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Who am I? Head of Civil Engineering at the University of Birmingham - PDF document

Dec 27, 2023 •14 likes •114 views

Who am I? Head of Civil Engineering at the University of Birmingham Director of Birmingham Railway Research Centre, PhDs and Industry a Director of Rail Research UK personal view Council member of EURNEX Dual role

  1. Who am I? � Head of Civil Engineering at the University of Birmingham � Director of Birmingham Railway Research Centre, PhD’s and Industry – a � Director of Rail Research UK personal view � Council member of EURNEX � Dual role – As a “producer” of PhD’s – As a “employer” of PhD’s Chris Baker School of Engineering, University of Birmingham The Railway Research Centre at the Outline of talk University of Birmingham � The Birmingham Railway Research Centre � Multi-disciplinary centre with staff from a number of � Rail Research UK and EURNEX Schools � What does industry require of PhD graduates? � Around 20 full time academic staff involved in railway research � Different models of PhD study � Models for industrial involvement in PhD study � Around 20 post doctoral (or equivalent) researchers � Conclusions � Around 20 PhD students 1

  2. Railway Research Centre � Environmental effects – Aerodynamics of trains – Pollution dispersal – Effects of climate on railway operations � Geotechnics – Deep stabilisation of track and embankments, – Trenchless technology. – Monitoring of railway tunnels – High speed trains on soft ground. – Stabilisation of track – Geotechnical engineering. Railway Research Centre Railway Research Centre � Motive power � Systems Engineering – Energy consumption – Railway systems engineering and systems integration. – Traction drives � Risk Management – Power futures – Safety risk and reliability assessment � Asset Management – Modelling and tools – Asset management systems – Safety cases – Infrastructure performance modelling. � Metallurgy – Condition monitoring – Metallurgy of rails. � Signalling – Multi-train simulators – Signalling design – EMC 2

  3. Rail Research UK Background Concerns about: � Fragmented university research � Loss of knowledge � Need for multidisciplinary research Led to RRUK: � Consortium of 13 groups at 9 universities (Birmingham, Southampton, Loughborough, Manchester Met, Imperial College, Nottingham, Newcastle, Leeds) � Aims to provide a stable research base � Share knowledge and make it available Rail Research UK Rail Research UK � Core funding £7M over 7 years from EPSRC (RRUK1 -2003-2006; Mission Statement RRUK2 2006-2010) ’To support the UK railway industry by � A range of disciplines from engineering to economics, human providing a focal point for university factors to transport based world-class research’ � Bringing together existing skills but retaining geographic diversity � Creating the capability for a ‘Systems’ approach � ‘One stop shop’ for information and support 3

  4. Rail Research UK Rail Research UK � Headquarters at Birmingham and Southampton � Centre Management Team (Director, PI, Theme � Creation of 3 theme networks Managers, Admin staff - meets quarterly) � Research projects using joint teams � Council (all research group leaders) � Maximise information on website � Industry based Advisory Board � Links to other industry groups – AGRRI Rail Research UK Rail Research UK Theme A: Engineering Interfaces Theme B: Whole System Performance Research Focus Research Focus Appraisal of track / sub-base performance using modern • The influence of human behaviour on system performance • instrumentation and geotechnical engineering principles Strategies for high-level traffic management • Predicting the life of various steel railway track • Development of a system-level cost framework for the assessment • Railway noise: curve squeal, roughness growth, friction and wear • of trade-offs between sub-systems Train dynamic and aerodynamic modelling • 4

  5. Rail Research UK Theme C: Users, Community and Environment Research Focus Understanding and enhancing passenger and driver comfort and • activities Understanding and forecasting demand • Access and interchange for seamless journeys (freight and • passenger) New integrated service concepts / comms technologies • The future of rail in a changing transport environment • Optimising options for prioritisation of eng. actions from the user’s • point of view EURNEX EURNEX European Rail Research Network of Excellence European Rail Research Network of Excellence � Framework 6 Programme EURNEX is establishing 10 poles � Over 60 universities and 600 research staff � Strategy and economics � 7 Regional groups: � Operation and system performance UK+Benelux � Rolling stock and traction Germany, Austria � Product qualification France � Intelligent mobility Italy, Greece � Safety and security Iberia � Environment Nordic � Infrastructure and signalling and East Europe � Human factors � Supported by industry groups UIC, UNIFE, UITP � Training and education 5

