Dr Andrew Barr

MEng, PhD

Department of Civil and Structural Engineering

Research Associate

a.barr@sheffield.ac.uk
+44 114 222 5703

Full contact details

Dr Andrew Barr
Department of Civil and Structural Engineering
Room D103a
Sir Frederick Mappin Building (Broad Lane Building)
Mappin Street
Sheffield
S1 3JD
Profile

Andrew graduated from the University of Sheffield with an MEng (Hons) degree in Structural Engineering & Architecture in 2012. He then joined the Geotechnical Engineering Group and completed his PhD studying strain rate effects in soils in 2016.

During his doctorate studies Andrew spent a number of periods working with the university spin-out company Blastech. He is now a Research Associate in the Blast and Impact Dynamics research group, working on the EPSRC-funded Mechanisms and Characterisation of Explosions (MaCE) project.

Much of Andrew’s research to date has focused on the effect of strain rate on material behaviour. How quickly a load is applied to a material (the strain rate) can greatly affect properties such as stiffness and strength, and this effect is particularly important when investigating very rapid loadings such as explosions.

His research on strain rate effects in soils is vital for understanding how to defend against buried explosive devices such as mines and IEDs, and has aided the development of soil-filled structures to protect people and infrastructure from ballistic threats.

The destructive nature of explosions makes them inherently difficult to measure and characterise, but a full understanding of their effects is vital to improve the life-saving ability of next-generation blast protection systems.

Andrew’s current research on the MaCE project aims to develop a comprehensive model of the loading from explosions by investigating the pressure, temperature and chemical reactions in the blast wave as it develops.

Qualifications
  • MEng, Structural Engineering and Architecture, The University of Sheffield, 2012
  • PhD, The University of Sheffield, 2016
Research interests
  • Impact loading and strain rate effects
  • Characterisation of soils under extreme loads
  • Pressure bars and dispersion effects
  • Blast wave measurement
Publications

Journal articles

Conference proceedings papers

  • Barr AD, Clarke SD, Tyas A & Warren J (2017) Particle breakage in partially-saturated sand under dynamic loading. 17th International Symposium on the Interation of the Effects of Munitions with Structures (ISIEMS) RIS download Bibtex download
  • Barr AD, Clarke SD, Rigby SE, Tyas A & Warren J (2016) Investigating high strain rate shear in soils using a split Hopkinson pressure bar. 3rd UK Defence Seminar on the High Strain Rate Properties of Soils and Granular Media. Dstl, Porton Down RIS download Bibtex download
  • Dirlewanger H, Pope D, Russell D, Landmann F, Haberacker C, Barr A, Tyas A & Stolz A () Enhancement of Hesco Bastion wall models to better predict magnitudes of response under far field loading conditions RIS download Bibtex download

Theses / Dissertations

  • Barr AD (2017) Strain-rate effects in quartz sand. RIS download Bibtex download
Research group

Blast and Impact Dynamics