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Mr Mitchell Mcclanachan Centre for Railway Engineering / Institute for Resource Industries & Sustainability / Research Office

Senior Railway Research Engineer

MEng(CQU), BMechEng(Hons)(CQU)

Office Location
Contact Details
Email: m.mcclanachan@cqu.edu.au
Phone: (07) 4930 6424 - Ext: 6424

    I have been a railway engineering researcher at the Centre for Railway Engineering - Central Queensland University since 1995. I come from a mechanical engineering background and my interest is in railway vehicle dynamics, simulation, testing, evaluation, optimisation and development of smart systems. My area ranges from individual railway wagons/cars through to full train dynamics.

    My current passion at the moment is the optimisation of train control (i.e. the actual driving controls of a train) to minimise fuel, time and dynamics. Heavy Haul train optimization is the topic of my current Phd; as it is no longer funded progress has slowed. Anyone interested in fast tracking this research area please contact me. Some of my recent publications provide further information about my optimisation research.  Apart from my other railway research, postgraduate supervision and consulting activities I have a full teaching load at the Faculty of Engineering and Technology, CQUniversity.

    Professional Experience

    Rail vehicle dynamics

    Rail vehicle testing

    Rail vehicle computer modelling

    Data acquisition systems

    Ruggedised computer systems

    Field Instrumentation

    Automatic monitoring systems

    Structural Stress and Fatigue

    Involved in full time railway research since 1995.

    2006 - Rail CRC funded projects

    2005-2003
    Train dynamics management project, Stage C: for Queensland Railway to
    improve the safety and efficiency of rail operations.

    2003-2001
    Train dynamics management project, Stage B: for Queensland Railway to
    improve the safety and efficiency of rail operations.

    2002
    Derailment severity: Worldwide Survey and Report on Systems to Reduce the
    Severity of Derailments

    2001-1999
    Train dynamics management project, Stage A: for Queensland Railway to
    improve the safety and efficiency of rail operations.

    1999-1995
    Masters degree by research, ‘Investigation of Extreme Wagon Dynamics in
    Central Queensland Coal Trains’

    1997-1995
    Coal Train Dynamics Stage B: Dynamic testing and analysis of a coal train in
    revenue raising operation from Callemondah to Central Queensland coal mines.

    1995
    Coal Train Dynamics Stage A: Dynamic testing and analysis of a coal wagon in
    revenue raising trains from Callemondah to Central Queensland coal mines.

    Professional Memberships

    MIEAust, Institution of Engineers Australia
    AAEE, Australasian Association for Engineering Education

    Registered Professional Engineer of Queensland, RPEQ

    Professional Interests

    Heavy Haul Train Operation Optimisation / Optimization

    Term 2 - 2013
    ENAM12004 - Dynamics
    Course Coordinator
    ENEM13013 - Mechanical Systems
    Course Coordinator
    Term 1 - 2013
    ENAG11001 - Engineering Drafting
    Course Coordinator
    Lecturer - Distance - ENAG11001 - Term 1 - 2013
    Tutor - Distance - ENAG11001 - Term 1 - 2013
    Term 2 - 2012
    ENAM12004 - Dynamics
    Lead Lecturer - Distance - ENAM12004 - Term 2 - 2012
    Course Coordinator
    ENEM13013 - Mechanical Systems
    Course Coordinator
    Term 1 - 2012
    ENAM12002 - Mechanical Analysis
    Course Coordinator
    Lead Lecturer - Distance - ENAM12002 - Term 1 - 2012
    Term 2 - 2011
    ENAM12004 - Dynamics
    Lead Lecturer - Distance - ENAM12004 - Term 2 - 2011
    Course Coordinator
    Term 1 - 2011
    ENAM12002 - Mechanical Analysis
    Lead Lecturer - Distance - ENAM12002 - Term 1 - 2011
    Course Coordinator
    Conference Paper

    McClanachan, M & Cole, C 2012, 'Optimising the operation of a heavy haul train' in M. Dhanasekar, T. Constable, & D. Schonfeld (eds.) Global Perspectives RTSA CORE 2012: Conference on Railway Engineering: Conference Proceedings, Railway Technical Society of Australasia (RTSA), Canberra, Australia.

    Link to Catalogue Link to ACQUIRE

    Noorudheen, N, McClanachan, M & Toft, Y 2012, 'Track worker safety: investigating the contributing factors and technology solutions' in M. Dhanasekar, T. Constable, & D. Schonfeld (eds.) Global Perspectives RTSA CORE 2012: Conference on Railway Engineering: Conference Proceedings, 10th - 12th September, 2012, Brisbane, The Railway Technical Society of Austrlasia (RTSA), Canberra, Australia.

    Link to Catalogue Link to ACQUIRE

    Cole, C, McClanachan, M, Spiryagin, M, Sun, Y & Kreiser, D 2011, 'Wagon instability in long trains' paper presented to the IAVSD 2011: 22nd International Symposium on dynamics of vehicles on roads and tracks, Manchester, UK, 14th - 19th August.

    Link to Catalogue Link to ACQUIRE

    Sun, Y Q, Cole, C,, McClanachan, M, Wilson, A, Kaewunruen & Kerr M 2009, 'Rail short-wavelength irregularity identification based on wheel-rail impact response measurements and simulations' in Z Geng (ed.) Proceedings : 9th International Heavy Haul Conference (IHHC 2009), Shanghai, China, 22nd - 24th June, 2009, China Railway Publishing House, Beijing, China.

