Doctor John Hart MEng. PhD. FHEA.
Senior Ï㽶ÊÓƵ Fellow
Summary
Dr John Hart is a Senior Ï㽶ÊÓƵ Fellow with expertise in design and prototyping, specialising in the development of innovative solutions in sports technology. His skills in computational fluid dynamics (CFD) enable him to analyse and enhance performance in various sporting contexts. Additionally, John is passionate about applying his engineering knowledge to healthcare, focusing on creating devices and systems that improve health outcomes.
Through collaboration and research, he aims to bridge the gap between sports technology and engineering, fostering advancements that benefit both athletes and healthcare practitioners. In addition to his research John teaches on MSc Sports Engineering.
About
Dr John Hart is a Senior Ï㽶ÊÓƵ Fellow within the Sports Engineering Ï㽶ÊÓƵ Group (SERG) at the School of Sport and Physical Activity. With over 20 years experience he is an expert in design and fluids, specialising in Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) design, prototyping, and 3D measurement. John delivers engineering solutions to a diverse range of clients within the sports and healthcare sectors both in the UK and internationally.
John studied at The University of Sheffield obtaining a MEng degree in Mechanical engineering) and subsequently completed his PhD there in “computational fluid dynamic analysis of supersonic ejectors”, prior to joining SERG in 2003. Since this time, he has built an established international reputation within the sports engineering community for the development of novel IP protected products and solutions, backed by peer reviewed outputs.
His research into the aerodynamic behaviour of badminton shuttlecocks led to him designing the first true outdoor shuttlecock for Badminton England (BE), jointly patent protected with Ï㽶ÊÓƵ in China and Europe, and commercialised with Decathlon as the Feenixx PSC530. Prior to this he utilised his skills and knowledge in the manipulation of turbulence in contract research that enabled PING Golf to develop and launch the patented G30 golf driver. John continues to develop physical product for International clients, the likes of Babolat, and JR286, but has also supported local manufacturers such as GoalFix with their design protected eye-masks for disability sport. This stream of outputs has now resulted in a new research partnership with Golf Pride, the world’s largest golf grip manufacturer.
John also applies his engineering knowledge to healthcare, focusing on creating devices and systems that improve health outcomes. Through collaboration with ADMRC staff and the Sheffield Teaching Hospitals speech therapy services, his research created a device for improving patient care of dysphagia suffers that is currently being protected and commercialised. He is currently working with Tectores Ltd, on solutions that address healthcare needs of amputees leading to a healthier more active life.
John previously led the MSc Sports Engineering course for five years and continues to teach on its associated modules. He also worked for four years on the Erasmus+ funded Alliance for Sports Engineering Education on which he was a lead applicant. This is a European consortium of universities and industry partners that sort to boost cross sectoral cooperation through creation of a collaborative ecosystem of enterprises, HEI’s, associations and federations. He sat on the project management board and led one of the six work packages in communication and dissemination. Throughout he led on the development of new, innovative, and multidisciplinary approaches, shaping sports innovation curricular and fostering a seamless integration of academia and industry.
Teaching
Erasmus+ funded Alliance for Sports Engineering Education (A4SEE)
https://a4see.com/
Sports Engineering Ï㽶ÊÓƵ Group
MSc Sports Engineering
Modelling Mechanics of Sports Engineering Design and Innovation
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Current research themes include:
Sports projectile related aerodynamics
Development of novel equipment for use by dysphagia sufferers
Development and assessment of impact safety standards
Babolat
Golf Pride
JR286
Badminton England
Decathlon
PING Golf
UKSI
Abbeyfield Ï㽶ÊÓƵ Foundation
Sheffield Teaching Hospitals
Publications
Key Publications
Guignard, B., Rouard, A., Chollet, D., Bonifazi, M., Dalla Vedova, D., Hart, J., & Seifert, L. (2020). . Ï㽶ÊÓƵ Quarterly for Exercise and Sport, 1-12.
Hart, J., Potts, J., & James, D. (2018). . Sports Engineering, 21 (4), 465-478.
Elliott, N., Choppin, S., Goodwill, S., Senior, T., Hart, J., & Allen, T. (2018). . Sports Engineering, 21 (2), 137-147.
Dunn, M., Hart, J., & James, D. (2018). . Proceedings, 2 (6), 232-237.
Guignard, B., Rouard, A., Chollet, D., Hart, J., Davids, K., & Seifert, L. (2017). Sports Medicine, 47 (8), 1543-1554.
Hart, J. (2016). . Procedia Engineering, 147, 68-73.
Journal articles
Haid, D., Foster, L., Hart, J., Greenwald, R., Allen, T., Sareh, P., & Duncan, O. (2023). . Smart Materials and Structures, 32 (11).
Haid, D., Duncan, O., Hart, J., & Foster, L. (2023). . Sports Engineering, 26 (1).
