Dr Alasdair Cairns

Academic Qualifications

• PhD - Internal Combustion Engines – University of Leeds, UK
• MSc – Combustion & Energy – University of Leeds, UK
• BEng (Hons) – Automotive Engineering – University of Hertfordshire, UK

Career

• 2010 –             Senior Lecturer, Brunel University
• 2006 – 2009    Principal Research & Development  Engineer, Mahle Powertrain Ltd.
• 2003 – 2006    Senior Research & Development Engineer, Cosworth Technology Ltd.
• 2000 – 2002    Development Engineer, Cosworth Technology Ltd.

Research Interests

• Spark Ignition Engine Combustion
• CAI / HCCI Engine Combustion
• Diesel Engine Combustion
• Optical Engine Diagnostics
• Alternative Fuels
• Exhaust Gas Recirculation
• Engine Downsizing
• Variable Valvetrain Systems

Teaching

Internal Combustion Engines, Automotive Vehicle Design, Manufacturing

Publications

Journal Papers

(2013) Cairns, A., Zhao, H., Todd, A. and Aleiferis, P., A study of mechanical variable valve operation with gasoline-alcohol fuels in a spark ignition engine, Fuel 106 802- 813

(2013) Zhang, Y., Zhao, H., Ojapah, M. and Cairns, A., CAI combustion of gasoline and its mixture with ethanol in a 2-stroke poppet valve DI gasoline engine, Fuel

(2013) Xia, J., Zhao, H., Megaritis, A., Luo, KH., Cairns, A. and Ganippa, LC., Inert-droplet and combustion effects on turbulence in a diluted diffusion flame, Combustion and Flame 160 (2) : 366- 383

(2012) Cairns, A., Moxey, B., Zhao, H., Ganippa, L. and Bassett, M., A Study of Combining Gasoline Engine Downsizing and Controlled Auto-Ignition Combustion, Journal of KONES Powertrain and Transport46

(2012) Labecki, L., Cairns, A., Xia, J., Megaritis, A., Zhao, H. and Ganippa, LC., Combustion and emission of rapeseed oil blends in diesel engine, Applied Energy 95 139- 146

(2012) Zhang, Y., Zhao, H., Ojapah, M. and Cairns, A., Effects of injection timing on CAI operation in a 2/4-stroke switchable GDI engine, SAE International Journal of Engines 5 (2)

(2011) Zhang, Y., Zhao, H., Ojapah, M. and Cairns, A., Analysis of CAI/HCCI combustion in a 2-stroke poppet valve engine, Institution of Mechanical Engineers - Internal Combustion Engines: Improving Performance, Fuel Economy and Emissions 127- 134

(2009) Cairns, A., Stansfield, P., Fraser, N., Gold, M., Rogerson, J. and Goodfellow, C., A study of gasoline-alcohol blended fuels in an advanced turbocharged DISI engine, SAE International Journal of Fuels and Lubricants 2 41- 57

(2008) Cairns, A. and Blaxill, H., The Effects of Two Stage Cam Profile Switching and External EGR on SI-CAI Combustion Transitions, SAE International Journal of Engines Section 3 Volume 116 230- 241

(2005) Cairns, A., Lean Boost and External Exhaust Gas Recirculation for High Load Controlled Auto-Ignition, SAE International Journal of Fuels and Lubricants2005-01-3744

(2000) Cairns, A. and Sheppard, CGW., Cyclically Resolved Simultaneous Flame and Flow Imaging in an SI Engine, SAE International Journal of Fuels and Lubricants 109 13- 33

Conference Papers

(2012) Cairns, A., Zhang, Y., Zhao, H. and Ojapah, M., 2-Stroke CAI combustion operation in a GDI engine with poppet valves, SAE WORLD CONGRESS, SAE PAPER NO. 2012-01-1118

(2011) Cairns, A., Zhao, H., Zhang, Y. and Ojapah, M., Experiment and Analysis of a Direct Injection Gasoline Engine Operating with 2-stroke and 4-stroke Cycles of Spark Ignition and Controlled Auto-Ignition Combustion, JSAE ANNUAL CONGRESS, JSAE PAPER NO. 2011-9078

