Dr Noune Melkoumian

• Appointments

  Date	Position	Institution name
  2014 - ongoing	Senior Lecturer	University of Adelaide
  2008 - 2013	Lecturer	University of Adelaide
  2008 - 2013	Lecturer	University of Adelaide
  2006 - 2008	Post-Doctoral Research Fellow	University of Adelaide
  2005 - 2006	Post-Doctoral Research Fellow	University of Adelaide
  2000 - 2005	Founder and CEO	Solit Pty Ltd
  1998 - 1999	Research Fellow	University of New South Wales
  1989 - 1990	Structural Engineering	Yerevan-Project Design Institute

• Awards and Achievements

  Date	Type	Title	Institution Name	Country	Amount
  2002	Award	Silver Prize: Casio International Developers' Contest	Casio Computers Co. Ltd.	United States	US$10K
  1994	Award	Best PhD Thesis of the Year	Ministry of Science and Higher Education	Armenia	-
  1993	Award	Best Paper by a Young Scientist	Academy of Sciences	Armenia	-

• Language Competencies

  Language	Competency
  Armenian	Can read, write, speak, understand spoken and peer review
  English	Can read, write, speak, understand spoken and peer review
  Russian	Can read, write, speak, understand spoken and peer review

• Education

  Date	Institution name	Country	Title
  1995 - 1999	University of New South Wales	Australia	PhD (Geomechanics and Geotechnical Engineering: Mining)
  1990 - 1994	Yerevan State University	Armenia	PhD (Applied Mathematics: Fracture Mechanics)
  1984 - 1989	Yerevan Polytechnic State University	Armenia	MEng & BEng University Medallist (Civil and Structural Engineering)

• Certifications

  Date	Title	Institution name	Country
  2009	Certificate of Teaching at University	University of Adelaide	Australia

• Research Interests

  Applied Mathematics Civil Geotechnical Engineering Environmental and Occupational Health and Safety Geomechanics Resources Geotechnical Engineering Sensor Technology

