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Kathy Simmons

Academic, Faculty of Engineering

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Expertise Summary

Computational Fluid Dynamics

Throughout my industry and university research career I have worked on projects where CFD has been applied to enhance understanding of industrially relevant flow situations. My current primary research activity is linked to aerospace transmissions where, through the University Technology Centre in Gas Turbine Transmission Systems, I have supervised a number of projects that have enhanced the ability of engineers to model the two-phase flow within aeroengine bearing chambers and gearboxes. Many of these projects have applied commercial CFD packages, primarily Fluent and CFX and some inhouse code for specialist applications (thin film motion within bearing chambers, droplet impact on thin films) have been developed.

Experimental Fluids

Over my career I have applied a number of experimental techniques, both conventional and non-instrusive optical methods. When in industry I was competent with hot wire anemometry although I have not had much opportunity to apply this technique since. During my PhD I set up and used in-house PIV systems, using particle tracking methods to look at particulate deposition on ceramic candle filters. PIV was also used in a standalone study on the flow inside a car and its impact on driver/passenger comfort. I am also familiar with LDA although I have not used this technique recently.

Applications

In terms of engineering applications, my current research is all aeroengine focussed, primarily on bearing chambers (two-phase highly rotating flow, film droplet and jet interactions etc) and gear windage (mostly the spiral bevel gear of an aeroengine internal gearbox, but some spur gear work too).

Research Summary

Thermofluids, application of CFD to aeroengine oil transmission systems, particularly highly rotating single and two-phase flow, porous media flow, film and droplet flow, industrial CFD applications,… read more

Recent Publications

  • SIMMONS, K, JOHNSON, G and WIEDEMANN, N, 2012. Effect of Pressure and Oil Mist on Windage Power Loss of a Shrouded Spiral Bevel Gear: GTP-11-1311 Journal of Engineering for Gas Turbines and Power. (In Press.)
  • CHANDRA, B, SIMMONS, K, PICKERING, S and TITTEL, M, 2011. Liquid and gas behaviour in a highly rotating environment: GT2011-46430 In: ASME Turbo Expo 2011. 9
  • CHANDRA, B, SIMMONS, K, PICKERING, S and TITTEL, M, 2010. Factors Affecting Oil Removal From An Aeroengine Bearing Chamber
  • JOHNSON, G, CHANDRA, B, FOORD, C and SIMMONS, K, 2009. Windage Power Losses From Spiral Bevel Gears With Varying Oil Flows And Shroud Configurations Journal Of Turbomachinery-Transactions Of The Asme. 131(4), -

Current Research

Thermofluids, application of CFD to aeroengine oil transmission systems, particularly highly rotating single and two-phase flow, porous media flow, film and droplet flow, industrial CFD applications, PIV

