The Need for Speed – Reducing Vibrations from High Speed Trains

Project Overview
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The high speed rail industry is witnessing exponential global growth and is rapidly superseding air travel in many parts of the world. To increases train speeds further, new approaches to the engineering of the entire train-track-soil system are required. Therefore this project will use a combination of numerical, laboratory and in-field physical experiments to optimise the high speed rail system.

Funding notes:
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1. Funding – 3 years fully funded (fees, stipend, conference travel…etc)
2. Eligibility – All nationalities (EU, International…etc)
3. Application deadline – 27th February 2015
4. PhD project start date – 1st October 2015
5. Apply: https://myhwu.hw.ac.uk/
6. More information: www.davidpconnolly.com/HSR_Connolly.pdf

Technical Description
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An explosion in high speed rail investment has facilitated exponential increases in train speeds with a Japanese train recently setting a new world record of 581 km/h. These technological advances are moving train velocities into the same realm as those encountered by commercial planes such as the Boeing 737 (750 km/h). These increased train speeds mean that high speed rail is superseding air travel in many parts of the world.

Despite this, a challenge with high speed rail is that when trains approach the velocity of surface waves in the track/ground, large vibrations are generated similar to those of a ‘sonic boom’ caused by super-sonic jets passing the sound barrier. These vibrations cause the train, track and soil to shake, and may increase the risk of train derailments and damage to buildings close to the line (in a similar way to an earthquake).

There is a rapidly increasing need to predict and prevent these vibrations before a new line is constructed. Thus, this PhD is based upon predicting and preventing high speed rail vibrations, using a combination of both physical experiments and numerical analysis.

The highly unique nature of this project means that there is potential to publish ground-breaking international research papers and become a world leader in the high speed rail field. Furthermore, the research findings will be highly attractive to the high speed rail industry and other research institutions. Therefore this project provides an excellent opportunity to secure an exciting position within either industry or academia upon graduation. More info: http://www.davidpconnolly.com/HSR_Connolly.pdf

Eligibility
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This project is open to holders of numerically related degrees (e.g. Engineering, Maths, Physics…etc) and some signal processing experience would be beneficial. Despite this, the project will be tailored to the candidate’s strengths. A first, or upper second class honours (or non-UK equivalent) is also desirable.
The scholarship will be made on competitive merit. Thus, in your application, please emphasize your educational track record along with any special achievements (e.g. prizes, awards, publications, scholarships, research experience). Where possible, please also provide evidence of any experience in signal processing, programming (e.g. matab) and numerical methods (e.g. the finite element method). Also, ensure you enclose proof of English ability and that your 2 references have completed and signed the referee report form (www.davidpconnolly.com/PhD_Referee_Form.doc).

Apply online via: https://myhwu.hw.ac.uk/ (Please select PhD programme ‘Civil Engineering’ within the online application and indicate that you are applying for a Scholarship in the Institute for Infrastructure and Environment)

Supervisors
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- Dr David Connolly
- Prof. P. K. Woodward
- Prof. O. Laghrouche

Advert keywords: Engineering, Maths, Mechanical, Civil, Electrical, Signal Processing, Geotechnical, Geophysics, Physics, Trains, High Speed Rail, Vibration, Train Modelling, Track Modelling, Wave Propagation, Railway, Mathematics, Vehicle Dynamics, Structures