I am a Professor of Solid Mechanics in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Bristol. I am also an EPSRC Advanced Research Fellow (ARF) until 2010. My official Departmental page is located here.

Research interests are primarily focussed on measuring and modelling residual stress, and fracture of structural materials. Residual stresses are self-equilibrating stresses existing in materials or components under uniform temperature conditions and no applied loads. Residual stresses are introduced into components by processes which cause the material to undergo some form of inelastic response, such as welding, quenching and rolling. The presence of residual stresses can have a significant effect on the subsequent failure characteristics of engineering components and structures.

A major motivation for the research is to demonstrate the continued structural integrity of (often ageing) engineering components and plant, although the research is also used during the development of new designs and processes. In addition to EPSRC funding, the power and aerospace sectors have been major sponsors of the research, with large projects being conducted for British Energy Generation Ltd, Rolls-Royce Marine and Airbus.

In the power sector weldments have provided the key driver for the research, with ever-refined analysis needed to justify safety cases to regulatory authorities. In the aerospace sector, the need has been to reduce residual stress levels in processed aluminium alloys in order to minimise unwanted part distortion after the material has been machined to final shape.

Less formal aspects of my existence, usually in the form of brief “status updates” and photos, may be seen on my Facebook site. For a more complete browsing experience, view this site at www.christruman.com rather than seis.bris.ac.uk/~mecet/