Staff profile

Prof. Sims-Williams undergraduate teaching includes/has included Level 1 Fluid Mechanics, Level 1 Programming, Level 2 Heat Transfer, Level 3 Compressible Flow, Level 3 Materials Selection, Level 4 Low Carbon Vehicles, Level 4 Turbomachinery and Level 4 Aeromechanics (Theoretical Aerodynamics and Flight Mechanics).

Prof. Sims-WIlliams acts as Faculty Advisor to the Durham University Electric Motorsport team (see www.duem.org).

Research Project topics include:

• Impacts of Unsteady Onset Flows on Vehicles
• Unsteady and Asymmetric Wake Flows Behind Bluff Bodies
• The Development of Instrumentation - especially pneumatic probe measurements for unsteady flows
• Flow Measurements Around Rotating Wheels including Telemetry Development

• Aerodynamic Unsteadiness
• Road and Racing Car Aerodynamics
• The Development of Advanced Wind Tunnel Instrumentation and Analyses

Chapter in book

• Yang, H., Sims-Williams, D., & He, L. (2006). Unsteady Measurement with Correction on Tubing Distortion. In K. Hall, R. Kielb, & J. Thomas (Eds.), Unsteady Aerodynamics, Aeroacoustics and Aeroelasticity of Turbomachines. Springer Verlag

Conference Paper

• Sims-Williams, D., Kounenis, C., Dominy, R., & Oettle, N. (in press). Three Dimensional Beamforming for Improved Noise Source Localisation. In J. Wiedemann (Ed.),
• Oettle, N., Graham, S., Sims-Williams, D., Riegel, M., & Hebestreit, R. (2023). Beamforming Quantification of Acoustic Transmission Paths for Passenger Vehicles Using a Reciprocal Approach. . https://doi.org/10.4271/2023-01-1090
• Kremheller, A., Moore, M., Le Good, G., Sims-Williams, D., Newbon, J., & Lewis, R. (2016). The Effects of Transient Flow Conditions on the Aerodynamics of an LCV Concept using CFD and Wind Tunnel Experiments. In International conference on vehicle aerodynamics 2016 : aerodynamics by design, Coventry, 21-22 September 2016 (189-201)
• Newbon, J., Sims-Williams, D., & Dominy, R. (2016). Analysis of the Impacts of Formula 1 Car Wakes on the Aerodynamic Performance of a Following Vehicle.
• Kounenis, C., Bonitz, S., Ljungskog, E., Sims-Williams, D., Lofdahl, L., Broniewicz, A., …Sebben, S. (2016). Investigations of the Rear-End Flow Structures on a Sedan Car. . https://doi.org/10.4271/2016-01-1606
• Kounenis, C., Sims-Williams, D., Dominy, R., Berson, A., Oettle, N., & Freeman, C. (2015). The Effects of Unsteady Flow Conditions on Vehicle in Cabin and External Noise Generation. . https://doi.org/10.4271/2015-01-1555
• Newbon, J., Sims-Williams, D., & Dominy, R. (2014). Investigation into the effect of the wake from a generic formula one car on a downstream vehicle. In International vehicle aerodynamics conference : Holywell Park, Loughborough, UK 14-15 October 2014 (213-223)
• Kounenis, C., Sims-Williams, D., Dominy, R., Berson, A., & Oettle, N. (2014). Interactions between Underbody Aerodynamics and Aeroacoustics. In International vehicle aerodynamics conference : Holywell Park, Loughborough, UK 14-15 October 2014 (263-273)
• Mankowski, O., Sims-Williams, D., Hunt, A., & Dominy, R. (2014). An Active Turbulence Generation System for the Simulation of Aerodynamic Transients in a Model Wind Tunnel.
• Oettle, N., Sims-Williams, D., & Dominy, R. (2013). Evaluation of the Aeroacoustic Response of a Vehicle to Transient Flow Conditions. In J. Wiedemann (Ed.), Progress in vehicle aerodynamics and thermal management : proceedings of the 9th FKFS-Conference (228-242)
• Förster, F., Sims-Williams, D., & Ingram, G. (2012). Reconstruction of the Unsteady Pressure Field in a Low Speed Linear Cascade. In ASME Turbo Expo 2012 : turbine technical conference and exposition (2653-2662). https://doi.org/10.1115/gt2012-69156
• Forster, F., Sims-Williams, D., Ingram, G., & Dominy, R. (2011). Time resolved measurements in the Durham Cascade. . https://doi.org/10.1115/gt2011-45838
• Oettle, N., Sims-Williams, D., Dominy, R., Darlington, C., Freeman, C., & Tindall, P. (2010). The Effects of Unsteady On-Road Flow Conditions on Cabin Noise. . https://doi.org/10.4271/2010-01-0289
• Allen, N., Wood, D., Rosamond, M., & Sims-Williams, D. (2009). Fabrication of an in-plane SU-8 cantilever with integrated strain gauge for wall shear stress measurements in fluid flows. In J. Brugger, & D. Briand (Eds.), Proceedings of the Eurosensors XXIII conference (923-926). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.proche.2009.07.230
• Hetherington, B., & Sims-Williams, D. (2006). Support Strut Interference Effects on Passenger and Racing car Wind Tunnel Models.
• Sims-Williams, D., Kaye, S., & Watkins, S. (2006). Periodic Structures within the Formation Region of Trailing Vortices.
• Yang, H., Sims-Williams, D., & He, L. (2003). Unsteady Measurement with Correction on Tubing Distortion.
• Sims-Williams, D., & Dominy, R. (2002). The Design of an Open-Jet Wind Tunnel for Model Testing.
• Sims-Williams, D., & Dominy, R. (2002). The Design of a New Wind Tunnel for Vehicle Aerodynamics Research.
• Crossland, S., Sims-Williams, D., & Dominy, R. (2000). The Reconstruction of Bluff-Body Unsteady Flow Fields.
• Sims-Williams, D., & Dominy, R. (1998). The Validation and Application of a 5 Hole Pressure Probe with Tubing Transfer Correction for Time-Accurate Measurements in Unsteady Flows.
• Sims-Williams, D., & Dominy, R. (1998). Experimental investigation into unsteadiness and instability in passenger car aerodynamics.

