About
Jack completed his PhD in 2017 at the University of Southampton, researching blast loading on structures. His PhD investigated 'long-duration' blast effects on steel columns and examined the influence of column section orientation and cumulative damage through experimental testing and advanced numerical modelling (sponsored by EPSRC & AWE plc). Jack's PhD research involved:
- Original design and management of full-scale experiments at a specialist UK MOD blast facility.
- Analysis of novel experimental results and verification of advanced numerical modelling techniques.
- Spatial and temporal blast loading characterisation using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD).
- Transient nonlinear dynamic structural response modelling of steel columns using Finite Element Analysis (FEA).
In 2017, Jack was awarded the EPSRC Doctoral Prize Fellowship, allowing him to diversify and undertake applied blast engineering research within the broader contexts of structural engineering, protective design and blast injury sciences. In collaboration with Cranfield University and the University of Cape Town (UCT), Jack's experimental work has investigated the performance of shock tubes, shock propagation through soft tissue simulants and diagnostic methods for quantifying blast load transfer. In 2018 and 2022, Jack joined UCT as a Visiting Academic to undertake a further programmes of experiments with UCT's Blast Impact and Survivability Research Unit (BISRU), utilising their unique blast testing facilities.
Over the last five years, Jack has formed a multidisciplinary research agenda and developed an international network to explore the blast engineering, blast injury and protection research challenges associated with urban explosions caused by conflict, terrorism and industrial accidents. In 2019, Jack co-founded the International Blast Injury Research Network (IBRN), a trans-disciplinary network and research initiative launched by the UoS (Faculties of Engineering & Medicine) in collaboration with BISRU at UCT.