Matthew Marshall

Matthew Marshall is a Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering within the School of Mechanical, Aerospace and Civil Engineering at the University of Sheffield. He has served in this department since December 2008 and is an active member of the Leonardo Tribology Centre, specializing in industrial wear, lubrication, and metrology tool development. His work bridges aerospace, railway, and manufacturing sectors with significant industry collaboration.

Education:

• First Class MEng (Hons) in Mechanical Engineering from University of Sheffield
• PhD in Tribology

Research interests focus on experimental and analytical solutions to industrial tribology challenges. Key areas include aero-engine abradable lining wear (with Rolls-Royce collaboration), ultrasound-based contact pressure measurement for railway wheel-axle interfaces and bolted joints, and high-speed friction testing in cutting tool applications. His group develops novel metrology platforms like a 100 m/s blade test rig for compressor seals and lathe-based friction measurement systems replicating industrial machining conditions.

Article trends (2019-2024) reveal sustained aerospace tribology work on abradable coatings and compressor wear, alongside growing railway engineering contributions in rail grinding and wheel-rail contact optimization. Manufacturing tribology publications dominate his recent output, emphasizing micro-milling tool wear and cryogenic friction testing. Ultrasound metrology remains a unifying thread across all domains, particularly for dynamic contact analysis.

Grants and collaborations:

• Rolls-Royce Plc. projects on composite abradable labyrinth surfaces (£7,460, 2009) and compressor lining wear testing (£8,120, 2009)
• Combustion casing standard features project with Rolls-Royce (£35,000, 2009)
• Royal Society grant for ultrasonic characterization of bolted joints (£14,530, 2009)
• Knowledge Transfer Project Fund for cryogenic cutting tool friction research (£8,360, 2009)
• Northern Way Innovation Program for multi-life bearing development (£33,040, 2009)

He teaches MEC411 Tribology of Machine Elements to undergraduate and postgraduate students, applying his industry-tested methodologies directly to curriculum development. His research group maintains strong ties with Rolls-Royce and the Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC).

Labs and teams: His primary affiliation is with the Leonardo Tribology Centre, which develops metrology tools for industrial wear problems. Current projects include wind turbine bearing wear analysis, dynamic contact pressure measurement systems, and aero-engine component testing rigs with Rolls-Royce.