• Journals

  Year	Citation
  2025	Tan, J., Melkoumian, N., Harvey, D., & Akmeliawati, R. (2025). Nature-Inspired Solutions for Sustainable Mining: Applications of NIAs, Swarm Robotics, and Other Biomimicry-Based Technologies. Biomimetics, 10(3), 29 pages. DOI
  2024	Mai, N. T., Hong, K. T., Hang, N. T. T., Lien, N. T. H., Van Tap, H., Hang, P. T. T., . . . Chi, D. T. L. (2024). Analytical procedures using SEM/EDX equipment for determining heavy metals contents in fly ash genereated from domestic solid waste incinerators: a casestudy of Soc Son waste to power plant in Ha Noi. Vietnam Journal of Science and Technology, 62(2), 312-323. DOI
  2024	Bai, T., Hashemi, S., Melkoumian, N., Badalyan, A., & Zeinijahromi, A. (2024). Permeability Evolution of Shale during High-Ionic-Strength Water Sequential Imbibition. Energies, 17(14), 3598. DOI Scopus1
  2024	Tan, J., Melkoumian, N., Harvey, D., & Akmeliawati, R. (2024). Evaluating Swarm Robotics for Mining Environments: Insights into Model Performance and Application. Applied Sciences (Switzerland), 14(19), 28 pages. DOI Scopus3
  2024	Tan, J., Melkoumian, N., Harvey, D., & Akmeliawati, R. (2024). Lunarminer Framework for Nature-Inspired Swarm Robotics in Lunar Water Ice Extraction. Biomimetics, 9(11), 23 pages. DOI
  2022	Cuong, D. H., Tam, V. V., Tinh, H. Q., Do, L. T., Nghia, N. T., & Anh, H. C. (2022). Research on Nutrition, Dental Caries Status Using Novel Methods, and Related Factors to Preschool Children in Rural Areas of Vietnam. Journal of Analytical Methods in Chemistry, 2022, 1-6. DOI Scopus2
  2022	Heo, J. H., Melkoumian, N., & Hashemi, S. S. (2022). Evaluating the Effect of Different Stress Path Regimes on Borehole Deformation Using Convergence Measuring Device. Geosciences (Switzerland), 12(9), 14 pages. DOI Scopus1 WoS1
  2022	Heo, J. H., Hashemi, S. S., & Melkoumian, N. (2022). Study of Micro-Parameters of DEM Model on the Laboratory Experiment Results Obtained from Poorly Cemented Sandstone. Geosciences (Switzerland), 12(10), 14 pages. DOI Scopus1
  2021	Schwartzkopff, A. K., Melkoumian, N. S., & Xu, C. (2021). Breakdown Pressure and Propagation Surface of a Hydraulically Pressurized Circular Notch Within a Rock Material. Rock Mechanics and Rock Engineering, 54(1), 191-218. DOI Scopus8 WoS4
  2021	Zarubin, M., Statsenko, L., Spiridonov, P., Zarubina, V., Melkoumian, N., & Salykova, O. (2021). A gis software module for environmental impact assessment of the open pit mining projects for small mining operators in Kazakhstan. Sustainability (Switzerland), 13(12), 6971-1-6971-25. DOI Scopus9 WoS3
  2020	Gabrielian, L., Melkoumian, N. S., & Cuciureanu, M. (2020). Using Gaussian processes to study traumatic brain injury in sheep. Farmacia, 68(2), 232-241. DOI
  2017	Schwartzkopff, A., Melkoumian, N., & Xu, C. (2017). Fracture mechanics approximation to predict the breakdown pressure using the theory of critical distances. International Journal of Rock Mechanics and Mining Sciences, 95, 48-61. DOI Scopus32 WoS23
  2016	Hashemi, S., & Melkoumian, N. (2016). Effect of different stress path regimes on borehole instability in poorly cemented granular formations. Journal of Petroleum Science and Engineering, 146, 30-49. DOI Scopus7 WoS3
