PhD’s and Industry – a
personal view
Chris Baker
School of Engineering, University of Birmingham
Who am I?
Head of Civil Engineering at the University of Birmingham
Director of Birmingham Railway Research Centre,
Director of Rail Research UK
Council member of EURNEX
Dual role
–As a “producer” of PhD’s
–As a “employer” of PhD’s
Outline of talk
The Birmingham Railway Research Centre
Rail Research UK and EURNEX
What does industry require of PhD graduates?
Different models of PhD study
Models for industrial involvement in PhD study
Conclusions
The Railway Research Centre at the
University of Birmingham
Multi-disciplinary centre with staff from a number of Schools
Around 20 full time academic staff involved in railway research
Around 20 post doctoral (or equivalent) researchers
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
Motive power
–Energy consumption
–Traction drives
–Power futures
Asset Management
–Asset management systems
–Infrastructure performance modelling.
–Condition monitoring
Signalling
–Multi-train simulators
Railway Research Centre
Systems Engineering
–Railway systems engineering and systems integration.
Risk Management
–Safety risk and reliability assessment
–Modelling and tools
–Safety cases
Metallurgy
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
’To support the UK railway industry by
providing a focal point for university
based world-class research’
Mission Statement
Rail Research UK
Core funding £7M over 7 years from EPSRC (RRUK1 -2003-2006; RRUK2 2006-2010)
A range of disciplines from engineering to economics, human factors to transport
Bringing together existing skills but retaining geographic diversity
Creating the capability for a ‘Systems’ approach
Creation of 3 theme networks
Research projects using joint teams
Maximise information on website
Links to other industry groups – AGRRI
Headquarters at Birmingham and Southampton
Centre Management Team (Director, PI, Theme Managers, Admin staff - meets quarterly)
Council (all research group leaders)
Industry based Advisory Board
Rail Research UK
Theme A: Engineering Interfaces Research Focus• Appraisal of track / sub-base performance using modern instrumentation and geotechnical engineering principles
• Predicting the life of various steel railway track
• Railway noise: curve squeal, roughness growth, friction and wear
• Train dynamic and aerodynamic modelling
Rail Research UK
Theme B: Whole System Performance Research Focus
• The influence of human behaviour on system performance
• Strategies for high-level traffic management
• Development of a system-level cost framework for the assessment of trade-offs between sub-systems
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
European Rail Research Network of Excellence
Framework 6 Programme
Over 60 universities and 600 research staff
7 Regional groups: UK+Benelux Germany, Austria France Italy, Greece Iberia Nordic and East Europe
Supported by industry groups UIC, UNIFE, UITP
EURNEX
European Rail Research Network of Excellence
EURNEX is establishing 10 poles
Strategy and economics
Operation and system performance
Rolling stock and traction
Product qualification
Intelligent mobility
Safety and security
Environment
Infrastructure and signalling
Human factors
graduates?
A personal view as Director of the Railway Centre – what do I require of PhDs to work in the centre?
Most contracts from the railway industry are between 3 and 6 months in length
Some longer term EU and Government funded projects
Wide range of subject matter – inter – and multi-disciplinary
of PhD graduates?
Proven intellectual rigour
A need for a minority of technical specialists – eg aerodynamics
Much greater need for high level flexible staff who can work on a variety of projects – eg at a system based level
Need for high level computational, communication and presentation skills
Knowledge of railway industry a great asset
Different models of PhD study
Different study modes
–With taught material
–Without taught material
Different examination modes
–Public defence after consultation with examiners
–Adverserial viva
Different thesis styles
–Dissertation
Models for industrial involvement in
PhD study
Low level involvement
–Definition of project area and provision of data
Medium level involvement
–Definition and direction of project
–Financial support for student
High level involvement
Examples of PhD study
Analysis of unsteady crosswind forces on train
Train slipstreams and wakes
Large eddy simulation of flow around trains
Analysis of unsteady crosswind
forces on train
Study involved the analysis of data from full scale wind loading measurements on trains and development of new model for overturning risk
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
Development of risk prediction model
Wind speed relative to train
50 55 60 65 70 75 80 85 90 95 0 500 1000 1500 2000 t(s) w in d s p e e d ( m /s )
High level of specialist knowledge – project carried out with analytical rigour
Little broader knowledge
No great development of communication and presentation skills (small number of seminars and conferences)
Very limited knowledge of the railway industry
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
The effect of train slipstreams
Wind tunnel experiments and
analysis
P1(t) z ≈ P2(t) P3(t) m1 m2 m3 k1 k2 k3Advantages and disadvantages
Specialist knowledge gained from working in a team – not always easy to distinguish students
contributions
Some broader knowledge of the railway industry
Good development of communication and presentation skills through regular reporting and project presentations
Production of dissertation a valuable exercise
Could be useful within industrial context with relatively small amount of extra training
Large eddy simulation of flow
around trains
Study involved the use of large eddy simulation to model the flow around trains in a variety of situations
Carried out in an industrial context with student being employed
Project were specified by students employer
Academic supervision provided by local University
Advantages and disadvantages
Potential conflicts in requirements of employer and need for academic rigour
Potential conflicts in allowing time for full analysis and writing up of results
Excellent knowledge of the railway industry
Excellent communication and presentation skills through regular reporting and project presentations
Production of papers exposes students to external views
Conclusions
For maximising the benefits of PhD graduates to industry sensitive industrial involvement in PhD programmes are required
More emphasis needs to be given to the development of communication and presentation skills
Much greater use of wide ranging taught courses (business skills, knowledge transfer skills etc) could be of benefit (EngD model)
