Profile

Dr David Sims-Williams, MA PhD CEng MIMechE MSAE MAIAA

Senior Lecturer in the School of Engineering and Computing Sciences

Telephone: +44 (0) 191 33 42508

Room number: E254 (Higginson)

(email at d.b.sims-williams@durham.ac.uk)

Biography

Dr Sims-Williams undergraduate teaching includes Level 1 Fluid Mechanics, Level 1 Technical Drawing, Level 3 Compressible Flow and Level 4 Aeromechanics (Aerodynamics and Flight Mechanics).

He is also involved in the development of the Durham University Solar Car (DUSC) for the World Solar Challenge (see www.dur.ac.uk/dusc).

Research Project topics include:

The Analysis of Wind Tunnel Model Support Strut Interference
Magnetic Levitation of Ground Vehicle Wind Tunnel Models over a Moving Belt
The Development of MEMS Airflow Sensors
Flow Measurements Around Rotating Wheels including Telemetry Development
The use of Transfer Function Correction for Unsteady Pressure Measurements
Wind Tunnel Testing for Sail Development
Wind Tunnel Simulation of Atmospheric Turbulence for Road Vehicles and MAVs
Investigation of the Secondary Flow Associated with a Wing-Body Junction

PhD opportunites exist for exceptional students. Interested candidates should contact d.b.sims-williams@dur.ac.uk.

Research Groups

Energy Research Group

Research Interests

Aerodynamic Unsteadiness
Road and Racing Car Aerodynamics (see www.dur.ac.uk/car)
The Development of Advanced Wind Tunnel Instrumentation and Analyses

Publications

Books: sections

Yang, H, Sims-Williams, DB & He, L (2006). Unsteady Measurement with Correction on Tubing Distortion. In Unsteady Aerodynamics, Aeroacoustics and Aeroelasticity of Turbomachines. KC Hall, RE Kielb & JP Thomas Springer.

Conference papers

Felix Forster, David Sims-Williams , Grant Ingram & Robert Dominy (2011), TIME RESOLVED MEASUREMENTS IN THE DURHAM CASCADE, GT2011-45838: ASME Turbo Expo 2011. June 6-11, 2011, Vancouver, Canada, ASME.
Sims-Williams, DB, Kaye, S & Watkins, S (2006), Periodic Structures within the Formation Region of Trailing Vortices, SAE World Congress. Detroit, USA..
Hetherington, B & Sims-Williams, DB (2006), Support Strut Interference Effects on Passenger and Racing car Wind Tunnel Models, SAE World Congress. Detroit, USA..
Yang, H, Sims-Williams, DB & He, L (2003), Unsteady Measurement with Correction on Tubing Distortion, 10th International Symposium on Unsteady Aerodynamics, Aeroacoustics and Aeroelasticity in Turbomachines. Duke University, Durham, USA..
Sims-Williams, DB & Dominy, RG (2002), The Design of a New Wind Tunnel for Vehicle Aerodynamics Research, MIRA Vehicle Aerodynamics Conference. Warwick, UK.
Sims-Williams, DB & Dominy, RG (2002), The Design of an Open-Jet Wind Tunnel for Model Testing, SAE Motorsports Engineering Conference. Indianapolis, Indiana, USA..
Crossland, SC, Sims-Williams, DB & Dominy, RG (2000), The Reconstruction of Bluff-Body Unsteady Flow Fields, 9th International Symposium on Flow Visualization. Edinburgh, UK.
Sims-Williams DB & Dominy RG (1998), Experimental investigation into unsteadiness and instability in passenger car aerodynamics, SAE World Congress. Detroit, USA..
Sims-Williams, DB & Dominy, RG (1998), The Validation and Application of a 5 Hole Pressure Probe with Tubing Transfer Correction for Time-Accurate Measurements in Unsteady Flows, Second MIRA International Conference on Vehicle Aerodynamics. Coventry, UK..

Edited works: conference proceedings

Oettle, N., Sims-Williams, D., Dominy, R., Darlington, C., Freeman, C. & Tindall, P. (2010). The Effects of Unsteady On-Road Flow Conditions on Cabin Noise. SAE 2010 World Congress & Exhibition, April 2010,, Detroit, USA., SAE.
Allen, NJ, Wood, D, Rosamond, MC & Sims-Williams DB (2009). Fabrication of an in-plane SU-8 cantilever with integrated strain gauge for wall shear stress measurements in fluid flows. Eurosensors XXIII, Elsevier.

