Research

The School of Engineering houses a diverse portfolio of research activities.  There are three research groups: Aerospace and Computational Engineering (ACE), Engineering Learning and Professional Practice (ELPP), and Mechanics of Materials (MoM). Staff members in these groups contribute to research activities across seven Main Research Areas.  These areas are:

• Computational Fluid Dynamics
• Control Systems and Signals
• Engineering Education and Management
• Future Energy and Transport Systems
• Healthcare Technologies
• Material Surfaces and Interfaces
• Materials Processing

We also host research in the following cross-disciplinary groupings:

• Advanced Microscopy Centre
• Biomechanics and Immersive Technology Laboratory
• NISCO UK Research Centre (NU-RC)
• TWI Materials Innovation Centre (MatIC)

In the Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2021, 93% of the School’s research outputs were considered internationally excellent or world-leading, placing us in the first quartile of the sector.

The School of Engineering houses a number of unique facilities:

• A 72,000 litre water tank which can supply water at 3.5 bar, with a sump of 205,000 litres.
• An 800 psi compressed air system, and associated 8 m³ storage system rated at 600 psi.
• The Charles Wilson wind tunnel, a low turbulence intensity closed loop tunnel with an aerodynamic test section, and an environmental test section.
• Two-tonne cranes in each laboratory space.
• Mains gas supply and exhaust ducting for high temperature combustion experiments.