Large-scale destruction of infrastructure and loss of life in the recent earthquakes in Turkey and other disasters around the world in the past indicates that the designed structures and buildings are still not resilient enough. The primary motivation for the proposed research is to develop strategies for optimal usage of shape memory alloy (SMA) in a building structure to enhance its resilience under extreme loads i.e., earthquakes, hurricanes and blasts.
SMA is a smart material having several unique properties such as (i) the ‘Shape Memory Effect (SME)’ by which the material can memorize a shape (ii) ‘super-elasticity (SE)’ i.e., the ability to undergo large recoverable strains (typically up to 4-8%) and (iii) different Young’s modulus in two phases (martensitic and austenitic) of the material. In the present work, the use of two types of SMAs i.e., the Nickel-Titanium alloy and the Fe-based SMAs will be explored.
Some important aspects proposed to be examined are (i) the performance of various connections and structural members enhanced with SMA (ii) SMA application to high-rise buildings (iii) optimum usage of SMA within structures, systems and components of buildings. The effectiveness of SMA for resilience under extreme loads will be assessed against performance criteria defined by a reduction in damage to the overall building structure, improved safety of occupants, inter-story drift, and re-centering capability of the structure.
Finite element simulations will be performed along with testing of laboratory-scaled structural members and connection enhanced with SMA. Initial tests will be for quasi-static pushover conditions followed by impact dynamic tests, that shall provide confidence in theoretical simulations for various building configurations under extreme excitations.
Important outcomes will be a deeper insight into strategies to be adopted for SMA applications and develop guidelines pertaining to the resilient design of buildings and civil structures using SMA including retrofitting strategies.
For further information regarding the project or an informal discussion please contact Director of Studies, Dr Shashank Gupta [Email Address Removed]
Applications
To apply for the PhD Research Studentship applicants must hold a first class/distinction at Master and/or Bachelor level of study.
Applications to include one identified project, a full CV (including 2 referee names and contact details), transcripts and a letter of application outlining the motivation for applying (maximum of 2 pages). Applicants from outside UK must provide evidence of English Language requirement as stated in https://www.wlv.ac.uk/research/research-degrees/
Application submission deadline is 10:00am BST 19 June 2023 to [Email Address Removed]
A shortlist of candidates will be prepared from the pool of applicants, in line with Faculty of Science and Engineering Post Graduate Research (PGR) studentship selection criteria, who will be invited to attend an interview with a panel of academic staff, week commencing 26 June 2023.
Following this process all successful candidates will be notified to enrol in July 2023 on a PhD degree programme. The studentship award will include tuition fees at home level for the first three years of full-time study including any write-up period fees and research support fees.
For further information on fees https://www.wlv.ac.uk/apply/funding-costs-fees-and-support/fees-and-costs/research-fees/
Informal enquiries are welcome and should be directed to individual Director of Studies mentioned above.