Expert Teams

Alongside our research themes and research centres we have a number of expert teams. These are flexible groupings of academics and researchers whose work touches on similar themes.

While our research themes represent our strengths in traditional engineering areas, our expert teams reflect changing research interests within the department and are concerned with developing innovative solutions to specific engineering problems.

Our Current Expert Teams:

Additive Manufacturing The Additive Manufacturing Team is leading research and development of the High Speed Sintering process, which has the potential to be the world's first Additive Manufacturing technology to compete with established manufacturing processes such as injection moulding for high volume production. Team Members: Prof. Neil Hopkinson Dr Kamran Mumtaz Dr Candice Majewski Dr Patrick J. Smith	Aerospace Engineering 'Aerodynamic optimisation of low observable flying wing UAVs with high lift constraint' (EPSRC & Defence Science and Technology Laboratory) Team Members: Prof. Ning Qin Dr Rob Howell Prof. Chris Wilson Prof. Yang Zhang Dr Graeme Manson Dr Pierre Ricco Dr Matt Marshall Dr Andrew Nowakowski Prof. Matthew Cartmell	Automotive Powertrain Current work in this area includes research into the use of bio-lubricants in automotive engines, the effect of engine component wear due to soot contaminated and aged oil and the understanding, modelling and mitigation of automotive engine valve recession, through projects funded by Ford. Team Members: Dr Tom Slatter Dr Robert Woolley Dr Roger Lewis
Biomechanics Research in this area includes the European Commission funded projects 'MySPINE: Functional prognosis simulation of patient-specific spinal treatment for clinical use' and 'MECHANOBIO: Finite element simulations of mechanobiology in tissue engineering' Team Members: Prof. Marco Viceconti Dr Alberto Marzo Dr Inna M Gitman Dr Cecile Perrault Dr Andrew Nowakowski Prof. Damien Lacroix Dr Zeike Taylor Dr Matt Carré	Combustion and Heat Transfer This team performs research, analysis and simulations of thermal energy systems using experiemental as well as computational approaches. Projects in this area include 'Thermal Hydraulics for Boiling and Passive Systems' and ''Clean Energy Utilisation from Biogas and Biomass Gasification'. Team Members: Prof. Yang Zhang Prof. Shuisheng He Dr Robert Woolley Dr Rob Howell Prof. Stephen Beck	Computational Fluid Dynamics The team develops advanced CFD models, numerical and meshing methodologies and computer codes, and applies them in a wide range of industrial applications, including aerodynamics, energy systems (wind, wave and nuclear), bio-medical and two-phase flow systems. They also perform fundamental studies of turbulence, transition and drag reduction. The team uses Reynolds Averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS), Large Eddy Simulation (LES), Detached Eddy Simulation (DES), Direct Numerical Simulation (DNS) and Lattice Boltzmann Method (LBM). Team Members: Prof. Ning Qin Dr Andrew Nowakowski Prof. Shuisheng He
Computational Structural Modelling Members of the computational structural modelling team are involved in developing techniques to predict the mechanical behaviour of materials and structures in loading conditions. Team Members: Dr Hui Long Dr Christophe Pinna Dr Hassan Ghadbegi Dr Pierre Ricco	Condition Monitoring and Non-Destructive Testing The members of this team are involved in a variety of projects where condition monitoring and non-destructive testing are used to provide condition monitoring systems for costly or safety critical engineering components. Typical projects include the EU funded SYSWIND which seeks to develop new paradigms for monitoring offshore wind turbine structures, and the DECC funded OWDIn project where the team has been developing new kinds of sensors for monitoring gearbox bearings and in wind turbines. Team Members: Prof. Rob Dwyer-Joyce Prof. Keith Worden Dr Graeme Manson	Engineering Design Recent work in this area includes a hoist design for off-shore wind farms with wave compensation (KTP with Mechan Ltd.) and the design of a mobile waste compactor (KTP with Bergmann Direct Ltd). Team Members: Dr Stephen Bradbury Dr Matt Carré Dr Tom Slatter
