▣  Recent Publications

▣  Thermomechanins

Research

I was educated at King Edward VI Nuneaton, and commenced my career as a Student Apprentice at Clarkson International, a manufacturer of machine tools. After graduating with a 1st Class Honours Degree in Production Engineering from Lanchester College Coventry, I worked at the University of Birmingham on a research contract paid for by Clarkson’s, and took my PhD in the Forming of Tool Steels. This work actually involved numerous impact investigations, which has been a recurring theme throughout my career. I then became the Chubb Research Fellow investigating the high speed deformation properties of materials for use in safe and strong-room applications; again working in impact mechanics. I was appointed as a Lecturer in 1973, progressed through a Senior Lectureship to the Jaguar Chair of Automotive Engineering in 1988, and was finally Head of Mechanical Engineering at Birmingham. I spent the majority of my academic career researching Continuum Damage Mechanics and Finite Element Methods, and after being appointed as the Director of the Automotive Safety Centre I turned my attention to the deformation and damage of car occupants in impact conditions, again using Continuum damage mechanics concepts, in particular the application of the Clausius-Duhem Inequalty to injuries. My current research interests cover fracture and fatigue of engineering materials, the thermomechanical modelling of injuries as damage to biomechanical systems, and the relationships between injury criteria for dummies and real world injuries via prediction of the Abbreviated Injury Scale of the injuries dirctly from FE models.