(2010) Cairns, A., Todd, A., Fraser, N., Aleiferis, P. and Malcolm, J., A Study of Alcohol Blended Fuels in an Unthrottled Single Cylinder SI Engine, SAE World Congress 2010, SAE Paper No. 2010-01-0168

(2009) Cairns, A., Todd, A., Aleiferis, PG. and Malcolm, J., A comparison of inlet valve operating strategies in a single cylinder SI engine, , IC ENGINES: PERFORMANCE, FUEL EOCONOMY AND EMISSIONS

(2009) Cairns, A., Todd, AR., Hoffman, H., Aleiferis, P. and Malcolm, J., Combining Unthrottled Operation with Internal EGR Under Port and Central Direct Fuel Injection Conditions in a Single Cylinder SI Engine, SAE World Congress, SAE Paper No. 2009-01-1835

(2008) Cairns, A., Malcolm, J., Aleiferis, PG. and Todd, A., An Optical Study of Spray Development & Combustion of Ethanol, Iso-octane and Gasoline Blends in a DISI Engine, SAE WORLD CONGRESS, SAE Paper No 2008-01-0073

(2008) Cairns, A., Blaxill, H. and Frases, N., Pre Versus Post Compressor Supply of Cooled EGR for Full Load Fuel Economy in Turbo Gasoline Engines, SAE WORLD CONGRESS, SAE PAPER NO. 2008-01-0425

(2007) Cairns, A., Malcolm, J., Aleiferis, PG., Todd, A., Hume, A., Blaxill, H., Hoffmann, H. and Reuckauf, J., A Study of Alcohol Blended Fuels in a New Optical Spark Ignition Engine, , IC Engines: Performance, Fuel Economy & Emissions

(2007) Cairns, A., Fleischer, T. and Blaxill, H., Alternative Methods for High Load Knock Reduction in Turbocharged Gasoline Engines, JSAE ANNUAL CONGRESS, JSAE PAPER NO. 20075008

(2006) Cairns, A. and Blaxill, H., A Comparison of Knock Reduction Strategies in a Turbocharged DI Gasoline Engine, GLOBAL POWERTRAIN CONGRESS, PROC. OF THE GLOBAL POWERTRAIN CONGRESS

(2006) Cairns, A., Hattrell, T., Burluka, AA., Sheppard, CGW. and Neumeister, J., Burn Rate Implications of Alternative Knock Reduction Strategies for Turbocharged SI Engines, SAE WORLD CONGRESS, SAE Paper No. 2006-01-1110

(2006) Cairns, A., Irlam, G. and Blaxill, H., Exhaust Gas Recirculation for Improved Part and Full Load Fuel Economy in a Turbo Gasoline Engine, SAE WORLD CONGRESS, SAE PAPER NO 2006-01-0047

(2006) Cairns, A. and Blaxill, H., Production Feasible Controlled Auto Ignition Using Internal and External EGR, Aachen Kolloquium, 15th Aachener Kolloquium Fahrzeug

(2006) Cairns, A. and Blaxill, H., The Effects of External EGR During Spark Ignited/Controlled Auto-Ignition Combustion Transitions, JSAE ANNUAL CONGRESS, JSAE PAPER NO. 20065410

(2005) Cairns, A., Fraser, N., Lumsden, G., Irlam, G. and Blaxill, H., Low Cost Solutions for Improved Fuel Economy in Gasoline Engines, GLOBAL POWERTRAIN CONGRESS, PROCEEDINGS OF THE GLOBAL POWERTRAIN CONGRESS

(2005) Cairns, A. and Blaxill, H., The Effects of Combined Internal and External EGR on Gasoline Controlled Auto-Ignition, SAE WORLD CONGRESS, SAE PAPER NO. 2005-01-0133

Book Chapters

(2010) Cairns, A., Blaxill, H. and Fraser, N., Exhaust gas recirculation boosted direct injection gasoline engines. In: Advanced direct injection combustion engine technologies and development. Cambridge UK : Woodhead Publishing Limited (1) : 105- 131