Rate My Professor Cris Arnold

Professor Cris Arnold is a Professor of Aerospace Engineering at Swansea University, affiliated with the School of Aerospace, Civil, Electrical and Mechanical Engineering. He currently serves as the School Education Lead, responsible for overseeing all undergraduate and taught postgraduate programmes within the school. With extensive experience in collaborating with industry on joint research projects, technology transfer initiatives, and industry-embedded education programmes, Professor Arnold has established strong links between academia and practical applications. He supervises more than 40 doctoral and master's students and has authored nearly 100 publications, achieving an H-index of 17. Additionally, he leads the Degree Apprenticeship schemes in Engineering, developed in partnership with Coleg Cambria. His teaching portfolio includes modules on polymer and composite materials, structural analysis, and environmental issues related to engineering materials.

Professor Arnold's research focuses on the mechanical performance and characterisation of polymer and composite materials, particularly their long-term durability under degradation and weathering mechanisms. His work encompasses environmental impact assessments and recycling strategies for these materials. Key research areas include lifetime assessment of polymers and composites; weathering of polymeric materials and coatings; effects of liquid absorption on polymers and composites; and recycling processes. Notable publications include: Al-Salem et al. (2019), "Study of the degradation profile for virgin linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE) and polyolefin (PO) plastic waste blends," Journal of Material Cycles and Waste Management; Korkees, F., Arnold, C., & Alston, S. (2019), "Water absorption and low-energy impact and their role in the failure of ±45° carbon fibre composites," Polymer Composites, 39(8), 2771-2782; Alston, S., Arnold, C., Swan, M., & Stone, C. (2021), "A source-sink model for water diffusion in an activated carbon fiber/phenolic composite," Polymer Composites, 42(7), 3550-3561; and Arnold, J., Alston, S., Korkees, F., & Arnold, C., "The Long-Term Water Absorption and Desorption Behaviour of Carbon-fibre / Epoxy Composites," Proceedings of the 15th European Conference on Composite Materials. His contributions have advanced understanding of material durability and sustainability in aerospace and engineering applications.