Dr Ashraf Alsaffar
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Role:
Department staff:
Collaborations:
- The University of Melbourne
- The University of Adelaide
- Oslo Metropolitan University
- University of Hull
- The National University of Malaysia
Research staff:
- Turbulent Boundary Layers
- Turbulent Drag Reduction
- Riblets Flow
- Flow Control
- Pressure-Gradient Turbulent Flows
- Experimental Fluid Mechanics
- Aerodynamics
- Hydrodynamics
- High-speed flow
Teaching staff:
- Qualifications:
- PhD, MEng, BEng, FHEA
- Position:
- Lecturer in Thermofluids
- Department:
- School of Engineering
- Telephone:
- +441179656261
- Email:
- Ashraf.Alsaffar@uwe.ac.uk
- Social media:
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About me
Dr Ashraf Alsaffar is a Lecturer in the School of Engineering at the University of the West of England (UWE Bristol). He is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA) and holds a PhD in Mechanical and Materials Engineering from the National University of Malaysia (UKM).
His research explores how turbulent flows interact with surfaces and how these interactions can be controlled to reduce drag and improve engineering performance. He specialises in experimental fluid mechanics, particularly turbulent boundary layers, pressure-gradient flows and bio-inspired riblet surfaces, with applications in aerospace, maritime transport and renewable energy.
With more than a decade of academic and industrial experience, Dr Ashraf combines fundamental research with the development of practical experimental facilities and flow-control technologies. He led the design and commissioning of the Pangkor Low-Speed Wind Tunnel at UKM and subsequently led its upgrade to support controlled favourable, adverse and zero pressure-gradient flows. His work includes patented technologies for hot-wire probe fabrication and boat-hull friction reduction.
His proposal on turbulent boundary-layer control received the European Commission’s Seal of Excellence under the Horizon Europe Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Postdoctoral Fellowships in 2025, recognising its high scientific quality.
At UWE Bristol, he teaches across mechanical and aerospace engineering, including thermofluids, aerodynamics and engineering design. He supervises undergraduate and postgraduate research projects and co-supervises postgraduate researchers at UKM.
Dr Ashraf welcomes academic and industrial collaborations, joint research grant applications and enquiries from prospective PhD students interested in turbulence, experimental aerodynamics and drag reduction.
His publications may appear under the names Ashraf Amer Abbas, Ashraf A. Abbas, Abbas, A. A. or Alsaffar, A. A. A. in academic databases.
Area of expertise
Dr Ashraf specialises in experimental fluid mechanics, with particular expertise in high-Reynolds-number turbulent boundary layers and favourable and adverse pressure-gradient flows. His research examines skin-friction drag reduction, bio-inspired riblet surfaces and the influence of surface geometry on turbulent coherent structures.
His technical expertise includes:
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Passive flow control and aerodynamic surface optimisation.
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Wind tunnel design, commissioning and modification.
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Boundary-layer measurement using hot-wire anemometry.
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Experimental investigation of aerofoil and marine surface flows.
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Wind turbine blade aerodynamics and renewable energy engineering.
His work connects turbulence physics with practical approaches to improving aerodynamic and hydrodynamic efficiency in aerospace, maritime and energy systems.
Publications
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