Staff Profile

Glynn is the head of the Electrical Power Research Group a leading research group for Electrical Machines, Electrical Drives and Power Systems research.

His research focusses on industrially led research into electrical machine design and manufacture covering the process from initial design, 3DFE simulation, and design for manufacture.

Principle investigator at Newcastle for the EPSRC Future Electrical Machines Manufacturing Hub which combines expertise in electrical machines and manufacturing for the first time.  This £28m investment will enable researchers at the new EPSRC Future Electrical Machines Manufacturing Hub to work with industry on addressing key manufacturing challenges.

Together with key industrial partners including Höganäs AB, Dyson, Rolls Royce and McLaren, the hub will lead on the design of new electrical machines with improved performance for the aerospace, energy, automotive and premium consumer sectors.

Through delivering world-class manufacturing research and innovation, the Hub will assist UK manufacturing to capture significant value in the electrical machine supply chain, improve UK industrial productivity and deliver the environmental benefits and cleaner growth at the heart of the UK’s industrial strategy.

Principle investigator for the HöganäsResearch Centre at Newcastle, researching the use of soft magnetic composites in Electrical machines.  Soft magnetic composites allow the designer to produce electromagnetic components with full three dimensional freedom, opening up the possibility for new machine topologies with improved performance.  Using 3D design techniques a variety of machine types are being investigated and prototypes with applications including automotive and domestic appliances.

Principle Investigator for the European Commission funded Actuation 2015 programme where our research focused on Fault tolerant electrical machines for Aerospace applications.  Aerospace systems are increasingly being replaced by electrical systems for reduced mass and increased efficiency.  For many aerospace systems fault tolerance is paramount in order for the electrical system to meet the stringent reliability level required.  

Industrial consultancy projects carried out for many companies on the design analysis and optimisation of electrical machines in applications including automotive, aerospace, large generation and small domestic. Projects include;

• Turbo generator flux screen loss simulation and analysis (3DFE).
• Turbo generator bus bar force simulation (3DFE).
• Transverse flux machine design for Industrial and Automotive applications.
• Brushless DC machine design for industrial and automotive applications.
• Switched Reluctance machine design for industrial and aerospace applications.
• Soft Magnetic Composite design expertise in electrical machines.
• Magnetic force and vibration analysis (automotive applications).
• PCB mounted axial flux machine design.
• Conductor AC loss analysis. 

Currently Teaching

EEE3002 Electrical Machines

EEE8159 Electrical Machines and their applications

Previously Taught

EEE2010 Electrical Engineering II

EEE2012 Control and Electrical Machines

EEE8075 Electrical power and Control Project

• Articles

  • Saunders L, Ugurluoglu Y, Kulan MC, Atkinson G. Thermal Performance of Segmented Stator Teeth Topologies for Electric Motors. Energies 2026, 19(3), 672.
  • Kumar R, Um DY, Sjoberg L, Batra T, Atkinson G. Electromagnetic Analysis and Comparative Study of Surface-Mounted and Consequent Pole Axial Flux Permanent Magnet Machines. IEEE Access 2024, 12, 188926-188939.
  • Winterborne D, Stannard N, Sjoberg L, Jordan S, Atkinson GJ. An air-cooled YASA motor for in-wheel electric vehicle applications. IEEE Transaction of Industry Applications 2020, 56(6), 6448-6455.
  • Bradley L, Donaghy-Spargo C, Atkinson G, Horsfall A. Evaluating suitable semiconducting materials for cryogenic power electronics. The Journal of Engineering 2019, 2019(17), 4475-4479.
  • Ullah S, McDonald S, Martin R, Benarous M, Atkinson GJ. A Permanent Magnet Assist, Segmented Rotor, Switched Reluctance Drive for Fault Tolerant Aerospace Applications. IEEE Transactions on Industry Applications 2018, 55(1), 298-305.
  • Stannard N, Martin R, Atkinson G. Analysis of a novel stator construction employing steel wire in place of laminations. IEEE Transactions on Energy Conversion 2017, 32(3), 993-1001.
  • Washington JG, Atkinson GJ, Baker NJ. Reduction of Cogging Torque and EMF Harmonics in Modulated Pole Machines. IEEE Transactions on Energy Conversion 2016, 31(2), 759-768.
  • Yazid MM, Olsen SH, Atkinson GJ. MFM study of a sintered Nd-Fe-B magnet: analysing domain structure and measuring defect size in 3D view. IEEE Transactions on Magnetics 2016, 52(6), 2100610.
  • Widmer JD, Spargo CM, Atkinson GJ, Mecrow BC. Solar Plane Propulsion Motors With Precompressed Aluminum Stator Windings. IEEE Transactions on Energy Conversion 2014, 29(3), 681-688.
  • Ifedi CJ, Mecrow BC, Brockway STM, Boast GS, Atkinson GJ, Kostic-Perovic D. Fault-Tolerant In-Wheel Motor Topologies for High-Performance Electric Vehicles. IEEE Transactions on Industry Applications 2013, 49(3), 1249-1257.
  • Washington JG, Atkinson GJ, Baker NJ, Jack AG, Mecrow BC, Jensen BB, Pennander LO, Nord GL, Sjoberg L. Three-Phase Modulated Pole Machine Topologies Utilizing Mutual Flux Paths. IEEE Transactions on Energy Conversion 2012, 27(2), 507-515.
  • Washington JG, Atkinson GJ, Baker NJ. Review of the advances in technology of Modulated Pole Machines. IEEE Transactions on Magnetics 2012. Submitted.
  • Jensen BB, Jack AG, Atkinson GJ, Mecrow BC. Performance of a Folded-Strip Toroidally Wound Induction Machine. IEEE Transactions on Industrial Electronics 2012, 59(5), 2217-2226.
  • Cao W, Mecrow BC, Atkinson GJ, Bennett JW, Atkinson DJ. Overview of Electric Motor Technologies Used for More Electric Aircraft (MEA). IEEE Transactions on Industrial Electronics 2012, 59(9), 3523-3531.
  • Bennett JW, Atkinson GJ, Mecrow BC, Atkinson DJ. Fault-Tolerant Design Considerations and Control Strategies for Aerospace Drives. IEEE Transactions on Industrial Electronics 2012, 59(5), 2049-2058.

