Kevin Oldknow, P.Eng.

Associate Professor, School of Sustainable Energy Engineering

Education

Ph.D., Mechanical Engineering, University of British Columbia, 2004

M.A.Sc., Mechanical Engineering, University of British Columbia, 2000

B.A.Sc., Engineering Physics, University of British Columbia, 1996

 

Continuing Studies

Finance for Executives, University of Chicago Booth School of Business, 2012

MIT/Sloan Executive Certificate in Strategy and Innovation, MIT/Sloan School of Management, 2009 – 2010

IRI/Kellogg Shaping Innovation Leaders, Kellogg School of Management, 2008

Contact:

Tel:
778.782.7017
Email:
koldknow@sfu.ca
Website:
www.sfu.ca/see/vti
Office:
SRYE 5121

Research interests
 

  • Vehicle / Track System Modelling, Simulation, Instrumentation and Test Programs
  • Wheel / Rail Interface Mechanics (including Contact Mechanics and Tribology)
  • Railway System Performance and Energy Efficiency

Teaching interests

  • Vehicle-Track and Wheel-Rail Interaction
  • Dynamics
  • Controls
  • Manufacturing Systems
  • Engineering Economics

Recently taught courses
 

  • SEE 300 – The Business of Engineering (2021)
  • SEE 241 – Engineering Measurement, Analysis and Forecasting (2019)
  • MSE 102 - Applied Science, Technology and Society (2013-2016)
  • MSE 300 - The Business of Engineering, I (2013-2017)
  • MSE 352 - Digital Logic and Microcontrollers (2012)
  • MSE 380 - Dynamic Systems Modelling and Simulation (2012-2014, 2016)
  • MSE 403 - Technology Entrepreneurship I (2015, 2016)
  • MSE 404 - Technology Entrepreneurship II (2015, 2016)
  • MSE 480/780 - Manufacturing Systems (2013-2018)
  • MSE 481 - Industrial Control Systems (2013, 2015-2016)
  • MSE 884 - Advanced Dynamics (2013)
  • MSE 900 - Engineering in the Canadian Context (2015)

