Contact Professor Andrew Starr
- Tel: +44 (0) 1234 758374
- Email: a.starr@cranfield.ac.uk
- Twitter: @AndrewGStarr
- Blog: http://www.linkedin.com/groups/Throughlife-Engineering-Services-3852571?gid=3852571&trk=hb_side_g
- ORCID
- Google Scholar
- ResearchGate
Areas of expertise
- Aeronautical Systems
- Engines, Powertrains & Alternative Fuels
- Industrial Automation
- Instrumentation, Sensors and Measurement Science
- Mechatronics & Advanced Controls
- Sensor Technologies
- Systems Engineering
- Through-life Engineering Services
- Vehicle Health Management
Background
Professor Starr was Head of the Through-life Engineering Services Institute, then the Centre for Life-cycle Engineering and Management (CLEM), a world-leading centre of excellence in maintenance and asset management for high value systems, for 11 years. CLEM works in partnership with industry in research and education. He remains as professor of maintenance systems.
Professor Starr read Mechanical Engineering at the University of Leeds, while sponsored by British Aerospace (Civil Aircraft), for which he was awarded first prize in the final year of his apprenticeship. He studied for his doctoral thesis in condition based maintenance for robotic production plant at the University of Manchester, sponsored by Ford and Wolfson Maintenance. He has held academic posts at the University of Huddersfield, the University of Manchester, and the University of Hertfordshire, as Head of the School of Aerospace, Automotive and Design Engineering.
His research work has been funded by EPSRC, the EU, and a wide range of industrial partners. He is a Chartered Engineer, a Fellow of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, a member of the British Institute of Non-Destructive Testing, a member of the Institute of Asset Management, a member of the International Society for Condition Monitoring, and a member of the Permanent Way Institute. He has published over 150 technical papers from a wide range of collaborative projects with industry, helping to solve real problems and to devise innovative products and services.
Research opportunities
Prof Starr supervises research students focusing on machine and structural damage detection; diagnostics and prognostics; autonomous inspection, detection and robotics; "big data" for system monitoring and control; process monitoring; novel sensing and signal processing; algorithms and artificial intelligence; applications in railway infrastructure and vehicles; aerospace machines especially gearboxes; manufacturing, and defence systems.
Current activities
Projects focus on industrial maintenance research, including autonomous systems, failure modes, vibration and wear debris, wireless sensing, automation, decision-making mathematics, and management processes
2017-2022, EPSRC Platform Grant EP/P019358/1, Through-life performance: From science to instrumentation, £1.18m, Starr et al (PI), with Rolls-Royce, Bombardier Transportation, Network Rail, HVM Catapult.
Autonomous inspection and repair for railway applications:
2023-4, on-going projects in autonomous railway inspection and repair, and digital twins
2020-2022, Network Rail, 22245/02/6559, System Integration (part of In2Smart 2 Grant number 881574 WP13 in Shift2Rail) - unmanned ground vehicle
2020-2021, Network Rail, ECM22352, Autonomous Track Geometry Repair (part of In2Track2 Grant number 826255 4.4.2.1 in Shift2Rail)
2020-2021, Network Rail, ECM21659, Autonomous ultrasonic testing, (part of In2Track2 Grant number 826255 4.4.2.2 in Shift2Rail) (PI Durazo)
2020-2021, Network Rail, Remote monitoring of rail defects (part of In2Track2 Grant number 826255 4.5.2.1 in Shift2Rail), (PI Durazo)
2020-2023, Network Rail, PhDs in location, navigation and scale; modelling and test.