Journal papers: academic

Sprot, AJ, Minto, J, Sims-Williams, DB & Dominy, RG (2011). Aerodynamic Investigation on the Effect of Varying Through-Hub Flow on a Formula One Front Wheel Assembly. SAE International Journal of Passenger Cars - Mechanical Systems
Sims-Williams, DB (2011). Cross Winds and Transients: Reality, Simulation and Effects. SAE International Journal of Passenger Cars - Mechanical Systems 4(1): 172-183.
Sims-Williams, DB, Marwood, D & Sprot, AJ (2011). Links between Notchback Geometry, Aerodynamic Drag, Flow Asymmetry and Unsteady Wake Structure. SAE International Journal of Passenger Cars - Mechanical Systems 4(1): 156-165.
Mankowski, OA, Sims-Williams, DB, Dominy, RG, Duncan, B & Gargoloff, J (2011). The Bandwidth of Transient Yaw Effects on Vehicle Aerodynamics. SAE International Journal of Passenger Cars - Mechanical Systems
Oettle,N.R., Sims-Williams,D.B., Dominy,R.G., Darlington,C. & Freeman,C. (2011). The Effects of Unsteady On-Road Flow Conditions on Cabin Noise: Spectral and Geometric Dependence. SAE International Journal of Passenger Cars Mechanical Systems 4(1): 120-130.
Lawson, A.A, Dominy, R.G., Sims-Williams, D.B. & Mears, A.P.: (2008). A Comparison between On-Road and Wind Tunnel Surface Pressure Measurements on a Mid-Sized Hatchback. SAE 2007 Transactions, Journal of Passenger Cars, March 2008
Lawson, A., Sims-Williams, DB. & Dominy, R. (2008). Effects of On-Road Turbulence on Vehicle Surface Pressures in the A-Pillar Region. SAE International Journal of Passenger Cars- Mechanical Systems 1(1): 333-340.
Sims-Williams, DB & Luck, D (2007). Transfer function characterisation of pressure signal tubes for the measurement of large amplitude pressure fluctuations. Proceedings of the IMechE Part C Journal of Mechanical Engineering Science 221(6): 707-713.
Muscroft, RJM, Sims-Williams, DB & Cardwell, DA (2006). The Development of a Passive Magnetic Levitation System for Wind Tunnel Models. SAE Transactions, Journal of Passenger Cars: Mechanical Systems 115(6): 415-419.
Hetherington, B. & Sims-Williams, D. B. (2004). Wind tunnel model support strut interference. SAE 2004 transactions journal of passenger cars mechanical systems 113(6): 442-448.
Sims-Williams, D. B. & Duncan, B. D. (2003). The Ahmed model unsteady wake experimental and computational analyses. SAE 2003 transactions journal of passenger cars mechanical systems 112(6): 1385-1396.
Sims-Williams, D. B., Dominy, R. G. & Howell, J. P. (2002). An investigation into large scale unsteady structures in the wake of real and idealized hatchback car models. SAE 2001 transactions journal of passenger cars mechanical systems 110(6): 1197-1208.
Duncan, B. D., Sengupta, R., Mallick, S. & Sims-Williams, D. B. (2002). Numerical simulation and spectral analysis of pressure fluctuations in vehicle aerodynamic noise generation. SAE 2002 transactions journal of passenger cars mechanical systems 111(6): 872-892.
Sims-Williams DB, Dominy RG & Ryan A (2000). The aerodynamic stability of a Le Mans prototype race car under off-design pitch conditions. SAE Transactions 2000 Journal of Passenger Cars: Mechanical Systems
Sims-Williams DB, A.J. White & R.G. Dominy (1999). Gurney Flap Aerodynamic Unsteadiness. Sports Engineering 2: 221-233.
Sims-Williams, DB & Dominy, RG (1999). The reconstruction of periodic pressure fields from point measurements. SAE Transactions 1999 Journal of Passenger Cars 1571-1578.

Reports: official

Howell, J, Sims-Williams, D, Sprot, A, Hamlin, F & Dominy, R (2012). Bluff Body Drag Reduction with Ventilated Base Cavities. Society of Automotive Engineers.

Theses: PhD

Sims-Williams, DB (2001). Self-Excited Aerodynamic Unsteadiness Associated with Passenger Cars. School of Engineering. University of Durham. PhD.

Media Contacts

Available for media contact about:

Engineering: Aerodyamics - Especially Road Vehicle Aerodynamics, Racing Car Aerodynamics, Fluid Flow Istrumentation