Next-Generation CFD: Cutting-Edge Applications, Advanced Modelling and Machine Learning

Neil Ashton: Principal CFD Specialist SA, HPC, Amazon Web Services

Dr Neil Ashton MEng, PhD, FIMechE, is a Principal CFD Specialist Solution Architect at Amazon Web Services and a Visiting Fellow at the University of Oxford. Previous positions were at NASA Ames Research Centre, Renault/Lotus Formula 1 Team as well as consultancy roles for Formula 1, Audi, British Cycling, Williams Advanced Engineering and others. His expertise is on applying and developing the next generation of Computational Fluid Dynamics approaches with a particular focus on interplay between high-fidelity turbulence models and High-Performance Computing (HPC). He has authored over 30 papers in leading international journals and conferences and has had leadership roles including chair and lead organiser for the ICCFD10 conference, 1st automotive CFD Prediction Workshop and also been a reviewer for the EU commission as well as a number of leading academic journals. He is a Chartered Engineer and a Fellow of the IMechE as well as a member of the IMechE Thermofluids group.

Max Starr: Analysis & Simulation Team, INEOS TEAM UK

After completing a PhD at Cranfield University, Max Starr joined CD-adapco where he gained a broad understanding of applications of Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) by supporting use of commercial software. As a technical support engineer he was working with a range of industries; from sport, through a Formula 1 client, to marine with clients developing large ocean going vessels. When a CFD role became available within Land Rover BAR for the 35th America’s Cup challenge he joined the team, staying on with the team for their entry to the 36th challenge as INEOS Team UK.

Omar Matar: Professor of Fluid Mechanics, Imperial College London

Omar Matar (OKM), FREng, FAPS, FIChemE is Vice-Dean of Engineering at Imperial College and RAEng/PETRONAS Research Chair in Multiphase Fluid Dynamics. His research interests are in multiphase flows, analytical techniques, numerical modelling, and data-centric methods with applications in oil-and-gas, fast-moving consumer good, and manufacturing. He has published over 280 refereed papers with over 9000 citations and an h-index of 53. He is co-Editor-in-Chief of J. Eng. Math., and received >£37M in funding from EPSRC, and industry including the £5M EPSRC Programme Grant, MEMPHIS (http://www.memphis-multiphase.org/), and the £6.5M EPSRC Programme Grant, PREMIERE (https://premiere.ai/), to develop predictive tools for multiphase flows on a spectrum of data- to physics-driven methodologies. OKM is also the Director of Transient Multiphase Flows (TMF, http://www.tmf-consortium.org) consortium on flow assurance, and served as Deputy-Director of an EPSRC CDT in Fluid Dynamics across Scales (http://www3.imperial.ac.uk/fluidscdt).

Ruth Shilston: Leader of Major Projects, Eurasia, RWDI

Ruth is an Associate at RWDI and leads their Major Projects business in the UK. With over 15 years’ working in wind engineering and climate aware design, Ruth is an experienced user of both computational methods and physical testing. In her current role, Ruth works with architects, engineers and developers to model wind and thermodynamic impacts on a range of infrastructure projects including large residential masterplans, premier league stadia and major transport hubs. Ruth has a degree in Engineering Design from the University of Bristol, is a Chartered Engineer and Fellow of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers.

Paul Harrison: Senior Consultant Engineer, Future Facilities

Paul Harrison is a Senior Consultant Engineer at Future Facilities, joining in 2011 after graduating from Sheffield University with an MEng in Mechanical Engineering. He regularly leads projects for clients across the globe, working to optimise the thermal performance of their data centres using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) and the 6SigmaDCX software. When not on the front line in data centre improvement, Paul can be found in the R&D department pushing the boundaries of engineering simulation in the drive to further understand, enhance and deploy these techniques within the industry. His career highlights so far include winning the 2016 DCD Young Mission Critical Engineer of the Year and 2019 Data Cloud Young Engineer of the Year awards, and becoming a chartered engineer with the IMechE in 2017

Matt Straw: Managing Director, Norton Straw Consultants

Mark Wilson: Associate Professor, University of Leeds

Mark Wilson is an Associate Professor and Director of the Institute of Thermofluids in the School of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Leeds. Following a first degree in Maths and Physics, and a PhD in Applied Mathematics, he moved into Mechanical Engineering, where his research focused on computational modelling of industrial fluid flows, particularly free-surface flows. His work has been funded by the EPSRC, EU and industry, and current interests include droplet dynamics, thermal management, mixing, turbulent drag reduction and computational tribology. He became a Chartered Engineer and Member of the IMechE in 2011, and has been a member of the IMechE Thermofluids Group since then.