2018, Network Rail, 13453/02/6559 Rail Robot Demonstrator and Cobots, part of Shift2Rail In2Smart WP10, Grant number 730569 CIs Tomiyama, Durazo Cardenas, Kirkwood
2018, Network Rail, 13451/02/6559 Simulations and V&V for Railway Inspection and Repair System (RIRS), part of Shift2Rail In2Smart WP10, Grant number 730569, CI Tomiyama
2018, Network Rail, 11032/02/6559 Non-contact system for detecting rail defects based on laser Doppler vibrometry and thermography, part of Shift2Rail In2Smart WP3, Grant number 730569 CI Durazo Cardenas
2017-2020, Unipart Rail, PhD Studentship in 'Big data' for predictive maintenance
Railway track
2020-2021, SNCF, Whole system design of next generation Switches and Crossings(part of In2Track 2 Grant number 826255 in Shift2Rail)
2018, Network Rail, 3441804 Self-adjusting Switches and Crossings, £49,000, part of Shift2Rail In2Track WP2, Grant number 730841, CI Durazo Cardenas
Gearbox degradation: surface damage and root cracking
2016-2021 IGear: Intelligent Gearbox for Endurance Advanced Rotorcraft - Cleansky 2 738144 - focusing on algorithms for reliable helicopters (coordinator)
Linear actuators - modelling and experimental degradation, diagnostics and prognostics
Clients
- Avio Aerospace
- BAE Systems PLC
- Barden Corporation
- Bombardier Inc
- Network Rail
- National Nuclear Laboratory
- Procter & Gamble
- QinetiQ Group PLC
- Rolls-Royce Holdings PLC
- Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
- Schlumberger NV
- Sellafield Ltd
- Thales SA
- UK Space Agency
- SNCF
- Unipart Rail
Publications
Articles In Journals
- Khalel HHZ, Khan M, Starr AG, Sadawi N, Mohamed OA, .... (2025). Parametric study for optimizing fiber-reinforced concrete properties. Structural Concrete, 26(1)
- Dong A, Starr A & Zhao Y. (2025). End-to-end identification of autoregressive with exogenous input (ARX) models using neural networks. Machine Intelligence Research, 22(1)
- Kalifa M, Starr A & Khan M. (2025). Current research and challenges in modelling wear, friction, and noise in mechanical contacts. Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part J: Journal of Engineering Tribology
- Gaddavalasa NC, Lodh A, Cini A, Saaran V, Mehmanparast A, .... (2025). Designing nickel coatings for water erosion performance: optimisation of grain size and thickness. Engineering Failure Analysis, 175
- Alqahtani I, Starr A & Khan M. (2024). Fracture behaviour of aluminium alloys under coastal environmental conditions: a review. Metals, 14(3)
- Namoano B, Emmanouilidis C & Starr A. (2024). Detecting wheel slip from railway operational data through a combined wavelet, long short-term memory and neural network classification method. Engineering Applications of Artificial Intelligence, 137
- Magadán L, Ruiz-Cárcel C, Granda JC, Suárez FJ & Starr AG. (2024). Explainable and interpretable bearing fault classification and diagnosis under limited data. Advanced Engineering Informatics, 62
- Li J, Durazo-Cardenas I, Ruiz-Carcel C, He F, Anderson R, .... (2024). Smart railways: the design and construction of an autonomous inspection and maintenance vehicle. Procedia CIRP, 128
- Khalel HHZ, Khan M & Starr A. (2023). Dynamic response-based crack resistance analysis of fibre reinforced concrete specimens under different temperatures and crack depths. Journal of Building Engineering, 66(May)
- Omar I, Starr A & Khan M. (2023). Suitability analysis of machine learning algorithms for crack growth prediction based on dynamic response data. Sensors, 23(3)
- Maulana F, Starr A & Ompusunggu AP. (2023). Explainable data-driven method combined with Bayesian filtering for remaining useful lifetime prediction of aircraft engines using NASA CMAPSS datasets. Machines, 11(2)
- Rahman M, Liu H, Masri M, Durazo-Cardenas I & Starr A. (2023). A railway track reconstruction method using robotic vision on a mobile manipulator: a proposed strategy. Computers in Industry, 148(June)
