CIES visit & Seminar Presentation - Professor Paul Hazell - UNSW Canberra

As part of its ongoing programme of external collaborations and invaluable networking opportunities, CIES (UNSW Sydney) hosted the visit of Professor Paul Hazell, Deputy Head (Tech Support) - School of Engineering and Information Technology (SEIT) at UNSW Canberra, on Wednesday 20th August 2014.

Before coming to live in Australia he was the head of the Centre for Ordnance Science and Technology and head of the Dynamic Response Group at Cranfield University (Shrivenham) in the UK. Prof Hazell’s main area of research is focussed on impact dynamics. In particular his current focus is on using materials to mitigate blast wave energy using collapsible structures. His previous work involved the development of a low collateral damage explosive reactive armour (for the UK MoD) and examining the shock-to-detonation characteristics of some explosive compositions. At UNSW Canberra, Professor Hazell is the coordinator of the Impact Dynamics Research Group.

Professor Hazell has published extensively in the fields of shock, impact and ballistics. He has taught in the areas of armour materials and armour system design, terminal ballistics, firepower technologies, warhead mechanics, material modelling and solid mechanics.

His seminar on “Impact mechanics” reviewed how the science of impact has helped us understand ways of making better armour systems. He also examined the effect that shock waves have on materials and how knowledge of the material failure mechanisms can help us design stronger structures.