Mechanical Engineering

Mechanical Engineer and academic since 1993. Chair of Impulsive Dynamics and Head of Mechanical Engineering at The University of Edinburgh (UK). Author of over 250 technical/scientific and pedagogical publications, including more than 70 in international peer-reviewed journals.

Co-founder of the Light-Weight Armour for Defence & Security group (LWAG) and president of LWAG from 2008 to 2012. Director of Mechanical Engineering (School of Engineering, The University of Edinburgh) from 2021 to 2024. Member of the Institute for Infrastructure and Environment (IIE) and of the Centre for Science at Extreme Conditions (CSEC). Member of the Royal Photographic Society (RPS), Chartered Engineer (CEng) and Fellow of the Institute of Mechanical Engineers (FIMechE).

• Hab, University of Aveiro (Portugal), 2009
• PhD, University of Coimbra (Portugal), 2000
• MSc, University of Coimbra (Portugal), 1995
• MEng, University of Coimbra (Portugal), 1992

• CEng FIMechE: Fellow of the IMechE (Institution of Mechanical Engineers)
• Member of the Royal Photographic Society (RPS)

• Dynamics 4 (MECE10002)
• MEng/BEng Dissertations

Research interests focus on understanding the behaviour of materials and structures under impulsive and dynamic loads, and improving their response through better energy absorption mechanisms at different scales, in areas as diverse as the built environment, transport systems, aerospace structures and the human body. Research primarily combines numerical, experimental and analytical/theoretical approaches and methods in impulsive/structural dynamics; materials for energy absorption; protection and armour systems; sports impact and human bio-dynamics; crashworthiness; terminal ballistics, blast and shock wave dynamics, hypervelocity impact and extreme strain rates.

• Impulsive and structural dynamics
• Terminal ballistics and blast-waves
• Structural impact and crashworthiness
• Armour and protection systems
• Computational Mechanics

https://dgarciacava.github.io/

• PgDip in Academic Practice, University of Strathclyde (UK), 2019
• PhD in Mechanical Engineering , University of Strathclyde (UK), 2016
• MSc in Advanced Structural Engineering, Edinburgh Napier University (UK), 2012
• BEng in Mechanical Engineering, Technical University of Madrid (Spain), 2006

• Chartered Engineer, MIMechE
• IMechE - Member of the Edinburgh and South & East Scotland Committee
• Fellow of The Higher Education Academy, FHEA

• Structural Mechanics and Dynamics 3 - Laboratory (MECE09036)
• Engineering Vibrations and Dynamics 5 (MECE11020)
• Engineering Research Methods with Grand Challenge (PGEE11195)
• Mechanical Engineering MEng Individual Project 5 (MECE11006)
• BEng Mechanical Engineering Project 4 (MECE10008)

• Structural dynamics
• Engineering vibrations
• Structural health monitoring

• MEng, Aerospace Engineering, The University of Manchester, 2010
• PhD, Advanced Metallic Systems, The University of Manchester, 2015
• PGCert, Academic Practice, LJMU, 2021

• Fellow of Advance HE (FHEA)
• Member of The Institute of Materials, Minerals & Mining (MIMMM)

Sam is currently course organiser for three courses:

• Additive and Computer Aided Manufacturing (PGEE11210)
• Digital Design and Manufacture Dissertation (PGEE11217)
• Digital Manufacture 5 (MECE11017)

He also provides supervision for BEng, MEng and MSc projects.

Professor in the Institute for Energy Systems and Mechanical Engineering Discipline, School of Engineering, University of Edinburgh. Models and designs powertrains and generators for offshore wind turbines.

PhD in "Structural analysis of low speed, high torque electrical generators for direct drive renewable energy converters" from Edinburgh (2004-2008). This started me looking at the integrated electrical-magnetic-mechanical modelling and design of large electrical machines for offshore renewable energy.

During my PhD, I started work on a double-sided air-cored permanent magnet machine concept called "C-Gen". Ultimately this lead to a formation and spin-out of a company called NGenTec, where as a founder I worked as Chief Engineer, helping to develop linear, radial-flux and axial-flux variants.

In 2012, I returned to academia, as a lecturer in Wind Turbine Technology in the Department of Electronic and Electrical Engineer at the University of Strathclyde. Based in the EPSRC CDT in Wind Energy Systems, over the following years I was promoted to Senior Lecturer and then Reader in Wind Turbine Technology. During those years I developed interests in wind turbine powertrain modelling, design, optimisation, reliability and condition monitoring, always asking what technology will give the lowest cost of energy for offshore renewables.

In 2021, I rejoined Edinburgh, where I work in Electrical Power Conversion group as applied to Wind Energy and Offshore Renewable Energy.

My career publications can be found here (please scroll down to the very bottom to see the ones that no one has read) and my EPSRC-funded projects are here (email me for the long list of those that didn't get funded).

PhD, University of Edinburgh, 2008

MEng (Hons) in Integrated Electrical & Mechanical Engineering, University of Durham, 2004

Member of the Institution for Engineering Technology (IET), CEng

Wind Energy 5 (MECE11008)

Principles of wind energy (PGEE11029)

• Design of permanent magnet electrical machines for wind energy and offshore renewable energy
• Design for lightweight electrical machines

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