STATACT  |  ICRASH  |  IMechE  |  ESV

Total Publications - 208 including three co-authored books

Recent publications – 2001 on

1. Coley G, de Lange R, de Oliveira P, Neal-Sturgess CE, Happee R, editors. Pedestrian Human Body Validation Using Detailed Real-World Accidents. IRCOBI 2001; 2001; Isle of Man.
2. Hartley P, Pillinger I, Neal-Sturgess CE, Aramaki K, editors. Computational Modelling of Thin Sheet Rolling Incorporating the Influence of Roll Deformation on Variations in Sheet Thickness. European Conference on Computational Mechanics: ECCM - 2001; 2001; Cracow, Poland.
3. Sturgess CEN. Peak Virtual Power - A Global Injury Criteria. Eindhoven University of Technology2001 [cited March 29 and 30, 2001]; Available from: www.passivesafety.com/.
4. Sturgess CEN, Cuerden R, Hassan A, editors. The Relationship of AIS to Peak Virtual Power. AAAM 2001; 2001; San Antonio Texas: AAAM.
5. Sturgess CEN. A Thermomechanical Theory of Impact Trauma. Proc IMechE, Part D: J of Automobile Div. 2002;216:883-95.
6. Sturgess CEN, Coley G, de Oliveira P, editors. Pedestrian Injuries: Effects of Impact Speed and Contact Stiffness. Vehicle Safety 2002; 2002; IMechE London: MEP.
7. Carter E, Ebdon S, Neal-Sturgess CE, editors. Optimisation of Car Design for the Mitigation of Pedestrian Head Injuries using a Genetic Algorithm. Abstract submitted to Vehicle Safety 2004; 2004; London: IMechE.
8. Coley G, Neal-Sturgess CE, Oakley C, van Hoof J, Kreuzinger T, editors. A Passive Safety Gap analysis of Real world Accident Data. ICRASH 2004; 2004; San Francisco.
9. Carter E, Ebdon S, C.E. N-S, editors. Optimization of Passenger Car Design for the Mitigation of Pedestrian Head Injury Using a Genetic Algorithm. Proceedings of the Genetic and Evolutionary Computation Conference, GECCO-2005; 2005 25-29th June 2005; Washington DC: ACM Press.
10. Guo R, Hassan A, Neal-Sturgess CE, Hu Y, editors. Road traffic accident data collection and analysis for road safety research. INFAT 2005; 2005; China.
11. Hu Y, Hassan AM, Neal-Sturgess CE, Guo R, editors. Comparison of Rollover Crash Characteristics of Passenger cars and Sport Utility Vehicles. The 4th Int Forum of Automotive Traffic Safety (INFATS); 2005; Changsha, China.
12. Hu Y, Hassan AM, Neal-Sturgess CE, Guo R, editors. Comparison of Rollover Crash characteristics of Passenger Cars and Sport Utility Vehicles,. Proc of the 4th International Forum of Automotive Traffic Safety 2005; 2005; Beijing
13. Guo R, A.H.Hassan, Sturgess CEN, Hu Y. Road traffic accident data collection and analysis for road safety research International Journal of Crashworthiness, 2006. 2006;Submitted.
14. Guo R, Neal-Sturgess. C.E, Hassan AM, Hu Y, editors. A Study of an Asian Anthropometric Pedestrian in Vehicle-Pedestrian Accidents Using Real World Accident Data. ICRASH 2006; 2006; Athens.
15. Hu Y, C.E N-S, A.M H, R G, editors. The Effect of an Inflatable Tubular Structure on Occupant Kinematics in Rollover of an SUV. ICRASH 2006; 2006; Athens.
16. Hu Y, Neal-Sturgess CE, Guo R, Jiang C, editors. Occupant Kinematics and Injury Risk in The Rollover of A Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV). Proc of the 2006 China International Conference of Automotive Safety Technology; 2006; Beijing, Aug 14-16, 2006.
17. Hu Y, Neal-Sturgess CE, Hassan AM. Simulation of Vehicle Kinematics in Rollover Tests with Quaternions, , IMechE, 2006. (In press) Proceedings IMechE Part D, Journal of Automobile Engineering. 2006;220(11):1503.
18. Hu Y, Neal-Sturgess CE, Hassan AM, Guo R. Modeling the Effects of an Inflatable Tubular Structure (ITS) on Occupant Kinematics and Injury Risk in the Rollover of a Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV), International Journal of Crashworthiness, 2006. 2006;Accepted.
19. Jiang C, Neal-Sturgess CE, Guo R, Hassan AM, editors. A Study of the Simulation of Occupant Kinematics and Roof Crush during a Car Rollover China International Conference of Automotive Safety Technology 2006; Beijing.
20. Sturgess CEN. Bologna and the MEng. International Journal of Electrical Engineering Education. 2006.
21. Baumgartner D, Marjoux D, Willinger R, Carter E, Neal-Sturgess CE, Guerra L, et al., editors. Pedestrian safety enhancement using finite element modelling. ESV 2007; 2007.
22. Bovenkerk J, Lorenz B, Zander O, Guerra LJ, Neal-Sturgess CE, editors. Pedestrian Protection in Case of Windscreen Impact. crashtech 2007; 2007; April 17 to 18, 2007, Congress Center Leipzig: TÜV SÜD Automotive GmbH.
23. Carter E, Neal-Sturgess CE, Hardy R, Guerra L, Yang J, Frank P, editors. Vehicle geometry corridors for pedestrian safety tests. ESV 2007; 2007; Lyon.
24. Hu Y, Neal-Sturgess CE. Modelling the Effects of Seat Belts on Occupant Kinematics and Injury Risk in the Rollover of a Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV). SAE 2007 Transactions - Journal of Passenger Cars. 2007;2007-01-1502.
