Research Projects
Enhancing Connection Ductility for the Safe Design of Timber Structures
Role: Research Fellow
Funding: Royal Commission for the Exhibition of 1851
This research investigates the ductility and energy dissipation performance of a promising new method of constructing timber connections using screwed-in threaded rods and steel links. The proposed connections will be tested experimentally under monotonic and cyclic loading, simulating static and seismic conditions. The results from the physicl tests will be used to benchmark new numerical models that will underpin extensive parametric studies to highlight the effect of various design parameters on the connection performance. The parametric studies will inform the development of new analytical expressions for design, enabling connections to be fine-tuned to achieve the optimal balance of strength, ductility and stiffness for the safe design of timber structures subjected to extreme loads.
Material and Structural Behaviour of Rubberised Alkali-activated Concrete
Role: PhD Student
Funding: Imperial College London President's PhD Scholarship
The first part of this research focused on characterising the rate-dependnet mechanical properties of rubberised alkali-activated concrete, covering quasi-static, earthquake, impact and creep loading rates. The research then looked into the effect of external confinement on the compressive behaviour. Two systems of confinement were explored, including: i) wrapping the rubberised alkali-activated concrete specimens with fibre-reinforced polymer (FRP) sheets; and ii) using rubberised alkali-activated concrete as infill material in hollow steel tubes to form steel-concrete composite members. A series of experimental tests and numerical simulations were performed to assess the compressive behaviour and present formulations for design purposes. The last part of this research, which was partially supported by a Research Fund Award from the Society for Earthquake and Civil Engineering Dynamics (SECED), investigated the lateral cyclic behaviour of steel tubes infilled with rubberised alkali-activated concrete using experimental and numerical methods.
Mechanics-based Solutions for Reinforced Concrete Beams
Role: MSc Student
Funding: Universiti Putra Malaysia International Graduate Student Scholarship
This research presented analytical mechanics-based solutions for reinforced concrete beams, including beams externally reinforced with fibre-reinforced polymer (FRP) plates. The flexural behaviour was modelled by taking into account the non-linear material properties of concrete and the partial-interaction that occurs between the concrete and reinforcement. The analytical approach was validated against experimental results and was also compared to the predictions of several reinforced concrete design codes.
Research Sponsors
