I graduated from Trent Polytechnic with a first class honours degree in Mechanical Engineering. Having spent 14 years in industry (as an Engineering Apprentice, Design Engineer, Technical Engineer, Stress Engineer and ultimately Section Leader), I returned to academia and was appointed as a Research Assistant at the University of Nottingham in 1979, from where I graduated, in 1983, with a PhD on “Finite element analysis of components subjected to ratchetting and creep”. I was appointed as a Lecturer at Derbyshire College of Higher Education (now the University of Derby) in 1983, moved to Swansea in 1986 and was promoted to Senior Lecturer in 1994 and to Reader in 2002. I was Dean of the Faculty of Engineering in 2002-05 and I am currently the Dean of the Faculty of Engineering and Science.

I have published over 100 international journal and conference papers on my research activities. I have also produced over 25 official reports. My research is internationally recognised (I was awarded my DSc in 2006) and, over the last year, I have presented papers in Pakistan, Poland and the USA. I also have strong international collaborative research links with colleagues in Austria, Colombia, Germany, Iran, Italy, Poland and the USA.

I continue to work closely with industry, including Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (previously known as Teaching Company Schemes), having been the Lead Academic for 10 projects, and in the Engineering Doctorate Scheme with Corus plc. I have a keen interest in design and have undertaken a number of design-related projects and consultancies in recent years. I am also an active experimentalist and carry out small and large-scale experimental testing using a 250 kN hydraulic fatigue testing machine and a 20 kN tensile/compressive testing machine.

I am a Fellow of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers and a Fellow of the Institution of Engineering Designers.

Please contact me if you need any further information on my research activities or other opportunities for industrial collaboration.

Recent Publications

• Gowhari-Anaraki, A R, Hardy, S J and Sakhaee-Pour, A, ‘The effect of stiffness on SIFs in annular discs under constant central torque’, International Conference on Scientific Computing, Las Vegas, USA (June 2007).
• Hardy, S J, Sadowski, T and Postek, E W, ‘Micro-scale modelling of two-phase polycrystalline ceramic composite materials’, 5th International Bhurban Conference on Applied Sciences and Technology, Islamabad, Pakistan (January 2007).
• Sadowski, T, Hardy, S J and Postek, E, ‘A new model for the time-dependent behaviour of polycrystalline ceramics with metallic inter-granular layers under tension’, Materials Science and Engineering A, 424(1-2), 230-238, (2006).
• Hardy, S J and Abdusslam, R M, ‘Finite element modelling of the extrusion process for aluminium aerosol cans’, Modelling of Manufacturing Processes, IMechE, London, UK, (December 2006).
• Postek, E W, Hardy, S J and Sadowski, T, ‘Finite strain behaviour of a polycrystalline ceramic composite with intergranular layers’, 12th International Symposium on Plasticity and Its Current Applications, Halifax, Canada (July 2006).
• Hardy, S J and Gowhari-Anaraki, A R, ‘Low cycle fatigue life prediction methodology based on elastic stress concentration factor’, 9th International Fatigue Congress, Atlanta, USA (May 2006).
• Gowhari-Anaraki, A R, Hardy, S J and Alipour, R, ‘Spot-welded joints subjected to shear-tension loading. Part 2: mixed-mode fracture parameters’,  J. Strain Analysis, 40(8), 755-773, (2005).
• Morris, J W, Hardy, S J and Thomas, J T, ‘Effects of tension levelling process parameters on cold rolled strip characteristics using a designed factorial analysis approach’, J. Ironmaking and Steelmaking, 32(5), 443-448 (2005).
• Knight, C W, Hardy, S J, Lees, A W and Brown, K J, ‘Influence of roll speed mismatch on strip curvature during the roughing stages of a hot rolling mill’, J. Materials Processing Technology, 168(1), 184-188, (2005).
• Gowhari-Anaraki, A R, Hardy, S J and Adibi-Asl, R, ‘Stress intensity factors for radial cracks in annular and solid discs under constant angular velocity’. J. Strain Analysis, 40(2), 217-223, (2005).

Recent Research Grants:

• Jones, C and Hardy, S J, ‘EPSRC/DTI Knowledge transfer partnership with Brecon Coachworks, Brecon’, £102,691, (2007-2009).
• Sadowski, T, Hardy, S J et al, ‘Modern composite materials applied in aerospace, civil and mechanical engineering: Theoretical modelling and experimental verification’, European Commission 6th Framework Programme on Research, Technological Development and Demonstration: Marie Curie Transfer of Knowledge Project with the Technical University of Lublin, Poland, 1,060,435 Euro, (2005-2009).
• Hardy, S J and Sadowski, T, ‘A new generalised model for engineering materials including internal structure modelling’, Marie-Curie Fellowship MCFI-2002-00219, 85,888 Euro, (2003-2005).
• Hardy, S J and Lees, A W, ‘EPSRC/DTI Knowledge transfer partnership with Heraeus Electro-Nite, Chesterfield’, £90,282, (2002-2004).