Profile
Research
Administrative
Teaching
Home  /   Staff  /   Researcher Profiles  /  A/Prof. Bill McBride

A/Prof. William ( Bill ) McBride

Work Phone (02) 492 15208
Fax (02) 492 16946
Email
Position Associate Professor
School of Engineering
The University of Newcastle, Australia
Office ES437, Engineering Science - D.w. George

Biography

A/Prof Mcbride completed a Mechaincal Engineering degree (1987-1991) and PhD (1992-2001 Part Time) at Newcastle University. A/Prof McBride was employed as a consulting engineer in the bulk materials handling field working on international projects with specific expertise in Stockpiles, Transfer chutes, Feeders and Mechanical Handling devices.

A/Prof McBride is a conjoint Professor at Witwatersrand University in South Africa where Post Graduate teaching of bulk solids handling is performed.

Qualifications

  • PhD, University of Newcastle, 2002
  • Bachelor of Engineering (Honours), University of Newcastle, 1992

Research

Research keywords

  • Bulk Materials Handling

Research expertise

A/Prof McBride has a research background in experimental bulk solids handling. Stockpile mechanics became the focus of a PhD in this area.

Significant work has been undertaken in many areas of bulk materials handling systems, such as feeders, transfer chutes and dust control.

With the growth of computer simulation tools such as DEM, A/Prof McBride has worked collaboratively with CSIRO on the accurate modelling of complex systems such as transfer chutes and screw based feeders/conveyors.

On average A/Prof McBride supervises some 10 engineering honors student per year and supervisors 2 FTE PhD students.

Collaboration

Collaboration with Queens University in Canada has been undertaken looking at stress distribution under bulk material stockpiles.

Collaboration with CSIRO on the numerical modelling of granular flow system and mechanical handling devices has been undertaken and continues.

Fields of Research

Code Description Percentage
091399 Mechanical Engineering Not Elsewhere Classified 55
091499 Resources Engineering And Extractive Metallurgy Not Elsewhere Classified 40
120399 Design Practice And Management Not Elsewhere Classified 5

Centres and Groups

Centre

Group

    Memberships

    Body relevant to professional practice.

    • Member - Engineers Australia

    Awards

    Research Award.

    1999 A.W.Roberts
    Australian Society for Bulk Solids Handling (Australia)

    Invitations

    Bulk Materials Handling Conference
    International Insitute of Research, Australia (Conference Presentation - non published.)
    2006

    Administrative

    Administrative expertise

    Since appointment in 2002, A/Prof McBride has been increasingly providing greater administrative leadership within the discipline and Faculty. In part this stems from a deep belief that without high quality governance, high quality education is greatly complicated. During the period as Assistant Dean, significant improvements in the graduating students evaluations of our programs have occurred.

    Administrative roles conducted-

    Program Convenor for Mechanical and Mechatronics engineering 2005 - 2009

    Deputy AD T&L 2008-2010

    Head of Discipline 2009-2011

    Assistant Dean Teaching and Learning 2010 -


    Teaching

    Teaching keywords

    • Computer Aided Engineering

    Teaching expertise

    A/Prof McBride provides the major component of Computer Aided Engineering education in the Mechanical Engineering degree at Newcastle University. A 1st year foundation combines CAE with production methods and technical sketching skills which are a foundation for the design stream within Mechanical Engineering. An elective course in the students 4th year provides a mush higher level of skills in CAE with CNC manufacturing and Computational Fluid Mechanics a substantive element of this course..

    In addition to the teaching at Newcastle postgraduate Bulk Materials Handling courses are offered through Witswatersrand University with A/Prof McBride providing these as a fly in/fly out service.