  2016	Hashemi, S., & Melkoumian, N. (2016). A strain energy criterion based on grain dislodgment at borehole wall in poorly cemented sands. International Journal of Rock Mechanics and Mining Sciences, 87, 90-103. DOI Scopus16 WoS6
  2016	Schwartzkopff, A., Xu, C., & Melkoumian, N. (2016). Approximation of mixed mode propagation for an internally pressurized circular crack. Engineering Fracture Mechanics, 166, 218-233. DOI Scopus4 WoS3
  2015	Hashemi, S., Melkoumian, N., Taheri, A., & Jaksa, M. (2015). The failure behaviour of poorly cemented sands at a borehole wall using laboratory tests. International Journal of Rock Mechanics and Mining Sciences, 77, 348-357. DOI Scopus11 WoS10
  2015	Hashemi, S., Taheri, A., & Melkoumian, N. (2015). An experimental study on the relationship between localised zones and borehole instability in poorly cemented sands. Journal of Petroleum Science and Engineering, 135, 101-117. DOI Scopus8 WoS6
  2015	Hashemi, S., Melkoumian, N., & Taheri, A. (2015). A borehole stability study by newly designed laboratory tests on thick-walled hollow cylinders. Journal of Rock Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering, 7(5), 519-531. DOI Scopus17 WoS11
  2014	Hashemi, S., Taheri, A., & Melkoumian, N. (2014). Shear failure analysis of a shallow depth unsupported borehole drilled through poorly cemented granular rock. Engineering Geology, 183, 39-52. DOI Scopus32 WoS22
  2014	Hashemi, S., Momeni, A., & Melkoumian, N. (2014). Investigation of borehole stability in poorly cemented granular formations by discrete element method. Journal of Petroleum Science and Engineering, 113, 23-35. DOI Scopus31 WoS23
  2012	Schwartzkopff, A. K., Priest, S., Melkoumian, N., & Egudo, J. A. (2012). Design and fabrication of a low cost true triaxial cell for testing multiple size specimens. Unknown Journal, 83-95. DOI Scopus6
  2011	Melkoumian, N. S., Bezhanyan, V., Chlingaryan, A., & Sargsyan, S. (2011). Extension of Bleustein-Gulyaev surface waves on the case of two electrodes.. Journal of Proceedings of Yerevan State University of Architecture and Construction.
  2009	Melkoumian, N., Priest, S., & Hunt, S. (2009). Further development of the three-dimensional Hoek-Brown yield criterion. Rock Mechanics and Rock Engineering, 42(6), 835-847. DOI Scopus55 WoS39
  2009	Lawrence, S., Willis, C., Melkoumian, N., & Griffith, M. (2009). Earthquake design of unreinforced masonry residential buildings up to 15 metres in height. Australian Journal of Structural Engineering, 10(1), 85-99. DOI Scopus1 WoS2
  2009	Bezhanyan, V., Melkoumian, N., & Sarkisyan, S. (2009). Effect of a thin and plastic adhesive layer on the stress singularities in bonded dissimilar isotropic elastic materials. Journal of Proceedings of the Yerevan State University, 2(35), 202-213.
  2006	Kahler, W., Kotooussov, A., & Melkoumian, N. (2006). On material choice and fracture susceptibility of restored teeth: an asymptotic stress analysis approach. Dental Materials, 22(12), 1109-1114. DOI Scopus14 WoS15 Europe PMC8
  2001	Mkhitaryan, S., Melkoumian, N., & Lin, B. (2001). Stress-strain state of a cracked elastic wedge under anti-plane deformation with mixed boundary conditions on its faces. International Journal of Fracture, 108(4), 291-315. DOI Scopus8

