Roger Edwin Hobbs, DSc (Eng)

6 Granville Road
Oxted
Surrey RH8 0DA
England

Phone: (0) 1883-714417

Prof. Roger Hobbs is a member of the faculty of Imperial College, London. He has specialized in numerical and experimental studies of wire and synthetic-fiber ropes and cables, and pipelines. As a member of Tension Technology International, Roger has developed rope modelling computer programs and conducted laboratory trials of ropes.

Major accomplishments

Supervised SERC/Marine Technology Directorate project on methods of predicting the properties of large diameter marine wire ropes, including axial stiffness and fatigue, and bending performance near terminations and fairleads.

Supervised Ministry of Defence/Procurement Executive project on the failure and friction hold of steel wire rope at high loads and small D/d ratios for winch applications.

Performed theoretical and experimental studies on the behavior of wire ropes and spiral strands, including stiffness, hysteresis and fatigue properties under axial tension, bending, and torsion loadings. These investigations have been of practical interest in fields ranging from suspension bridges through guyed masts and transmission lines to a variety of offshore mooring and tethering applications.

Studied the fatigue of large synthetic moorings in tension over various fairlead and roller sheave components.

Investigated the stiffness and fatigue of Kevlar (aramid) Parafil ropes in tension, bending over sheaves, and flexing near terminations.

Performed a wide range of work on the behavior of submarine pipelines - in particular thermal effects, vortex induced vibrations, and the problems of maneuvering pipelines for tie-in and repair.

Developed a method of measuring pressures and friction forces on yarns within ropes under tension in order to calculate coefficient of friction for computer modelling.

Education

Imperial College, London, BSc.(Eng.) First Class Honors, 1964

Imperial College, London, PhD. 1966. DSc (Eng) 1996

Experience

Civil Engineering Dept., Imperial College (London University)

Research Assistant, 1966-70

Lecturer, 1970-83

Senior Lecturer, 1983-86

Reader (Assistant Professor), 1986-1990

Professor, 1990-present

Structures Laboratory Coordinator, 1978-present

Consultancies:

Norwegian Contractors, Scanropes A/S, Flint and Neill, BBC and Independenting Broadcast Authority, British Ropes (Bridon), Mobil Norway Inc., J.P. Kenny and Partners, Dominion Engineering Inc., Advanced Production Technology (British Underwater Engineering), Kvaerner Cleveland Bridge, London Underground Limited.

Tension Technology International, London, 1986-present

Registration

Chartered Structural Engineer, U.K., Chartered Civil Engineer, U.K.

Committees and professional societies

Fellow, Institution of Structural Engineers ; Fellow, Institution of Civil Engineers

Formerly Technical Secretary, EuroCode 3 (Steel Structures) Drafting Panel

Honors and Awards

Unwin Medal and Premium, University of London, 1964

Unwin Post Graduate Prize, University of London, 1966

Telford Premium for Publication, Institution of Civil Engineers, 1968 Trevithick Premium for Publication, Institution of Civil Engineers, 1978

T.K. Award for Publication, Institution of Civil Engineers/ Royal Society, 1985 /Hsieh

JBCSA / CEGB Prize (Journal of Strain Analysis) 1996

Publications and Patents

Over seventy five published papers and a similar number of research reports.