25. Jiang C, Neal-Sturgess CE. A study of the simulation of a front-crash-induced rollover crash. Proc IMechE Part D: J of Automobile Engineering. 2007;221(No 12):1487 - 97.
26. Neal-Sturgess CE, Carter E, Hardy R, Cuerden C, Guerra L, Yang J, editors. APROSYS European In-Depth Pedestrian Database. ESV 2007; 2007.
27. Co-operative Crash Injury Study. 2008; Available from: www.ukccis.org/.
28. Al Shammaria, Neal-Sturgess C, Hassan A, Al Mejradd A, editors. Modelling Human Body Movement in Road Accidents and consequences for the Cervical Spine. The Saudi Innovation Conference 2008, ; 2008 9th June 2008; Leeds University, UK.
29. Al-Shammari NK, Neal-Sturgess CE, Hassan AM, Al-Mejrad AS, editors. Simulation of Spinal Injury in Camel–Vehicle Collision (CVC). The Saudi International Innovation Conference (SIIC-2008); 2008; Leeds, UK.
30. E. Carter, C. E. Neal-Sturgess, Hardy RN. APROSYS in-depth database of serious pedestrian and cyclist road traumas. International Journal of Crashworthiness (special APROSYS edition), Dec 2008. 2008;13(6):629.
31. Neal-Sturgess CE. A Direct Derivation of the Griffith-Irwin Relationship using a Crack tip Unloading Stress Wave Model. arXiv 08102218 [Internet]. 2008. Available from: http://arxiv.org/abs/0810.2218.
32. E. Carter, Neal-Sturgess CE. MADYMO reconstruction of a real-world collision between a vehicle and cyclist. International Journal of Crashworthiness 2009;14(4):379.
33. Al-Shammari NK, Al-Mejrad AS, Hassan AM, Neal-Sturgess CE. Accident Reconstruction of Some Uncommon Spinal Injuries in Auto-Crashes in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. J Ann Saudi Med. 2010.
34. Al-Shammari NK, Hassan AM, Neal-Sturgess CE, Al-Mejrad AS, editors. Mechanism of Spinal Injuries Sustained by Drivers of Passenger Cars during Collisions with Camels. The 6th World Congress on Biomechanics; 2010; Singapore.
35. JIANG C, Sturgess CEN, Hu Y. Kinematics simulation and head injury analysis for rollovers using Madymo. Int J Crashworthiness. 2010;15(5):505-15.
36. Neal-Sturgess CE. The Entropy of Morbidity Trauma and Mortality. arXiv 10083695 [Internet]. 2010. Available from: http://arxiv.org/abs/1008.3695.
37. Al-Shammari NK, Hassan AM, Neal- Sturgess CE. Accident reconstruction of some uncommon spinal injuries in auto-crashes in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Saudi Medical Journal. 2011; 32(4).
38. Ashford RL, Neal- Sturgess CE, White P. AN INVESTIGATION INTO THE AERODYNAMICS OF FOUR MIDDLE/LONG DISTANCE RUNNING SHOES. Footwear Science. 2011.
39. Ashford RL, Neal-Sturgess CE, White P. A Fundamental Study on the Aerodynamics of Four Middle and Long Distance Running Shoes International Journal of Sports Science and Engineering. 2011;05 (2011)(02):119-28.
40. Hoffmann J, Freisinger M, vd Made R, Blundell M, Bastien C, Neal-Sturgess CE. Investigation of pre-braking on unbelted occupant position and injuries using an active Human Body Model (HBM). ESV 20112011.
41. Hu Y, ., Liu X, Neal-Sturgess CE, Jiang CY. Lower leg injury simulation for EuroNCAP compliance. Int J Crashworthiness. 2011;16(3):275-84.
42. Neal-Sturgess CE. Assessing Mortality for Multiple Injuries and Implications for Car Assessment Protocols. 2011 International Conference on Vehicle Noise Vibration and Safety Technology; Chongqing2011.
43. Al-Shammari NK, Neal- Sturgess CE. Spinal Injury in Camel-Vehicle Impacts. In: Chirwa C, editor. ICrash 2012; Milan2012.
44. Al-Shammari NK, Neal-Sturgess CE. Simulation of Neck Injury Mechanisms during Frontal Impacts JMBD. 2012.
45. Bastien C, Diederich A, Freisinger M, Hofmann J, Van Der Made R, Blundell M, et al. Influence of human bracing reflex on occupant's neck, head and thorax injuries in emergency braking combined with an FMVSS208 impact scenario. In: Chirwa C, editor. ICrash 2012; Milan2012.
46. Neal-Sturgess CE. An Analysis of Fracture and Fatigue using Lagrangian Mechanics2013. Available from: http:/arXiv.org.
47. Neal-Sturgess, C. (2011). Assessing Mortality for Multiple Injuries and implications for Car Assessment Protocols. Int. Conf.on Vehicle Noise Vibration and safety. Chongqing.
48. Bastien , C., C. Neal Sturgess, H. Davies, R. Wellings and c. Hans-Brooker (2019). The use of Peak Virtual Power to model Organ Trauma in Automotive Accidents. 2nd Annul Automotive Safety Summit. Crowne Plaza, Stutgart
49. Bastien, C., C. E. Neal-Sturgess, J. Christiansen and L. Wen (2019) "A Deterministic Method to Calculate the AIS Trauma Score from a Finite Element Organ Trauma Model (OTM)." arXiv:1904.00919.
50. Bastien, C., C. Neal-Sturgess, J. Christensen and L. Wen. "A Method to Calculate the AIS Trauma Score from a Finite Element Model”. Journal of Mechanics in Medicine and Biology. Vol 20 No 6 (2020) 2050034. DOI: 10.1142/80219519420500347.