Selected recent publications
 

  • Spiryagin, M., Bernal, E., Oldknow, K., Persson, I., Rahaman, M.L., Ahmad, S., Wu, Q., Cole, C. and Mcsweeney, T. (2023) Implementation of Roughness and Elastic-Plastic Behavior in a Wheel-Rail Contact Modeling for Locomotive Traction Studies, Wear, 532–533 (November 2023): 205115. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wear.2023.205115.
  • Wang, Y., Oldknow, K., Wang, G. and Mulligan, K (2023) Identification of Opportunities for Enhanced Train Marshalling and the Potential Use of Optimization, Proceedings of the 12th International Heavy Haul Conference (IHHA 2023), Rio de Janeiro, 7pp
  • Silva, G., Oldknow, K., Regehr, S. and Handal, T. (2023) Establishing correlations between rail profile quality indices and simulated contact conditions, Proceedings of the 12th International Heavy Haul Conference (IHHA 2023), Rio de Janeiro, 8pp
  • Wang, Y., Crosbee, D., Rothwell, E. and Oldknow, K. (2023) Comparison of vehicle dynamics simulation results using laser and contact-based profilometer measurements as inputs, Proceedings of the 28th IAVSD Symposium on Dynamics of Vehicles on Roads and Tracks (IAVSD 2023), 14pp
  • Oldknow, K. (2022) A Brief History of Friction Management, Proceedings of the 12th International Conference on Contact Mechanics and Wear of Rail/Wheel Systems (CM2022), Melbourne, Australia, 4-7 September 2022, 10pp
  • Oldknow, K., Stock, R. and Vollebregt, E. (2022) Effects of rail hardness on profile evolution and computed contact conditions in a full-scale wheel-rail test rig evaluation, Proceedings of the 12th International Conference on Contact Mechanics and Wear of Rail/Wheel Systems (CM2022), Melbourne, Australia, 4-7 September 2022, 11pp.
  • Wang, Y., Oldknow, K. and Wang, G. (2022) Estimating derailment risk using parametric wheel-rail profile characterisation, Proceedings of the 12th International Conference on Contact Mechanics and Wear of Rail/Wheel Systems (CM2022), Melbourne, Australia, 4-7 September 2022, 9pp
  • Stock, R., Oldknow, K. and Magel, E. (2022) Addressing Perceptions Regarding the Influence of Relative Hardness on Wheel/Rail Performance, Proceedings of the 12th International Conference on Contact Mechanics and Wear of Rail/Wheel Systems (CM2022), Melbourne, Australia, 4-7 September 2022, 9pp.
  • Magel, E., Oldknow, K. and Stock, R. (2022) The impact of relative wheel-rail hardness on RCF, plastic flow, and rail grinding, Proceedings of the 12th International Conference on Contact Mechanics and Wear of Rail/Wheel Systems (CM2022), Melbourne, Australia, 4-7 September 2022, 8pp.
  • Welsby, D., Oldknow, K. and Ravitharan, R. (2022) The critical importance of vehicle-track interaction assessment in system design and whole life operating performance, Proceedings of the 12th International Conference on Contact Mechanics and Wear of Rail/Wheel Systems (CM2022), Melbourne, Australia, 4-7 September 2022, 7pp.
  • Bernal, E, Spiryagin, M., Oldknow, K., Wu, Q., Bosomworth, C., Ahmad, S., Cole, C. and McSweeney, T. (2022) Hand Operated Tribometer versus Twin Disc Dry Friction Characteristics Measurements, Proceedings of the 12th International Conference on Contact Mechanics and Wear of Rail/Wheel Systems (CM2022), Melbourne, Australia, 4-7 September 2022, 6pp.
  • Spiryagin, M., Bernal, E., Oldknow, K., Persson, I., Ahmad, S., Wu, Q., Cole, C. and McSweeney, T. (2022) Consideration of roughness and elastic-plastic behavior in wheel-rail contact modeling for locomotive traction studies, Proceedings of the 12th International Conference on Contact Mechanics and Wear of Rail/Wheel Systems (CM2022), Melbourne, Australia, 4-7 September 2022, 6pp
  • Vollebregt, E., Darbani, A., Ashtekar, A. and Oldknow, K. (2022) Smoothing procedures for detailed wheel/rail geometry processing, Proceedings of the 12th International Conference on Contact Mechanics and Wear of Rail/Wheel Systems (CM2022), Melbourne, Australia, 4-7 September 2022, 7pp.
  • Spiryagin, M., Szanto, F., Oldknow, K., Wolfs, P., Spiryagin, V., Ahmad, S., Wu, Q., Bernal, E., Cole, C. and McSweeney, T. (2022) , Advanced Modelling and Performance Evaluation of Hydrogen-Powered Heavy Haul Locomotive, Proceedings of the ASME 2022 Joint Rail Conference (JRC2022), April 18-19, 2022, Virtual, Online, 8pp.
  • Spiryagin, M., Ahmad, S., Bernal, E., Oldknow, K., Persson, I., Wu, Q., Colin, C. and McSweeney, T. (2022) Implementation of the contact roughness at the wheel-rail contact model for locomotive traction studies, Proceedings of the ASME 2022 Joint Rail Conference (JRC2022), April 18-19, 2022, Virtual, Online, 6pp.
  • Bernal, E., Spiryagin, M., Vollebregt, E., Oldknow, K., Stichel, S., Shrestha, S., Ahmad, S., Wu, Q. and Cole, C. (2022) Prediction of rail surface damage in locomotive traction operations using laboratory-field measured and calibrated data, Engineering Failure Analysis, 135, 14pp, doi: 10.1016/j.engfailanal.2022.106165
  • Wang, Y., Mulligan, K., Oldknow, K. and Wang, G. (2021) Effects of Seasonal Track Geometry Changes on Vehicle-Track Interaction and Potential Implications for Train Marshalling, Proceedings of the Canadian & Cold Regions Rail Research Conference, November 9-10, 2021, Virtual, Online, 8pp
  • Oldknow, K., Mulligan, K. and McTaggart-Cowan, G. (2021) The trajectory of hybrid and hydrogen technologies in North American heavy haul operations, Journal of Railway Engineering Science, 15pp.
  • Firmani, F. and Oldknow, K. (2021) Modelling and simulation of sustainable systems: an engineering design course project. Proceedings of the 2021 Canadian Engineering Education Association (CEEA-ACEG21) Conference, Virtual, Online, 8pp.
  • Wang, Y., Nich, S., Mulligan, K., Oldknow, K. and Wang, G. (2021) Multiscale simulation-based mixed train derailment analysis: a case study. Proceedings of the 2021 ASME Joint Rail Conference (JRC2021), April 20-21, Virtual, Online, 9pp.