ÌÇÐÄÔ­´´

Contact

• workRoom Room A02 Pope Building
  University Park
  Nottingham
  NG7 2RD
  UK
• Alasdair.Cairns1@nottingham.ac.uk

Biography

Professor of Mechanical Engineering with a background in low carbon propulsion systems within both academia and industry.

• 2016 - Professor & Director of Powertrain Research Centre, ÌÇÐÄÔ­´´
• 2016 - 2016 Deputy Head of Mechanical Engineering Department, Brunel
• 2014 - 2016 Director of Teaching and Learning, Brunel University London
• 2013 - 2016 Professor of Automotive Engineering, Brunel University London
• 2010 - 2013 Senior Lecturer, Brunel University London
• 2006 - 2009 Principal Research & Development Engineer, MAHLE Powertrain Ltd.
• 2003 - 2006 Senior Research & Development Engineer, Cosworth Technology Ltd.
• 2000 - 2002 Development Engineer, Cosworth Technology Ltd.

Expertise Summary

• Hybrid propulsion systems integration
• Low carbon engines and fuels (heavy duty and light duty, hydrogen, ammonia, bio and synthetic fuels)
• Powertrain thermal management (e-machine, batteries, IC engines)
• Advanced combustion systems (HCCI/CAI, turbulent jet ignition, dual fuel)
• Sustainable electrical machines and drives (design, operation, manufacture)

Teaching Summary

My teaching covers Level 3 Automotive Technology, Level 4 IC Engines and Major Individual Projects.

Research Summary

My interests generally cover sustainable propulsion, with active research in the following areas:

• Fuels for sustainable heavy duty IC engines (ammonia, hydrogen, methanol etc.)
• Advanced powertrain thermal management (batteries, electric machines, fuel cells and IC engines)
• Life cycle analysis of propulsion (thermal and electrified solutions)
• Automotive energy recovery systems (thermal and kinetic)
• Powertrain lightweighting

Recent Publications

• MADDUMAGE, W., CAIRNS, A. and PAYKANI, A., 2023.
• PFAU, S. A., ROCCA, A. L., HAFFNER-STATON, E., FAY, M. W. and CAIRNS, A., 2022. Combustion and Flame. 245,
• HAFFNER-STATON, E., AVANZINI, L., LA ROCCA, A., PFAU, S. A. and CAIRNS, A., 2022. Journal of Microscopy.
• LA ROCCA, A., LA ROCCA, S., ZOU, T., LIU, C., MOSLEMIN, M., GERADA, C. and CAIRNS, A., 2022.

• View all publications

Future Research

We are a large and active group with broad interests across sustainable propulsion. I welcome enquiries from potential PhD candidates from Home, EU and international countries who are interested in the following research areas:

• Fuels for sustainable heavy duty IC engines (ammonia, hydrogen, bio/synthetic)
• Advanced powertrain thermal management (batteries, electric machines, fuel cells and IC engines)
• Life cycle analysis of propulsion (thermal and electrified solutions)
• Automotive energy recovery systems (thermal and kinetic)
• Powertrain lightweighting