  6. What does industry require of PhD What does railway industry require graduates? of PhD graduates? � A personal view as Director of the Railway Centre – � Proven intellectual rigour what do I require of PhDs to work in the centre? � A need for a minority of technical specialists – eg � Most contracts from the railway industry are between aerodynamics 3 and 6 months in length � Much greater need for high level flexible staff who � Some longer term EU and Government funded can work on a variety of projects – eg at a system projects based level � Wide range of subject matter – inter – and multi- � Need for high level computational, communication disciplinary and presentation skills � Knowledge of railway industry a great asset Models for industrial involvement in Different models of PhD study PhD study � Different study modes � Low level involvement – With taught material – Definition of project area and provision of data – Without taught material � Medium level involvement � Different examination modes – Definition and direction of project – Public defence after consultation with examiners – Financial support for student – Adverserial viva � High level involvement � Different thesis styles – Research carried out in industrial context with – Dissertation industrial supervision – Published papers 6

  7. Analysis of unsteady crosswind Examples of PhD study forces on train � Study involved the analysis of data from full scale � Analysis of unsteady crosswind forces on train wind loading measurements on trains and � Train slipstreams and wakes development of new model for overturning risk � Large eddy simulation of flow around trains � Self funded PhD student, based at UOB on PhD course with no taught material � Minor involvement with railway industry � Thesis and viva due in next two months Full scale measurements 7

  8. Advantages and disadvantages Development of risk prediction model � High level of specialist knowledge – project carried out with analytical rigour Wind speed relative to train 95 � Little broader knowledge 90 85 wind speed (m/s) 80 � No great development of communication and 75 70 presentation skills (small number of seminars and 65 60 conferences) 55 50 0 500 1000 1500 2000 � Very limited knowledge of the railway industry t(s) � Employers will need to invest in further training and short term effectiveness will be reduced Train slipstreams and wakes � Study involved the analysis of data from full scale wind slipstream measurements and development of an analytical model on the effects of slipstreams on people � No taught material � Project carried out with Railway Safety and Standards Board � Financial support to student � Significant industry involvement � Thesis and viva due in next year 8

  9. Wind tunnel experiments and The effect of train slipstreams analysis z P 1 (t) m 1 k 1 P 2 (t) m 2 ≈ k 2 P 3 (t) m 3 k 3 Advantages and disadvantages Large eddy simulation of flow around trains � Specialist knowledge gained from working in a team – not always easy to distinguish students � Study involved the use of large eddy simulation to contributions model the flow around trains in a variety of situations � Some broader knowledge of the railway industry � Good development of communication and � Carried out in an industrial context with student being presentation skills through regular reporting and employed project presentations � Project were specified by students employer � Production of dissertation a valuable exercise � Academic supervision provided by local University � Could be useful within industrial context with relatively small amount of extra training � Thesis based on published papers 9

  10. Large eddy simulation around trains Advantages and disadvantages Conclusions � Potential conflicts in requirements of employer and � For maximising the benefits of PhD graduates to need for academic rigour industry sensitive industrial involvement in PhD � Potential conflicts in allowing time for full analysis and programmes are required writing up of results � More emphasis needs to be given to the � Excellent knowledge of the railway industry development of communication and presentation � Excellent communication and presentation skills skills through regular reporting and project presentations � Much greater use of wide ranging taught courses � Production of papers exposes students to external (business skills, knowledge transfer skills etc) could views be of benefit (EngD model) � High level of employability within the railway industry � Industrial and international placements would be of significant benefit 10

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