Nik Petrinic DiplIng PhD MA

Professor Nik Petrinic is a developer and integrator of experimental, analytical and numerical methodologies on the border between mathematics, physics, materials science, mechanics of materials and computer science, aimed at addressing the emergence of new materials and their application in extremely demanding engineering applications. He leads a multi-disciplinary research team which investigates hygro/hydro-thermal-pressure-and-rate dependent behaviour of materials, systems and structures at a wide range of length scales and anticipated in-service environmental and loading conditions, in close collaborations with partners in academia, industry and government agencies.

To date, the research activities have addressed a wide range of materials, from dense crystalline (ceramic and metallic) to lightweight metal, ceramic and polymer matrix composites, as well as cellular materials and systems with direct outcomes/benefits in structural design of high-performance devices in transportation (marine, automotive, aerospace, i.e. aero-and-space) and defence sectors. Thus developed experimental and modelling capabilities continue to be accumulated in the constantly evolving Oxford’s Impact and Shock Mechanics Laboratory, in its experimental and computational facilities.

Nik gained his Ph.D. degree in Computational Mechanics from the University of Swansea, following from his Dipl.Ing. degree in Structural Engineering from Croatia's University of Zagreb. He joined the University of Oxford’s Department of Engineering Science in 1998. Among Nik’s activities are the contributions to related research activities at Centres of Excellence at TU Dresden (where he is a Visiting Scientist) and at the University of Bonn (where he is a “PHENOROB” Visiting Professor), in addition to maintaining a close relationship with EMI-Fraunhofer and the University of Freiburg, as well as actively consulting with Rolls-Royce plc.

Professor Nik Petrinic is a developer and integrator of experimental, analytical and numerical methodologies on the border between mathematics, physics, materials science, mechanics of materials and computer science, aimed at addressing the emergence of new materials and their application in extremely demanding engineering applications. He leads a multi-disciplinary research team which investigates hygro/hydro-thermal-pressure-and-rate dependent behaviour of materials, systems and structures at a wide range of length scales and anticipated in-service environmental and loading conditions, in close collaborations with partners in academia, industry and government agencies.

To date, the research activities have addressed a wide range of materials, from dense crystalline (ceramic and metallic) to lightweight metal, ceramic and polymer matrix composites, as well as cellular materials and systems with direct outcomes/benefits in structural design of high-performance devices in transportation (marine, automotive, aerospace, i.e. aero-and-space) and defence sectors. Thus developed experimental and modelling capabilities continue to be accumulated in the constantly evolving Oxford’s Impact and Shock Mechanics Laboratory, in its experimental and computational facilities.

The laboratory hosts a number of devices for materials hydro/hygro-thermal pre- and in-situ conditioning, as well as mechanical loading at different rates accompanied by a range of diagnostics equipment for slow and rapid data acquisition and post-mortem analysis. The in-house developed analytical and numerical simulation tools, capable of simulating every experiment carried out in the laboratory as well as in international experimental facilities (e.g. ESRF), form the delivery route for all the results of investigations carried out on research and service projects, both into the sponsoring industries and governments, as well as into the public domain.

Currently, the focus is on the range of materials for aerospace and defence applications with a particular focus on the intrinsic or inherent interfaces (manufacturing and heterogeneity of materials induced or prompted by localisation of deformation) within materials and material systems, as the defining entities of the mechanical transition from continuum to discontinuum.

• MAGNESIUM (Understanding Deformation and Failure of Magnesium Alloys as a Model Material, with Dstl)
• FANDANGO (Jul 2019 - Dec 2024, with InnovateUK/ATI, University of Bristol, Imperial College London, Rolls-Royce)
• Rolls-Royce / Royal Academy of Engineering FANASTICAL (Nov 2018 - Oct 2023, with InnovateUK/ATI, University of Bristol, Imperial College London, Rolls-Royce)
• ASiMoV (Prosperity Partnership project, Sep 2018 – Sep 2024, with EPSRC, Rolls-Royce, University of Cambridge , University of Edinburgh, University of Warwick, University of Bristol)
• CORNERSTONE (Prosperity Partnership project, Sep 2017 – Apr 2023, with EPSRC, Rolls-Royce, Imperial College London, University of Nottingham)

• DELICE (Dec 2016 - Sep 2021, with Innovate UK / ATI, Rolls-Royce)
• PROFILE (Apr 2016 - Mar 2020, with Innovate UK / ATI, Rolls-Royce)
• Lightweight Fan System Technology Development - SILOET II Project 2 (since Jan 2013, with TSB, Rolls-Royce)
• Virtual Engine Design Systems - SILOET II Project 10 (since Jan 2013, with TSB, Rolls-Royce, Imperial College London, University of Cambridge, University of Leeds, University of Loughborough, University of Southampton)
• MAST 3.1.7 Project Cerberus (with Dstl, University of Surrey, University of Loughborough, NP-Aerospace, Ceram, Nanoforce)
• Multi-Scale Penetration Mechanics of Projectiles Through Granular Media Using Neutron and X-Rays (since Jul 2012, with University of Tennessee and EMI-Fraunhofer)
• Numerical Modelling of Fragmentation, Penetration and Spallation (since Mar 2012, with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries)
• Bubble Collapse by Shock Loading (since Feb 2012, with OXYNTIX)
• Numerical Modelling of Impact Phenomena (since Dec 2010, with Rolls-Royce)
• Development of multi-scale modelling methodology for simulation of rate dependent behaviour of titanium alloys (since Oct 2010, with TIMET)
• Numerical modelling of shot peening process (since May 2010, with Rolls-Royce and DEM Solutions)
• Multi-scale methodology for enhancing damage tolerance of composite materials in submarine environment subject to underwater explosion and depth charge attack - UNDERWATER (since Sep 2009, with EPSRC, Dstl, Rolls-Royce, BAE Systems, University of Oslo, DES-SSG, WAI)
• Understanding and Improving Ceramic Armour Materials - UNICAM (since Apr 2009, with EPSRC, Dstl, Morgan Advanced Ceramics, University of Loughborough)
• Investigation of rate dependent behaviour of titanium foams (since Oct 2007, with EPSRC, Rolls-Royce)
• Optimal fan blade design for bird strike (since Oct 2005, with Rolls-Royce)