Nonlinear Optimization of Vehicle Safety Structures

Jesper Christensen is a Senior Research Fellow at Coventry University, and holds a PhD in Structural Optimisation, an MSc in Design of Mechanical Systems as well as a BSc in Industrial Engineering. Prior to his engineering degrees Jesper completed an apprenticeship as an engine fitter working with large marine propulsion systems. His entire academic career has predominately focused on structural optimisation; with a particular emphasis on topology optimisation. Jesper joined Coventry University in 2010; working on the £29m Low Carbon Vehicle Technology Project (LCVTP), developing topology optimisation algorithms for lightweight vehicle structures. Following the LCVTP his focus turned to the continued development of the Mechanical Engineering MSc course at Coventry University; taking over the course leadership. In this context he primarily focused on aspects such as FE theory and application, strain gauging, metal fatigue and optimisation principles. Jesper's research activities has continued through a number of PhD students as well as a number of successful project grants, including a £780k Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (ESPSRC) research grant focusing on multiphysics simulation and optimisation, as well as a £1.6m grant for industrial based research and development project focusing on development, implementation and optimisation of a Flywheel Energy Storage System (FESS) for commercial bus applications.Jesper is a Chartered Engineer and a Fellow of the Institute of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE), as well as being a Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Ambassador; inspiring children and young adults to take up degrees and careers in STEM related areas.Christophe Bastien is a Principal Lecturer in Engineering Simulations at Coventry University and holds a PhD in vehicle safety and biomechanics. He led the university's Mechanical and Automotive Engineering MSc courses and taught Finite Element Analysis and crashworthiness simulations. He is also a chartered engineer from the Institute of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE). Christophe has 13 years' industrial experience in crashworthiness, testing and computer simulation. During this time, he has successfully led the design, testing and computational analysis of the Jaguar 'X-Type' for interior head injuries (FMVSS201), as well as the development and analysis of the first pedestrian deployable pyrotechnic bonnet for the Jaguar 'XK'. Later on, during his employment at Corus Automotive, he developed further static pedestrian bonnet technologies, as well as engineered, analyzed and tested highway crash barriers for high speed vehicle containment. He joined Coventry University in 2007 and started his research in vehicle lightweighting optimisation, which included the design work for Jaguar and Land Rover (JLR) in the Premium Lightweight Architecture for Carbon Efficient Seating (PLACES) project, the optimisation of lightweight electric vehicle architectures for the £29m Low Carbon Vehicle Technology Project (LCVTP) and the multi-disciplinary / multiphysics optimisation of Virtual Exhaust Systems (VexPro). Christophe Bastien is a member of the Coventry University's Mobility & Transport Research Centre, where he is focusing on Automotive Safety, Lightweighting, Optimisation and Human Trauma Predictions. He holds 19 patents in the field of safety engineering.