Dr R Vollum, Prof B Izzuddin
Applications accepted all year round
About the Project
Imperial College London and Laing O’Rourke are seeking high quality applicants for a PhD project to understand inbuilt stresses in buildings and develop improved design guidance on the need for movement joints. The aim is to explore the in-situ stresses and movements that develop in concrete building structures due to applied loads and in particular due to restrained thermal and shrinkage strains. Field measurements of in-situ strains, movements and cracking in floors and components will be compared with numerical predictions. Analysis of field measurements of movements in buildings under construction by Laing O’Rourke and numerical simulations will lead to improved understanding of large scale creep and movement effects. Improved design oriented numerical procedures will be developed for the positioning of expansion and shrinkage joints in concrete structures.
Background
Much of today’s guidance for movement joints in buildings is based on generic guidance generated perhaps 50 years ago. There is little understanding of what real forces, movements and cracking are generated by long terms thermal and shrinkage movements. This is particularly relevant for composite floors combining precast and insitu concrete components which are a key focus of the research. Laing O’Rourke are industry leaders in the development of such flooring systems for which there is a lack of authoritative guidance on the effects of concrete shrinkage on performance. The lack of guidance results in movement joints being put into buildings where they are not needed which is undesirable. Further information on Laing O’Rourke’s approach to innovation can be found at http://www.laingorourke.com/engineering-the-future.aspx.
If you are interested in this position, please email a CV and covering letter to Steve Hullock at [Email Address Removed]. Please title your email "Guidance for movement in reinforced concrete buildings PhD". For informal enquires and to request more information, contact Dr Robert Vollum at [Email Address Removed] (http://www.imperial.ac.uk/people/r.vollum).
Funding Notes
Funding is available for applicants with settled UK status (see https://www.epsrc.ac.uk/skills/students/help/eligibility/ for eligibility) but outstanding EU candidates may also be considered. The studentship offers a stipend of approximately £16,000 per annum (tax free) and covers fees at the UK/EU student rate.
Applicants for the studentship should have or expect to obtain a first or upper second class MSc/MEng in engineering (civil, mechanical, aeronautics etc.), mathematics or physics. Some knowledge of the design of concrete structures, field measurement techniques, and nonlinear finite element analysis would be advantageous but not essential.
References
Deadline—Review of applications is in progress and will continue until a suitable candidate is identified.
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