Past Research

Vortex shedding, fluidic oscillators

Future Research

Wind energy, alternative energy, appropriate technology

  • SIMMONS, K, JOHNSON, G and WIEDEMANN, N, 2012. Effect of Pressure and Oil Mist on Windage Power Loss of a Shrouded Spiral Bevel Gear: GTP-11-1311 Journal of Engineering for Gas Turbines and Power. (In Press.)
  • CHANDRA, B, SIMMONS, K, PICKERING, S and TITTEL, M, 2011. Liquid and gas behaviour in a highly rotating environment: GT2011-46430 In: ASME Turbo Expo 2011. 9
  • CHANDRA, B, SIMMONS, K, PICKERING, S and TITTEL, M, 2010. Factors Affecting Oil Removal From An Aeroengine Bearing Chamber
  • JOHNSON, G, CHANDRA, B, FOORD, C and SIMMONS, K, 2009. Windage Power Losses From Spiral Bevel Gears With Varying Oil Flows And Shroud Configurations Journal Of Turbomachinery-Transactions Of The Asme. 131(4), -
  • JOHNSON, G, CHANDRA, B, FOORD, C and SIMMONS, K, 2008. Windage Power Losses From Spiral Bevel Gears With Varying Oil Flows And Shroud Configurations
  • RAPLEY, S, EASTWICK, C and SIMMONS, K, 2008. Effect Of Variations In Shroud Geometry On Single Phase Flow Over A Shrouded Single Spiral Gear
  • RAPLEY, S, EASTWICK, C and SIMMONS, K, 2008. Computational Investigation Of Torque On Coaxial Rotating Cones Journal Of Fluids Engineering-Transactions Of The Asme. 130(6), -
  • EASTWICK, CN, SIMMONS, K, JOHNSON, G, PICKERING, S and FARRALL, M, 2008. US 2008/0029167 A1 02/07/2008 00:00:00
  • FARRAL, M., HIBBERD,S. and SIMMONS, K., 2007. The effect of initial injection conditions on the oil droplet motion in a simplified bearing chamber. Journal of Engineering for Gas Turbines and Power-Transactions of the Asme. 130(1), 1-7
  • AL-SHIBL, K., SIMMONS, K. and EASTWICK, C.N., 2007. Modelling windage power loss from an enclosed spur gear Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers. Part A, Journal of Power and Energy. 221(3), 331-341
  • RAPLEY, S, EASTWICK, C and SIMMONS, K, 2007. The Application Of Cfd To Model Windage Power Loss From A Spiral Bevel Gear
  • JOHNSON, G, SIMMONS, K and FOORD, C, 2007. Experimental Investigation Into Windage Power Loss From A Shrouded Spiral Bevel Gear
  • EASTWICK, C.N., SIMMONS, K., WANG, Y. and HIBBERD, S., 2006. Study of aero-engine oil-air separators Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers. Part A, Journal of Power and Energy. 220(7), 707-717
  • FARRALL, M., SIMMONS, K., HIBBERD, S. and GORSE, P., 2006. A numerical model for oil film flow in an aeroengine bearing chamber and comparison to experimental data Journal of Engineering for Gas Turbines and Power. 128(1), 111-117
  • SHUAIB, N.H., POWER, H., HIBBERD, S. and SIMMONS, K., 2006. A numerical study of wave structures developed on the free surface of a film flowing on inclined planes and subjected to surface shear International Journal for Numerical Methods in Engineering. 68(7), 755-789
  • FARRALL, M., HIBBERD, S., SIMMONS, K. and GIDDINGS, D., 2006. Prediction of air/oil exit flows in a commercial aero-engine bearing chamber Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers. Part G, Journal of Aerospace Engineering. 220(3), 197-202
  • CLIFFORD, M.J., SIMMONS, K.A., ROBERTS, J. and TRUSCOT, T.D., 2006. Computational fluid dynamics modelling of a static mixer Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers. Part C, Journal of Mechanical Engineering Science. 220(3), 325-332
