Curriculum Vitae of Fiona Sinclair - page 2

Professional Experience:

Aker Kvaerner

From 2005 until 2006 I was employed as a structural engineer, performong structural integrity analyses and ship impact, using ASA and ABAQUS.

Atkins, Aberdeen

From 2004 until 2005 I was employed as a structural engineer, analysing structures for detection of brace severance (natural frequency and ultimate collapse analyses) using ASAS, SESAM and USFOS, for clients including ExxonMobil and platforms including Thames and Beryl.

Freelance Research (on self-employed basis)

Between 2003 and 2004, I took freelance work, mainly software development (in Java or Matlab) and literature searches. I also operated a self-employed genealogy service.

Boreas Consultants, Aberdeen

From 2002 until 2003 I was employed as a consultant to develop software for the hydrodynamic analysis of flow through a novel tidal power turbine.

Heriot-Watt University, Civil & Offshore Engineering Department

From 1999 until 2002 I was employed as a Research Associate developing an autonomous dynamically-positioned buoy powered by renewable energy. Collected data and set up a database for the computer-based analysis of world climate conditions, developed software to design the vessel, and tested it in the wave basin.

Cambridge University Engineering Department

From 1996 until 1999 I was employed as a Research Associate in the CFD Laboratory. I developed pre- and post-processors for computational fluid dynamics analyses, involving complex geometry resolution (including hidden volume removal), mesh generation, format translators, visualisation techniques, mesh decimation. I also supervised students.

Brown & Root Ltd, Analysis and Development Department

In 1996 I was employed in the Analysis and Development Department. I performed finite element analyses, particularly blast analyses on topsides. I also developed a program for the meshing of complicated tubular joints.

Noble Denton Europe Limited

From 1994 to 1995 I was employed as a senior engineer/naval architect in the Offshore Technology department of Noble Denton, a consultancy whose major activity is marine warranty. The company also does research, and develops software - mainly for the purpose of cross-checking the clients' calculations in order to provide a warranty.

Projects included:

Billington Osborne-Moss Engineering Limited

From 1989 to 1993 I was employed as a senior engineer by Billington Osborne-Moss Engineering Ltd., an offshore engineering consultancy consisting predominantly of civil and structural engineers. The company's work consisted largely of structural analysis and design (especially design of repair schemes) for offshore structures, plus research (including experimental) and the development of future methods of construction. This was mainly related to offshore oil and gas installations, but has also included tidal barrages.

Projects included:

Mechanical Engineering Dept, University College London

From 1986 to 1989, I was employed as a research assistant in the Mechanical Engineering Department of University College London. I performed research investigating the motion damping properties of ships fitted with wind energy devices. I published several papers, and I subsequently used this research to gain a Ph.D., with a thesis entitled "Motion Damping Characteristics of Wind Energy Devices".

Wimpey Offshore Engineers and Constructors Ltd., London

From 1984 to 1986, I was employed as a structural engineer by Wimpey Offshore Engineers and Constructors Ltd. of Great West Road, Brentford.I was a member of a design, analysis and testing group, in which I was responsible for running structural elastic, ultimate and fatigue tests on composite tubular joints under axial and bending loads, and supervising technicians in setting up the equipment. I also took part in practical aspects, such as grout pouring, welding crack probes, wiring strain gauges, etc. I developed software to analyse the test results and produced parametric design formulae for stress concentration factors and joint flexibilities of tubular joints. I also trained other engineers in the use of the datalogger and other equipment.

I was involved in several different projects, including the Composite Jacket Development Project - static and fatigue testing of tubular joints to investigate the behaviour and to quantify stress concentration factors, joint flexibilities and ultimate strengths over a range of geometric and loading conditions. I also wrote software to calculate stress concentrations, and developed a new method for calculating joint flexibilities.

National Maritime Institute Ltd., Faggs Lane, Feltham, Middx

From 1983 to 1984, I was employed as a research engineer by NMI Ltd. of Faggs Lane, Feltham, Middx.I was responsible for improvements to the NMIWAVE suite of programs for hydrodynamic analysis of ships and semi-submersibles using wave diffraction theory and Morison's equation. I also developed new graphical output sections for the program suite. I ran NMIWAVE jobs for commercial clients, including taking part in an ISSC survey on the variability of prediction methods.

Interig (Design) Ltd., St. James' St, London SW1

From 1982 to 1983, I was employed as a hydrodynamic design engineer by Interig (Design) Ltd. of St. James' St, London SW1, working on the Semiflex project.I was a member of a multi-disciplinary engineering team designing a novel articulated semi-submersible offshore oil production platform. The vessel had articulated columns which minimised the vessel motions in a seaway, as the stabilisers absorbed wave energy, leaving the platform stationary. I was responsible for the development of software for hydrostatics, damage stability and dynamic response analyses of articulated bodies, and for integrating a series of programs so that the whole design suite could be run automatically.

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