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Professor David Kennedy MA, PhD, CEng, MBCS, CITP, FRAeS

Professor David Kennedy

MA, PhD, CEng, MBCS, CITP, FRAeS

Professor

Email
kennedyd@cardiff.ac.uk
Telephone
+44 (0)29 2087 5340
Fax:
+44 (0)29 2087 4939
Campuses
S/0.20, Queen's Buildings - South Building, 5 The Parade, Newport Road, Cardiff, CF24 3AA
Welsh speaking
Users
Available for postgraduate supervision

Overview

Professor of Structural Engineering with expertise in buckling, vibration, optimisation, composite materitals, damage modelling and detection. Developed exact strip software (VICONOPT) for analysis and optimum design of lightweight aircraft structures.

Graduated from Cambridge University in 1978, PhD from Cardiff in 1994.

Chartered Engineer, Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society, Member of the British Computer Society.

Deputy Director (Staff) in the School of Engineering (2010-2017).

Director of Postgraduate Reseach Studies (2003-2007).

Collaborative research with Airbus, NASA, Tsinghua University and Dalian University of Technology.

Biography

Qualifications
PhD, University of Wales, Structural Engineering, 1994.
B.A, Cambridge University, Mathematics / Engineering, 1978.

Other Expertise

In my previous employment at Scicon Ltd, I was engaged in the development and support of the mathematical programming system SCICONIC/ VM. With support from the BP Venture Research Unit, I spent 2 years carrying out research into methods for nonlinear optimisation. Some of the resulting special problem structures and techniques to improve the branch and board search were incorporated in SCICONIC/VM.

Industrial Relevance

Aerospace industry. Automotive industry.

Languages (Reading, Writing, Speaking)

English: (fluent, fluent, fluent)

French: (basic, basic, basic)

Welsh: (basic, basic, basic)

Professional memberships

  • American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (Senior Member)
  • British Computer Society (Member)
  • Chartered Engineer, Engineering Council
  • Chartered IT Professional
  • Royal Aeronautical Society (Fellow)

Academic positions

2005-2009, Reader, Cardiff University, Structural Engineering

2000-2005, Senior Lecturer, Cardiff University, Structural Engineering

1991-2000, Lecturer, Cardiff University, Structural Engineering

1987-1993, Senior Research Associate, Cardiff University, Structural Engineering

1983-1987, Research Associate, Cardiff University, Civil Engineering and Building Technology

1978-1983, Scicon Ltd, Analyst/Programmer

1981-1983, Scicon Ltd, BP Venture Research Fellow

Committees and reviewing

Editorial Board, Computers and Structures

Editorial Board, Journal of Sound and Vibration

EPSRC Peer Review Panel

Publications

2023

2022

2021

2020

2019

2018

2017

2016

2015

2014

2013

2012

2011

2010

2009

2008

2007

2006

2005

2004

2003

2002

2001

1997

1994

1993

Teaching

Engineering Analysis (UG year 2)

Structures and Design (UG year 2)

Structural Engineering (UG year 4 / MSc)

Case Study (MSc)

Research theme: Mechanics, Materials and Advanced Manufacturing

My current research centres on the solution of nonlinear structural eigenvalue problems by exact (as opposed to finite element (FE)) methods. The characteristic approach is to assemble the static or dynamic stiffness matrix of the structure using exact member equations (eg for plane frames, space frames and plate assemblies) and to guarantee convergence on all required eigenvalues by using the Wittrick-Williams algorithm. Collaborative work with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and British Aerospace has led to the release of buckling and vibration programs for 3-dimensional lattice structures (BUNVIS-RG) and for prismatic plate assemblies (VICONOPT). VICONOPT includes a design capability, and is used in the aerospace industry in the UK, Europe and the USA. Particular emphasis has been placed on the efficient implementation of the numerical algorithms used to converge on the eigenvalues, including parallel processing techniques and optimisation strategies. Current research areas include postbuckling analysis, accurate mode-finding methods, discrete optimisation and delamination of carbon-fibre composites.