Doctoral Thesis

• Sims-Williams, D. (2001). Self-Excited Aerodynamic Unsteadiness Associated with Passenger Cars. (Thesis). School of Engineering, Durham University. Retrieved from https://durham-repository.worktribe.com/output/1647413

Journal Article

• Masoudi, E., Sims-Williams, D., & Gan, L. (2023). Flow separation from polygonal cylinders in an incident flow. Physical Review Fluids, 8(1), Article 014701. https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevfluids.8.014701
• Xiao, L., Wang, Q., Zhu, X., Bu, H., Huang, T., Yuan, X., …Sims-Williams, D. B. (2022). Representative On-Road Aerodynamic Yaw Angle Distribution in China for Vehicle Development. SAE International Journal of Passenger Vehicle Systems, 16(2), https://doi.org/10.4271/15-16-02-0008
• Masoudi, E., Gan, L., & Sims-Williams, D. (2021). Large Eddy Simulation of incident flows around polygonal cylinders. Physics of Fluids, 33(10), Article 105112. https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0063046
• Aubrun, S., Bastankhah, M., Cal, R., Conan, B., Hearst, R., Hoek, D., …Zasso, A. (2019). Round-robin tests of porous disc models. Journal of Physics: Conference Series, 1256, https://doi.org/10.1088/1742-6596/1256/1/012004
• Oettle, N., & Sims-Williams, D. (2017). Automotive aeroacoustics: An overview. Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part D: Journal of Automobile Engineering, 231(9), 1177-1189. https://doi.org/10.1177/0954407017695147
• Newbon, J., Sims-Williams, D., & Dominy, R. (2017). Aerodynamic Analysis of Grand Prix Cars Operating in Wake Flows. SAE International Journal of Passenger Cars - Mechanical Systems, 10(1), 318-329. https://doi.org/10.4271/2017-01-1546
• Newbon, J., Dominy, R., & Sims-Williams, D. (2015). CFD Investigation of the Effect of the Salient Flow Features in the Wake of a Generic Open-Wheel Race Car. SAE International Journal of Passenger Cars - Mechanical Systems, 8(1), 217-232. https://doi.org/10.4271/2015-01-1539
• Mankowski, O., Sims-Williams, D., & Dominy, R. (2014). A Wind Tunnel Simulation Facility for On-Road Transients. SAE International Journal of Passenger Cars - Mechanical Systems, 7(3), 1087-1095. https://doi.org/10.4271/2014-01-0587
• Oettle, N., Sims-Williams, D., & Dominy, R. (2014). Assessing the Aeroacoustic Response of a Vehicle to Transient Flow Conditions from the Perspective of a Vehicle Occupant. SAE International Journal of Passenger Cars - Mechanical Systems, 7(2), 550-558. https://doi.org/10.4271/2014-01-0591
• Oettle, N., Mankowski, O., Sims-Williams, D., Dominy, R., & Freeman, C. (2013). Evaluation of the Aerodynamic and Aeroacoustic Response of a Vehicle to Transient Flow Conditions. SAE International Journal of Passenger Cars - Mechanical Systems, 6(1), 389-402. https://doi.org/10.4271/2013-01-1250
• Oettle, N., Mankowski, O., Sims-Williams, D., Dominy, R., Freeman, C., & Gaylard, A. (2012). Assessment of a Vehicle's Transient Aerodynamic Response, SAE Paper 2012-01-0449. SAE Technical Papers, https://doi.org/10.4271/2012-01-0449
• Sprot, A., Sims-Williams, D., & Dominy, R. (2012). The Aerodynamic Characteristics of a Fully Deformable Formula One Wind Tunnel Tyre. SAE International Journal of Passenger Cars - Mechanical Systems, 5(2), 1026-1041. https://doi.org/10.4271/2012-01-1166
• Howell, J., Sims-Williams, D., Sprot, A., Hamlin, F., & Dominy, R. (2012). Bluff Body Drag Reduction with Ventilated Base Cavities. SAE International Journal of Passenger Cars - Mechanical Systems, 5(1), 152-160. https://doi.org/10.4271/2012-01-0171
