Professor Manicka Dhanasekar

Biography

Broad Area of Research: Infrastructure Main Areas of Research Professor Manicka Dhanasekar has defined three main research areas:   Structural Masonry Masonry has close association with human civilisation. Modern masonry is designed using advanced engineering principles, resulting in thinner and more economical walling systems. As several constituent materials are used in masonry, rational analysis is a challenge in masonry research. Furthermore the industry is pioneering with various innovative products to sustain the competitiveness of masonry against other building products. Structural masonry research group examines such novel systems using experimental and analytical/ numerical modelling methods with a view to standardising the products, which ensures safety. Rail & Rail Joints Rail is the most expensive component of track system and hence the industry spends much effort in improving the life of rails through advanced engineering analysis and field maintenance practices. Rail, perhaps is the most severely stressed structural member as heavy wheel loads pass over them routinely at varying speeds. Joints in rail suffer significant damage over a period of time that can affect the safety of the track structure and the train traffic. State-of-the-art finite element methods are used to determine the contact-impact scenario and damage plasticity theories are required to evaluate the ongoing plastic deformation and metal flow. Stresses are also managed through modifications to the contact patch and railhead shape optimisation. Innovative Infrastructure Infrastructure engineering projects are very large, expensive and complex; they require excellent problem solving skills underpinned by sound knowledge base, especially in structural mechanics, design and construction. At design stage innovative ideas on selection of materials, shape of components, design detailing must be thought through to assess the suitability of the alternate ideas and their cost effectiveness. Ideas that are not normally practiced in the field may have the potential to be good solutions; research is needed for examining the appropriateness of these ideas. Grants I secured $3,817,846 in research funding from the ARC and Commonwealth Department of Infrastructure, CRC in partnership with colleagues in Australia and overseas; I personally secured an industry funding of $300,000 from the CMAA. Awards and Recognitions

• Outstanding Research Higher Degree Students' Supervisor, Nominee QUT, 2011
• Invited by the Australian Council of Engineering Deans (ACED), to work as part of a team that has been empowered with ranking of journals and conferences for the ARC ERA 2010 project.
• Editorial Board Member: Journal of Civil Engineering Science & International Journal of Mechanics & Solids
• Chair, Scientific Committee - Conference on Railway Engineering, Brisbane, 2012
• Chair, Scientific Committee - Australasian Masonry Conference, Queens Town, NZ, 2011
• Best Research Paper Award in rail infrastructure, Railway Engineering Conf., London, June 2007
• Best Research Supervisor in Engineering Award, CQU 2005
• RW Chapman Medal for Best Contribution to Stuctural Engineering in Australia, IE Australia, 2004
• Who's Who in Computational Science & Engineering (2005 - 2006) Saxe-Coburg, UK
• Fellowship, DAAD - German Academic Exchange Service, 2003

Career History 2007 – Present: Professor, School of Civil Engineering and Built Environment, Queensland University of Technology, Australia 2001 – 2007: Associate Professor, Infrastructure Engg. & Director, CRE, Central Queensland University, Australia 1992 – 2001: Associate Professor, Senior Lecturer & Lecturer, Structural Engineering, Central Queensland University, Australia 1996: Visiting Professor in Civil Engineering, University of Calgary, Canada 1991: Senior Tutor, Architectural Structures, University of Sydney, Australia; Research Assistant in Fire Technology (50%), CSIRO, North Ryde, Australia 1985 – 1990: Lecturer & Associate Professor in Building Engineering & Management, School of Planning & Architecture, New Delhi 1981 – 1984: Tutor in Civil Engineering, University of Newcastle, Australia 1980 – 1981: Assistant Engineer, Tamil Nadu Public Works Department, Chennai