Mitigating vehicular crashes into building using new materials technology and advanced modelling techniques

Study level

PhD

Background

Vehicular crashes into buildings in on-going and increasing with time due to population increases in cities and the consequent increase in the number of vehicles, buildings close to road edges due to land scarcity and at times due to weather and terrorist activities. These crashes cost dearly in terms of property damage and harm to occupants of the building and the vehicle. We are trialing an innovative auxetic composite render for the vulnerable walls of building in order to mitigate the adverse effects of vehicular crashes. Preliminary work has been encouraging.

Research Activities

1. Develop the innovative auxetic composite render.
2. Carry out simulations on the impact of rendered walls to confirm the feasibility of the approach.
3. Carry out experimental testing of rendered walls using the new generation impact testing facility (obtained through our ARC LIEF Grant).
4. Use the test results to study damage patterns and validate numerical models.
5. Use the numerical models to carry out a parametric study on the effects of controlling parameters.
6. Apply Artificial Neural Network for predicting wall responses under a range of vehicular crash scenarios.
7. Use the information in 5 and 6 above to develop design guidance.

Outcomes

1. Saving of lives of occupants in buildings and vehicles.
2. Reducing the damage to buildings and vehicles through the application of the proposed technique.
3. New knowledge on innovative composite render and its applications.

Skills and experience

Candidate must have:
1. Knowledge and experience in structural engineering and structural dynamics
2. Knowledge of computer modelling through Finite Element analyses.
3. Experience and or desire for testing and developing new materials.
4. Knowledge of techniques in machine learning will definitely be an advantage