Personal

After graduation from Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology with the First Prize of the USSR Academy of Sciences for my MPhil thesis in combustion, my research career developed at the Institute for Problems in Mechanics of the Russian Academy of Sciences, from research student to junior, senior and chief researcher to Head of Thermogasdynamic Laboratory. I was qualified as a PhD in Molecular and Chemical Physics in 1973 and as a Doctor of Sciences in Mathematics and Physics in 1984. In my doctoral thesis I studied non-steady flows accompanying ignition, combustion and explosion phenomena. I was awarded the title Professor in 1990.

My teaching activities developed along with my research. After gaining my PhD I was invited to work as a part-time staff in alma mater, Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, where I was an assistant, lecturer, senior lecturer, and then in 1986 I was elected as a Professor in Physical and Chemical Mechanics.

Between 1989-1993 I was visiting professor at leading universities in Germany, Canada, USA, Japan and France.

In 1993 I joined the academic staff at the University of Central Lancashire as as sponsored Chair of Fire Engineering. In 1994 I became Head of the Fire Centre.

Research

My research interests include combustion and explosions phenomena, gasdynamics of reacting and disperse flows, fire and explosion science and engineering, fire and explosion investigations, environmental issues related to accidental industrial releases into the atmosphere, and sustainable solutions in fire engineering. The Centre has a strong track record in these areas, including 8 grants from the Engineering and Physical Science Research Council, 4 grants from the Royal Society, several grants from DTI, DEFRA, British Council, EU Framework Programmes and industry (Carbon Trust, Shell and others). Since 2003 we have published more than 30 refereed papers and presented 23 conference works, including 6 invited talks for prestigious International and 2 for National meetings. The applied value of our research is demonstrated by our participation in investigation of the Ufa-catastrophe, the world’s largest accident connected with releases and explosion of hydrocarbon in the open atmosphere, a terrorist attack on a gas storage site in Warrington, and modelling several fire case studies.

Module Contributions

My teaching in 2006-2009 has covered 3-year long modules (Introduction in Combustion and Fire, Enclosure Fire Dynamics, and Fires in Buildings) for undergraduate and post-graduate Fire Safety Engineering Programme. They have been delivered in different modes on-campus and in Hong Kong.

Featured Publications

G. M. Makhviladze, A. V. Shamshin, S. E. Yakush, A. P. Zykov. Experimental and numerical modelling of transient compartment fires. Combustion, Explosion and Shock Waves, 2006, no.6, pp. 723-730.

G. M. Makhviladze, S. E. Yakush. Modelling of Formation and Combustion of Accidentally Released Fuel Clouds. Process Safety and Environmental Protection, Trans. IChemE 2005, vol. 83, pt. B, pp. 171–177.

G. M. Makhviladze, S. E. Yakush. Large-scale unconfined fires and explosions. Invited Topical Review for a special memorial session devoted to the September 11th fire. 29th Symposium (Int.) on Combustion, Proceedings of the Combust. Institute, 2003, v. 29, pp. 195-210.

Makhviladze G.M., Roberts J.P., Yakush S.E. Numerical modelling of fireballs from vertical releases of fuel gases. Combustion Science and Technology, 1998, v. 132, pp. 199 - 223. - Sugden Award from the Combustion Institute for the best contributions in combustion research.

Ya. Zeldovich, G. Barenblatt, V. Librovich, G. Makhviladze. Mathematical Theory of Combustion and Explosions, 1985, Plenum Press, NY and London, 597 pages. – Originally published in Russian.