Dr Richard Wellman
Lecturer
Location: Building 57, Cranfield campus
E: R.Wellman@cranfield.ac.uk
T: +44 (0)1234 750111 x3524
Manufacturing and Materials
Current activities
Dr Richard Wellman is Course Director for the Advanced Materials course.
Dr Richard Wellman currently lectures in Tribology while maintaining an active research and testing programme. He has two PhD students, one investigating the phosphorescence of doped thermal barrier coatings (TBCs) as a means of measuring surface temperature during operation, the other is investigating the effect of laser drilling on the life of plasma sprayed TBCs used in combustor cans of gas turbine engines.
Over the years Dr Wellman has worked in conjunction with Rolls-Royce on a number of issues surrounding the improved performance and efficiency of gas turbine engines. This includes oxidation testing of EB PVD TBCs, erosion testing of novel TBC systems including both EB PVD and plasma sprayed and lifing of TBCs. He has been involved in developing erosion resistant multilayer coatings for the protection of compressor blades. More recently he has become involved in research into CMAS degradation of TBCs an issue that has arisen due to the increase in operating temperatures.
He has also been involved recently in testing the erosion performance of various coatings and polymers for the protection of CFRP components as well as investigating the performance of coatings for steam turbines.
Clients
- Rolls-Royce, UK
- Rolls-Royce, Germany
- Howmet Castings, USA
- Alstom Power, UK
- Parkway Products, USA
- Siemens, USA
- DTI.
Background
After completing a BSc in Chemistry and an MSc in Materials Science at the University of Cape Town, Dr Wellman spent over four years working in the power industry in South Africa. Working in the Technology Research and Investigations Group ensured that he gained experience in all types of power generation technology from coal to nuclear to hydro and pump storage. At the end of 1997 he left his position as Acting Head of the Tribology Group to move to the UK to embark on his PhD studies. After completing his PhD (Modelling the Erosion of EB PVD TBCs) at Cranfield University in February 2001, he started his Post Doc as a research Officer in the Power Generation Technology Centre. He subsequently moved to the National High Temperature Surface Engineering Centre, working in the fields of erosion and wear as well as thermal barrier coatings, where he is currently employed as a Lecturer in Tribology.