  • AL-HAJERI, MH, AROUSSI, A, SIMMONS, K and PICKERING, SJ, 2006. Cfd And Piv Investigation Of Flow Past A Single Hot Gas Filter Chemical Engineering & Technology. 29(3), 348-354
  • LEE, C.W., PALMA, P.C., SIMMONS, K. and PICKERING, S.J., 2005. Comparison of computational fluid dynamics and particle image velocimetry data for the airflow in an aeroengine bearing chamber Journal of Engineering for Gas Turbines and Power. 127(4), 697-703
  • AL-HAJERI, M.H., AROUSSI, A., SIMMONS, K. and PICKERING, S.J., 2005. A parametric study of filtration through a ceramic candle filter Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers. Part A, Journal of Power and Energy. 219(1), 77-90
  • FARRALL, M., HIBBERD, S., SIMMONS, K. and YOUNG, C., 2005. Computational investigation of the airflow through a shrouded bevel gear. In: ASME INTERNATIONAL GAS TURBINE INSTITUTE, ed., Proceedings of ASME Turbo Expo 2005, Power for Land, Sea, and Air Conference, Reno, Nevada, USA, June 6-9, 2005. GT2005. New York: American Society of Mechanical Engineers. Paper 68879
  • FARRALL, M., HIBBERD, S., SIMMONS, K. and YOUNG, C., 2005. Computational investigation of the airflow through a shrouded bevel gear. In: ASME INTERNATIONAL GAS TURBINE INSTITUTE, ed., Proceedings of ASME Turbo Expo 2005, Power for Land, Sea, and Air Conference, Reno, Nevada, USA, June 6-9, 2005. GT2005. New York: American Society of Mechanical Engineers. Paper 68879
  • EASTWICK, C.N., HEUBNER, K., AZZOPARDI, B.J., SIMMONS, K.A., YOUNG, C. and MORRISON, R., 2005. Film flow around bearing chamber support structures In: Proceedings of ASME Turbo Expo 2005: Power for Land, Sea and Air.
  • FARRALL, M, SIMMONS, K, HIBBERD, S and YOUNG, C, 2005. Computational Investigation Of The Airflow Through A Shrouded Bevel Gear
  • EASTWICK, C, HUEBNER, K, AZZOPARDI, B, SIMMONS, K, YOUNG, C and MORRISON, R, 2005. Film Flow Around Bearing Chamber Support Structures
  • AL-HAJERI, MH, AROUSSI, A, SIMMONS, K and PICKERING, SJ, 2005. A Parametric Study Of Filtration Through A Ceramic Candle Filter Proceedings Of The Institution Of Mechanical Engineers Part A-Journal Of Power And Energy. 219(A1), 77-90
  • GU, S., MCCARTNEY, D.G., EASTWICK, C.N. and SIMMONS, K., 2004. Numerical modeling of in-flight characteristics of Inconel 625 particles during high-velocity oxy-fuel thermal spraying Journal of Thermal Spray Technology. 13(2), 200-213
  • LEE, C.W., JOHNSON, G.R., PALMA, P.C., SIMMONS, K. and PICKERING, S.J., 2004. Factors affecting the behaviour and efficiency of a targetted jet delivering oil to a bearing lubrication system In: 2004 ASME Turbo Expo, Jun 14-17 2004.
  • LEE, C.W., PALMA, P.C., SIMMONS, K. and PICKERING, S.J., 2004. Comparison of CFD and PIV data for the airflow in an aero-engine bearing chamber In: 2004 ASME Turbo Expo, Jun 14-17 2004.
  • FARRALL, M., HIBBERD, S., SIMMONS, K. and GIDDINGS, D., 2004. Predictions of air/oil exit flows in a commercial aero-engine bearing chamber In: Seminar Proceedings: Analytic Methods and Tools in Transmission Systems.
  • FARRALL, M., SIMMONS, K., HIBBERT, S. and GORSE, P., 2004. GT2004-53698 A Numerical Model for Oil Film Flow in an Aero-Engine Bearing Chamber and Comparison With Experimental Data PROCEEDINGS OF THE ASME TURBO EXPO. YEAR(VOL 4), 409-418
  • GIDDINGS, D., PICKERING, S.J., SIMMONS, K. and EASTWICK, C.N., 2002. Combustion and aerodynamic behaviour of car tyre chips in a cement works precalciner Journal of The Institute of Energy. 504, 91-99
