Professor Russell J Hand
MA PhD MEd CPhys MInstP CPhys FSGT FHEA
School of Chemical, Materials and Biological Engineering
Professor of Glass Science & Engineering
School Director of Education


+44 114 222 5465
Full contact details
School of Chemical, Materials and Biological Engineering
Sir Robert Hadfield Building
Mappin Street
葫芦影业
S1 3JD
- Profile
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I joined the University of 葫芦影业 in 1989 as the Redland Research Fellow in the then, School of Materials, having previously studied at the University of Cambridge. I was appointed to a Lectureship in 1990 (Senior Lecturer 2001; Reader 2010; Professor 2012) and in 1999 obtained an MEd in Teaching and Learning for University Lecturers.
I am an internationally recognised expert on the mechanical properties of glasses and waste vitrification and have supervised/ co-supervised over 50 successful PhD students. I was a founder member of the ISL at the University of 葫芦影业. I am a Fellow and Past-President of the Society of Glass Technology and am also involved with International Commission on Glass (ICG).
I have held a variety of education related roles at Faculty and Department (now School) level. From 2001 to 2012 I was Sub-Dean for Undergraduate Affairs in the Faculty of Engineering and then Deputy Faculty Director of Learning and Teaching Engineering. From 2013 to 2015 I was course director for the cross-Faculty Aerospace Engineering degrees and between 2014 and 2017, I was Head of the Interdisciplinary Programmes Office, Faculty of Engineering. From 2015 I was Director of Education first in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering and am now in the School of Chemical, Materials and Biological Engineering.
- Research interests
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My research has two main foci both related to glass and glass based materials.
1) The development and characterisation of glass based treatment options for nuclear wastes to support the clean-up of the nuclear legacy - this includes compositional development and assessment of the chemical durability of the resultant vitreous wasteforms and
2) the mechanical properties of glasses - this includes developing an understanding of how the mechanical properties vary with glass composition with the aim of developing stronger glasses.
Key research interests:
Radioactive waste vitrification
Research is focussed on glass composition development for the immobilisation of "difficult" anionic species and legacy wastes into vitreous wasteforms. His group is currently working on developing novel glasses for the vitrification of Mo containing wastes and understanding the crystallisation of Mo containing phases in current waste glass compositions.Sensing using reinforcing fibres in polymer matrix composites
Research is focussed on developing novel glasses for reinforcing fibres that can be used for both chemical and damage sensing in polymer matrix composites. This research is being undertaken in collaboration with CSIC.Durability of nuclear waste glasses
Research is focussed on understanding the effects of high pH environments on the durability of nuclear waste glasses using laboratory-based durability test methods. In addition, he is responsible for the field-based long term glass burial site at Ballidon (a limestone environment), an experiment now in its 44th year, and which involves collaboration with Dr Strachan from Pacific North-West National Laboratory, USA.Mechanical properties of glasses
Research is focussed on examining the effects of composition on the mechanical properties of silicate glasses. His group has previously demonstrated the important role of MgO in these glasses and we are currently investigating this further. We have also studied the mechanical properties of nuclear borosilicate glasses. His group is also focussing on assessing the changes in near surface mechanical properties of glasses due to hydration by nanoindentation and at the effects of high-temperature mechanical contact on surface damage and thus the practical strength of bulk glass.
- Publications
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Journal articles
Chapters
Conference proceedings papers
Presentations
Preprints
- Teaching activities
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- Introduction to the mechanical properties of materials
- Fracture mechanics
- Glasses
- Inorganic Materials ITP
- Industrial Management/ Materials lifecycle
- Professional activities and memberships
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- Fellow and former President of the Society of Glass Technology (FSGT)
- Member of the Institute of Physics (MInstP, CEng)
- Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA)
- Secretary to the Coordinating Technical Committee of the International Commission on Glass