James Tyacke: Lecturer, Aerospace Engineering, Brunel University

James Tyacke is a Lecturer in Aerospace Engineering at Brunel University London, developing multi-fidelity, multi-scale computational fluid dynamics (CFD) methods in a range of areas. He highlighted the potential of large-eddy simulation (LES) to provide consistently accurate heat transfer prediction in electronics systems during his PhD at Swansea University. Later, at the University of Cambridge he studied and classified a range of related internal aeroengine flows, leading to proposed automation of CFD to ensure consistency in industry. Following this, he made noise predictions for future installed ultra-high bypass ratio aeroengines at flight conditions. These rivalled experiments, featuring in the Journal of Sound and Vibration (CEAS-ASC) highlights. Common elements include multi-scale and multi-fidelity turbulence and geometry modelling, and the use of high performance computing (HPC) to generate and exploit large unsteady datasets. These are key aspects in enabling digital twins.

Ahmed Kovacevic: Director, Centre for Compressor Technology

Professor Ahmed Kovacevic holds the prestigious Howden/ Royal Academy of Engineering Research Chair in Compressor Technology at City, University of London. He develops excellence in academia and industry through research, teaching and collaboration with industry in the broad area of Fluid Machinery with a special focus on 3D CFD modelling. Among other roles, he is the director of the renowned Centre for Compressor Technology, chair of the International Conference on Compressors and their Systems, Associate dean for corporate engagement at City, Non-executive specialist in Megger, Director of PDM Analysis Ltd and Co-Editor-in-chief of the Journal of Process Mechanical Engineering. Professor Kovacevic has authored 8 books and book chapters, more than 100 referenced journal and conference papers, holds rights to several patents and has received 9 awards for his work.

Giovanni Cuomo: Director of Research and Innovation, HR Wallingford

Sergio Campobasso: Associate Professor (Senior Lecturer), Renewable Energy Systems and CFD, Lancaster University

Dr. Campobasso is Associate Professor in Renewable Energy Systems and Computational Fluid Dynamics at Lancaster University, member of the ASME Wind Energy Division and Associate Editor of Sustainability – Energy Section. His research addresses outstanding challenges in the development and operation of renewable energy fluid machinery, including horizontal and vertical axis wind and tidal current turbines, oscillating wings for marine energy generation, turbine array design accounting for wake/turbine interactions. His research group develops and/or uses multi-fidelity simulation methods for the analysis of these problems for both research and industrial application, and CFD plays a primary role in most of these applications.

Tom Dunstan: Senior Scientist, UK Met Office

Tom is a senior scientist in the Atmospheric Processes and Parametrizations group at the UK Met Office. Tom has been at the forefront of efforts to exploit the power of data-driven methods in weather and climate models at the Met Office, developing applications in sub-grid process modelling, flow over complex terrain, and wind energy resource assessment. Tom completed a PhD at Cranfield University in 2008 investigating turbulent flame kernel growth using direct numerical simulations. He continued to work on turbulent combustion at Cambridge University Engineering Department where he combined high-resolution simulations with novel analysis methods to help explain fine-scale turbulent flame behaviour. In 2012 Tom decided on a change of direction and moved to the Met Office to pursue his interest in geophysical flows.

Carola Koenig: Associate Dean, Senior Lecturer, Brunel University

Carola König is Associate Dean (International) and a Senior Lecturer in the College of Engineering, Design and Physical Sciences at Brunel University London. Following her degree in Mechanical Engineering (Dipl-Ing) from the University of Stuttgart, Germany in 1992 and a short period in industry she obtained a PhD from Brunel in 1998. Her expertise is in Fluid Mechanics, including CFD, within a variety of multi-disciplinary environments which comprise biomedical and bioprocess engineering as well as thermofluids engineering. She is a Charted Engineer and Member of the IMechE where she is the current Chair of the Thermofluids Group. She is also a Fellow of the Institute of the Higher Education Academy and has a keen interest in education management.

Alastair West: Senior CFD Engineer, Williams F1

Alastair completed his EngD (Engineering Doctorate) at the University of Manchester before joining CD-adapco (now Siemens) focusing on turbulence modelling and aeroacoustics. He has worked in Formula One for over 5 years, previously at Renault F1 team and currently in a senior CFD methodology role at Williams F1.