Marc Truscelli – Senior Consultant (ASD)
Marc is a senior consultant at Altran Technologies UK. He holds a PhD in Experimental Fluid Dynamics applied to Internal Combustion Engines.
Marc joined Altran in France just after completing his PhD. As a consultant, he worked in the Automotive and Aerospace industries in the fields of Engine Development, Combustion and Aero-thermal Analysis. He joined Altran Technologies UK in 2006 and is now involved in both technical activities (Thermal Analysis) and Altran operations. Aero-thermal Analysis is required in engineering as soon as there are questions about temperature levels and gradients, design & material selection, thermo-mechanical effects, heating, cooling, thermal risks (e.g. fire, duct burst cases) etc.
Focus on Aero-thermal Analysis
What are the current market evolutions in the field of Aero-thermal Analysis?
As in most engineering areas, we are moving towards significantly more numerical simulations with greater accuracy allowing reduced design margins: as a result, associated knowledge and tools are progressing. In the case of Structural Design, the expanding use of composite materials amplifies the role of Thermal Analysis because these materials are more sensitive than metals to thermal effects and have low heat diffusion characteristics.
What is Altran’s positioning in this domain?
Altran have build up its own capability in Aero-thermal Analysis, with a comprehensive range of skills: we can rely on experts in different fields, either locally or within the group. We have also adapted our skills and capabilities to different contexts and we can provide either embedded consultants or fully deliverable-based projects.
Altran have the expertise and ability to propose the relevant approach and undertake complex, multi-disciplinary projects if necessary.
What kinds of skills are required to become a consultant in the field of Aero-thermal Analysis?
A strong mechanical/physical understanding, together with the ability to take a global view of a problem is essential for engineers wanting to work in this field. Thermal Analysis often involves interactions with other disciplines, in particular fluid dynamics, so a comprehensive overview is necessary. In some cases a strong mechanical engineering background with a few hand calculations is enough, and in others full multi-physics numerical simulations will be required to provide answers.