Thelwell, M., Bullas, A., Kühnapfel, A., Hart, J., Ahnert, P., Wheat, J., ... Choppin, S. (2022). . PLOS ONE, 17 (3).
Duncan, O., Allen, T., Birch, A., Foster, L., Hart, J., & Alderson, A. (2020). . Smart Materials and Structures, 30 (1), 015031.
Tiller, N., Turner, L., Hart, J., & Casaburi, R. (2020). . Respiratory Physiology & Neurobiology, 284, 103564.
Thelwell, M., Chiu, C.-.Y., Bullas, A., Hart, J., Wheat, J., & Choppin, S. (2020). . Scientific Reports, 10 (1), 12125.
Hart, J., & Potts, J. (2020). . Proceedings, 49 (1), e28.
Duncan, O., Naylor, G., M, J.G., Allen, T., Foster, L., Hart, J., & Alderson, A. (2020). . Proceedings, 49 (1), e116.
Dunn, M., Davies, D., & Hart, J. (2020). . Proceedings, 49 (1), e29.
Guignard, B., Rouard, A., Chollet, D., Bonifazi, M., Dalla Vedova, D., Hart, J., & Seifert, L. (2019). . Motor control, 23 (3), 418-442.
Chiu, C.-.Y., Thelwell, M., Senior, T., Choppin, S., Hart, J., & Wheat, J. (2019). Comparison of depth cameras for three-dimensional reconstruction in medicine. Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part H: Journal of Engineering in Medicine, 233 (9), 938-947.
Driscoll, H., Hart, J., & Allen, T. (2016). . Procedia engineering, 147, 884-889.
Driscoll, H., Bullas, A., King, C., Senior, T., Haake, S., & Hart, J. (2016). . Physics Education, 51 (4), 1-7.
Hart, J. (2014). . Procedia engineering, 72, 768-773.
Henrikson, E., Wood, P., & Hart, J. (2014). . Procedia Engineering, 72, 726-731.
Probst, H., Bragg, C., Dodwell, D., Green, D., & Hart, J. (2014). . Radiography, 20 (1), 70-81.
Lukes, R., Hart, J., & Haake, S. (2012). . Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part P: Journal of Sports Engineering and Technology, 226 (2), 143-151.
Probst, H., Taylor, A., Bragg, C., Dodwell, D., Haake, S., Hart, J., ... Shuttleworth, P. (2012). . Radiotherapy and Oncology, 103 (S1), S376-S377.
Wheat, J., Hart, J., Domone, S., & Outram, T.A. (2011). . Journal of Sports Sciences, 29 (s2), 23-24.
Rowson, J., Yoxall, A., & Hart, J. (2008). . Packaging Technology and Science, 21 (5), 287-296.
Hart, J., Curtis, D., Hamilton, N.D.R., & Haake, S. (2004). . .
Bullough, W.A., Hart, J.H., & Chin, S.B. (2003). . International journal of mechanical engineering education, 31 (2), 150-159.
Conference papers
Dawber, W., Foster, L., Senior, T., & Hart, J. (2024). . In Carfagni, M., Furferi, R., Di Stefano, P., Governi, L., & Gherardini, F. (Eds.) Third International Conference on Design Tools and Methods in Industrial Engineering, ADM, Florence, Italy, 6 September 2023 - 8 September 2023 (pp. 169-176). Springer Nature Switzerland:
Ali, K., Shafizadeh, M., Nasr, N., Balchin, T., Hart, J., & Kelley, J. (2024). . Age and Ageing, 53 (Supp 1).
Dawber, W., Foster, L., Senior, T., & Hart, J. (2023). . 2023 IRCOBI Conference Proceedings, 637-638.
Haid, D., Duncan, O., Hart, J., & Foster, L. (2023). . 2023 IRCOBI Conference Proceedings, 23 (123), 972-973.
Thelwell, M., BULLAS, A., KUHNAPFEL, A., Hart, J., AHNERT, P., Wheat, J., ... CHOPPIN, S. (2020). . Proceedings of 3DBODY.TECH 2020 - 11th International Conference and Exhibition on 3D Body Scanning and Processing Technologies, Online/Virtual, 17-18 November 2020.
Delaye, S., Streeter, P., Morales, E., Wood, P., Senior, T., Hart, J., & Allen, T. (2016). . Procedia engineering, 147, 354-359.
Lukes, R., Hart, J., Potts, J., & Haake, S. (2014). . Procedia Engineering, 72, 685-690.
Clarkson, S., Choppin, S., Hart, J., Heller, B., & Wheat, J. (2012). . In 3rd International Conference on 3D Body Scanning Technologies, Lugano, Switzerland, 16 October 2012 - 17 October 2012.
James, D., MacDonald, D.C., & Hart, J. (2012). . Procedia engineering, 34, 188-193.
