Structures Laboratory & Civil Engineering Research Laboratory
The Civil Engineering Research Facility consists of a dedicated laboratory facility. The testing laboratory is
dedicated to research and development work, encompassing both empirical
and numerical testing/design programmes. Recent research projects
include:
Development of a novel water purification system using plant extracts for developing countries
The use of novel vegetable fibre geotextiles to reinforce and reinstate contaminated soils
Improving the performance of unpaved roads in Africa
Performance of lime mortars in masonry
The use of thermally desorbed soils in concrete and mortars
Fire resistance of masonry structures
Sustainability and the sustainable use of building materials
Structural behaviour of long span steel concrete composite structures
Behaviour of shear connectors
Behaviour of concrete filled composite columns
Fire engineering of steel and composite structures
Robustness and prevention of progressive collapse to steel and composite structures
The group has been very successful in recent years, obtaining a
number of research grants from highly regarded UK funding agencies,
namely the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC)
and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), together with industrial
consultancy projects. Collectively the group has received awards in the
order of £750k.