Michael Burdekin is a civil/structural engineer who has focused his career on analysing fracture mechanics behaviour in welded structures. This work is crucial for material selection and workmanship requirements to prevent fractures in large structures such as offshore oil platforms, major steel bridges, nuclear pressure vessels and wind farm structures.
Michael has conducted many large-scale practical experiments, including the analysis of numerous brittle fractures in actual service failures. His work contributed to the development of standardised fracture toughness tests and to the formation of PD 6493, a British Standard published document (since superseded by BS 7910), which established guidance for the level of acceptability of flaws in welded structures. He has acted as an expert witness in numerous legal cases.
At present, Michael is an Emeritus Professor at the University of Manchester School of Mechanical, Aerospace and Civil Engineering, and he is a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering. He has been the President of the Welding Institute (TWI) and in 2008, he was awarded an OBE for his contributions to nuclear safety.
Professional position
- Emeritus Prof of Civil and Structural Engineering, School of Mechanical, Aerospace & Civil Engineering, Institute of Science and Technology
Subject groups
- Engineering
Engineering, structural, Engineering, civil