Allen, T., Hart, J., Spurr, J., Haake, S., & Goodwill, S.R. (2010). . Procedia engineering, 2 (2), 3275-3280.
Hart, J., Allen, T., & Holroyd, M. (2010). . Procedia engineering, 2 (2), 2523-2528.
Hart, J., Curtis, D., & Haake, S. (2006). . In Moritz, E.F., & Haake, S. (Eds.) Engineering of sport 6, (pp. 401-406). Springer:
Book chapters
Nickel, L., Haid, D., Duncan, O., Hart, J., & Foster, L. (2024). Reliability of a Test Method to Assess Ice Hockey Head Impacts. In Lecture Notes in Mechanical Engineering. (pp. 152-160). Springer Nature Switzerland:
Haid, D., Duncan, O., Hart, J., & Foster, L. (2024). Proof-of-Concept of an Adaptable Mechanical Metamaterial for Ice Hockey Helmet Liners. In Lecture Notes in Mechanical Engineering. (pp. 161-168). Springer Nature Switzerland:
Larmen, R., Turnock, S., & Hart, J. (2008). . In Estivalet, M., & Brisson, P. (Eds.) The engineering of sport 7. (pp. 117-125). Springer:
Hart, J., Haake, S., Gazzara, R., & Pezzato, M. (2007). . In Miller, S., & Capel-Davis, J. (Eds.) Tennis science and technology 3. (pp. 121-127). International tennis federation
Lukes, R.A., Hart, J.H., Chin, S.B., & Haake, S. (2005). . In Proceedings of the Fluent user group meeting, Warwick, UK. (pp. 65-75). Fluent
Lukes, R.A., Hart, J.H., Chin, S.B., & Haake, S. (2005). . In Subic, A., & Ujihashi, S. (Eds.) Proceedings of the Asia-Pacific congress on sports technology. (pp. 286-291). Australasian sports technology alliance
Lukes, R.A., Chin, S.B., Hart, J.H., & Haake, S. (2004). . In Hubbard, M., Mehta, R.D., & Pallis, J.M. (Eds.) The engineering of sport 5. (pp. 104-110). International sport engineering association
Theses / Dissertations
Haid, D.M. (2024). . (Doctoral thesis). Supervised by Foster, L., Duncan, O., & Hart, J.
Thelwell, M. (2021). . (Doctoral thesis). Supervised by Choppin, S., Wheat, J., Hart, J., & Bullas, A.
Patents
Hart, J., & Warnock, R. (2019). . USD837870S1.
Hart, J., & Hamilton, N. (2017). . EP2729222B1.
Hart, J., & Hamilton, N. (2016). . CN103717275B.
Hart, J., & King, C. (2014). . GB2510193A.
Henrikson, E., Wood, P., Hart, J., & Schweigert, B. (2013). . US8608587B2.
Media
Westerman, J., & Hart, J. (2011). . [video]. Ï㽶ÊÓƵ
Other publications
Hart, J., Dunn, M., & James, D. (2018). . FIFA:
Postgraduate supervision
Current Director of Studies for doctoral researcher investigating improved injury representation within public order helmet impact testing.
Previously supervised two further doctoral researchers to completion in the sports engineering related fields of morphology and sports safety.
Media
Dr John Hart is a Senior Ï㽶ÊÓƵ Fellow at the Centre for Sports Engineering Ï㽶ÊÓƵ (CSER). John is an expert in computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD), reverse engineering and 3D imaging. He delivers engineering solutions to a wide range of clients within the sports and healthcare sectors both within the UK and internationally. This has included: assisting FIFA in the development of equipment standards; development of novel sports projectiles with international clients and Badminton England, funded under the Sport England Innovation Fund; development of equipment for use with dysphagia sufferers funded by the Abbeyfield Ï㽶ÊÓƵ Foundation; CFD consultancy for Ping Golf, work which led to the G30 driver, a #1 selling driver in Europe and USA. In addition to his research John is course leader for MSc Sports Engineering and lectures on a number of modules at Ï㽶ÊÓƵ, and is the department resident photographer.
The Centre for Sports Engineering Ï㽶ÊÓƵ (CSER) is led by Dr Simon Goodwill. It is the world's largest academic group in sports engineering and an internationally renowned centre of excellence for research and knowledge transfer. The centre's work is based on four research disciplines; applied computing, biomechanics, design engineering, and skill acquisition. In each area, researchers develop fundamental knowledge and deliver applied solutions to enhance athletic performance, reduce injury and promote physical activity.
CSER works in partnership with many sport, health and commercial organisations. We are immensely proud of our work with Team GB Olympic, and Paralympic athletes, and we enjoy research partnerships with global organisations such as the International Tennis Federation, FIFA, and Adidas.
Areas of expertise:
- Sports engineering
- Aerodynamics
- Fluid dynamics
- Design engineering
- CFD
- Simulation
- 3D imaging