  • EASTWICK, C.N., SIMMONS, K.A., HIBBERD, S., WANG, Y., CARE, I. and AROUSSI, A., 2002. Using CFD to improve aero-engine separator design In: ASME - Pressure vessels and piping. 215-220
  • SIMMONS, K.A., HIBBERD, S., WANG, Y. and EASTWICK, C.N., 2002. Numerical study of the two-phase air/oil flow within an aeroengine bearing chamber using a coupled Lagrangian droplet tracking method In: Proceedings of ASME Fluids Engineering Division Summer Meeting 2002.
  • GIDDINGS, D, PICKERING, SJ, SIMMONS, K and EASTWICK, CN, 2002. Combustion And Aerodynamic Behaviour Of Car Tyre Chips In A Cement Works Precalciner Journal Of The Institute Of Energy. 75(504), 91-99
  • AROUSSI,A., SIMMONS,K. and PICKERING,S.J., 2001. Particulate deposition on candle filters Fuel. 80, 335-343
  • GU, S., EASTWICK, C.N., SIMMONS, K.A. and MCCARTNEY, D.G., 2001. Computational fluid dynamic modeling of gas flow characteristics in a high-velocity oxy-fuel thermal spray system Journal of Thermal Spray Technology. 10(3), 461-469
  • WANG, Y., HIBBERD, S., SIMMONS, K.A., EASTWICK, C.N. and CARE, I., 2001. Application of CFD to modelling two-phase flow in a high-speed aero-engine transmission chamber In: ASME FEDSMð1:ASME 2001 Fluids Engineering Division Summer Meeting. 249-254
  • GIDDINGS, D, PICKERING, SJ, SIMMONS, K and EASTWICK, CN, 2001. Using Cfd To Investigate Combustion In A Cement Manufacturing Process
  • CARE, I, EASTWICK, C, HIBBERD, S, SIMMONS, K and WANG, Y, 2001. Cfd Computation Of Air-Oil Separation In An Engine Breather
  • AROUSSI, A, SIMMONS, K and PICKERING, SJ, 2001. Particulate Deposition On Candle Filters Fuel. 80(3), 335-343
  • GIDDINGS, D., EASTWICK, C. N., PICKERING, S. J. and SIMMONS, K., 2000. Computational fluid dynamics applied to a cement precalciner Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers. Part A, Journal of Power and Energy. VOL 214(PART 3), 269-280
  • HOSSAIN, M., WANG, Y., HIBBERD, S. and SIMMONS, K.A., 2000. A Comparison of Flow Characteristics for Two Aeroengine Air/Oil Separators In: NAFEMS Conference on Industrial CFD and the Move Towards Multiphase Analysis.
  • EASTWICK, C.N., HIBBERD, S., CARE, I., SIMMONS, K. and WANG, Y., 2000. Numerical Study of the Turbulent Air Flow Field and Droplet Trajectories in a Geometrically Simplified Bearing Chamber with the Presence of an Oil-Air Separator
  • FARRALL, M., HIBBERD, S. and SIMMONS, K.A., 2000. Computational Modelling of Two-Phase Air/Oil Flow within an Aero-Engine Bearing Chamber In: Proceedings of ASME FEDSM'00. 1-8
  • WANG, Y., CARE, I., EASTWICK, C.N., HIBBERD, S. and SIMMONS, K.A., 1999. CFD Study of Droplet Motion in a Simplified Breather Chamber Geometry at High Shaft Rotating Speed In: Multiphase Flow and Heat Transfer Proceedings of the 4th International Symposium.
  • SIMMONS, K.A., AROUSSI, A., PICKERING, S. and CLAYTON, B., 1998. Particulate Material Deposition on a Ceramic Candle Filter In: FEDSM'98, ASME Fluids Engineering Division Summer Meeting.
  • SIMMONS, K.A., EASTWICK, C.N. and HIBBERD, S., 1998. Mathematical modelling of an aero gas turbine bearing chamber In: Aerospace Transmission Systems. 45-50
  • SIMMONS, K.A., AROUSSI, A., PICKERING, S. and CLAYTON, B., 1997. Removal of Particulates from a Hot Gas Stream In: 7th International Conference on Laser Anemometry - Advances and Applications. 729-736

Faculty of Engineering

The University of Nottingham
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telephone: +44 (0) 115 951 4163
email:engineering@nottingham.ac.uk