PhD Studentship: Advanced numerical modelling and development of design rules for novel demountable

Infrastructure Group

Location: Highfield Campus

Closing Date:  Sunday 20 November 2016

Reference: 796016AT

Project Reference: CMEES-INF-121

Project Themes: Structures and Solid Mechanics   Bridge maintenance aims to ensure serviceability along with safety of users and involves inspection, repair, strengthening or replacement of the whole or part of a bridge. Typically, these operations result in direct economic losses (e.g. material and labor costs) as well as in indirect socio-economic losses due to disruption of traffic flow (e.g. travel delays and business interruption). Depending on the type of bridge and the scale of maintenance operations, indirect losses might be several times higher than direct losses and constitute one of the major challenges that bridge owners and engineers face.

The PhD project will build on the results of a recently completed large-scale experimental research program carried out by the team of Professor Karavasilis on novel structural components that allow disassembly and rapid repair or replacement of deteriorating steel-concrete composite bridges.

The PhD project will develop advanced finite element models in ABAQUS to reproduce the complex nonlinear behaviour of full-scale specimens (e.g. 10 m span steel-concrete composite bridge) in the laboratory. The calibrated models will be used to: (i) gain further insight in the local behaviour of the new components; (ii) optimise their structural details; and (iii) assess their effect on the short-term and long-term behaviour of composite bridges. Moreover, parametric numerical simulations will be conducted to expand the available experimental databank and formal statistical methods will be used to develop reliable design rules within the framework of Eurocode 4. Finally, the project will conduct realistic bridge design and life cycle cost assessment studies.

The PhD studentship covers both fees and stipend for Home/EU applicants, and will offer the opportunity for interaction with other research groups and bridge engineering consultants in the UK. The PhD student will be supported to disseminate research results in conferences and workshops.

The ideal candidate should have a degree (at least class 2.1 or equivalent) in civil/structural engineering; adequate knowledge of English; and prior experience in nonlinear finite element analysis of structural components, joints and systems. Other desirable qualifications include experience in design and numerical simulation of steel-concrete composite structures; use of ABAQUS; and bridge engineering.

Interviews will take place soon after the end of the closing date for applications.

If you wish to discuss further details of the project informally, please contact Professor Theodore Karavasilis - Chair in Structures and Structural Mechanics. Email: T.Karavasilis@soton.ac.uk Tel: +44 (0) 2380 59 3947 To apply please use the following link http://www.southampton.ac.uk/engineering/postgraduate/research_degrees/apply.page? and select Faculty of Engineering and the Environment.

Further details:

• Job Description and Person Specification