ThermoTun

ThermoTun

ThermoTun simulates pressures, velocities and temperatures in rail tunnels and stations. You can find more information in the ThermoTun section of this website.

A simplified interface can be used to run ThermoTun over the internet to perform calculations on a selection of pre-built tunnel configurations. See ThermoTun-Online.

ThermoTun was developed by Alan Vardy (Dundee Tunnel Research) and can be licensed from Vardy-Watt Ltd.

Vardy-Watt Ltd

Vardy-Watt Ltd is a family owned company and purchased the rights to ThermoTun software from Dundee Tunnel Research in 2025. Our aim is to continue to supply and support ThermoTun into the future.

The current employees of Vardy-Watt Ltd are:
Malcolm Vardy - Responsible for commercial activities and supply of software to licensees.
Alan Vardy - Technical Support and Development.

Alan Vardy previously licensed and supported ThermoTun through Dundee Tunnel Research.

Dundee Tunnel Research (DTR)

Alan Vardy continues to run Dundee Tunnel Research. DTR specialises in issues related to the operation of road and rail tunnels. It has particular expertise in tunnel aerodynamics and ventilation and its sofware has been used in the design of numerous tunnels around the world, including most of the long rail tunnels designed in the past 40 years.

DTR’s services include:

Consultancy is offered on an as-required basis. It is DTR’s policy to redirect enquirers to other providers of consultancy services or software when this would be expected to lead to a better result for the client.

Research is undertaken through the University of Dundee. One important theme is research that furthers understanding of unsteady flows in tunnels. Projects embrace both theoretical and physical modelling, including field testing such as flow measurements in a tunnel airshaft in Switzerland in October 2004.

DTR makes an important contribution to tunnel safety through the organisation of conferences. It co-sponsored (with ITC Ltd) all five of the influential series of international conferences on Safety in Road & Rail Tunnels and it has chaired the Technical Committees for these events. It also chaired the Technical Committees for two ITC international conferences on Tunnel Control and Communication and three of the BHR Group’s international symposia on the Aerodynamics and Ventilation of Vehicle Tunnels.