• Conference Proceedings (inc. Abstracts)

  • Zhu Y, Mecrow B, Atkinson G, Deng X, Liu G. Stress-dependent Iron Loss in Segmented Laminations Considering Surface Roughness. In: 26th International Conference on Electrical Machines (ICEM) 2024. 2024, Turino, Italy: IEEE.
  • James CE, Batra T, Sjoberg L, Atkinson G. The difference between published loss and measured loss in SiFe laminations and soft magnetic composite materials. In: 12th International Conference on Power Electronics, Machines and Drives (PEMD 2023). 2023, Brussels, Belgium: IET.
  • Ahmed N, Mecrow B, Atkinson G. Design, analysis, and comparison of IPM machines with Concentrated and Distributed Winding for a highperformance traction application. In: 11th International Conference on Power Electronics, Machines and Drives (PEMD 2022). 2022, Newcastle, UK: IET.
  • Cao D, Mecrow B, Deng X, Tavner P, Atkinson G, Shen X, Zhao W. Conceptual design of different winding types for a 20MW wind turbine generator. In: 7th International Conference on Environment Friendly Energies and Applications (EFEA 2022). 2022, Bagatelle Moka MU, Mauritius: IEEE.
  • Cao D, Mecrow B, Deng X, Tavner P, Atkinson G, Shen X, Zhao W. A Comparison Between Concentrated Winding and Distributed Windings in Large Capacity Wind Turbine Generators. In: International conference on CApacity building in the Renewable Energy Sector (I-CARES 2022). 2022, Hybrid Conference, Newcastle, UK: IEEE.
  • Dankadai NK, Elgendy MA, Mcdonald SP, Atkinson DJ, Ullah S, Atkinson G. Assessment of Sliding Mode Observer in Sensorless Control of Switched Reluctance Motors. In: 13th IEEE International Conference on Power Electronics and Drive Systems (PEDS 2019). 2019, Toulouse, France: IEEE.
  • Dankadai NK, McDonald SP, Elgendy MA, Atkinson DJ, Ullah S, Atkinson G. Direct Instantaneous Torque Control of Switched Reluctance Motor for Aerospace Applications. In: 2018 53rd International Universities Power Engineering Conference (UPEC). 2018, Glasgow, UK: Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc.
  • Yazid MM, Olsen SH, Atkinson G. Nucleation regions and coercivity determination of sintered Nd-Fe-B magnets. In: 2016 International Conference for Students on Applied Engineering, ICSAE 2016. 2017, Newcastle upon Tyne: Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc.
  • Aliyu N, Atkinson G, Stannard N. Concentrated winding permanent magnet axial flux motor with soft magnetic composite core for domestic application. In: 3rd International Conference on Electro-Technology for National Development (NIGERCON 2017). 2017, Owerri, Nigeria: IEEE.
  • Washington JG, Pompermaier C, Atkinson GJ. Robust electromagnetic design of Transverse Flux Machines for high volume production. In: 2016 22nd International Conference on Electrical Machines, ICEM 2016. 2016, Lausanne, Switzerland: IEEE.
  • Baker NJ, Wang J, Atkinson GJ. Optimization and Comparison of Linear Transverse Flux and Flux Switching Machines. In: 2016 XXII International Conference on Electrical Machines (ICEM). 2016, Lausanne, Switzerland: IEEE.
  • Naugher LA, Baker NJ, Atkinson G. Large air gap squirrel cage induction generator for a tidal turbine. In: 8th IET International Conference on Power Electronics, Machines and Drives (PEMD 2016). 2016, Glasgow, UK: Institute of Engineering and Technology (IET).
  • Stannard N, Atkinson G, Washington JG. A comparison of axial field SMC topologies for traction applications. In: 19th International Conference on Electrical Machines and Systems. 2016. Submitted.
  • Besharati M, Widmer J, Atkinson G, Pickert V, Washington J. Super-High-Speed Switched Reluctance Motor for Automotive Traction. In: Energy Conversion Congress and Exposition (ECCE), 2015 IEEE. 2015, Montreal, Quebec, Canada: IEEE.
  • Aziz R, Atkinson GJ. Performance of Automotive Permanent Magnet Machines with Different Sizes, Rare-earth Magnets and Winding Configurations. In: IEEE 15th International Conference on Environment and Electrical Engineering (EEEIC 2015). 2015, Rome, Italy: IEEE.
