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Biography
David graduated with a BSc in Physics from Bristol University in 1989. He then worked for British Nuclear Fuels plc for five years, developing groundwater flow modelling software, which is still in use today. For the first year at BNFL, he was seconded to Salford University where he gained an MSc in Computational Physics. David then came to the Department of Civil Engineering at Nottingham University where he did a PhD under the supervision of Chris Baker. The PhD involved both experimental and numerical modelling of the dispersion of pollutants in the wakes of vehicles in the urban environment. David then worked as a post-doc and then lecturer in the Department of Chemical, Environmental and Mining Engineering at Nottingham University, developing expertise in Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD), as applied to underground mine ventilation, under the guidance of Ian Lowndes. David then went to work for Fluent (Europe) plc, where he spend three years supporting, developing and applying the FLUENT software. During this period, David worked closely with companies involved in drug delivery, fuel cell development, steel production, municipal incinerator design and dog biscuit extrusion! David then came back to Civil Engineering at Nottingham, where he continues to apply CFD to a variety of environmental flow problems, notably wind engineering, multiphase and open channel flow.
David is a member of the Environmental Fluid Mechanics and Geoprocesses Research Group.
Expertise Summary
David's expertise lies in the application of CFD to a whole range of engineering problems. As a long-time code developer, he understands the capabilities and limitations of the software and is able to extend its functionality when required to address new, novel applications. Application areas include:
Gaseous/particulate dispersion (quarries, deep coal mine ventilation) Wind Engineering (pedestrian level comfort, wind-borne debris, dynamic response of bridge decks/tall buildings) Channel flow (secondary currents, embankment erosion) Multiphase flows (oil and gas) Flow in porous media (metal foams, hydrogeology, pavements)
Teaching Summary
David teaches four modules that are primarily designed for students taking the Civil and Environmental Engineering courses at Nottingham. These are:
Workshops on Population and Production and Engineering Topics (Year 1) Hydraulics 3 (Year 3) Engineering in Context (Year 3) Wind Engineering and Energy (Year 4/MSc)
I also supervise the group design team each year tasked with the design of an onshore wind farm. I supervise 3rd, 4th and MSc projects, using both experimental and numerical techniques.
Research Summary
My research can be summarised as the application of Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) modelling to environmental fluid flows. While this can mean both wind and water, it is the former that I tend to… read more
Recent Publications
LI, L., WU, J., THOM, N., HARGREAVES, D., AIREY, G., ZHU, J., ABED, A., RAHMAN, M. and ZHANG, Z., 2023. 2D Mesoscale cracking simulation of partially saturated asphalt based on moisture diffusion and a cohesive zone model: International Journal of Pavement Engineering International Journal of Pavement Engineering. 24(1),
Current Research
My research can be summarised as the application of Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) modelling to environmental fluid flows. While this can mean both wind and water, it is the former that I tend to concentrate on at present. By wind I mean the classic applications such as wind engineering and air pollution dispersion modelling, but also the harnessing of the wind to generate energy and provide natural ventilation to buildings. Having worked as a CFD consultant engineer, I am keen to inform the CFD community on best practice, based on findings from my research. I also collaborate with colleagues who are applying CFD to a range of Civil Engineering flows, typically water, but also areas like the rheology of high temperature bitumen, multiphase flows and mine ventilation.
More recently, I have worked on the problem of wind-borne debris. Wind-borne debris is a real problem in high winds, often doing more damage and causing more fatalities than the direct action of the wind. To this end, we have used as part of an EPSRC-funded investigation into the flight of, for example, roof tiles and road-side signs.
I also apply CFD to a range of non-Civil engineering applications such as photocatalysis and drug dissolution.
Past Research
PhD Students Supervised to completion:
Dinh Tung Nguyen (2017 - pending minor corrections) Vortex-induced vibration of a 5:1 rectangular cylinder.
Thiago P. de Carvalho (2016) Two-phase flow in open-cell metal foams with application to aero-engine separators.
Genora M.D. Joseph (2015) Improved dust dispersion modelling for surface quarries.
Stephen Ambrose (2014) The rise of Taylor bubbles in vertical pipes.
Bruce Kakimpa (2011) The numerical simulation of plate-type windborne debris flight.
Julia Revuz (2011) Numerical simulation of the wind flow around a tall building and its dynamic response to wind excitation.
Kamran Ansari (2011) Boundary shear stress distribution and flow structures in trapezoidal channels.
Mohamed A.B.A Mohamed (2011) The numerical simulation of shallow water coastal lake, Lake El-Manzala, Egypt.
Xiao Han Phrain Gu (2009) Impinging leading edge vortex induced oscillation in bridge aeroelasticity.
Silvester, Stephen (2002) The integration of CFD and VR methods to assist auxiliary ventilation practice.