- Liu H, Tinsley L, Deng K, Wang Y, Starr A, .... (2023). A fiber-guided motorized rotation laser scanning thermography technique for impact damage crack inspection in composites. IEEE Transactions on Industrial Electronics, 71(3)
- Shimizu M, Perinpanayagam S, Namoano B & Starr A. (2023). Real-time prognostics and health management without run-to-failure data on railway assets. IEEE Access, 11
- Alqahtani I, Starr A & Khan M. (2023). Coupled effects of temperature and humidity on fracture toughness of Al–Mg–Si–Mn alloy. Materials, 16(11)
- Rahman M, Liu H, Durazo-Cardenas I, Starr A, Hall A, .... (2023). A review on the prospects of mobile manipulators for smart maintenance of railway track. Applied Sciences, 13(11)
- Omar I, Khan M & Starr A. (2023). Comparative analysis of machine learning models for predicting crack propagation under coupled load and temperature. Applied Sciences, 13(12)
- Liu H, Rahman M, Rahimi M, Starr A, Durazo-Cardenas I, .... (2023). An autonomous rail-road amphibious robotic system for railway maintenance using sensor fusion and mobile manipulator. Computers and Electrical Engineering, 110(September)
- Omar I, Khan M, Starr A & Abou Rok Ba K. (2023). Automated prediction of crack propagation using H2O AutoML. Sensors, 23(20)
- Alqahatni I, Starr A & Khan M. (2023). Investigation of the combined influence of temperature and humidity on fatigue crack growth rate in Al6082 alloy in a coastal environment. Materials, 16(21)
- Olisa SC, Khan MA & Starr A. (2023). Elastic wave mechanics in damaged metallic plates. Symmetry, 15(11)
- Dong A, Starr A & Zhao Y. (2023). Neural network-based parametric system identification: a review. International Journal of Systems Science, 54(13)
- Samuel OC, Starr A & Muhammad KA. (2022). Monitoring evolution of debris-filled damage using pre-modulated wave and guided wave ultrasonic testing (GWUT). Measurement, 199(August)
- Rahimi M, Liu H, Durazo-Cardenas I, Starr A, Hall A, .... (2022). A review on technologies for localisation and navigation in autonomous railway maintenance systems. Sensors, 22(11)
- Agala A, Khan M & Starr A. (2022). Degradation mechanisms associated with metal pipes and the effective impact of LDMs and LLMs in water transport and distribution. Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part C: Journal of Mechanical Engineering Science, 237(8)
- Omar I, Khan M & Starr A. (2022). Compatibility and challenges in machine learning approach for structural crack assessment. Structural Health Monitoring, 21(5)
- Olisa SC, Khan MA & Starr A. (2021). Review of current guided wave ultrasonic testing (GWUT) limitations and future directions. Sensors, 21(3)
- Liu H, Du W, Yazdani Nezhad H, Starr A & Zhao Y. (2021). A dissection and enhancement technique for combined damage characterisation in composite laminates using laser-line scanning thermography. Composite Structures, 271(September)
- Khalel HHZ, Khan M, Starr A, Khan KA & Muhammad A. (2021). Performance of engineered fibre reinforced concrete (EFRC) under different load regimes: a review. Construction and Building Materials, 306(November)
- Fleet T, Kamei K, He F, Khan MA, Khan KA, .... (2020). A machine learning approach to model interdependencies between dynamic response and crack propagation. Sensors, 20(23)
- Liu H, Tinsley L, Lam W, Addepalli S, Liu X, .... (2020). A novel inspection technique for electronic components using thermography (NITECT). Sensors, 20(17)
- Liu H, Tinsley L, Addepalli S, Liu X, Starr A, .... (2020). Detectability evaluation of attributes anomaly for electronic components using pulsed thermography. Infrared Physics & Technology, 111
- Al-Shdifat A, Emmanouilidis C, Khan M & Starr AG. (2020). Ontology-based context modeling in physical asset integrity management. Frontiers in Computer Science, 2
- López de Calle-Etxabe K, Ruiz-Cárcel C, Starr A, Ferreiro S, Arnaiz A, .... (2020). Hybrid modelling for linear actuator diagnosis in absence of faulty data records. Computers in Industry, 123
