Professor David Fletcher
BEng, PhD.
Department of Mechanical Engineering
Professor of Railway Engineering
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+44 114 222 7760
Full contact details
Department of Mechanical Engineering
Sir Frederick Mappin Building
Mappin Street
Sheffield
S1 3JD
- Profile
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David is a graduate of Leeds University and received his PhD on crack growth in railway steels from University of Sheffield in 1999. He conducted post-doctoral research at Newcastle University focused on full-scale railway engineering testing before returning to Sheffield in 2009. He has been awarded several prizes for research in the railway area, undertaken a short JSPS fellowship at Rail Technical Research Institute in Japan, and progressed from lecturer to a full professor at University of Sheffield.
David’s research crosses several areas of engineering design, tribology, system engineering and performance of materials. The majority of his work has application in the railway sector, and combines experimental and modelling approaches.
- Research interests
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- Railway rail-wheel interface – contact mechanics, adhesion, fatigue, wear, lubrication.
- Overhead line electrification – system dynamics, and behaviour of materials under mechanical and electrical loads at the pantograph to overhead line interface.
- Rail system design for safety and security – materials and design for improved resilience to terrorist attack for stations and vehicles.
- Network modelling and optimisation – pedestrian flow optimisation in station environments, developing metrics for passenger experience, quantifying system energy and power demands for deployment of energy storage systems.David is Director of the Rail Innovation and Technology Centre with Network Rail, and leads Sheffield’s relationship with the UK Rail Research and Innovation Network (UKRRIN). He is a an International Committee member for Conference on Contact Mechanics and Wear of Rail/Wheel Systems, and member of the Leonardo Tribology Centre.
- Publications
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Journal articles
- Bi-level Optimization of Sizing and Control Strategy of Hybrid Energy Storage System in Urban Rail Transit Considering Substation Operation Stability. IEEE Transactions on Transportation Electrification, 1-1.
- Rough surface rolling contact fatigue crack stress intensity factor calculation for modern rail steels. Wear, 540-541, 205231-205231.
- Scaling-up laser cladding of rails. Wear, 540-541, 205227-205227.
- Nano and micro-indentation driven characterisation of asperity and bulk plasticity at the surface of modern premium rail steels. Wear, 205004-205004.
- Coordinated Control Strategy of Railway Multisource Traction System With Energy Storage and Renewable Energy. IEEE Transactions on Intelligent Transportation Systems, 1-12.
- Evaluation of laser cladding as an in-situ repair method on rail steel. Tribology International.
- A methodology to optimise a rail network specification for maximum passenger satisfaction and reduced initial investment. Journal of Rail Transport Planning & Management, 21. View this article in WRRO
- Experimental Investigation on the Arc Damage and Fatigue Crack Initiation Risk of Copper-Silver Contact Wires. IEEE Transactions on Power Delivery, 1-8.
- Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) as line-side energy storage for support of DC-powered electric railway systems. Journal of Rail Transport Planning & Management, 19.
- Optimal control and energy storage for DC electric train systems using evolutionary algorithms. Railway Engineering Science.
- TransEnergy - a tool for energy storage optimization, peak power and energy consumption reduction in DC electric railway systems. Journal of Energy Storage, 30. View this article in WRRO
- Effect of contact wire gradient on the dynamic performance of the catenary pantograph system. Vehicle System Dynamics. View this article in WRRO
- Geospatial and temporal data mining to combine railway low adhesion and rail defect data. Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers: Transport, 173(4), 273-286. View this article in WRRO
- Special issue of Wear on Contact Mechanics 2018. Wear. View this article in WRRO
- Laboratory assessment of arc damage in railway overhead contact lines with a case study on copper-silver and low oxygen content copper. IEEE Transactions on Power Delivery, 1-1.
