Associate Professor Sarah Wakes

Director for the Applied Science major, Design for Technology, Industrial design and Structural and Fluid Dynamics

Curriculum vitae

Sarah is the Director for the Applied Science major, Design for Technology.

Sarah’s current research interests are based around using Computational Fluid Dynamic software to predict flows over sand dunes (in conjunction with Ecology & Geography departments) and the interaction of technology and design. She teaches design analysis (FEA & CFD) within the department.

The award of a University of Otago grant will implement the use of the Kaupapa Maori design process within communication design in conjunction with Tracey Gardner.

A FRST Technology Industry Fellowship (2002–2006) funded work between Fisher & Paykel Appliances Ltd and Design Studies on using engineering analysis within the design process of an oven.

University of Otago Research Grants have allowed work on high aspect ration cross-sectional jets in relation to the offshore industry and some initial work on the wind flow over a complex sand dune.

Sarah did a BSc in Mathematics and Physics (Joint Honours) at the University of Nottingham (UK) and went to work for as a Scientific Officer at RARDE for a year. She completed a PhD in Applied Mathematics (The Growth of a Sand Dune) in 1991 from the same University. Sarah spent a year at Loughborough University of Technology as a Research Assistant and then almost 9 years at the University of Hertfordshire as a Research Fellow in the Aerospace, Civil and Mechanical Engineering Department before joining Design Studies in 2002.

Current teaching

• Coordinator: DESN 203 – Industrial Design
• Coordinator: DETE 308 – Design Analysis 2
• Coordinator: DETE 408 – Advanced Design Analysis

Current postgraduate supervision

• Yang Jiao: ‘Energy Efficient Buildings’. MAppSc (ongoing), primary supervisor.

Past postgraduate supervision

• Mark Fahey: ‘Using CFD for oven design’. PhD (2007), primary supervisor.
• Mark Goellner: ‘Design guidelines’. PhD (2005), primary supervisor.
• Adun Janyalertadun: ‘Computational Fluid Dynamics modelling of an inlet in a cross-flow’. PhD (2000), supervisor.
• John Meares: ‘Experimental investigation into high aspect ratio cross-sectional jets’. PhD (1998), supervisor.
• Dylan Martyn: ‘Rethinking the relationship between people and sound’. MAppSc (2006), supervisor.
• Monique Mazarack-Finch: ‘Art in packaging’. MCApSc (2007), primary supervisor.
• Paul le Comte: ‘Information graphics in weather’. MCApSc (2007), supervisor.
• Marc Levine: ‘Seat Design in preventing DVT’. MCApSc (2008), primary supervisor.
• Tracey Gardner: ‘Kaupapa Mäori [visual communication] design: Investigating “visual communication design by Mäori, for Mäori” through practice, process and theory’. MCApSc, supervisor.
• Claudia Ott: ‘Interface for personal picture management’. MCApSc (2010), supervisor.
• Wichai Pattanpol: ‘Wind flow over complex topography’. PhD (2010), primary supervisor.

Research areas

• Computational Fluid Dynamic applications related to industrial, real-life or design applications
• Interface of technology and design with particular emphasis on fluid flow and/or structural analysis
• Fluid dynamics associated with wind flow or energy

Sarah’s current research interests are based around using Computational Fluid Dynamic software to predict flows over sand dunes (an UORG with Ecology & Geography departments) and the interaction of technology and design. She teaches design analysis within the department.

Recent publications / projects

• W Pattanapol, S J Wakes, M J Hilton and K J M Dickinson, (2008) Modelling of surface roughness for flow over a complex vegetated surface International Journal of Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences v2(1) pp18–26.
• M Fahey, S J Wakes & C T Shaw (2008) The use of CFD in oven design International Journal of Multiphysics v2(1) pp 37–57.
• M Fahey, S J Wakes & C T Shaw (2007), Numerical and experimental exploration of a horizontal confined heated impinging jet, International Journal of Multiphysics v1(4) pp 433–455.
• S J Wakes, A E Holdø & A J Meares, (2002) Experimental Investigation of the Effect Orifice Shape and Fluid Pressure has on High Aspect Ratio Cross-Sectional Jets Behaviour, Journal of Hazardous Materials v89(1) pp1–27.
• S J Wakes, T Maegli, K J M Dickinson & M Hilton, (2008) Three-dimensional flow simulation over a complex dune system Coastal Engineering, UK 19–21 May p 221.
• M Goellner, S J Wakes & C T Shaw, (2008) Systematic Design Tools: A South Pacific Approach to Investigate the Use of New Design Guidelines TMCE, Turkey April 21–25 pp 479–494.
• W Pattanapol, S J Wakes, M J Hilton and K J M Dickinson, (2007) Modelling of surface roughness for flow over a complex vegetated surface ICASET, Bangkok, Thailand, December 14–16 pp 273–281.
• S J Wakes & C Brown, (2006) Numerical Modelling of a Hand in Water, 2006 ASME Pressure Vessels and Piping Division Conference, Vancouver, Canada, July 23–27 pp1–6.
• C Bezerra & S Wakes (2005), Designing Intelligence and the role of Computer-supported Methods for Innovation, Proceedings of 6th International conference on Computer-aided Industrial Design & Conceptual Design, Delft, Netherlands, May 29–June 1 pp 629–635.
• M Fahey & S Wakes (2005), Assisting product development with Computational Fluid Dynamics, Proceedings of 6th International conference on Computer-aided Industrial Design & Conceptual Design, Delft, Netherlands, May 29–June 1 pp 362–367.
• S J Wakes, M Hilton, K Dickinson & T Maegli (2005), Using Computational Fluid Dynamics to investigate the effect of a Marram covered foredune; initial results , Proceedings of Seventh International Conference on Modelling, Measurements, Engineering and Management of Seas and Coastal Regions, Coastal Engineering, Algarve, Portugal, 13–15 April, pp197–206.
• M Goellner, S J Wakes & C T Shaw (2004), Development of Complex Products: Design guidelines for Product Designers, Futureground, Melbourne, Australia, November 17–21 pp1–14.

Memberships

• Institute of Marine Engineers, Science and Technology
• Chartered UK Engineer
• Chartered UK Marine Engineer
• Designers Institute of New Zealand (DINZ), associate member
• Sciences Board of Studies
• Applied Science Board of Studies
• Senate
• Department Research Committee
• Departmental Teaching Committee
• Otago Institute of Design Steering Group