Structural Technology and Materials Group - how we are governed

CEng FIMechE
Associate Professor in Solid Mechanics, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Kingston University London

Payam is an Associate Professor in Solid Mechanics and a Chartered Engineer (CEng) as well as a Chartered Scientist (CSci), with a PhD in Engineering from the University of Edinburgh. He is a Senior Fellow of Advance HE (Higher Education Academy) and a Fellow of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE). He also holds senior professional memberships, including Senior Member of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA), and memberships with the Institute of Physics (IOP), the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), and the EPSRC (Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council) Peer Review College.

Payam's research focuses on computational design as a transformative approach to materials science and structural engineering. Drawing inspiration from nature, he uses advanced modelling and simulations, validated by experiments, to create materials and structures that are efficient, resilient, and adaptable, from microscopic architectures to large-scale infrastructure. His work spans applications such as biomedical scaffolds, renewable energy systems, and offshore structures, demonstrating the broad impact of computational tools across disciplines.

Lead Engineer, Structural Integrity Sector, EDF Energy 

Joy is a Chartered Engineer and Fellow of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers. She has over 30 years structural integrity experience in the academic, aerospace, nuclear, and petrochemical industries.

Joy’s first degree is in mechanic engineering from Zhejiang University, China and her PhD degree is in civil engineering from the University of Glasgow.

Her academic experience stems from her work at Imperial College London as a Post Doctorial Research Associate in 2000, being responsible for development of a new composite finite element model, new non-linear material models and an elevated temperature model for composite structure.

To meet her satisfaction of solving day to day engineering problems, Joy then moved to Honeywell Aerospace, Yeovil as a Senior Staff Engineer in 2002. During this time, she performed lots of static, dynamic analyses for various military aircrafts.

In 2006, she joined Messier-Dowty Limited (currently Safran Landing Systems) as an Assistant Principal Engineer, and became Principal Engineer and Lead Stress one year later. Leading the Stress Analysis Team of the A400M military transporter Nose Landing Gear (NLG) IPT, she managed to deliver the structural analyses and made key decisions on structural related issues to meet programme deliverables and ensure quality & efficiency. After the successful A400M’s first flight, her responsibility was moved to the preliminary structural stress assessment of the A350-1000 aircraft’s Main Landing Gear (MLG) for the company’s commercial bidding.

After being inspired by the new challenge of nuclear power technology, she moved to EDF Energy in 2010. She soon became a Suitably Qualified Experienced Personnel in many key structural analysis areas, such as classic strength and material, design codes, fatigue, low temperature fracture (R6), high temperature creep (R5), creep rupture and complex finite element analysis. As a Lead Engineer, she is responsible for team deliveries, balancing emerging work against planned activities, and managing the internal and external resources to meet the satisfaction of the stakeholders.

Besides the UK experiences, she also has many years’ experience in China, worked with a leading General Machinery Research Institute (GMRI) as a Senior Research Engineer, engaged in the design, research and testing of pressure vessel & pipe, and the development of design code and fracture assessment methods.

Assistant Chief Engineer, Rolls Royce

Simon Brittle, CEng, FIMechE, studied for his B.Eng. in Nuclear Engineering and for an MSc in Project Management, both at the University of Manchester.  He has spent three decades working at Rolls-Royce in the nuclear sector.  He has held roles as a site engineer, site manager, project manager, Chief Design Engineer (mechanical components) and is currently Assistant Chief Engineer for mechanical equipment in-service on operational nuclear plant.

In all these roles Simon has witnessed, sometimes at close hand, the challenges of satisfying demanding structural integrity requirements for high integrity components and systems.  Simon has worked with material scientists, analytical engineers, designers and manufacturing engineers on a wide range of projects to resolve a variety of structural integrity challenges.  Simon has been fortunate to work on some novel projects and has worked on international collaborations.  In doing so he has gained insights into how to reduce or avoid risk when tackling structural integrity challenges.  Simon serves as Vice Chair of the IMechE STMG.

Credentials: CEng, MIMechE
Nuclear Services Manager, Capgemini Engineering, Capgemini UK

Credentials: CEng MIMechE
Principal Consultant – Asset Integrity, Frazer Nash Consultancy

Credentials: CEng, FIMechE
R-PAD Technology Ltd

CEng MIMechE MWeldI IWE
Principal Project Leader, TWI

Matthew joined TWI in 2012. He read Mechanical Engineering (MEng) at the University of Cambridge (Churchill College) and has prior work experience in Nuclear Engineering, the Armed Forces (Royal Navy) and the MOD. He is currently a Principal Project Leader in the area of Fracture Integrity Management, and a Chartered Engineer (IMechE).

