Phd success for UWTSD Mechanical Engineering programme manager

The Engineering department at UWTSD celebrates with Kelvin Lake at his graduation ceremony as he receives his PhD entitled ‘A design Methodology for the Utilisation of Structural Orthotropic Composite Materials by Micro-Enterprises.’ 

Kelvin is the Programme Manager for BEng Mechanical Engineering, BEng Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering and BEng Energy and Environmental Engineering. Dr Lake is much admired for his research and adventurous forays into the world of extreme sport and its engineering requirements, as for his teaching skills.

Kelvin graduated from Leeds University in 1999 with a Masters with distinction in Mechanical Engineering. Upon leaving Leeds Kelvin joined Jaguar Cars as a CAE engineer, specialising in vehicle crashworthiness and vehicle NVH. After a few years at Jaguar, Kelvin left and went travelling around Australia for a year, working for Ford Racing Australia developing the structural roll cage for their V8 Super Car whilst he was there. Once returning to the U.K. he continued to work in the Automotive industry for various suppliers, before joining Swansea Met in 2007. These suppliers/OEMs included; Meridian Technology: Where he was accountable for all linear and non-linear FEA to assist in the development of Magnesium high pressure die-cast automotive components in Europe.

Kelvin worked supporting Business Development to secure new business and Advanced Engineering with product development through to manufacture for many European OEMs including Land Rover, BMW, Porsche, Volvo and Fiat. Simpact Engineering: Based at Jaguar Cars, developing rear crash characteristics of vehicles using LS-Dyna and RADIOSS. Ford Racing Australia: Weight reduction exercises carried out on a V8 Supercar BIW and roll cage, using Optistruct Topology and Topography runs and Nastran optimisation runs. Jaguar Cars: Part of the CAE team carrying out FEA to develop full vehicle crashworthiness and NVH characteristics.

Kelvin said:

“I have spent the last few years balancing family life with work with studying for my PhD, so I was thrilled when I got confirmation that it has finally been granted! It has to be said that I could not have done this on my own and have lots of help on the way.” Kelvin wanted the thank his PhD supervisors Dr Owen Williams and Professor Pete Charlton, whose inspiration and support was invaluable in reaching the end of this study journey."