About the project
Ageing infrastructure combined with increasing traffic growth, put into question the long-term viability of many rail and road bridges, whilst their annual maintenance is quite expensive and with significant environmental impact. Sustainability, durability, and resilience are key factors to be considered in the design and construction of new bridges. To this end, this research project aims to construct the scientific base for a sustainable- and resilience-based bridge design and construction, using a new hybrid aluminium-concrete deck.
In this project you have to study the mechanical behaviour of this innovative hybrid bridge deck through large-scale experimental testing and advanced numerical modelling using state of the art finite element software packages (e.g., ABAQUS, OpenSees). The obtained research outcomes will lead to substantial innovations and breakthrough in sustainable- and resilience-based design and construction of bridges that could pave the way for an entirely new way of designing and managing the future infrastructure artefacts.
The experiments will be performed in the cutting-edge UKCRIC National Infrastructures Laboratory which is ideally equipped to accommodate the experimental part of this innovative research project. You will be part of the Infrastructure Research Group which currently encompasses research carried out in the areas of structural and bridge engineering making a real impact on society’s biggest challenges. You will be based at Bolderwood Innovation Campus, and you will receive mentoring and training through the University’s Sustainable Infrastructure for Cities Centre of Doctoral Training.
We are looking for outstanding quality and exceptionally motivated candidates. Applicants should hold or expect to obtain a 1st class Honours degree or equivalent in a relevant subject area from a prime UK or international university. Candidates with MSc in Advanced Structural/Bridge Engineering are given priority. Some programming skill in MATLAB is required. Some knowledge of nonlinear finite element analysis is desirable but not essential. Funding will be allocated on a competitive basis.