• Books

  Year	Citation
  1999	Melkoumian, N. (1999). Floor Fracturing and Sudden Gas Release in Underground Coal Mines.

• Book Chapters

  Year	Citation
  2012	Faint, L., Ljubicic, L., Thomson, S., Veale, J., Xu, C., Karakus, M., & Melkoumian, N. (2012). Probabilistic stability assessment of rock excavations. In P. Hagan (Ed.), Research Projects Review 2011 (1 ed., pp. 17-22). Australia: The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy.

• Conference Papers

  Year	Citation
  2024	Battsengel, G. E., Melkoumian, N., Akmeliawati, R., & Harvey, D. (2024). Designing Mining Robot for Swarm Rover Fleet Carrying Out Water Extraction on the Moon. In Lecture Notes in Electrical Engineering Vol. 1248 LNEE (pp. 169-178). Adelaide, South Australia: Springer Nature Singapore. DOI
  2024	Bai, T., Melkoumian, N., Hashemi, S., Badalyan, A., & Zeinijahromi, A. (2024). Permeability evolution of fractures in shale in the presence of high salinity water. In 58th US Rock Mechanics / Geomechanics Symposium 2024, ARMA 2024. Golden, Colorado, USA.: American Rock Mechanics Association (ARMA). DOI Scopus1
  2021	Tan, J., Melkoumian, N., Akmeliawati, R., & Harvey, D. (2021). Design and application of swarm robotics system using ABCO method for off-Earth mining. In Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy Publications. AusIMM conference proceeding: AusIMM Publisher.
  2018	Heo, J., Melkoumian, N., & Hashemi, S. (2018). Development and application of laboratory-scale convergence measuring device in monitoring borehole condition. In 52nd U.S. Rock Mechanics/Geomechanics Symposium (pp. 1-6). online: ARMA.
  2017	Melkoumian, N. S., Timms, W. A., Chai, P., & Anderson, M. S. (2017). An aquifer becomes an aquitard: centrifuge measurement of desaturating sandstone from the constrained zone above an underground mine. In Australasian Groundwater Conference (ACSMP – Connected Waters). UNSW, Sydney, Australia.
  2016	Melkoumian, N., Timms, W., Cai, P., Masoumi, H., & Heo, J. (2016). Fracture propagation in layered sandstones with varying saturation. In Proceedings of the 9th Asian Rock Mechanics SymposiumARMS9 (pp. 1-10). Online: Indonesia Rock Mechanics Society.
  2013	Schwartzkopff, A., Melkoumian, N., & Woithe, S. (2013). Design improvements for a true triaxial cell to monitor initiation and propagation of damage and body cracks during testing. In Drebenstedt, C, & Singhal, R (Eds.), Proceedings of the 22nd MPES Conference, Dresden, Germany, 14th-19th October 2013 (pp. 551-560). Online: Springer. DOI
  2013	Statsenko, L., & Melkoumian, N. (2013). Modeling blending process at open-pit stockyards: A Northern Kazakhstan mining company case study. In Proceedings of the 22nd Mine Planning and Equipment Selection (MPES) Conference (pp. 1017-1027). Online: Springer. DOI
  2013	Melkoumian, N., Woithe, S., Kuo, Y., & Schwartzkopff, A. (2013). A new cost-effective active structural health monitoring technoligy for detecting shear bands in poorly cemented sands leading to exploratino borehole collapse. In Proceedings of the 22nd Mine Planning and Equipment Selection (MPES) Conference (pp. 1231-1241). Online: Springer.
  2013	Statsenko, L., & Melkoumian, N. (2013). A case study on blending raw ores at open pit stockyard using decision support system for designing effective technological schemes for open pit. In SGEM2013 Conference Proceedings Vol. 1 (pp. 297-304). Bulgaria: International Multidisciplinary Scientific GeoConference & EXPO SGEM. DOI Scopus1 WoS1
  2013	Schwartzkopff, A., Priest, S., Melkoumian, N., & Egudo, J. (2013). Design and fabrication of a low cost true triaxial cell for testing multiple size specimens. In Proceedings of the International Workshop on the True Testing of Rocks Vol. 4 (pp. 83-95). London: Taylor & Francis Group. DOI
  2013	Melkoumian, N. S., Hashemi, S. S., & Momeni, A. (2013). Numerical simulation of borehole breakout in poorly cemented granular sands. In The 47th U.S. Rock Mechanics/Geomechanics Symposium. San Francisco, California, USA.