- Shafiee M, Labib A, Maiti J & Starr A. (2019). Maintenance strategy selection for multi-component systems using a combined analytic network process and cost-risk criticality model. Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part O: Journal of Risk and Reliability, 233(2)
- Nsugbe E, Starr A, Jennions I & Ruiz-Carcel C. (2019). Estimation of online particle size distribution of a particle mixture in free fall with acoustic emission. Particulate Science and Technology, 37(8)
- Durazo-Cardenas I, Starr A, Turner CJ, Tiwari A, Kirkwood L, .... (2018). An autonomous system for maintenance scheduling data-rich complex infrastructure: Fusing the railways' condition, planning and cost. Transportation Research Part C: Emerging Technologies, 89
- Ruiz-Carcel C & Starr A. (2018). Data-based detection and diagnosis of faults in linear actuators. IEEE Transactions on Instrumentation and Measurement, 67(9)
- Nsugbe E, Ruiz Carcel C, Starr A & Jennions IK. (2018). Estimation of fine and oversize particle ratio in a heterogeneous compound with acoustic emissions. Sensors, 18(3)
- Khan MA, Khan KA, Nisar S & Starr A. (2018). Fracture life estimation of Al-1050 thin beams using empirical data and a numerical approach. Insight - Non-Destructive Testing and Condition Monitoring, 60(7)
- Ruiz-Carcel C, Starr A & Nsugbe E. (2017). Estimation of powder mass flow rate in a screw feeder using acoustic emissions. Powder Technology, 336
- Ruiz-Carcel C, Starr A & Nsugbe E. (2017). Estimation of powder mass flow rate in a screw feeder using acoustic emissions. Powder Technology
- Khan M, Basit K, Khan SZ, Khan KA & Starr AG. (2017). Experimental assessment of multiple contact wear using airborne noise under dry and lubricated conditions. Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part J: Journal of Engineering Tribology, 231(12)
- Turner CJ, Tiwari A, Starr AG & Blacktop K. (2016). A review of key planning and scheduling in the rail industry in Europe and UK. Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part F: Journal of Rail and Rapid Transit, 230(3)
- Nsugbe E, Starr AG, Foote P, Ruiz Carcel C & Jennions IK. (2016). Size differentiation of a continuous stream of particles using acoustic emissions. Journal of the Acoustical Society of America, 139(4_Supplement)
- Turner CJ, Ravi PT, Tiwari A, Starr AG & Blacktop K. (2016). A software architecture for autonomous maintenance scheduling: Scenarios for UK and European Rail. International Journal of Transport Development and Integration, 1(3)
- Nsugbe E, Starr A & Ruiz Carcel C. (2012). Monitoring the particle size distribution of a powder mixing process with acoustic emissions: a review. Engineering & Technology Reference, 1(1)
- Rzeszucinski PJ, Sinha JK, Edwards R, Starr A & Allen B. (2012). Normalised Root Mean Square and Amplitude of Sidebands of Vibration Response as Tools for Gearbox Diagnosis. Strain, 48(6)
- Rzeszucinski PJ, Sinha JK, Edwards R, Starr A & Allen B. (2012). Amplitude of Probability Density Function (APDF) of Vibration Response as a Robust Tool for Gearbox Diagnosis. Strain, 48(6)
- Phillips P, Diston D & Starr A. (2011). Perspectives on the commercial development of landing gear health monitoring systems. Transportation Research Part C: Emerging Technologies, 19(6)
- Phillips P, Diston D & Starr A. (2011). Towards a business enterprise strategy to support the integration of proactive aerospace maintenance technologies. Insight - Non-Destructive Testing and Condition Monitoring, 53(9)
- Anvari F, Edwards R & Starr A. (2010). Evaluation of overall equipment effectiveness based on market. Journal of Quality in Maintenance Engineering, 16(3)
- Albarbar A, Gu F, Ball AD & Starr A. (2010). Acoustic monitoring of engine fuel injection based on adaptive filtering techniques. Applied Acoustics, 71(12)
- Albarbar A, Badri A, Sinha JK & Starr A. (2009). Performance evaluation of MEMS accelerometers. Measurement, 42(5)
- Khan MA, Cooper D & Starr A. (2009). BS‐ISO Helical Gear Fatigue Life Estimation and Wear Quantitative Feature Analysis. Strain, 45(4)
