Research in Structural Engineering has contributed significantly to the Department's research efforts and research profile. It encompasses the traditional research areas associated with Structural Engineering, as well as more recent developments in advanced materials, structural form, and numerical modelling. In support of these research activities, the Department maintains a Heavy Structures Laboratory, Newcastle University's Rolling Load Facility (NUROLF) and Materials Laboratories.

Research within the Structural Engineering Group is co-ordinated through the SEAM Research Unit.

RESEARCH EXCELLENCE

The Department of Civil Engineering at Newcastle University has been awarded a Grade 5 resaerch rating in the last UK national Research Assessment Exercise (RAE 2001). The award of this high rating reflects the international excellence of the research programmes offered within the department.

Postgraduate Opportunities

Brief generic descriptions of research themes suitable for postgraduate study (PhD & MPhil research degrees) within the Structural Engineering Group are given below. More specific research topics under these themes are described on the web pages of the academic responsible.

For further information on research matters in Structural Engineering & Construction Management, contact Dr. P.D. Gosling, Postgraduate Tutor, using this proforma, or by Tel: +44 (0)191 222 6422, Fax: +44 (0)191 222 6502.

Full Scale Behaviour of Innovative Structural Solutions
The research is based upon seeking a better understanding of full scale structural engineering solutions in which innovative materials are used in new applications. The specific embodiments of the research range from pavement surfacing materials through to lightweight steel decking systems for aircraft arrestor systems. The unifying theme is  to develop an understanding of the structural system in which the behaviour is not yet sufficiently well defined to permit mathematical modelling. The result of the research is, in each situation, a methodology which can be used by practicing engineers in their day to day professional design work.
It is planned to remain at the forefront of research aimed at bridging the interface between practicing engineers and academic researchers. The projects are informed by selected previous and current consulting work undertaken within the Group, and, as such, are opportunity led.

Further information: Professor J. Knapton. 

Construction Process Re-Engineering
The construction management research in the Group involves studying parts of the construction process with a view to recommending improvements, which in some instances will involve an increased use of I.T.. Areas of research included:
     Delay claims on construction contracts - because of the complexity of the construction process, most forms of contract will provide an opportunity for the time for completion to be extended under certain circumstances. These circumstances will arise when a delay, for which the employer takes no responsibility, can be proved to have delayed the whole project. The mechanism for providing the necessary proof is not well established or recognised in the U.K.. The work in this area has been trying to understand how U.K. engineers are dealing with these problems.
     Record-keeping on construction contracts - one of the major problems of dealing with delay claims is that the records detailing exactly what happened during the construction process are rarely available in an accessible and comprehensive form. The prime source for progress information is in the site diaries. Research carried out within the Group has found these diaries to be wanting in many respects. A recommendation that stemmed from this work was to make use of hand held computers to allow a computer-searchable record to be produced which can be displayed using "Organiser" software.
     Feedback from construction to design - most of the major government reports on the construction industry over the last 50 years have recognised that a substantial failing of the industry lies in its separation of the construction and design process. This, it is argued, leads to designs which are difficult or expensive to build, because the designers do not have the constrcution know-how. Despite the repeated identification of this problem, little has been done to improve this situation. The work carried out in this area involves development of a methodology to aid the the essential feedback which will allow designers to gain an understanding of how their previous designs failed to live up to expectations.

Further information: Dr. S. Scott. 

Condition-monitoring of Structures and Identification and Evaluation of Defects Using Non-destructive Testing
Research in this area has developed over recent years from earlier work incorporating defect location within cast insitu concrete piles using dynamic techniques. Two S.E.R.C. (now E.P.S.R.C.) research grants were awarded to support this work, which has now broadened to include collaborative studied of condition monitoring of railway track and vehicles with Tyne & Wear Metro. These concepts are being developed to include methods of investigating old rubble-filled masonry walss (in collaboration with Patrick Parsons Ltd., Newcastle).
Recent research activities have included investigations into the performance and durability of rammed earth (laterite) walls for use in developing countries. Further work on this theme is planned within a current O.D.A. funded research project to examine the performance of roofing elements made from materials indigenous to a developing country (Zimbabwe).

Further information: Dr. D.M. Lilley. 

Development & Application of Finite Element and Optimization Techniques for Problems in Structural Mechanics

1.  Shape otimization for constrained geometrically nonlinear structures;
2.  Optimzation of geometrically & materially nonlinear structures;
3.  Effective solution algorithms for the analysis and optimization of geometrically nonlinear structures;
4.  Adaptive meshing and domain decomposition techniques and their application to large
     structural optimization problems.
5.  Finite element formulations for membrane, pneumatic and cable structures.
6.  Structural morphology.

Further information: Dr. P.D. Gosling.

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