Samuel Hawksbee

Samuel Hawksbee is a Senior Research Fellow in the Department of Engineering within the School of Computing and Engineering at the University of Huddersfield. He is also a member of the Institute of Railway Research (IRR), where he conducts advanced research on railway infrastructure and track systems. His work focuses on solving complex engineering challenges in railway systems through computational modeling and analysis.

Dr. Hawksbee received his first class MEng in Civil and Structural Engineering from the University of Sheffield in 2007. After a brief period with consultant Mott MacDonald, he returned to the University of Sheffield for doctoral studies, completing his PhD in 2013 with a thesis entitled "3D ultimate limit state analysis using discontinuity layout optimization." Following his PhD, he worked on EPSRC and TSB funded projects studying masonry arch bridges before joining the Institute of Rail Research at the University of Huddersfield in 2014.

His primary research interests include rail deformation phenomena, particularly plastic flow and squats on railway tracks. Dr. Hawksbee specializes in applying non-linear finite element analysis to model complex railway track behaviors, with particular focus on heavily loaded curves with significant freight traffic. His work examines how variations in vehicle operating speed, wheel-rail contact position, and rail material properties influence plastic deformations in rails.

Dr. Hawksbee's publication record demonstrates consistent research productivity with multiple research outputs between 2013-2024. His recent work shows a strong focus on railway transition zones, track settlement mechanisms, and the behavior of innovative track systems like ballast-asphalt combinations. His research combines theoretical modeling with practical railway engineering challenges, addressing critical issues in high-speed rail infrastructure.

Dr. Hawksbee has developed significant industry connections across the rail sector, including contacts at the Rail Safety and Standards Board (RSSB), Network Rail, and British Steel. His research contributes to several UN Sustainable Development Goals, particularly those related to sustainable infrastructure development. He is currently accepting PhD students and continues to advance knowledge in railway engineering through his work at the Institute of Railway Research.