Human Interactions Current funded projects in this area include 'Using Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) to understand the properties that affect the friction of human skin' (ESPRC) and 'The use of vibro-tactile feedback in design of electronic devices for the aging population'. Team Members: Dr Matt Carré Prof. Roger Lewis Dr Zeike Taylor Dr Jennifer Rowson Prof. Elena Rodriguez-Falcon	Manufacturing Technology Research conducted by this team includes the numerical modelling of metal forming using thermo-elastic-plastic finite element modelling. Team Members: Prof. Neil Hopkinson Dr Kamran Mumtaz Dr Stephen Bradbury Dr Tom Slatter Dr Neil Sims Dr Hui Long Dr Matt Marshall Dr Candice Majewski Dr Hassan Ghadbeigi	Materials Processing Current work in this area includes the numerical modelling of various processes such as rolling, forging, friction stir welding and spinning processes. Recent funded projects include 'MatProFuture - New materials processing technologies for sustainable future' (European grant) Team Members: Dr Andrew Nowakowski Dr Christophe Pinna Dr Tom Slatter Dr Hui Long Dr Candice Majewski Dr Hassan Ghadbeigi
Non-Linear Dynamics Members of the team are expert in areas including nonlinear system identification, analytical nonlinear dynamics and uncertainty analysis for nonlinear systems. Areas of focus include parametric identification of physical models of control rod mechanisms in gas cooled nuclear reactors (funded by EDF) and satellite and space-tether applications. Current funding includes membership of the EPSRC Programme Grant consortium on 'Engineering Nonlinearity'. Team Members: Prof. Matthew Cartmell Dr Elizabeth Cross Dr Graeme Manson Dr Neil Sims Prof. Keith Worden	Nuclear Engineering Funded projects in this area include 'Thermal Hydraulics for Boiling and Passive Systems'(EPSRC)and 'CFD Investigation of Advanced Gas-Cooled Reactor (AGR) Cross-Flows for Hartlepool' (EDF Energy). Team Members: Prof. Shuisheng He Dr Neil Sims	Printed Electronics and Smart Materials Funded projects that are currently being undertaken in this area involve 'Reactive Inkjet Printing and Controlled Crystallisation' (EPSRC) and 'Inkjet Printed Sensors' (Pennine Water Group). Team members: Prof. Rob Dwyer-Joyce Dr Neil Sims Dr Patrick J. Smith
Railway Engineering Recent funded projects in this area include 'Investigating the benefits of laser cladding railway track' (TSB with Tata, Sandvic and Laser Cladding Technology Ltd.) and 'Ultrasonic characteristion of the wheel/rail contact' (Voestalpine & Network Rail) Team Members: Dr David Fletcher Dr Matt Marshall Prof. Rob Dwyer-Joyce Prof Roger Lewis	Renewable Energy In the field of renewable energy recent work has focused on lightweight offshore gearbox feasibility in wind turbines, as well as the development of a specialised high performance wave energy converter. Team Members: Dr Hui Long Prof. Ning Qin Dr Rob Howell Dr Matt Marshall Prof. Matthew Cartmell	Stress Damage Failure Analysis Recent funded projects in this area include 'Quantification of Local Deformation and Damage in Advanced High Strength Steels (AHSS)' (Tata Steel Europe & M2i) and 'Full-field, non-destructive, measurement of through thickness stresses in glass products' (Pilkington plc and the University of Bristol) Team Members: Dr Rachel Tomlinson Dr Christophe Pinna Dr Hui Long Dr David Fletcher Dr Hassan Ghadbeigi
Structural Health Monitoring The team has a world-leading record in developing structural health and performance monitoring techniques for aerospace, civil and other applications. Current projects in this area include SYSWIND (EU-funded project investigating novel monitoring approaches for offshore wind turbines) and 'Disease Surveillance for Systems and Structures' (a prestigious EPSRC fellowship applying principles of epidemiology to monitoring the health of populations of structures). Team Members: Dr Robert J Barthorpe Prof. Keith Worden Dr Graeme Manson Dr Elizabeth Cross	Turbulence and Drag Reduction Work in this area includes experimental and computational studies of non-equilibrium turbulence a recent funded project has focused on 'Turbulence and Wall Shear Stress in Unsteady Internal Flows with Rough Surfaces' (EPSRC). Team Members: Dr Pierre Ricco Prof. Shuisheng He Dr Andrew Nowakowski Prof. Stephen Beck Prof. Ning Qin	Uncertainty Analysis The team's work has been funded by the EPSRC Platform Grant 'Uncertainty Propagation in Structures, Systems and Processes'. Recent funded projects in this area include 'A novel Methodology for Modelling Complex Biomechanical Systems using Bayesian Uncertainty Analysis' (funded by The Leverhulme Trust). Team Members: Dr Jennifer Rowson Prof. Keith Worden Dr Robert J. Barthorpe Dr Graeme Manson