
Dr Tom Hill
BEng(Bristol), PhD (Bristol)
Expertise
I'm interested in the vibration of nonlinear mechanical systems, which don’t have the useful properties associated with linear systems due to their high flexibility, large vibration amplitudes or complex structural properties.
Current positions
Contact
Press and media
Many of our academics speak to the media as experts in their field of research. If you are a journalist, please contact the University’s Media and PR Team:
Research interests
My research interests are primarily in the field of nonlinear structural dynamics.
Motivation: The high-performance engineering industry is driven by the need for greater performance. Increasingly, this may only be achieved by designing structures to operate beyond the regimes where linearity can be assumed, and nonlinear behaviour must be accounted for. My research is motivated by the need to understand the effect of nonlinearity in engineering structures, and how it may be accounted for in the design process. My specific interests include nonlinear modelling and simulation, nonlinear modal interactions, and nonlinear system identification.
Nonlinear modelling and simulation: The useful properties of linear structures, such as modal orthogonality and superposition, cannot be extended to nonlinear systems. As such, many of the established techniques for linear models cannot be extended to nonlinear systems. My research includes the use of a variety of analytical and numerical techniques for nonlinear modelling and simulation.
Nonlinear modal interactions: Nonlinearity can lead to a variety of behaviour that is not seen in linear systems. This aspect of my research involves developing an understanding of the physical mechanisms that drive these behaviours.
Nonlinear system identification: A key step in the design and testing of engineering structures is the development of mathematical models describing the structures. Nonlinear system identification describes the process of generating nonlinear models based on experimental testing of a system. My research in this area includes the development of novel methods for the identification of nonlinear systems.
Projects and supervisions
Research projects
Multidomain Synthesis for New Concept Hydraulic and In-Wheel Motor Suspension Systems
Principal Investigator
Role
Co-Investigator
Managing organisational unit
Dates
01/10/2021 to 30/09/2024
Robotic Prostate cancer diagnosis/treatment
Principal Investigator
Role
Co-Investigator
Description
Modelling and development of robotic tools and simulator for biopsy and treatment of prostate cancer (for Brachytherapy and LATP - local anaesthetic transperineal biopsy)Managing organisational unit
Dates
01/01/2020 to 31/10/2023
Thesis supervisions
Nonlinear Dynamics of Phased Array Levitators
Supervisors
Reduced-order model-inspired system identification of geometrically nonlinear structures
Supervisors
Investigating nonlinear normal modes with resonant decay and energy balancing
Supervisors
Using symmetry to understand nonlinear modal interactions
Supervisors
Reduced-order modelling of nonlinear dynamic structures
Supervisors
Using reduced-order models to optimise the dynamics of nonlinear systems
Supervisors
Design and Optimisation of Inertance-Integrated Vehicle Suspension Systems
Supervisors
Modelling, Simulation and Control of Needle Insertion in Soft Tissues with Application to Transperineal Prostate Biopsy.
Supervisors
Publications
Recent publications
11/07/2025Validation of Chain Drive Resonance Models by Video, Audio and Torque Measurements
A multi-axially coupled trailing arm bush design methodology with parallel optimisation
Vehicle System Dynamics: International Journal of Vehicle Mechanics and Mobility
Comparing the Efficiency of Finite Element Models and Reduced-order Models with Varying Parameters
Nonlinear Dynamics
Investigation of secondary radiation forces near boundaries
Journal of Physics D: Applied Physics
Reduced Order Modeling Research Challenge 2023
Nonlinear Structures and Systems



