IRR Researcher wins European-wide prize for PhD project on rail steels
A Researcher at the University of Huddersfield’s renowned Institute of Railway Research has been awarded a European-wide prize for his PhD project.
Daniel Woodhead picked up the European Rail Research Advisory Council (ERRAC) award at its plenary meeting in Brussels in June and also gave a presentation on his work.
It follows a call for abstracts for the student competition by ERRAC, which covers both Master’s and PhD students.
Dr Woodhead, who began his University career at Huddersfield studying Mechanical Engineering as an undergraduate, was placed first for his project on the metallurgy of rail steels, entitled Establishing the Principles for Compositional Design of Long-Life Rail Steels.
Following a placement year within the University’s Institute of Railway Research (IRR), he then began a doctoral research degree within the institute, before being appointed as a Research Assistant during the last year of his PhD studies.
Since completing his PhD, Dr Woodhead is now a full-time Research Assistant at the IRR and has continued his research into rail materials, as well as supporting other research projects, including developing guidance for future Tram-Train schemes and the testing of novel carbon fibre railway axles.
He commented: “This award means a great deal to me and I would like to give thanks to my supervisors Adam Bevan, Jay Jaiswal and Phillip Shackleton, for their support throughout my PhD. I also appreciate the love and support of my friends and family throughout my research.”
Adam Bevan, Professor of Railway Systems Engineering, and Associate Director - Enterprise, Innovation & Knowledge Exchange at the IRR, commented: “This award is a fitting recognition of all Daniel’s hard work throughout his PhD, as well as the quality and validity of his research findings. We hope the outcomes of his PhD will pave the way for future research into the development and selection of next-generation rail steels.”
Since it was founded over a decade ago, the IRR has built up a reputation as a world-class centre for railway engineering research and innovation, working closely with industry and academic partners to deliver impactful research for a safer, more reliable and cost-efficient low-carbon railway.
Awarded the Queen’s Anniversary Prize for innovations in research and development that have brought significant improvements to the railway industry, the Institute leads the UK Rail Research and Innovation Network’s (UKRRIN) Centre of Excellence in Rolling Stock.
With a team of over 30 dedicated academic research staff, the IRR has received £14m of investment in state-of-the-art full-scale test facilities and has extensive capabilities in the simulation and testing of rail systems, with a focus on vehicle-track dynamics and pantograph interaction dynamics, combined with expertise in smart maintenance, traction and braking system optimisation and rail technology development.