Ben Simpson (Mechanical Engineering)

Dr Ben Simpson

Ben has many years of experience in academia and industry applying Computer Aided Engineering (CAE) tools to improving the performance of sports equipment. In both the UK and Australia, he has managed teams of engineers undertaking a diverse range of aerodynamic, hydrodynamic and thermal projects. One particularly useful tool is Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD). Being able to simulate sportsmen and their equipment in a virtual domain enables ‘what if’ questions to be safely answered. Some simulations are used to predict performance and compare different equipment designs, others can be used to inform coaches about playing conditions.

Drawing on his degree in aerospace engineering, Ben worked closely with a number of the F1 teams in the UK seeking aerodynamic improvements. He has also overseen projects in swimming, sailing yacht design and utilised analysis tools to better understand the wind conditions in stadiums.