Luke Phersson Email & Phone Number

Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

ManagementAerodynamicsDeveloping group CFD capabilityWind Tunnel operations and DevelopmentMetrology and Reverse Engineering

Cologne Area, Germany

RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT (LMP1/GT3/Hypercar)Responsible for the link between Chassis and Aero department for evaluating whole-vehicle interactions, particularly with advanced suspension concepts, ie collapsible elements/highly non-linear elements, hydraulic interconnected suspension etc.Responsible for all LMP1 WEC pre-event simulation studies, ie, optimal fuel and hybrid energy strategies, major vehicle parameter sensitivities (Mass, Power, Cz, Cx, Grip etc), optimal aero configurations.Responsible for development and operation of 7-post test rig, and associated vehicle evaluation metrics (CPL variations/NVH/Body control/Vibration modes/Aero platform trade-offs) and methodologies.Responsible for hypercar vehicle concept direction vs competitors and FIA regulation negotiation direction.Methodology development for laptime and driver-in-the-loop (DIL) simulations to specify aero targets for CFD/Wind Tunnel (WT) development.High dimensional Aeromap fitting including pressure tap downforce estimation and correlation process, using machine learning techniques and dimensionality reduction. Developed custom genetic optimisation algorithm for fitting terms.Simulation correlation and validation process development, including powertrain model development and correlation process in MATLAB/Simulink environment.Competitor analysis to estimate major vehicle characteristics from either velocity trace, major sector times, mini sector times, or combination of.Predominantly MATLAB/Simulink based tool chain development, with smaller amount of C++.

Munich Area, Germany

RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT (LMP1/DTM)Aero breakeven (isochronal L/D) matrix generation for all WEC circuits, with hybrid and fuel strategy optimization.Responsible for aero development methods; supplying WT test points with laptime sensitivity for each point to drive aero development direction.Developed strategies to optimise the performance gain per unit WT time.High dimensional Aeromap fitting for simulation and track purposes (fitting track measurements and WT data).Simulation model (vehicle and track) correlation to track and rig (K&C/7-Post) measurement data.Experience setting up vehicle to exploit advantages of interconnected suspension systems, with respect to overall downforce as well as drivability factors due to aerobalance migration.Simulation of future vehicle concepts, including hybrid systems and suspension designs (interconnected elements, collapsible elements etc.).Expansion of existing laptime simulation tools (MATLAB/Simulink environment).TRACK-SIDEMonitoring and updating vehicle systems - TC, brake balance, lift-off efficiency, susp/aero loads etc.Post processing track data to confirm/deny initial test hypothesis.Vehicle setup changes in response to telemetry data/driver feedback/test items.Generating WinTAX formula sets for quick evaluation of vehicle performance.Test item preparation and execution.

Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

Designed, manufactured and tested a number of major systems and components, including; Novel unsprung active aerodynamics packages(40% weight reduction, 30% downforce increase), suspension sheet-metal uprights and anti-roll bars (50% reduction in build time).Extensive experience meshing, solving and processing full vehicle (30-100M element) RANS sims, also worked on developing rotating reference frame models to correctly model small radii cornering scenarios.On-track aerodynamic validation via fully pressure tapped under body and wings, strain gauged mounts, flow-vis (pigment and tufts) testing, and various constant radius corner times.Designed a whirling arm style water ’channel’ to properly model small corner radii scenarios, as wellas evaluating the effect of running in the wake of another vehicle.Evaluated numerous compromises between vehicle dynamic and aerodynamic targets.Strategic goal making, including developing team vision, values and management techniques. Culminated in the team achieving the number 1 ranking in 2013 out of over 500 teams worldwide, up from 60th position prior to 2007Managed a group of over 50 students in 5 departments through the design, manufacture and testing of a race car each year. Distributed resources (both monetary and human) into areas that would give the biggest performance return on investment. Consistently met budget and time constraints, and produced highly competitive vehicles which won the Australasian competition for 5 consecutive years.Strong level of commitment to the project, with a number of 100+ hour weeks when unexpected failures occurred at critical times.7 time Design event finalist, with 3 outright victoriesDeveloped CAE methodologies and documentation resources to promote team knowledge transfer.

Clayton

Design 1, 2 & 3· Taught students how to create technical, layout and assembly drawings according to AS1100.· Developed and taught tutorials for both SolidWorks and UG/Siemens NX CAD software.· Achieved highest student evaluation feedback of entire faculty, averaging 4.7/5.Aircraft Structures· Taught students fundamental solid mechanics to analyse and design components.Computing for Engineers· Instructed students how to use MATLAB for a variety of engineering applications.Aerospace Design Project· Assisted students with CFD and FEA of a concept aircraft to meet specific performance targets

Supervision, support and consultation for a number of clients in the full scale Monash 1.4 MW wind tunnel, including Daytona sports cars, Australian Hillclimb championship cars, Ford, and other Formula SAE teams.Support and consultation for a number of on going research projects, in particular identifying major flow structures around a 1/3rd scale truck-trailer model, detailed wake analysis of a high speed train, and quantifying the aerodynamic properties of cyclists in groups.Calibration and testing of equipment; Kistler and JR3 six-component force balances, 4-hole dynamic pressure probes, Pitot tubes, and a piezoelectric 128 channel Dynamic Pressure Measurement System (DPMS).Data acquisition interfaces created predominantly using LabVIEW software.Utilised flow-visualisations to identify surface streamlines to aid correlation with CFD.

Designed and manufactured traditional and composite components for a variety of applicationsOperated infinite scale 3(+2) axis CNC milling machineComplete construction of a full-scale 4x4 prototype truck wind tunnel model, including working doors, bonnet and cabin.

Doctor Of Philosophy (Phd) Candidate, Mechanical Engineering

Research topic: Experimental investigation into active flow control for bluff body wakes at high Reynolds numbers · Designed.

Bachelor Of Engineering (B.Eng.) (First Class Honours), Aerospace, Aeronautical And Astronautical/Space Engineering, High Distinction

Activities and Societies: Monash MotorsportThesis title: FSAE Aerodynamics; Design, Development, and Validation. · Dean's Honour List.

Cert. Iv In Engineering Fabrication And Cnc Engineering

· Extensive use of typical workshop machinery(Lathes, Milling machines etc.). · Use of CNC machinery (Okuma 5-Axis Mill, 4-Axis wire.

Education record