Matthew’s main areas of expertise lie in fracture toughness testing, general mechanical testing (both standard and bespoke) and Engineering Critical Assessment. He also co-ordinates mechanical testing, lectures on a number of TWI training courses and mentors colleagues working towards Chartership.

Matthew was Chair of The Welding Institute’s Younger Members’ Committee from 2013 to 2020 and has a particular interest in education outreach. He now leads outreach activities on behalf of TWI.

Mechanical Systems Engineer, Air Products

Credentials: PhD, CEng, MIMechE
ECA Engineer, Pipeline Group, Subsea 7

Credentials: CEng IMechE
Safety and Reliability Engineer, Rolls Royce

Senior Lecturer in Mechanical Engineering, University of Sheffield

Inspector for the Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR)
Following a MEng in Mechanical Engineering at Edinburgh University, Alexander completed a PhD investigating the influence of residual stress on the fracture behaviour of ferritic steels with the University of Surrey. Alexander followed his academic studies by working for Frazer-Nash Consultancy and Amec-Foster Wheeler in the areas of graphite material properties and stress and fracture of steels. Alexanders work focussed on code assessments, material model development, residual stress modelling, crack body analysis, defect tolerance assessments and independent nuclear safety advice.

Since 2014, Alexander has been an Inspector for the Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) assessing safety submissions in both steel and graphite technical areas and conducting national and international interventions. Alexander has supported the regulation of Hinkley Point C and the operating fleet of advanced-gas cooled reactors. Alexander is currently the ONR observer on the R6 Development Panel.

Alexander has been a member of the STMG since 2016 and has participated in a number of seminars and panellist discussions.”

Credentials: PhD, DSc, Eur Ing, CEng, IntPE (UK), FIMechE
Automotive and Mechanical Engineer, Welding Engineer, Civil and Structural Engineer, Oil and Gas Engineer, Marine Biologist.

Credentials: AMIMechE
Senior Consultant, Jacobs

Credentials: MEng, CEng, MIMechE, PSE
Technical Officer, NAFEMS

CEng MIMECHE, FEA Engineer, Eminox Ltd

A Chartered Engineer with passion for computational simulation who believes in its power to help shape the world around us for the better.

 

Ivo comes from the Czech Republic, a country with strong historic connection to engineering and science, and worked internationally in Europe and America. By joining STMG, Ivo hopes to promote engineering.

Primarily focused on durability,  Ivo worked as a Finite Element Analysis Engineer developing exhaust after-treatment systems for automotive, rail and marine applications in Eminox. Before that he worked as a CAE Engineer in automotive company Hanon Systems developing radiators and charge air coolers for passenger cars. Aside from engineering he is passionate about public speaking, mindfulness and art.

CEng MIMechE, Staff mechanical engineer, DePuy Synthes Joint Reconstruction

Dr. Lin Wang, whose professional career began in 2008, has been passionate about analysis led design/testing in the process of new product development across various industries, by developing innovative numerical simulation methods of metal forming, dynamic impact, duty cycle fatigue, material wear, creep, and fracture.

 

In 2016, Lin joined DePuy Synthes, part of the Johnson & Johnson Medical Devices companies, prior to which he has worked at Cummins Turbo Technologies, Metal Spinners Group and Durham University. Lin holds a PhD from Durham University and a MSc (distinction) from Manchester University, both in Mechanical Engineering. So far, he has published 15 peer-reviewed journal and conference articles as the first author with 200+ citations.

As a committee member of the IMechE's Structural Technology and Materials Group, Lin aims to further promote the role of computational modelling in the research and development, advance the application, verification, and validation of structural analysis, across different sectors of Mechanical Engineering.

Credentials: MEng CEng FIMechE 
Reactor Island Installations & Assembly Manager, Rolls Royce

Credentials: BSc MSc PhD CEng MIMechE MInstP
Lecturer, Industry Placement Lead, University of Leeds
Visiting Research Fellow at Bristol Composites Institute, University of Bristol

Credentials:  PhD, MIMechE, CEng
Research Fellow II – Digitalisation of Composites, Brunel Composites Centre, Brunel University London