Research & Enterprise Services (RES)

Heriot-Watt Inaugural Lecture Series 2011-12

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The need for ultra-speed: From carts to bullets the evolution of railways 30th November 2011- Professor Peter Woodward Professor of Railway Geotechnical Engineering , School of Built Environment   Cairn Lecture Theatre ,Postgraduate Centre 4.30pm – refreshments and registration in PG Centre foyer 5.00pm – launch of the Institute for Infrastructure & Environment 5.45pm – Prof Woodwards inaugural lecture 6.45pm – drinks and canapés in main foyer

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Abstract:

The need for speed has driven railway development over the centuries.  Railways have once again become a principal means of transport due to their favourable carbon footprint over airlines.  Railway tracks which can support trains running routinely at ultra speed (over 250mph) are gradually becoming a reality.  This lecture will trace the evolution of railways, from simple carts to bullet trains.  In particular it will address the difficulties encountered and overcome when designing tracks to support the incredible pace of railway development in a safe and environmentally friendly way.

The lecture is highly topical given the move towards the construction of the new UK High Speed 2 line.

 

Biography:

Professor Peter Woodward has a PhD in the field of numerical geotechnics from the University of Manchester. During his PhD he worked for WS Atkins in the field of earthquake engineering, analysis and design. He was appointed to the post of Lecturer in Geotechnical Engineering in 1994 at Heriot-Watt University and to the post of Reader in Railways and Geotechnical Engineering in 2007. In 2010 he was promoted to Professor of Railway Geotechnical Engineering and in 2011 became the Chair of the newly formed Institute for Infrastructure & Engineering. Since 2001 he has been seconded to industry for 1 day per week working on the application of polyurethane geocomposites to railway track stabilisation and reinforcement. This patented technology was spun-out from Heriot-Watt University and is now widely used across the UK railways and increasingly internationally. He has won multiple awards for his developed technologies, including the Highly Commended Award at the 2005 National Rail Awards, in the Innovation of the Year category. He has also been a previous winner of the ICE Webb Prize (2008) and the UK Young Engineers Award (2001) amongst others. He has acted as Principal Investigator on many research grants, most recently on EPSRC funded research on high-speed train track interactions at critical track velocities.

 

Please email to register for this event sbemktg@hw.ac.uk