  • Aziz R, Atkinson GJ. Maximised torque and minimised magnet use in permanent magnet machines for automotive applications. In: 2015 IEEE Workshop on Electrical Machines Design, Control and Diagnosis (WEMDCD). 2015, Torino, Italy: Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers.
  • McDonald SP, Atkinson GJ, Martin R, Ullah S. Magnetically biased inductor for an aerospace switched reluctance drive. In: 2015 IEEE International Electric Machines & Drives Conference (IEMDC). 2015, Coeur d'Alene, Idaho: IEEE.
  • Yang S, Baker NJ, Mecrow BC, Smith D, Atkinson G, Hilton C, Perovic DK, Kakavas I, Sooriyakumar G, Harvey P. Magnet Losses and Demagnetisation in a Permanent Magnet In-wheel Electric Vehicle Traction Motor. In: IEEE International Electric Machines and Drives Conference (IEMDC). 2015, Idaho, USA: IEEE.
  • Ahmed N, Washington JG, Atkinson GJ, Baker NJ. Reduction of Cogging Torque and Torque Ripple in Modulated Pole Machines by Geometrical Changes. In: 7th IET International Conference on Power Electronics, Machines and Drives (PEMD 2014). 2014, Manchester, UK: IET.
  • Besharati M, Pullen KR, Widmer JD, Atkinson G, Pickert V. Investigation of the mechanical constraints on the design of a super-high-speed switched reluctance motor for automotive traction. In: 7th IET International Conference on Power Electronics, Machines and Drives (PEMD 2014). 2014, Manchester, UK: IET.
  • Alamoudi YA, Atkinson GA, Mecrow B. A Split Tooth Permanent Magnet Machine Design for High Torque Applications. In: 2014 International Conference on Electrical Machines (ICEM). 2014, Berlin, Germany: IEEE.
  • Ahmed N, Atkinson GJ, Baker NJ, Sjoberg L. Flux Switching Modulated Pole Machine topologies which offer greater mechanical simplicity. In: IEEE International Electric Machines & Drives Conference (IEMDC). 2013, Chicago, IL, USA: IEEE.
  • Baker NJ, Atkinson GJ, Washington JG, Mecrow BC. Design of high torque traction motors for automotive applications using modulated pole SMC machines. In: Power Electronics, Machines and Drives (PEMD 2012). 2012, Bristol, UK: IET.
  • Washington JG, Atkinson GJ, Baker NJ, Jack AG. An improved torque density Modulated Pole Machine for low speed high torque applications. In: Power Electronics, Machines and Drives (PEMD 2012). 2012, Bristol, UK: IET.
  • Ibala A, Masmoudi A, Atkinson G, Jack AG. On the modeling of a TFPM by reluctance network including the saturation effect with emphasis on the leakage fluxes. In: Compel: 4th International Conference and Exhibition on Ecological Vehicles and Renewable Energies (EVER). 2011, Monte-Carlo, Monaco, France: Emerald Group Publishing Ltd.
  • Smith D, Mecrow B, Atkinson G, Jack A, Mehna A. Shear stress concentrations in permanent magnet rotor sleeves. In: 19th International Conference on Electrical Machines (ICEM). 2010, Rome, Italy: IEEE.
  • Bennett J, Mecrow B, Atkinson D, Atkinson G. Failure mechanisms and design considerations for fault tolerant aerospace drives. In: 19th International Conference on Electrical Machines (ICEM). 2010, Rome, Italy: IEEE.
  • Atkinson GJ, Mecrow BC, Jack AG, Atkinson DJ, Sangha P, Benarous M. The design of fault tolerant machines for aerospace applications. In: 2005 IEEE International Conference on Electric Machines and Drives. 2005, San Antonio, TX: IEEE.
  • Mecrow BC, Jack AG, Atkinson DJ, Green S, Atkinson GJ, King A, Green B. Design and testing of a 4 phase fault tolerant permanent magnet machine for an engine fuel pump. In: IEEE IEMDC'03: IEEE INTERNATIONAL ELECTRIC MACHINES AND DRIVES CONFERENCE, VOLS 1-3. 2003, 345 E 47TH ST, NEW YORK, NY 10017 USA: IEEE.

• Patents

  • Jack AG, Atkinson GJ, Pennander L. Rotor for modulated pole machine. submitted, DK PA 201000833, 17/09/2010.
  • Atkinson GJ, Jack AG, Pennander L. Flux Concentration at Pole Pieces. DKPA200800423, 26/10/2010.

• Review

  • Ahmed N, Atkinson G. A Review of Electrical Machine Topologies and the Techniques to Reduce Cogging Torque. Journal of Electronics and Advanced Electrical Engineering 2020, 1(2), 6-16.