معرفی
Dr David Soper is a Lecturer in Vehicle Aerodynamics at the University of Birmingham's School of Engineering and Department of Civil Engineering. He serves as Head of Admissions for the School of Engineering and manages the TRAIN rig facility, a unique moving model facility for vehicle aerodynamics research. His research focuses on applied fluid dynamics, experimental investigations of both model and full-scale systems, and railway aerodynamics. Key areas include freight train aerodynamics, wind effects on vehicles and infrastructure, and innovative experimental techniques for turbulent flow measurement.
Dr Soper holds a PhD in Civil Engineering (2014) from the University of Birmingham, an MSc in Theoretical and Applied Fluid Dynamics (2010) from the University of Manchester, and a BSc in Mathematics (2009). His PhD work pioneered the study of freight train aerodynamics at the TRAIN rig.
His research has addressed high-profile incidents like the Twyford wheelchair accident and contributed to major projects such as Crossrail and HS2. Over 10 peer-reviewed papers and numerous conference presentations document his work. Current research interests include railway vehicle aerodynamics, wind effects on crops, and novel experimental methods. He is actively supervising three PhD students exploring railway aerodynamics and related fields.
Funding sources include EPSRC, BBSRC grants, and industry partnerships with organizations like Network Rail High Speed, Bombardier, and Arup. His work bridges academic research with practical industrial applications, emphasizing both fundamental aerodynamics and real-world engineering challenges.
