Athanasios Toumpis

Dr. Athanasios Toumpis is a Senior Lecturer in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at the University of Strathclyde, UK. He holds a Master of Science from the University of Glasgow (2012) and a Master of Engineering from the National Technical University of Athens (2003). His research focuses on friction stir welding (FSW), steel metallurgy, and fatigue analysis of structural materials. Key areas include defect analysis in FSW joints, thermal-mechanical behavior of materials, and gigacycle fatigue testing of welded steels. He has led multiple research projects funded by organizations like the Royal Society and Weir Group, including the development of novel FSW technologies for nuclear applications and investigations into steel joint performance under extreme conditions. Dr. Toumpis has authored over 50 publications, with recent work emphasizing very high-cycle fatigue behavior and additive manufacturing processes. He actively participates in international conferences and serves as a principal investigator on various collaborative projects. His teaching includes courses on applied metallurgy, biomaterials, and materials selection.

Research Interests:

• Friction stir welding of low-alloy and stainless steels
• Fatigue analysis of welded joints, including gigacycle testing
• Thermal-mechanical analysis of additive manufactured materials
• Metallurgical characterization of dissimilar material joints
• Environmental impact assessment of manufacturing processes

Professional Activities & Awards:

• Recipient of the Global Engagement Fund (2024)
• Organized the First Joint International Conference on Advances in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering (2023)
• Participant in the International Institute of Welding Assembly (2024) and Very High Cycle Fatigue Conference (2024)
• Hosted visiting researchers and collaborated with institutions like Graz University of Technology

Grants & Projects (Recent):

• Development of a novel friction stir additive manufacturing technology (Royal Society, 2025–2026)
• Investigation of friction stir welded steel joints for giga-cycle applications (Weir Group, 2025–2027)
• ESCO buckets weld performance investigation (University of Strathclyde, 2024–2027)