate Rind Dye for Wearable Health Monitoring: A Colorimetric Approach to Analyzing Sweat, Glucose, and Insulin” Accepted: “ERUS (Engineering Research Unit Symposium) 2023, University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka.

Perera A.K.N,  Medagedara M.H., Herath C.N., ” “Investigating the Extraction and Development of Avacado Seed and Skin – Based Dyes for Treatment of Linen Fabrics” Accepted: “ICAPS (INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON APPLIED & PURE SCIENCES) 2023, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka.

Medagedara M.H, Peiris T., Wanasekara, N., “Investigating the feasibility of a Sweat Analyzing Wearable Smart Textile Platform” Accepted: TERS (Textile Engineering Research Symposium)2023, University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka.

Medagedara, M. H., & Weerasooriya, W. M. (2022). Conceptual Model of an SMP Reinforced Textile for Ballistic Impact Protection of Civilians in War Zones. Journal of Engineering and Technology, 10(02), 1–8.

Medagedara M.H., Peiris T., Wanasekara, N.,2021. “Modeling Surface Conductivity in a Sweat Analyzing Wearable Smart Textile Platform” In: “MERcon 2021, 7th International Multidisciplinary Engineering Research Conference”. With proceedings to IEEExplore Digital Library.  https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/9525788

Medagedara M., Pemachandra, H., “Investigating the feasibility of a PANI Nano Fibre Grafted Conductive Fabric as a Strain Indicator in Seat-belts”. In Scientific Sessions of Sri Lanka Association for Advancement of Sciences, 76th Annual Sessions, Colombo, Sri Lanka, 2020.

Medagedara M., Pemachandra, H., “Investigating the Feasibility of a Conductive Textile Structure to indicate Pre-tensioning of Seat-belts”. In: SLAAS/SLIC Conference on “From Innovation to Impact”, Colombo, Sri Lanka, 2020. With proceedings to IEEExplore Digital Library.  https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/author/37088952740

Medagedara M., Peiris T., Wanasekara, N., “Review of Recent Advances in Non-invasive, Flexible, Wearable Sweat Monitoring Sensors”. In: The Journal of Instrumentation of China Association for Science and Technology: Volume 7, Issue 2, pg 36-50 (2020). ISSN:2095-7521. http://www.instrumentationjournal.com/inst/

Medagedara M.2020. “A Conceptual Design of an SMP Reinforced Knitted Spacer Structure for Ballistic Defense”. In: The Journal of Instrumentation of China Association for Science and Technology: Volume 7, Issue 3, pg 61-66 (2020). ISSN:2095-7521. http://www.instrumentationjournal.com/inst/

Medagedara.M.H., “Real-time Humidity Monitoring Systems for Textile Warehouses”. In Scientific Sessions of Sri Lanka Association for Advancement of Sciences, 75th Annual Sessions, Colombo, Sri Lanka, 2019.

Technical Publications – 

Article titled “Reducing our Carbon Footprint – through sustainable textile manufacturing” published in SLEN (Sri Lanka Engineer’s Newsletter) by Institute of Engineers in Sri Lanka (IESL) in issue 60.

Article titled “Plasma Treatment – for surface modification of textiles” published in SLEN (Sri Lanka Engineer’s Newsletter) by Institute of Engineers in Sri Lanka (IESL) in issue 60.

  • Associate Member of the Institute of Engineers Sri Lanka (IESL) – Membership ID: AM-28365
  • Engineering Council of Sri Lanka (ECSL) – Certified Associate Engineer (Registration Number : 215186)
  • Member of the Sri Lanka Association for the Advancement of Sciences (SLAAS) –  Membership ID : 11066/C
  • Student Member of CIMA (Chartered Institute of Management Accountants) – Membership ID : 1-1S5JPA3
  • Member of Moratuwa University Textile Association (MUTA)

Award for the Best Undergraduate Project (Textile & Apparel Engineering Track) for 2021, at MERCON (Moratuwa University Engineering Research Conference) for the project titled “Investigating the feasibility of a real-time sweat analyzing device based on electrospun textiles”

  • Dean’s List Award for Semester 02 – University of Moratuwa
  • Dean’s List Award for Semester 05 – University of Moratuwa
  • Dean’s List Award for Semester 06 – University of Moratuwa
  • Dean’s List Award for Semester 07 – University of Moratuwa
  • Dean’s List Award for Semester 08 – University of Moratuwa

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