- A methodology for robust multi-train trajectory planning under dwell-time and control-point uncertainty. Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part F: Journal of Rail and Rapid Transit, 234(6), 596-606. View this article in WRRO
- Laser cladding of rail; the effects of depositing material on lower rail grades. Wear, 438-439. View this article in WRRO
- Investigating Bayesian optimization for rail network optimization. International Journal of Rail Transportation. View this article in WRRO
- A rail network performance metric to capture passenger experience. Journal of Rail Transport Planning and Management. View this article in WRRO
- Assessing the impact of small amounts of water and iron oxides on adhesion in the wheel/rail interface using High Pressure Torsion testing. Tribology International. View this article in WRRO
- Optimisation of a railway sanding system for optimal grain entrainment into the wheel–rail contact. Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part F: Journal of Rail and Rapid Transit, 232(1), 43-62. View this article in WRRO
- Full-Scale Testing of Laser Clad Railway Track; Case Study - Testing for Wear, Bend Fatigue and Insulated Block Joint Lipping Integrity. Wear, 376-377(B), 1930-1937. View this article in WRRO
- Effect of the presence of moisture at the wheel–rail interface during dew and damp conditions. Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers. Part F: Journal of Rail and Rapid Transit. View this article in WRRO
- Optimisation of a railway sanding system : adhesion tests. The International Journal of Railway Technology, 6(2), 87-98. View this article in WRRO
- The potential for suppressing rail defect growth through tailoring rail thermo-mechanical properties. Wear, 366-367, 401-406. View this article in WRRO
- Improving Rail Wear and RCF Performance using Laser Cladding. Wear, 366-367, 268-278. View this article in WRRO
- Characterisation of blast loading in complex, confined geometries using quarter symmetry experimental methods. Shock Waves, 26(6), 749-757. View this article in WRRO
- Validation of a new model for railway overhead line dynamics. Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers - Transport, 169(5), 339-349. View this article in WRRO
- Multi-train trajectory optimisation to maximise rail network energy efficiency under travel-time constraints. Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part F: Journal of Rail and Rapid Transit, 230(4), 1318-1335. View this article in WRRO
- Passenger acceptance of counter-terrorism security measures in stations. IET Intelligent Transport Systems, 10(1), 2-9. View this article in WRRO
- Assessment of laser cladding as an option for repairing/enhancing rails. Wear, 330-331, 581-591. View this article in WRRO
- Numerical simulation of near surface rail cracks subject to thermal contact stress. Wear, 314(1-2), 96-103. View this article in WRRO
- View this article in WRRO
- A new two-dimensional model of rolling-sliding contact creep curves for a range of lubrication types. PROCEEDINGS OF THE INSTITUTION OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERS PART J-JOURNAL OF ENGINEERING TRIBOLOGY, 227(J6), 529-537. View this article in WRRO
- Creep curve measurement to support wear and adhesion modelling, using a continuously variable creep twin disc machine. Wear, 298-299(1), 57-65.
- Studs: A squat-type defect in rails. Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part F: Journal of Rail and Rapid Transit, 226(3), 243-256. View this article in WRRO
- Special issue on engineering a secure railway. Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part F: Journal of Rail and Rapid Transit, 225(4), 349-350.
- Calculation of minimum crack size for growth under RCF between wheel and rail. WIT Transactions on Engineering Sciences, 71, 123-134.
- The need for developing an effective and acceptable engineering response to terrorist attacks on railway systems. Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part F: Journal of Rail and Rapid Transit, 225(4), 359-371. View this article in WRRO
- Visualization and modelling to understand rail rolling contact fatigue cracks in three dimensions. Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part F: Journal of Rail and Rapid Transit, 225(2), 165-178. View this article in WRRO
- Effect of Traffic on Crack Initiation in Rails. Journal of Mechanical Systems for Transport and Logistics, 3(1), 100-109.
- Planning Rail Grinding using Crack Growth Predictions. Journal of Mechanical Systems for Transport and Logistics, 3(1), 216-225.
- 352559 PLANNING RAIL GRINDING USING CRACK GROWTH PREDICTIONS(Infrastructure,Technical Session). The Proceedings of International Symposium on Seed-up and Service Technology for Railway and Maglev Systems : STECH, 2009(0).
