Dr Christopher Harvey

PhD, MEng

  • Visiting Fellow in Solid Mechanics
Publications
ORCiD Researcher ID Google Scholar
Chris Harvey
  • ResearchGate

    • Background:

    Christopher Harvey is a Visiting Fellow in Solid Mechanics in the Department of Aeronautical and Automotive Engineering at Loughborough University, an honorary position awarded following his appointment to industry. He is currently a Mechanical Integrity Engineer for turbomachinery at Rolls-Royce, having joined the company in 2025. Christopher completed his MEng in Aeronautical Engineering at Loughborough University, graduating with First Class Honours in 2009, and was a sponsored student with Pall Aerospace during his undergraduate studies. He received his PhD from Loughborough University in 2012 for his work on the mechanics of interface fracture.

    Following his doctorate, Christopher joined Loughborough University as a Lecturer in Solid Mechanics, was promoted to Senior Lecturer in 2017, and remained in post until 2025. During this period, he combined research in solid and computational mechanics with extensive teaching and academic leadership. He served as Programme Director for the Aeronautical Engineering undergraduate programmes from 2016 to 2022, and subsequently as Director of Undergraduate Studies for the School of Aeronautical, Automotive, Chemical and Materials Engineering from 2022 to 2025. His research and teaching interests have centred on stress analysis, fracture mechanics, lifetime analysis, and finite-element methods, with strong links to aerospace, defence, and industrial applications.

    Qualifications:

    Key awards:

    • Collaboration Award, Issued to the Education & Student Experience Leadership Team by School of Aeronautical, Automotive, Chemical and Materials Engineering, Loughborough University, 2025
    • Teaching Award, Issued by School of Aeronautical, Automotive, Chemical and Materials Engineering, Loughborough University, 2014, 2016, 2018, 2025
    • Most Inspirational Teacher Award, Issued by School of Aeronautical, Automotive, Chemical and Materials Engineering, Loughborough University, 2022
    • Vice-Chancellor’s Award for PhD, Issued by Loughborough University, 2012
    • Best Research Project, Issued by BAE Systems, 2009
    • Best Degree Performance, Issued by Royal Aeronautical Society Award, 2009
    • Science, Engineering, and Technology Award, Issued by Airbus, 2009

    Outline of research interests:

    During his academic career (2009–2025), Christopher’s research focused on mechanical modelling and advanced numerical simulation to address fundamental and applied challenges in solid mechanics, as well as a range of multidisciplinary applications spanning materials science and environmental source-term estimation. His work combines rigorous theoretical development with computational implementation, with a strong emphasis on physically grounded models for complex engineering systems.

    Christopher has published approximately 60 peer-reviewed journal papers, predominantly in leading Q1 journals, including several prestigious international journals, e.g., Nature Communications. He has supervised seven PhD students to successful completion and remains actively involved in the supervision of a further three doctoral researchers in related areas.

    Recent and representative projects include:

    • Ballistic impact modelling of ceramic armour systems, supported by Permali and DSTL, using hybrid Lagrangian/SPH techniques.
    • Mechanistic modelling of the lifing of thermal barrier coatings in aerospace gas-turbine engines, supported by Rolls-Royce.
    • Development of novel phase-field methods for fracture modelling within finite-element frameworks.
    • Development of generalised finite-element methods integrated with AI techniques for the localisation and quantification of pollutant emissions.

    Grants and contracts:

    • 2023 – Methane STEALS (Methane Source Term Estimation at Landfill Sites), funded by NERC Discipline Hopping for Discovery Science initiative (NE/X018091/1)
    • 2014 – 2015 – Partition of Mixed-Mode Fractures by Digital Image Correlation (DIC), funded by EPSRC (EP/M000958/1)

     View central publications database

    Selected publications:

    Fear C, Wang S, Harvey CM (2025) Effective fracture toughness in phase-field models for interface fracture, Engineering Fracture Mechanics, 328, 111546. DOI: 10.1016/j.engfracmech.2025.111546.

    Yuan B, Hey H, Harvey CM, Guo X, Wang S (2025) Nonuniform creep-induced alumina scale spallation on FeCrAl coatings, International Journal of Mechanical Sciences, 293, 110168. DOI: 10.1016/j.ijmecsci.2025.110168.

    Liu Y, Harvey CM, Hamlyn FE, Liu C (2024) Bayesian estimation and reconstruction of marine surface contaminant dispersion, Science of the Total Environment, 907, 167973. DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.167973.

    Chen T, Yuan B, Harvey CM, Zhang K, Wang S, Silberschmidt VV, Wei B (2022) Dynamic crack propagation along elastic interfaces in double cantilever beams under high loading rates, Journal of Aerospace Engineering, 35(4), 04022029. DOI: 10.1061/(ASCE)AS.1943-5525.0001418.

    Chen T, Harvey CM, Wang S, Silberschmidt VV (2021) Analytical corrections for double-cantilever beam tests, International Journal of Fracture, 229, pp. 269–276. DOI: 10.1007/s10704-021-00556-5.

    Yuan B, Harvey CM, Thomson RC, Critchlow GW, Rickerby D, Wang S (2019) A new spallation mechanism of thermal barrier coatings and a generalized mechanical model, Composite Structures, 227, 111314. DOI: 10.1016/j.compstruct.2019.111314.

    Yuan B, Harvey CM, Thomson RC, Critchlow GW, Rickerby D, Wang S (2019) Spontaneous formation and morphology of telephone cord blisters in thin films: The Ω formulae, Composite Structures, 225, 111108. DOI: 10.1016/j.compstruct.2019.111108.

    Wood JD, Harvey CM, Wang S (2017) Adhesion toughness of multilayer graphene films, Nature Communications, 8, 1952. DOI: 10.1038/s41467-017-02115-w.

    Harvey CM, Wang B, Wang S (2017) Spallation of thin films driven by pockets of energy concentration, Theoretical and Applied Fracture Mechanics, 92, pp. 1–12. DOI: 10.1016/j.tafmec.2017.04.011.

    Wood JD, Harvey CM, Wang S (2016) Partition of mixed-mode fractures in 2D elastic orthotropic laminated beams under general loading, Composite Structures, 149, pp. 239–246, DOI: 10.1016/j.compstruct.2016.04.016.

    Harvey CM, Eplett MR, Wang S (2015) Experimental assessment of mixed-mode partition theories for generally laminated composite beams, Composite Structures, 124(2015), pp. 10–18. DOI: 10.1016/j.compstruct.2014.12.064.

    Wang S, Harvey CM (2012) Mixed mode partition theories for one dimensional fracture, Engineering Fracture Mechanics, 79(1), pp. 329–352, DOI: 10.1016/j.engfracmech.2011.11.013