- Khan MA, Starr AG & Cooper D. (2008). A methodology for online wear debris morphology and composition analysis. Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part J: Journal of Engineering Tribology, 222(7)
- Albarbar A, Ball A & Starr A. (2008). On acoustic measurement-based condition monitoring of internal combustion engines. Insight - Non-Destructive Testing and Condition Monitoring, 50(1)
- Albarbar A, Mekid S, Starr A & Pietruszkiewicz R. (2008). Suitability of MEMS Accelerometers for Condition Monitoring: An experimental study. Sensors, 8(2)
- Albarbar A, Gu F, Ball A & Starr A. (2007). Internal combustion engine lubricating oil condition monitoring based on vibro-acoustic measurements. Insight - Non-Destructive Testing and Condition Monitoring, 49(12)
- Khan MA, Starr AG & Cooper D. (2007). Academic and commercial efforts in Wear Debris Analysis Automation (WDAA). Insight - Non-Destructive Testing and Condition Monitoring, 49(12)
- Khan MA & Starr AG. (2006). Wear debris: basic features and machine health diagnostics. Insight - Non-Destructive Testing and Condition Monitoring, 48(8)
- Esteban J, Starr AG, Willetts R, Hannah P & Bryanston-Cross P. (2005). A review of data fusion models and architectures: Towards engineering guidelines. Neural Computing and Applications, 14(4)
- Willetts R, Starr AG, Doyle A & Barnes J. (2005). Generating adaptive alarms for condition monitoring data. International Journal of COMADEM, 8(3)
- Moore T, Starr A & Hesketh G. (2004). A hierarchical multi-stage data fusion approach to non-destructive evaluation of aero engine components. Insight - Non-Destructive Testing and Condition Monitoring, 46(8)
- Hu W, Starr AG & Leung AYT. (2003). Operational fault diagnosis of manufacturing systems. Journal of Materials Processing Technology, 133(1-2)
- Starr A, Hannah P, Esteban J & Willetts R. (2002). Data fusion as a model for advanced condition-based maintenance. Insight: Non-Destructive Testing and Condition Monitoring, 44(8)
- Starr A, Willetts R, Hannah P, Hu W, Banjevic D, .... (2002). Data fusion applications in intelligent condition monitoring. Recent Advances in Computers, Computing and Communications
- Hu W, Starr A, Zhou Z & Leung A. (2001). An Intelligent Integrated System Scheme for Machine Tool Diagnostics. The International Journal of Advanced Manufacturing Technology, 18(11)
- Hu W, Starr A & Leung A. (2001). A multisensor-based system for manufacturing process monitoring. Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part B: Journal of Engineering Manufacture, 215(9)
- Starr A & Ball A. (2000). Systems integration in maintenance engineering. Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part E: Journal of Process Mechanical Engineering, 214(2)
- Hu W, Starr AG, Zhou Z & Leung AYT. (2000). A systematic approach to integrated fault diagnosis of flexible manufacturing systems. International Journal of Machine Tools and Manufacture, 40(11)
- Stanley P & Starr AG. (2000). Stress concentrations at an oblique hole in a thick plate. The Journal of Strain Analysis for Engineering Design, 35(2)
- Starr AG, Wynne RJ & Kennedy I. (1999). Failure analysis of mature robots in automated production. Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part B: Journal of Engineering Manufacture, 213(8)
- Rajendran S, Leung AYT, Starr AG & Chan JKW. (1999). Bifurcation and stability of a three-hinged rod under a conservative load. International Journal for Numerical Methods in Engineering, 44(5)
- Hu W, Starr AG & Leung AYT. (1999). Two diagnostic models for PLC controlled flexible manufacturing systems. International Journal of Machine Tools and Manufacture, 39(12)
- Ruiz-Carcel C, Starr A & Francese A. Experimental Assessment of a Broadband Vibration and Acoustic Emission Sensor for Rotorcraft Transmission Monitoring. PHM Society European Conference, 7(1)
- Durazo-Cardenas I, Namoano B, Starr A, Dilip Sala R & Lai J. False alarm reduction in railway track quality inspections using machine learning. PHM Society European Conference, 8(1)