Research interests
Pat Leevers has worked in the fields of Fracture Mechanics and Polymer Engineering since the late 1970s. Since the mid-1980s he has developed strong links with the plastics pipe industry, developing test methods and strategies for impact-resistant thermoplastics. The 'S4' test method for plastic pipe became an International Standard in 1996, and its development and use remain central to the activities of his research group. He acts as a consultant in this field to a number of companies within the UK, elsewhere in Europe and in the USA.
His group of four Research Students (all industrially funded) tackles a range of fracture and strength problems in thermoplastics, with a particular emphasis on multilayer or skin/core polymer structures such as automobile fuel tanks. Pat Leevers is the author of about 70 journal papers and 50 conference papers, and co-author of a textbook on Materials Science.
Teaching activities
Education/qualifications
- BSc (Eng) in Mechanical Engineering from Imperial College
- MSc in Advanced Mechanical Engineering from Imperial College
- PhD from Imperial College London (awarded 1978 Unwin Memorial prize)
- John Van der Post Research Fellow, 1986-1988
- Lecturer at Imperial College since 1988