  2012	Melkoumian, N., Xu, C., Karakus, M., Cox, P., I'Anson, R., Stojakovich, J., & Ciancio, O. (2012). Feasibility study of a deep geological repository for high level radioactive waste (HLW) in Central Australia. In Proceedings of the 13th International Symposium on Environmental Issues and Waste Management in Energy and Mineral Production, SWEMP 2012 (pp. 203-212). CD: MPES-CAMI-SWEMP.
  2012	Mirahmadizoghi, A., Melkoumian, N., Priest, S., & Schwartzkopff, A. (2012). Comparison and validation of a number of three dimensional rock failure criteria through true triaxial tests on Kanmantoo bluestone. In Proceedings of the 21st International Symposium on Mine Planning and Equipment Selection, MPES 2012 (pp. 447-458). CD: The Reading Matrix.
  2012	Schwartzkopff, A., Mirahmadizoghi, A., Melkoumian, N., & Priest, S. (2012). Recommendations on further development of a true triaxial cell for testing rock specimens of different sizes. In Proceedings of the 21st International Symposium on Mine Planning and Equipment Selection, MPES 2012 (pp. 727-738). CD: The Reading Matrix.
  2012	Hashemi, S., Melkoumian, N., & Xu, C. (2012). Effect of grain bonding on the stability of a borehole drilled though low cemented formations. In Proceedings of the 7th Australasian Congress on Applied Mechanics, ACAM 7 (pp. 884-894). CDROM / DVDROM: Engineers Australia. Scopus2
  2011	Melkoumian, N., Milnes, P., & Mather, D. (2011). The Effects of extreme events on attitudes to Occupational Health and Safety. In A. Zharmenov, R. Singhal, & S. Yefremova (Eds.), Proceedings of the Twentieth International Symposium on Mine Planning and Equipment Selection (MPES 2011) (pp. 1429-1441). CD: National Centre on Complex Processing of Mineral Raw Materials, RSE..
  2011	Milnes, P., Melkoumian, N., & Mather, D. (2011). Identifying and clearing cultural blockages to occupational health and safety. In A. Zharmenov, R. Singhal, & S. Yefremova (Eds.), Proceedings of the Twentieth International Symposium on Mine Planning and Equipment Selection (MPES 2011) (pp. 1442-1453). CD: National Centre on Complex Processing of Mineral Raw Materials, RSE..
  2011	Xu, C., Karakus, M., Melkoumian, N., Wang, C., Sui, Q., Wang, J., . . . Goodchild, D. (2011). Probabilistic slope stability assessment of fresh bulldog shale in prominent hill open pit. In Proceedings of the 35th APCOM Symposium 2011 (pp. 643-649). CD ROM: The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy. Scopus1
  2010	Milnes, P., Melkoumian, N., Mather, D., Milnes, T., Stewart, A., & Tan, L. (2010). 'She'll be right mate' - Culture and safety. In Proceedings of Mine Planning and Equipment Selection (MPES) Conference (pp. 427-437). CD: The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy.
  2010	Maadad, N., & Melkoumian, N. (2010). Workplace experiences of international academic staff in South Australian universities. In Proceedings of Migrant Security 2010 (pp. 137-145). www: University of Southern Queensland.
  2010	Melkoumian, N. (2010). Predicting stress-strain relationships in stratified rock mass by using machine learning techniques. In Proceedings of the 10th IASTED International Conference on Artificial Intelligence and Applications (AIA 2010) (pp. 479-484). USA: ACTA Press. DOI
  2010	Chlingaryan, A., & Melkoumian, N. (2010). Automated monitoring of bonding materials' properties in complex structures using machine learning. In Proceedings of the 10th IASTED International Conference on Artificial Intelligence and Applications (pp. 489-493). USA: ACTA Press. DOI
  2010	Duncan, J., Prest, T., Keogh, B., Frazer, J., Melkoumian, N., & Xu, C. (2010). Site selection study for conceptual design of a deep underground radioactive waste repository in Australia. In Proceedings of the 10th IASTED International conference (pp. 470-475). Zurich: ACTA Press. DOI Scopus2
  2009	Melkoumian, N., Melkumyan, A., & Wu, C. (2009). Suggestion of a method for predicting different response characteristics including major cracks induced by blast loading in concrete slabs using machine learning. In Proceedings of the 8th International Conference on Shock & Impact Loads on Structures (pp. 435-441). Adelaide: University of Adelaide. Scopus1

