Hazards
Population growth and climate change have exposed humanity to increased risk from natural and man-made disasters such as flooding, landslides, earthquakes, blast loading and fire. We work to make our infrastructure systems and buildings more resilient and sustainable in the face of such hazards.
Our research combines small and large scale laboratory tests and field-scale physical studies, digital data collection techniques, innovative modelling and decision-making tools at the cutting-edge of data science, numerical analysis, and complex systems theory.
Our water engineering group applies transdisciplinary expertise across hydrology, hydraulic and infrastructure engineering, as well as psychology and management to test new designs and approaches to ensure resilience, efficiency and adaptability in our urban water systems. Our structural fire research focuses on the fire resistance behaviour of structures, towards improving fire engineering design practice in terms of safety, efficiency and sustainability. Our blast and impact research aims to characterise the threats from accidental or malicious high-explosive detonations, and their effects on materials and structures. In earthquake engineering, our research covers seismic vulnerability and risk analysis, seismic protective devices, performance-based design methodologies, and innovative strengthening techniques. Our geotechnical hazards research focuses on understanding and mitigating both natural and man-made ground failure under seismic and weather related triggers.
Disciplines
Our department has been research-led for over 100 years and our academic staff are organised into four overarching disciplines, the main ones being Water Engineering and Structural Engineering and Materials.
Structural Engineering & Materials
Resources, Infrastructure Systems and Built Environments
Current research
The Rosetta Stone Network: Physical testing towards a common unstanding of debris flow (Leverhulme Trust)
Mechanisms & Characterisation of Explosions (EPSRC)
Effect of microbial community interactions on ETBE biodegradation potential in groundwater (CONCAWE)
FRGeo-Crete (Horizon 2020)
Exploiting the resilience of masonry arch bridge infrastructure (EPSRC)
GRE.A.TE.R.S. (Horizon 2020)
Previous research - last 5 years
RCUK-TUBITAK Research Partnerships (EPSRC)
HARM - High Attenuation Recycling Materials (Horizon 2020)
INSPIRATION (Horizon 2020)
Academics involved
| Name | Other Research Themes |
|---|---|
| Bau, Dr Domenico | |
| de Borst, Prof. René | Infrastructure, Energy & Materials |
| Bowman, Dr Elisabeth | Infrastructure |
| Boxall, Prof. Joby | Infrastructure, Digital & Energy |
| Burgess, Prof. Ian | Infrastructure, Digital & Materials |
| Clarke, Prof. Sam | Infrastructure & Materials |
| Collins, Dr Richard | Infrastructure |
| Davison, Prof. Buick | Infrastructure & Materials |
| Douterelo Soler, Dr Isabel | Infrastructure |
| Gaspar, Dr Tiago | Infrastructure |
| Gilbert, Prof. Matthew | Infrastructure, Digital & Materials |
| Guadagnini, Dr Maurizio | Infrastructure & Materials |
| Guymer, Prof. Ian | Infrastructure |
| Hajirasouliha, Prof. Iman | Infrastructure & Materials |
| Huang, Dr Shan-Shan | Infrastructure & Materials |
| Husband, Dr Stewart | Infrastructure |
| Kesserwani, Dr Georges | Infrastructure & Digital |
| Langdon, Prof. Genevieve | Materials |
| Leonardi, Dr Alessandro | |
| McLaggan, Dr Martyn | Energy & Materials |
| Nematollahi, Dr Behzad | Infrastructure & Materials |
| Nichols, Dr Andy | Infrastructure |
| Ozdemir, Dr Zuhal | Infrastructure & Materials |
| Pilakoutas, Prof. Kypros | Infrastructure & Materials |
| Rigby, Dr Sam | Infrastructure, Digital & Materials |
| Rougé, Dr Charles | Infrastructure, Energy, Digital & Materials |
| Schellart, Dr Alma | Infrastructure & Energy |
| Shucksmith, Dr James | Infrastructure |
| Smith, Prof. Colin | Infrastructure, Digital & Materials |
| Speight, Prof. Vanessa | Infrastructure |
| Stovin, Prof. Virginia | Infrastructure & Materials |
| Tait, Prof. Simon | Infrastructure & Energy |
| Thornton, Prof. Steve | Materials |
| Torelli, Dr Giacomo | Infrastructure & Materials |
| Tyas, Prof. Andrew | Infrastructure, Digital & Materials |