Biography
Dr D. Wason is a postdoctoral researcher in the Impact and Shock Mechanics Group. His research focuses on developing numerical, multi-scale approaches for the design of material systems subjected to high-rate and shock loading. He is particularly interested in linking material behaviour across length-scales to support the development of robust, high-performance materials for extreme environments.
Before entering academia, Dr Wason worked as a mechanical engineer at Thales OME, where he served as technical lead on missile subsystem technology. He later joined Thales Alenia Space as a spacecraft payload mechanical and thermal architect. He then undertook a DPhil, bringing together his industrial experience in advanced engineering systems with research in impact, shock, and materials modelling.
His work combines computational mechanics, materials science, and engineering design, with applications spanning defence, aerospace, and other technologies exposed to dynamic loading conditions.
Research Interests
Dr Wason’s research interests centre on the development of numerical and multi-scale methods for designing material systems exposed to high-rate deformation, impact, and shock loading. His work aims to connect material behaviour across length-scales, from microstructural mechanisms to structural-scale performance, to support the design of robust materials for extreme environments.
Current research interests include:
- Multi-scale modelling of materials under dynamic loading,
- Numerical methods for impact and shock mechanics,
- Material system design for high-rate and extreme environments,
- Linking microstructure, material response, and structural performance,
- Computational approaches for aerospace and defence applications,
- Validation of material models against experimental impact and shock data.
Current Research Project
Developing crystal plasticity models to describe the high strain-rate deformation of single-crystal tin, informed by compression and gas-gun plate-impact experiments, including shock-induced β-to-γ phase transformation behaviour.
