Dr Simon Benson
Lecturer

 Introduction

Dr Simon Benson is a lecturer in the School of Marine Science and Technology. His research focuses on various aspects of marine structures and fluid-structure interaction, with a current focus on the strength characteristics of damaged ships. Simon completed his PhD investigating the structural performance of aluminium high speed ships. He continued post doctoral research in this field, sponsored by the Office of Naval Research. He was appointed lecturer in Naval Architecture in September 2011.

Research

Research encompasses aspects of naval architecture, structural analysis and fluid-structure interaction. Current research interests include:

  • the development of simplified progressive collapse analysis methods to predict the strength characteristics of intact and damaged ships;
  • buckling and collapse assessment of thin walled stiffened structures;
  • the use of aluminium in large lightweight ships;
  • development of robust nonlinear finite element methods for analysis and design of marine structures;
  • recoverability of damaged ships;
  • launch and recovery hydrodynamics of subsea ROVs

Current member of the International Ship and Offshore Structures Congress (ISSC) - Committee III.1 Ultimate Strength.

Teaching

  • Naval Architecture I (Stage 1 undergraduate)
  • Marine Structures IA/B (Stage 2)
  • Physics of Yacht Design (Yacht Structures) (Stage 2)
  • Engineering Applications (Stage 2)
  • Computational Fluid Dynamics (Wave Diffraction) (Stage 3)
  • Theory of Plates and Grillages (MSc)
  • Nonlinear Finite Element Analysis (MSc)
  • Marine Fluid Dynamics (MSc)
  • Mooring and Riser Design (MSc)

Deputy Admissions Tutor

Software/Programming Expertise

 Proficiency, with industrial experience, in computing for engineering applications, including:

  • Naval Architecture: Maxsurf, Tribon
  • Structural Analysis: HECSalv, Maestro, Abaqus, Hyperworks
  • Hydrodynamics: SESAM, FDWaveload, OrcaFlex
  • Programming: Python, Matlab.
  • CAD: AutoCAD, Inventor, Rhino3D.

Qualifications

PhD Marine Structures, Newcastle University, 2011

MEng Naval Architecture, Newcastle University, 2005

AMRINA

Other Interests

Dinghy Racing

Cycling (Road and Mtb)

Guitar

Newcastle Community Green Festival (Community Interest Company, Director)



 

Research encompasses aspects of naval architecture, structural analysis and fluid-structure interaction. Current research interests include:

  • the development of simplified progressive collapse analysis methods to predict the strength characteristics of intact and damaged ships;
  • buckling and collapse assessment of thin walled stiffened structures;
  • the use of aluminium in large lightweight ships;
  • development of robust nonlinear finite element methods for analysis and design of marine structures;
  • recoverability of damaged ships;
  • launch and recovery hydrodynamics of subsea ROVs

 Current member of the International Ship and Offshore Structures Congress (ISSC) - Committee III.1 Ultimate Strength.

Experience in specialist marine structural analysis including nonlinear finite element analysis, progressive collapse analysis, buckling analysis and first principles approaches. As part of the Marine Structures research team at Newcastle University he has worked on projects investigating various structural problems including the development of structural analysis codes for the Office of Naval Research, analysis work for an ISSC benchmark study and collaborative research work validating physical test results.

 

Current Teaching:

  • Naval Architecture I (Stage 1 undergraduate)
  • Marine Structures IA/B (Stage 2)
  • Physics of Yacht Design (Yacht Structures) (Stage 2)
  • Engineering Applications (Stage 2)
  • Computational Fluid Dynamics (Wave Diffraction) (Stage 3)
  • Theory of Plates and Grillages (MSc)
  • Nonlinear Finite Element Analysis (MSc)
  • Marine Fluid Dynamics (MSc)
  • Mooring and Riser Design (MSc)

 

Previous:

  • Naval Architecture (Stage 1 – lectures in fundamentals, transverse stability and ship structures)
  • Marine Mechanics (Stage 1 – tutorials covering beam theory, statics, kinematics and vibration)
  • Flooding / Damage Stability (Stage 2 – practical tutorials and theory of flooding)
  • Marine Design (Stage 3/4 – lectures in design philosophies, point design methods, structural design and weight estimation)
  • Drilling Engineering (Stage 3/4 – lectures in structural design aspects, specifications and offshore vessels)
  • Yacht Design with Maxsurf (Stage 3/4 – tutorials covering a general introduction to the Maxsurf design software)