Dr James Njuguna
Lecturer
Location: Building 61, Cranfield campus
E: j.njuguna@cranfield.ac.uk
T: +44 (0)1234 754186
Environmental Science and Technology
Current activities
Dr James Njuguna research interests lie in transport lightweight structures, particularly using nanocomposites subject to impact, blast or crash loadings. He has expertise on two fronts, i.e. quantifying structural dynamic behaviour and establishment of structure-property relationship.
To date, he has secured around £2 million of research funding in cash as principal investigator from the European Commission, UK government grants, and industry.
He currently works closely with Eaton, Basf, Delphi, Cummins, Laviosa, GZE Aerospace, Thales Alenia Space, Altran, BrainLab, Inkoa, EM Motorsport, ART Grandprix, Carlin and Silverstone Circuit Ltd.
In addition to over 60 scientific journal and conference papers and a number of key note speeches, he is an author/co-author of a textbook titled ‘Thermal Degradation of Polymeric Materials’ and 5 Book Chapters. Dr Njuguna was awarded Research Councils UK Academic Fellowship (2005-10), Rector of Cracow University of Technology Award (2006) and Marie Curie Fellowship (2003-04).
Key areas of competence
- Structure-property relationship of polymer nanocomposites
- Life cycle analysis of polymer nano-enhanced structural products
- Ageing and performance prediction of lightweight structures
- Mechanical testing and failure characterisation for composites
- Low velocity impact behaviour of fibre-reinforced thermoplastics - polypropylenes, polyamides, polysters, PMMA and polyurethanes
- Finite element analysis using tools such as LS Dyna, Abaqus , ANSYS and HyperWorks
Recent projects
- Principal Investigator of FP 7 Project (Project No.: 265838) on ‘Development of new light high-performance environmentally benign composites made of bio-materials and bio-resins for electric car application (ECOSHELL)’
- Principal Investigator of FP 7 Project (Project No.: 228536-2) on ‘Nanomaterials related environmental pollution and health hazards throughout their life cycle (NEPHH)’
- Principal Investigator of ‘ impact behaviour in thermoplastic automotive engine components’ sponsored by Eaton, EPSRC
- Principal Investigator of ‘vortex generation and their implication in downforce for composite parts on Formula 3 racing cars’ sponsored by ART Grandprix
- Principal Investigator of ‘Real-time structural health monitoring nanosensing device’ sponsored by EPSRC, EM Motorsport and East of England Development Agency (EEDA)
- Co-investigator of IMRC project (EPSRC/IMRC-137, 2008-2009) on 'design and manufacturing of a novel energy harvesting device for self-powered sensors'
- Co-investigator of ‘Service and product-service requirement effects on device design’ sponsored by BrainLab
Clients
- EPSRC
- RCUK
- European Commission FP7
- Eaton Corporation
- BASF
- Laviosa
- Delphi, Cummins
- GZE Aerospace
- Thales Alenia Space
- Altran
- Inkoa
- BrainLAB AG
- Silverstone Circuit Ltd
- Carlin Motorsport
- EM Motorsport
- ART Grandprix
Background
He was awarded a Marie Curie Fellowship during his PhD studies in micro- and macro-mechanical properties of aerospace composite structures and their dynamic behaviour.
He previously worked as an aircraft engineer with AIM-AIR for nearly 5 years specialising in lightweight aircraft airframes before embarking on a research career on lightweight structures.