- 357828 EFFECT OF TRAFFIC ON CRACK INITIATION IN RAILS(Safety,Technical Session). The Proceedings of International Symposium on Seed-up and Service Technology for Railway and Maglev Systems : STECH, 2009(0).
- The acceptability of counter-terrorism measures on urban mass transit in the UK. WIT Transactions on the Built Environment, 107, 627-636.
- Rail rolling contact fatigue dependence on friction, predicted using fracture mechanics with a three-dimensional boundary element model. Engineering Fracture Mechanics, 76(17), 2612-2625.
- Modelling rail steel microstructure and its effect on crack initiation. WEAR, 265(9-10), 1332-1341.
- Modelling and full-scale trials to investigate fluid pressurisation of rolling contact fatigue cracks. WEAR, 265(9-10), 1317-1324.
- Resilient design for community safety and terror-resistant cities. P I CIVIL ENG-MUNIC, 161(2), 103-110.
- Predicting the life of steel rails. P I MECH ENG F-J RAI, 221(1), 45-58.
- Investigating fluid penetration of rolling contact fatigue cracks in rails using a newly developed full-scale test facility. P I MECH ENG F-J RAI, 221(1), 35-44.
- Rapid method of stress intensity factor calculation for semi-elliptical surface breaking cracks under three-dimensional contact loading. P I MECH ENG F-J RAI, 220(3), 219-234.
- Growth of multiple rolling contact fatigue cracks driven by rail bending modelled using a boundary element technique. Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part F: Journal of Rail and Rapid Transit, 218(3), 243-253.
- Computer simulation of strain accumulation and hardening for pearlitic rail steel undergoing repeated contact. Journal of Strain Analysis for Engineering Design, 39(4), 383-396.
- Image analysis to reveal crack development using a computer simulation of wear and rolling contact fatigue. Fatigue and Fracture of Engineering Materials and Structures, 26(10), 957-967.
- The role of wear in enhancing rail life. Tribology Series, 41, 331-340.
- A quantitative model for predicting the morphology of surface initiated rolling contact fatigue cracks in back-up roll steels. Fatigue and Fracture of Engineering Materials and Structures, 25(11), 1073-1086.
- Modelling surface texture evolution for a titanium carbide implanted tool surface undergoing wear. Tribology Series, 39, 573-584.
- Theoretical analysis of steady-state texture formation during wear of a bi-material surface. Wear, 250-251(PART 2), 1332-1336.
- Effect of contact load reduction on the fatigue life of pearlitic rail steel in lubricated rolling-sliding contact. Fatigue and Fracture of Engineering Materials and Structures, 23(8), 639-650.
- Wear behaviour and surface form evolution of a novel titanium carbide implanted surface under lubricated conditions. Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part J: Journal of Engineering Tribology, 214(6), 597-610.
- Equilibrium of crack growth and wear rates during unlubricated rolling-sliding contact of pearlitic rail steel. Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part F: Journal of Rail and Rapid Transit, 214(2), 93-105.
- Development of a Machine for Closely Controlled Rolling Contact Fatigue and Wear Testing. Journal of Testing and Evaluation, 28(4), 267-275.
- The influence of lubricant type on rolling contact fatigue of pearlitic rail steel. Tribology Series, 36, 299-310.
- A simple method of stress intensity factor calculation for inclined surface-breaking cracks with crack face friction under contact loading. Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part J: Journal of Engineering Tribology, 213(6), 481-486.
- A simple method of stress intensity factor calculation for inclined fluid-filled surface-breaking cracks under contact loading. Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part J: Journal of Engineering Tribology, 213(4), 299-304.
- Novel in-situ real-time line scan optical monitoring of wear and surface damage initiation in a laboratory twin disc test. Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part F: Journal of Rail and Rapid Transit.
- Using digital image correlation (DIC) to measure railway ballast movement in full-scale laboratory testing of sleeper lateral resistance. Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part F: Journal of Rail and Rapid Transit.