“All Engineers should study Thermodynamics”

This was a response I gave at a recent IMechE meeting, as a rejoinder to historical perspectives on the accreditation requirements of the IMechE. I was then asked to amplify the statement, so here goes!

At the present time we are at what may become to be seen as an historic divide. Students are very unprepared for traditional HE in both maths and physics, and as in my view mechanical engineering is “approximate physics for profit”, then you have to get the physics right before you can make a profit! This is a challenge and, at the risk of sounding like a Management Consultant (ugh!), both a problem and an opportunity. It is a problem in that we have got to change the teaching of engineering and science at universities, and an opportunity in that the students coming in know so little we can teach them from scratch, and get it right first time! We actually have a double opportunity, as we are simultaneously changing both our response to changing input standards, and the revision of the professional competencies for professional engineers. In my view all engineers should be “Registered”, and some may choose to go on to be “Chartered”, but the route to chartered engineer should be available to all. I believe people should expect to be registered engineers 3-5 years after graduation. As the future is most likely to be under the Bologna Declaration, then the BEng will become the “mobility degree”, and should satisfy the educational base for a registered engineer. Chartered engineers would then have additional requirements such as a two year Masters degree. These views are a logical extension of the new EC(UK) SPEC, if Bologna proceeds as I expect.

With massification, broadening syllabuses, and changes at school level, university is now a “seventh form college” for approaching 50% of the population. This will in my view lead to a BEng being a “generalist degree”, with much common material across the whole of engineering in the first two years, and specialist study in later years. This is how it used to be done, and is still done in a number of highly regarded higher education establishments – so is it “back to the future”? We need to go back to basics, we should be teaching students how to solve problems, not the solutions to various problems. Therefore, in a generalist environment, all engineers should study thermodynamics, but the question is what type of thermodynamics?

Within engineering perceptions of “thermodynamics” within the UK are generally coloured by the 19th century view of reversible thermodynamics embodied in “Heat Engines”, which is almost universally disliked by students. Students should be taught modern thermodynamics, or as it is now being known “Thermomechanics”. Thermomechanics is a burgeoning field of research, and is the 20/21st century thermodynamics of irreversible processes, as all processes in the real world are irreversible. The growing understanding of the nature of irreversibility is even changing fundamental concepts such as time.

Mechanical engineering students, in my experience, have rarely/never understood the fundamentals of physics, and because of their changed school background they now know even less. We need to go back to the absolute basics - the conservation laws (energy and momentum) and the Principle of Stationary Action [PSA]. PSA is only a manifestation of the fact that energy is conserved, and is synonymous with the stationary value of the total potential energy. Potential energy in this context is not the very restricted version that most engineers think of, which is actually the gravitational potential, but the wider concept of “potential” meaning the ability to do work, and the total potential energy includes all forms of energy i.e. gravitational, motion, electrical and chemical (dark?) etc.

The concept of “free energy” needs to be introduced, and again it is very simply explained as a consequence of the stationary value of the total potential energy linked to the work-energy relationship, and leads directly to Entropy. This almost universally hated and misunderstood concept, can again be simply shown to be a natural consequence of the conservation of energy and hence directly relevant to real life. The most powerful techniques stem from the rate formulation of the second law, posed in terms of free energies, known as the Clausius-Duhem inequality. This expression is truly remarkable in its capacity for prediction. If you tell it it is a solid you will derive Newton’s Laws, if you tell it it is a liquid you derive Navier-Stokes, if you tell it it is an electrical medium you derive Maxwell’s equation etc. Ultimately this approach leads to “Extended Irreversible Thermodynamics” where the rate effects are important, but this is a fiercesomely mathematical field.

For dynamics, if we start with “Action” (the Lagrangian) then the Principle of Stationary Action (PSA) can be taught with only elementary calculus of a single variable, and it can be generalised later in the course when the students have better mathematical capabilities. Then Newton’s Laws can be derived as a consequence of PSA, this gives the student the background and the understanding that far deeper issues are involved than just F = m.a , for instance the overiding importance of the Third Law in free Body analysis Energy scales at all scales, force does not. The fundamental concept is energy (pity we don’t know what it is!), forces are different depending what energy conversion is being undertaken, and at what scale i.e. mechanical forces are different to electrical forces, sub-atomic forces are different to real world forces etc. – but energy is always the same. If again, entropy production is zero this gives conservative systems, and conventional dynamics then follow.

For “Statics” if the work/energy relationship and virtual work is the starting point, then equilibrium (both translational and rotational) can be derived, so giving a better understanding of the deeper significance than just stating that equilibrium happens (see Feyman). This then naturally leads to elastic structural design. Moving on to deformable bodies, the quantity to be extremised (minimised) is the Helmholtz free energy, this is entirely analogous to PSA if the gravitational and motion potentials do not vary. This leads naturally to the concept of the maximum rate of entropy production, which minimises the potentials at the greatest rate, and they can be then used for continuum damage mechanics, injury biomechanics and fracture. Energy methods, as they have always been called, can then be used to show what instabilities such as buckling are all about.

Classical thermodynamics can now be introduced from the total potential energy as systems where entropy production is zero, and the state variables i.e. pressure etc. are constant across the control volume. This then leads on to what is conventionally taught, but it is put into a global framework. Analysis of fluid flow uses all the same concepts, and the maximum rate of entropy production is becoming the favoured approach for turbulent flow, mixing, climatology, and even extra-terrestrial climatology (see Gaia). Following on from the more traditional elements the subject can then be generalised to information theory, complexity and evolution. The best models of life are now thermodynamic models, and the second law of thermodynamics and concepts such as the maximum rate of entropy production are now considered the most likely candidates for the fundamental drivers of evolution, and the direction and development of the universe on all scales from the quantum (Plank) scales to cosmology.

In conclusion, returning to the title, what I really meant to say was that as Universities are becoming seven'th form colleges, and with the changing output from schools, then first degrees should be generalist and everyone should have a grounding in Thermomechanics because, with due acknowledgement to Douglas Adams - it is the story of life, the universe, and everything!!

Thermomechanics of Severe Weather Systems

Thermomechanics of Impact Trauma