In 2007 I undertook an industrial secondment at Airbus UK, funded by The Royal Society, developing software tools for the postbuckling analysis of composite aerospace structures.

Future Research

  • Accurate mode-finding techniques using the Wittrick-Williams Algorithm.
  • Multi-level optimisation strategies for lightweight structural design.
  • Postbuckling of aerospace structures.
  • Delamination of carbon-fibre composites.
  • Detection of damage via changes in natural frequencies.

Major Funding Received

Royal Society Industry Fellowship: Software tools for postbuckling of aerospace structures, £24635, Feb 1, 2007 to Sep 30, 2007.

Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council: Mode finding when using the Wittrick-Williams algorithm, via linear eigensolution analogy, £140229, Jan 11, 2001 to Jan 10, 2004.

Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council: Initial and advanced post-buckling of optimized stiffened panels, £71763, Nov 23, 1998 to Nov 22, 2000.

Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council: Algorithms for avoiding local optima in aerospace panel design, £101889, Apr 1, 1994 to Mar 31, 1997.

Science and Engineering Research Council: ITE: New solution methods for exact structural eigenvalue problems using parallel computers, £81487, Jun 22, 1992 to Jun 21, 1995.

Contracts

TitlePeopleSponsorValueDuration
Travel grantDr D KennedyThe National Assembly for Wales300001/01/2002 - 01/01/2003
Computational mechanicsDr D KennedyRoyal Society148605/09/2004 - 15/09/2004
Software tools for postbuckling of aerospace structuresKennedy DRoyal Society2463501/02/2007 - 01/10/2007
Mode finding when using the Wittrick-Williams algorithm, via linear eigensolution analogyProf FW Williams, Dr D KennedyEngineering and Physical Sciences Research Council14022911/01/2001 - 10/01/2004

Supervised Students

TitleStudentStatusDegree
Crack Detection In Frames Using Natural Frequency DegradationsLABIB Amr Osama MostafaGraduatePhD
Modelling of damage in composite stiffened panelsSULIMAN Basem SaoudGraduatePhD
Improved Exact Strip Postbuckling Analysis Of Anisotropic Plate With Combined Load And Edge Cases.CHE BinGraduatePhD
Postbuckling analysis of stiffened panels.ZHANG ChiCurrentPhD
THE MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF NANO-SIZED MATERIALS AND STRUCTURESZHANG HongchaoGraduatePhD
DESIGN OPTIMISATION OF ADVANCED FIBRE COMPOSITES.KANG JiamingCurrentPhD
Buckling Behaviour of Delaminated Composite Plates Using Exact Stiffness AnalysisDAMGHANI MahdiGraduatePhD
Multilevel Optimisation of Aerospace and Lightweight StructuresFISCHER MarcGraduatePhD
Computational Modelling of Particlate Composites using Meshless MethodsISLAM Md SultanulGraduatePhD
POSTBUCKLING ANALYSIS OF COMPOSITE STIFFENED PANELS LOADED IN COMPRESSION AND SHEAR. SPECIALISATION - CIVIL/STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING.AL SAYMAREE Muthana Shaker MahdiCurrentPhD
DYNAMIC ANALYSIS OF SHELLSEL KAABAZI Nihal Husein FouadGraduatePhD
Multilevel Optimisation of Aerospace and Lightweight Structures Incorporating Postbuckling EffectsQU ShuangGraduatePhD
New Generic Algorithms for Constrained Optimisation snd Applications to Design of Composite LaminatesYU Tat Loong (Raymond)GraduatePhD
Multi-storey frames with rigid joint damage detection method based on the second order difference of influence linesLIU XiaoyangCurrentPhD
THE APPLICATION OF VICONOPT SOFTWARE FOR DAMAGE IDENTIFICATION IN PLATE STRUCTURE OF BRIDGE DECK SLAB.LUO YulinCurrentPhD