- Acceleration-based friction coefficient estimation of a rail vehicle using feedforward NN: validation with track measurements. Vehicle System Dynamics, 1-20.
- Rail-wheel friction quantification and its variability under lab and field trial conditions. Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part F: Journal of Rail and Rapid Transit.
- Fuzzy Inference Model for Railway Track Buckling Prediction. Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board.
- Benchmarking of premium rail material wear. Wear. View this article in WRRO
- Simulation study of thermally initiated rail defects. Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers. Part F: Journal of Rail and Rapid Transit. View this article in WRRO
Chapters
- Wheel-rail interface handbook
- Rail surface fatigue and wear, Wheel–Rail Interface Handbook (pp. 280-310). Elsevier
- The evolution and failure of pearlitic microstructure in rail steel – observations and modelling, Wheel–Rail Interface Handbook (pp. 311-348). Elsevier
- Contributor contact details, Wheel–Rail Interface Handbook (pp. xv-xx). Elsevier
Conference proceedings papers
- Real-Time Energy Storage System Control Strategies for Urban Rail Transit with Renewable Energy. 2023 IEEE 3rd International Conference on Industrial Electronics for Sustainable Energy Systems (IESES), 26 July 2023 - 28 July 2023.
- Control Strategy and Analysis of Railway Traction System with Energy Storage System and Renewable Energy Source. 2022 3rd International Conference on Advanced Electrical and Energy Systems (AEES), 23 September 2022 - 25 September 2022.
- View this article in WRRO
- RateSetter. Proceedings of the Genetic and Evolutionary Computation Conference
- The effect of white etching layer patches on a larger rail defect. MATEC Web of Conferences, Vol. 135 (pp 00077-00077) View this article in WRRO
- View this article in WRRO
- View this article in WRRO
- View this article in WRRO
- View this article in WRRO
Reports
Posters
Theses / Dissertations
- Bi-level Optimization of Sizing and Control Strategy of Hybrid Energy Storage System in Urban Rail Transit Considering Substation Operation Stability. IEEE Transactions on Transportation Electrification, 1-1.
- Research group
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David has PhD research opportunities available across these research areas and welcomes enquiries on undertaking PhD research.
- Teaching activities
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David is module leader for MEC448 Railway Engineering and Sustainable Transport which is offered to fourth year MEng and MSc students. He is a student mentor on the industrially linked 3rd year MEng Group Design Project (MEC307). He formerly taught the first year module Mechanical Engineering Design Skills (MEC131).
- Professional activities and memberships
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David is Director of the Rail Innovation and Technology Centre with Network Rail, and leads Sheffield’s relationship with the UK Rail Research and Innovation Network (UKRRIN). He is a an International Committee member for Conference on Contact Mechanics and Wear of Rail/Wheel Systems, and member of the Leonardo Tribology Centre.
Prizes
- Institution of Mechanical Engineers Railway Division AR Bennett Premium Award for the paper ‘Studs: a squat-type defect in rails’, 2013.
- World Congress on Railway Research, Korea, Prize for Best Paper Addressing System Interaction Issues, for paper ‘Three-Dimensional Microstructural Modelling Of Wear, Crack Initiation and Growth in Rail Steel’, 2008
- The Institution of Mechanical Engineers Railway Division, TA Steward-Dyer / F H Trevithick Prize, 2005
- The Institution of Mechanical Engineers Tribology Trust, Tribology Bronze Medal, 2000
- The Institution of Mechanical Engineers Railway Division, William Alexander Agnew Meritorious Award / Clarence Noel Goodall Award, 2000
- The University of Sheffield Herbert Walker Swift Bursary, 2000
- The Institution of Mechanical Engineers Frederic Barnes Walden Prize, 1994
- The University of Leeds Foundation Prize in Mechanical Engineering, 1994
- ICI Prize, University of Leeds, 1993
- Cameron Iron Works Prize, University of Leeds, 1992