• Patents

  Year	Citation
  2012	Melkoumian, N. S., Woithe, S. D., Griffith, M. C., & Cates, I. G. (2012). 2012903700, A Device, System and Software Application for Structural Monitoring (Multi-Channel Early Warning Active Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) System).. Australia.

• Theses

  Year	Citation
  1994	Melkoumian, N. S. (1994). Mixed boundary-value problems of theory of elasticity for bodies with progressing cracks.

Course Leader, Course Coordinator and Lecturer:

• MEA (Mining Education Australia: includes UNSW, UoA, UQ & Curtin Uni.) course leader for the following:
• Mine Geotechnical Engineering course (2010-2014)
• Advanced Mine Geotechnical Engineering course (2010-2014)
• Mining in a Global Environment (2014-2016)
• Mine Ventilation
• Socio-Environmental Aspects of Mining
• Engineering Modelling and Analysis IIA
• Thermodynamics for Mine Ventilation (as part of the course Water Engineering IIA)
• Reservoir Thermodynamics and Fluid Properties (for the Petroleum Engineering specialty)

Program Coordinator:

• Masters By Research (Mining Engineering)
• Masters by Coursework (Civil & Structural Engineering; Civil & Environmental Engineering; Mining Engineering)
• Assessing eligibility of international and local ME Coursework applications
• Advanced standing/academic credit assessment: international and local ME Coursework students
• Practical Work Experience
• Course Advice (UG & PG students)

• Current Higher Degree by Research Supervision (University of Adelaide)

  Date	Role	Research Topic	Program	Degree Type	Student Load	Student Name
  2021	Co-Supervisor	Information Capability Project: Bioinspired robust construction by autonomous agent swarms in extreme conditions	Doctor of Philosophy	Doctorate	Part Time	Mr Gary Yung
  2021	Co-Supervisor	Bioinspired robust construction by autonomous agent swarms in extreme conditions	Doctor of Philosophy	Doctorate	Full Time	Mr Henry John Mellor
  2021	Principal Supervisor	Biomimicry for Off-Earth Mining: Investigating the Applications of Swarm Robotics and other Nature Inspired Designs for Mining	Doctor of Philosophy	Doctorate	Full Time	Mr Joven Tan
  2021	Principal Supervisor	Bioinspired Robust Ventilation System for Maintaining Optimal Temperature and Dust Control by Autonomous Agent Swarms for Structures in off-Earth Extreme Conditions	Doctor of Philosophy	Doctorate	Full Time	Ms Ulfa Riani
  2021	Principal Supervisor	Biomimicry for off-earth mining: investigating the applications of swarm robotics and other nature inspired designs for mining	Doctor of Philosophy	Doctorate	Full Time	Mr Gal-Erdene Battsengel

• Past Higher Degree by Research Supervision (University of Adelaide)

  Date	Role	Research Topic	Program	Degree Type	Student Load	Student Name
  2021 - 2024	Principal Supervisor	Permeability Evolution of Shale During High-Ionic-Strength Water Sequential Imbibition and Carbon Dioxide Dry Out	Master of Philosophy	Master	Full Time	Mr Tianhao Bai
  2016 - 2022	Principal Supervisor	Quantifying the Effects of Cement and Water Saturation on the behaviour of Various Types of Sandy Formations Adjacent to Excavations	Doctor of Philosophy	Doctorate	Part Time	Mr Jun Hyuk Heo
  2012 - 2017	Principal Supervisor	Prediction of breakdown pressures and fracture propagation surfaces in a rock material subjected to hydraulic fracturing using intact specimens and specimens with a replicated crack	Doctor of Philosophy	Doctorate	Full Time	Mr Adam Karl Schwartzkopff
  2011 - 2015	Principal Supervisor	Drilling and maintaining stable unsupported boreholes in poorly cemented sandy formations	Doctor of Philosophy	Doctorate	Full Time	Mr Sam Saeed Hashemi
  2010 - 2012	Principal Supervisor	Analysis of Rock Performance under Three-Dimensional Stress, to Predict Instability in Deep Boreholes	Master of Engineering Science	Master	Full Time	Mr Arash Mir

• Memberships

  Date	Role	Membership	Country
  2011 - ongoing	Member	Australian Institute of Mining and Mettalurgy, Australia (AusIMM)	Australia
  1994 - ongoing	Member	Institute of Engineers, Australia	Australia
  1990 - ongoing	Member	Association of Theoretical and Applied Mechanics, Armenia	Armenia
  1990 - ongoing	Member	Association of Applied Mathematics, Armenia	-

• Editorial Boards

  Date	Role	Editorial Board Name	Institution	Country
  2011 - ongoing	Board Member	International Safety Science Journal	-	-
  2010 - ongoing	Board Member	International Journal of Mining, Reclamation and Environment	-	-

• Position: Senior Lecturer
• Phone: 83136003
• Email: noune.melkoumian@adelaide.edu.au
• Fax: 83134359
• Campus: North Terrace
• Building: Engineering North, floor 1
• Org Unit: Mining and Petroleum Engineering