• MADDUMAGE, W., CAIRNS, A. and PAYKANI, A., 2023.
• PFAU, S. A., ROCCA, A. L., HAFFNER-STATON, E., FAY, M. W. and CAIRNS, A., 2022. Combustion and Flame. 245,
• HAFFNER-STATON, E., AVANZINI, L., LA ROCCA, A., PFAU, S. A. and CAIRNS, A., 2022. Journal of Microscopy.
• LA ROCCA, A., LA ROCCA, S., ZOU, T., LIU, C., MOSLEMIN, M., GERADA, C. and CAIRNS, A., 2022.
• HEGAB, A., DAHUWA, K., ISLAM, R., CAIRNS, A., KHURANA, A., SHRESTHA, S. and FRANCIS, R., 2021. Applied Thermal Engineering. 196,
• BUNCE, M., CAIRNS, A. and BLAXILL, H., 2020. International Journal of Engine Research.
• MOSLEMIN KOUPAIE, M., CAIRNS, A., XIA, J., VAFAMEHR, H. and LANZANOVA, T., 2019. Fuel. 237, 874-887
• KOUPAIE, M. M., CAIRNS, A., VAFAMEHR, H. and LANZANOVA, T. D. M., 2019. Applied Energy. 237, 258-269
• JUSTUS, J., CAIRNS, A. and PESIRIDIS, A., 2019.
• HAFFNER-STATON, E., LA ROCCA, A., CAIRNS, A. and FAY, M., 2019. 2019-September(September),
• KARVOUNTZIS-KONTAKIOTIS, A., VAFAMEHR, H., CAIRNS, A. and PECKHAM, M., 2018. Energy. 158, 899-910
• NWOVU, S. O., CAIRNS, A. and VAFAMEHR, H., 2018.
• VAFAMEHR, H., CAIRNS, A., SAMPSON, O., KOUPAIE, M.M., 2016. Applied Energy. 179, 687-697
• MOXEY, B.G., CAIRNS, A., ZHAO, H., 2016. Fuel. 170, 27-38
• MAY, I., PEDROZO, V., ZHAO, H., CAIRNS, A., WHELAN, S., WONG, H., BENNICKE, P., 2016. SAE Technical Papers. 2016-April(April),
• PEDROZO, V.B., MAY, I., DALLA NORA, M., CAIRNS, A., ZHAO, H., 2016. Applied Energy. 165, 166-182
• ZHOU, L., XIA, J., SHINJO, J., CAIRNS, A., CRUFF, L., BLAXILL, H., 2016. Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part D: Journal of Automobile Engineering. 230(3), 322-331
• ATTAR, M.A., ZHAO, H., HERFATMANESH, M.R., CAIRNS, A., 2015. Experimental Thermal and Fluid Science. 68, 545-558
• ZHOU, L., XIA, J., SHINJO, J., CAIRNS, A., CRUFF, L., BLAXILL, H., 2015. In: 309-312
• ZHOU, L., XIA, J., SHINJO, J., CAIRNS, A., CRUFF, L., BLAXILL, H., 2015. In: 309-312
• ZHOU, L., XIA, J., SHINJO, J., CAIRNS, A., CRUFF, L., BLAXILL, H., 2015. In:
• CAIRNS, A., ZHANG, Y., DINGLE, S., ZHAO, H., 2014. Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part D: Journal of Automobile Engineering. 228(9), 991-1002
• ANBARI ATTAR, M., HERFATMANESH, M.R., ZHAO, H., CAIRNS, A., 2014. Experimental Thermal and Fluid Science. 59, 96-108
• MOXEY, B.G., CAIRNS, A., ZHAO, H., 2014. SAE Technical Papers. 2014-October,
• DINGLE, S.F., CAIRNS, A., ZHAO, H., WILLIAMS, J., WILLIAMS, O., ALI, R., 2014. SAE Technical Papers. 1,
• LIU, Q., CAIRNS, A., ZHAO, H., ANBARI ATTAR, M., CRUFF, L., BLAXILL, H., 2014. SAE International Journal of Engines. 7(1), 500-518
• ZHANG, Y., ZHAO, H., OJAPAH, M., CAIRNS, A., 2013. Lecture Notes in Electrical Engineering. 189 LNEE(VOL. 1), 67-81
• ZHANG, Y., ZHAO, H., OJAPAH, M., CAIRNS, A., 2013. SAE Technical Papers. 2,
• XIA, J., ZHAO, H., MEGARITIS, A., LUO, K.H., CAIRNS, A., GANIPPA, L.C., 2013. Combustion and Flame. 160(2), 366-383
• CAIRNS, A., ZHAO, H., TODD, A., ALEIFERIS, P., 2013. Fuel. 106, 802-813
• ZHANG, Y., OJAPAH, M., CAIRNS, A., ZHAO, H., 2012. SAE Technical Papers.
• LABECKI, L., CAIRNS, A., XIA, J., MEGARITIS, A., ZHAO, H., GANIPPA, L.C., 2012. Applied Energy. 95, 139-146
• ZHANG, Y., ZHAO, H., OJAPAH, M., CAIRNS, A., 2012. SAE International Journal of Engines. 5(2),
• ZHANG, Y., ZHAO, H., OJAPAH, M., CAIRNS, A., 2011. SAE Technical Papers.
• ZHANG, Y., ZHAO, H., OJAPAH, M., CAIRNS, A., 2011. In: 127-134
• CAIRNS, A., TODD, A., ALEIFERIS, P., FRASER, N., MALCOLM, J., 2010. SAE Technical Papers.
• CAIRNS, A., TODD, A., ALEIFERIS, P., MALCOLM, J., 2009. In: 3-17
• CAIRNS, A., TODD, A., HOFFMAN, H., ALEIFERIS, P., MALCOLM, J., 2009. SAE Technical Papers.
• STANSFIELD, P., CAIRNS, A., FRASER, N., BLAXILL, H., GOLD, M., ROGERSON, J., WILLIAMS, J., 2009. In: 243-258
• CAIRNS, A., STANSFIELD, P., FRASER, N., BLAXILL, H., GOLD DR., M., ROGERSON, J., GOODFELLOW, C., 2009. SAE International Journal of Fuels and Lubricants. 2(1), 41-57
• CAIRNS, A., BLAXILL, H., FRASER, N., 2009.
• CAIRNS, A., FRASER, N., BLAXILL, H., 2008. SAE Technical Papers.
• ALEIFERIS, P.G., MALCOLM, J.S., TODD, A.R., CAIRNS, A., HOFFMANN, H., 2008. SAE Technical Papers.
• MALCOLM, J.S., ALEIFERIS, P.G., TODD, A.R., CAIRNS, A., HUME, A., BLAXILL, H., HOFFMAN, H., RUECKAUF, J., 2008. In: 223-234
• CAIRNS, A., BLAXILL, H., 2007. SAE Technical Papers.
• GANSER, J., BLAXILL, H., CAIRNS, A., 2007. MTZ Motortechnische Zeitschrift. 68(7-8), 564-569
• BLAXILL, H., CAIRNS, A., 2007. AutoTechnology. 7(JUNE), 28-31
• CAIRNS, A., BLAXILL, H., IRLAM, G., 2006. SAE Technical Papers.
• HATTRELL, T., SHEPPARD, C.G.W., BURLUKA, A.A., NEUMEISTER, J., CAIRNS, A., 2006. SAE Technical Papers.
• CAIRNS, A., BLAXILL, H., 2006. In: 81-87
• CAIRNS, A., BLAXILL, H., 2005. SAE Technical Papers.
• CAIRNS, A., BLAXILL, H., 2005. SAE Technical Papers.
• CAIRNS, A., BLAXILL, H., IRLAM, G., LUMSDEN, G., FRASER, N., 2005. In: 88-94
• CAIRNS, A., SHEPPARD, C.G.W., 2000. SAE Technical Papers.