    Link to Catalogue Link to ACQUIRE

    Sun, Y, Cole, C & McClanachan, M 2009, 'Calculation of wheel impact force due to interaction between vehicle and a turnout' in Z Geng (ed.) Proceedings : 9th International Heavy Haul Conference (IHHC 2009), Shanghai, China, 22nd - 24th June, 2009, China Railway Publishing House, Beijing, China.

    Link to Catalogue Link to ACQUIRE

    Cole, C, Simson, S, McClanahan, M, McLeod, T & Phelan, J 2009 "Train Cruise Control", in Z Geng (ed.) Proceedings : 9th International Heavy Haul Conference (IHHC 2009), Shanghai, China, 22nd - 24th June, 2009, China Railway Publishing House, Beijing, China.

    Link to Catalogue Link to ACQUIRE

    McClanachan, M & Phelan, J 2008, "Intelligent Train Monitor Developments", Conference on Railway Engineering 2008, 7th - 10th September, Perth, Australia.

    Link to Catalogue Link to ACQUIRE

    McClanachan, M & Payne, B 2008, Improving Brake Propagation in Long Freight Trains, CORE2008, Conference on Railway Engineering, 7-10th September 2008, Perth, Australia. http://core2008.org/papers/abstracts/Mitchell-McClanachan.php

    Link to Catalogue Link to ACQUIRE

    Cole, C. & Sun, Y. & McClanachan, M. & McLeod, T. 2007, 'Evaluation of on-wagon performance data measuring systems', Proceedings of International Heavy Haul Conference Specialist Technical Session:High Tech in Heavy Haul, 11th - 13th June 2007, International Heavy Haul Association Inc., Lulea, Sweden, pp. 589-597.

    Link to Catalogue Link to ACQUIRE

    Cole, C., McClanachan, M., Simson, S., & Skerman, D., 2006, "Evaluating the performance of 3-piece bogies on short defects and with unequal wheel diameters", Proceedings of the 13th Conference on Railway Engineering, 30th April-3rd May, 2006, RTSA, Melbourne, pp. 49-60.

    Link to Catalogue Link to ACQUIRE

    Cole, C R, Mcclanachan, M & Mcleod, T 2004, 'Prediction of future train states using neural networks', paper presented at CORE 2004 : New Horizons for Rail Conference Proceedings : Conference on Railway Engineering, Holiday Inn Esplanade, Darwin, Northern Territory Australia, June 20-23 2004.

    Link to Catalogue Link to ACQUIRE

    McClanachan, M, Handoko, Y, Dhanasekar, M, Skerman, D & Davey, J 2003, ��Modelling freight wagon dynamics��, in Abe, M (ed) Dynamics of vehicles on roads and on tracks : Proceedings of the 18th IAVSD symposium held in Kanagawa, Japan, August 24-30, pp. 438-447.

    Link to Catalogue Link to ACQUIRE

    Mcclanachan, M, Dhanasekar, M, Skerman, D & Davey, J 2002, 'Monitoring the dynamics of freight wagons', in CORE2002 : cost efficient railways through engineering : conference proceedings. Conference on Railway Engineering, Novotel Northbeach, Wollongong, New South Wales, November 10-13, 2002 : Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia, June 20-23 2004 , pp. 213-222.

    Link to Catalogue Link to ACQUIRE

    Cole, C, McClanachan, M, Roach, D, Lesch, G, van der Westhuizen, F & McLeod, T 2001, "Heavy haul coal train dynamics simulation comparisons of the COALlink and Central Queensland systems", Proceedings 7th International Heavy Haul Conference, "Confronting the Barriers of Heavy Haul Rail Technology, 10th - 14th June, 2001, Brisbane, Australia.

    Link to Catalogue Link to ACQUIRE

    McClanachan, M, Scown, B, Roach, D, Skerman, D & Payne, b 2001, "Autonomous detection of severe wagon-track interaction dynamics", Proceedings 7th International Heavy Haul Conference, "Confronting the Barriers of Heavy Haul Rail Technology", 10th - 14th June, 2001, Brisbane, Australia.

    Link to Catalogue Link to ACQUIRE
    Journal Article

    McClanachan, M & Cole, C 2012, 'Current train control optimization methods with a view for application in heavy haul railways', Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part F: Journal of Rail and Rapid Transit, vol. 226, no. 1, pp.36-47, http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0954409711406352

    Link to Catalogue Link to ACQUIRE

    Cole, C, McClanachan, M, Spiryagin, M & Sun, Y 2012, 'Wagon instability in long trains', Vehicle System Dynamics, vol. 50, sup1, pp. 303-317, http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00423114.2012.659742

    Link to Catalogue Link to ACQUIRE

    Sun, Y, Cole, C & McClanachan, M 2010, 'The calculation of wheel impact force due to the interaction between vehicle and a turnout', Rail and Rapid Transit, vol. 224, Part F, pp. 391-403, http://dx.doi.org/10.1243/09544097JRRT350

    Link to Catalogue Link to ACQUIRE
    Thesis

    McClanachan, M J 1999, Investigation of extreme wagon dynamics in Central Queensland coal trains, Masters thesis, Central Queensland University, Rockhampton. http://hdl.cqu.edu.au/10018/62189

    Link to Catalogue Link to ACQUIRE
    Research Interests