Submitted by Paula Block on Thu, 02/04/2026 - 14:32
Congratulations to Jamie Clarkson, from FIBE2 Cohort 3, on successfully completing his PhD!
His thesis, “Stretching‑based instabilities in strip‑like shells,” explores the fascinating mechanics of tape‑springs, long thin strips with transverse curvature, much like a carpenter’s tape measure. When bent, these structures are initially quite stiff, but at a critical point their cross‑section collapses, creating a hinge‑like elastic fold that allows them to bend around corners. This unique ability to form and recover from folds makes tape‑springs invaluable in deployable aerospace structures, including mechanisms used to unfurl satellite solar panels.
Jamie’s research advanced the understanding of this fold behaviour, focusing in particular on tapered‑springs, tape‑springs whose cross‑section varies along their length. His research discovered how to make folds which are spiral in form, and observed a novel fold “jumping” behaviour for some tapered-spring geometries, opening up new design possibilities for deployable structures.
Jamie’s achievements are impressive: his findings have resulted in five journal publications, including two in Proceedings of the Royal Society. He also showcased his research at the ESMC 2025 conference in Lyon, highlighting the significance and impact of his contributions.
“I have greatly enjoyed my time at the CDT – it’s nice having a cohort of fellow students going through the PhD at the same time as you, and having cohorts in the years above to let you know what to expect. The Aromi lunches at various CDT events were always a highlight, as were the various FIBE socials over the years, from games nights to punting and barbecues. I would definitely recommend to anyone looking to do a PhD – not least because it makes the funding situation so straightforward. Thanks definitely need to go to the admin team, who are always very supportive and really set a great atmosphere.” - Jamie Clarkson
Since submitting his thesis in October last year, Jamie has taken up a role as a Structural Engineer at Smith and Wallwork, a structural engineering consultancy in Cambridge known for delivering many of the new builds and refurbishment projects around the university and colleges. Smith and Wallwork was an industry partner for our very first Centre of Doctoral Training, FIBE CDT. Jamie first joined the firm as a summer intern during his undergraduate studies in 2019, and was delighted they welcomed him back! Especially as he is now contributing once again to the very project he worked on back then. What began as an early‑stage concept in 2019 has since progressed into a full construction project, giving him the rare opportunity to see an idea evolve into reality.
Jamie is also involved in the refurbishment of the History Faculty Library on the Sidgwick Site. He notes that learning to interpret scans of 1960s rebar drawings has been quite the experience, an unexpected but memorable part of adapting modern engineering practice to mid‑20th‑century documentation.
FIBE2 CDT wishes Jamie every success as he steps into this next chapter of his career. May his future be as rewarding and impactful as the research that brought him here.