• Allen, N., Sims-Williams, D., & Wood, D. (2012). An in-Plane Cantilever for Wall Shear Stress Measurement. Journal of Micromechanics and Microengineering, 22(7), Article 074007. https://doi.org/10.1088/0960-1317/22/7/074007
• Mankowski, O., Sims-Williams, D., Dominy, R., Duncan, B., & Gargoloff, J. (2011). The Bandwidth of Transient Yaw Effects on Vehicle Aerodynamics. SAE International Journal of Passenger Cars - Mechanical Systems, 4(1), 131-142. https://doi.org/10.4271/2011-01-0160
• Sprot, A., Minto, J., Sims-Williams, D., & Dominy, R. (2011). Aerodynamic Investigation on the Effect of Varying Through-Hub Flow on a Formula One Front Wheel Assembly. SAE International Journal of Passenger Cars - Mechanical Systems, 4(1), 929-944. https://doi.org/10.4271/2011-01-1431
• Sims-Williams, D. (2011). Cross Winds and Transients: Reality, Simulation and Effects. SAE International Journal of Passenger Cars - Mechanical Systems, 4(1), 172-183. https://doi.org/10.4271/2011-01-0172
• Sims-Williams, D., Marwood, D., & Sprot, A. (2011). Links between Notchback Geometry, Aerodynamic Drag, Flow Asymmetry and Unsteady Wake Structure. SAE International Journal of Passenger Cars - Mechanical Systems, 4(1), 156-165. https://doi.org/10.4271/2011-01-0166
• Oettle, N., Sims-Williams, D., Dominy, R., Darlington, C., & Freeman, C. (2011). The Effects of Unsteady On-Road Flow Conditions on Cabin Noise: Spectral and Geometric Dependence. SAE International Journal of Passenger Cars - Mechanical Systems, 4(1), 120-130. https://doi.org/10.4271/2011-01-0159
• Lawson, A., Dominy, R., Sims-Williams, D., & Mears, A. (2008). A Comparison between On-Road and Wind Tunnel Surface Pressure Measurements on a Mid-Sized Hatchback
• Lawson, A., Sims-Williams, D., & Dominy, R. (2008). Effects of On-Road Turbulence on Vehicle Surface Pressures in the A-Pillar Region. SAE International Journal of Passenger Cars - Mechanical Systems, 1(1), 333-340. https://doi.org/10.4271/2008-01-0474
• Sims-Williams, D., & Luck, D. (2007). Transfer function characterisation of pressure signal tubes for the measurement of large amplitude pressure fluctuations
• Muscroft, R., Sims-Williams, D., & Cardwell, D. (2006). The Development of a Passive Magnetic Levitation System for Wind Tunnel Models
• Hetherington, B., & Sims-Williams, D. (2004). Wind tunnel model support strut interference. SAE transactions, 113(6), 442-448
• Sims-Williams, D., & Duncan, B. (2003). The Ahmed model unsteady wake : experimental and computational analyses. SAE transactions, 112(6), 1385-1396
• Sims-Williams, D., Dominy, R., & Howell, J. (2002). An investigation into large scale unsteady structures in the wake of real and idealized hatchback car models. SAE transactions, 110(6), 1197-1208
• Duncan, B., Sengupta, R., Mallick, S., & Sims-Williams, D. (2002). Numerical simulation and spectral analysis of pressure fluctuations in vehicle aerodynamic noise generation. SAE transactions, 111(6), 872-892
• Dominy, R., Ryan, A., & Sims-Williams, D. (2000). The aerodynamic stability of a Le Mans prototype race car under off-design pitch conditions. SAE transactions, 109(6), 1454-1460. https://doi.org/10.4271/2000-01-0872
• Sims-Williams, D., White, A., & Dominy, R. (1999). Gurney Flap Aerodynamic Unsteadiness. Sports Engineering, 221-233. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1460-2687.1999.00035.x
• Sims-Williams, D., & Dominy, R. (1999). The reconstruction of periodic pressure fields from point measurements

Presentation

• Masoudi, E., Gan, L., & Sims-Williams, D. (2021, September). Near wake flow features of polygonal cylinders in different incidence angles. Paper presented at UK Fluids Conference 2021, Online