Karen Steele

Principal Rolling Stock Engineer @Mott MacDonald

Mott MacDonald is a global engineering consultancy. The Rolling Stock team provides consultancy services to train owners, operators, maintainers, manufacturers and procurers. I am a principal engineer, specialising in vehicle dynamics and structures. Responsibilities include: • Liaising with customers to determine their requirements and producing proposals for work to meet those requirements • Producing requirements for input into train specifications • Performing design reviews to determine whether proposed train designs will meet specifications • Reviewing test specifications and reports to ensure adequate verification of train designs • Using hand calculations and finite element analysis to produce structural justifications for vehicle modifications and repairs • Using finite element analysis to justify continued service operation of vehicles beyond their design lives • Performing fracture mechanics calculations to determine appropriate inspection intervals • Axle risk assessment calculations • Creating VAMPIRE vehicle models and undertaking simulations to assess derailment resistance, ride comfort and track damage performance • Post-processing test results using nCode GlyphWorks • Producing written reports • Checking and approving drawings, calculations and reports produced by others • Managing self and others to ensure work is completed to budget