Mitigating vehicular crashes into masonry structures using innovative damping technologies at wall edges

Overview

With population increases in major cities accompanied by increase in vehicles on road and waterways, structures such as columns in buildings and bridges as well as walls in buildings that are adjacent to the roads or waterways become vulnerable to vehicular crashes. These impacts cause damage or failure to the structure and injuries/deaths to passengers and users of the structure.

This project will evaluate the vulnerability of one of those structures to credible vehicular crash and the effects of controlling parameters. It will then propose mitigation strategies using new materials technology and advanced modelling techniques.

Research activities

You'll conduct extensive computer modelling and analysis using the finite element method. You'll also be involved in limited experimental testing using our innovative impact testing machine at our Banyo testing facility.

Outcomes

Upon conclusion of the research project, you'll have created:

• a vulnerability assessment of the structure to credible vehicular crashes
• mitigation strategies involving new materials technology to minimise the adverse effects of the crashes.

Skills and experience

To be considered for this student topic, you should have knowledge of:

• structural dynamics (EGB475)
• finite element modelling and analysis (EGB485).

Scholarships

You may be able to apply for a research scholarship in our annual scholarship round.

Annual scholarship round

Keywords

• Vehicular Crash
• Building and bridge columns
• Bridge piers
• New materials technology

Contact

Contact the supervisor for more information.