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Introduction.
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Coastal Engineering.
The Coastal Engineering Research Group (CERG) is the largest research group in the School and has established its reputation as UK leaders in field based coastal engineering research, as evidenced by a continuing succession of research grants. It has an international reputation resulting in participation in European funded projects. The objective of CERG is to provide improved and new tools for coastal engineering design through the study of fundamental coastal processes. This objective has been achieved, in part, by the development and deployment of the School's own unique field measurement system, supported by numerical modelling and laboratory work using the School's wave flume.
For more information contact Professor Andrew Chadwick, Professor Geoff Bullock or Dr Dave Simmonds. |
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| Hydraulics. There are several research projects being undertaken in hydraulics. One involves the hydraulic performance of arch bridges during flood: how to analyse the flow through an arch and predict the performance of bridge, the differences between rectangular openings and arches, and methods of increasing the discharge performance of real bridges during flood, as well as laboratory studies. Many arch bridges are listed structures and must be preserved, while some new masonry arch bridges are being constructed because of their visual appeal. Other research has been concerned with preserving wetlands and raising water levels in areas where drainage has previously been undertaken to lower them.
For more information contact Dr Les Hamill. |
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| Dynamic Performance of Structures.
This is another project where full scale testing has been undertaken, this time to enable the condition of a structure to be assessed by vibrating it. A specially constructed forced vibrator has been developed within the School, and this has been used to vibrate buildings and bridges. This technique can be used to complement visual inspections and other non-destructive methods of testing. For more information contact Dr Clive Williams. Click below to view images in more detail
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| Masonry Structures. This research has mainly been concerned with the behaviour of prestressed brickwork beams and low rise arches. Studies are being carried out in the laboratory and in the field, and both support the development of analytical techniques. The use of brick to construct bridges has recently gained in popularity because of its low maintenance cost and its aesthetic qualities. The use of non-metallic prestressing tendons is also being investigated, again with the aim of reducing the cost of maintenance. Recently the School, in association with Curtins Consulting Engineers of London, has constructed two post-tensioned brickwork footbridges (see picture below). One has steel tendons and the other Parafil, a modern composite material. The performance of the bridges is being monitored, and will enable the viability of this new construction method to be assessed. . For more information contact Mr Dave Easterbrook. |
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Integrated Computer Aided Structural Design of Buildings.
Recent advances in technology have led to radical changes in structural design, with the computer now being used in every design office. Much of the available computer software performs detailed analysis or design, but gives little guidance at the initial design stage when concepts are being developed. An important part of this research project is the development of a system to advise designers and to help them make informed decisions during the early stages. This work is being conducted with the assistance of the Faculty of Technology's Engineering Design Centre, one of seven such centres in the UK. This centre is pioneering the development of computer software to optimise engineering design. For more information contact Dr Yaqub Rafiq.
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Cob is a mixture of earth and straw, and cob is one of the oldest and most common building materials known to mankind. It is estimated that there are over 40,000 cob structures in Devon alone, most of them old, many of them listed buildings. To enable repair and maintenance to be properly planned and undertaken, more needs to be known about the engineering properties of cob. Consequently the School's Geotechnics Laboratory has been busy testing samples of cob manufactured from different types of soil and with different constituents. This research is being undertaken with the School of Architecture, the Department of Mechanical and Marine Engineering, the Department of Geology and English Heritage. The research is timely since new construction using cob is increasing; cob requires little energy input in its manufacture, the materials are readily available, and the material can easily be recycled so it is environmentally friendly and sustainable. For more information contact Mrs Kathryn Coventry. |
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| Efficient Buildings and Construction. Richard Dawe and Steve Goodhew are investigating the connections between construction efficiency, lean construction and the overarching issue of prefabrication evident in a novel project in Plymouth. This research in being undertaken with the Steel Construction Institute and Oxford Brookes University and is focussed upon a prefabricated modular steel building system. The modules are factory-prepared ready to lift into place onto a steel grid, increasing the height of an existing building by one storey. The research is focussed upon the logistics of the placement process and the acoustic, thermal and vibration properties of the completed structure when compared with a more traditional commonly used construction technique. As an extension to this project, an expression of interest has been made in collaboration with Dr Ray Ogden of Oxford Brookes University, to Imperial College as part of the MANUHouse project. For more information contact Dr Steve Goodhew |
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| Flexible Construction Education. Following the excellent rating of the Building Surveying Course in 1998, Paul Murray is co-ordinating a research project focussing upon flexible construction education. The Student-centred Learning In Construction Education (SLICE) project is centred around the school's outstanding teaching grading and will investigate the possible directions of flexible learning in this field. A range of good practice materials are to be produced with distinctive pointers to future developments. During the three year period that the project is currently due to run (a project extension is envisaged), schools and departments from four other Universities, such as the Universities of Salford and Birmingham, are collaborating with the School to research the different methods of flexible learning pertinent to construction courses. Extra funding is currently being sought to extend the lifetime of this important research and to provide continuity for the new staff members attracted by this research. Stephen Donohoe, Susan Turpin-Brooks and Melanie Parker joined the SLICE team in the spring of 2001. For more information contact Mr Paul Murray. |
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| Environmental Building. Reflecting the main theme of the suite of the surveying and construction related degrees, research into the environmental aspects of sustainable buildings and construction has been undertaken at the school for a year before the start of the Environmental degree programme. Currently several teaching members of staff are involved in research projects such as an investigation into effects and use of timber preservatives as a remedial treatment. Several publications are being prepared about this topic based upon surveys of Chartered Surveyors, Clients and timber treatment contractors. Steve Goodhew has been registered with the Centre for Earthen Architecture for a PhD since the mid-1990' s. Steve is investigating a new insitu thermal measurement technique and this research is on-track to be completed in mid January 2001. This research is now linked with participation in CLAY2, an EU research bid concerning all aspects of clay building materials. CLAY2 has been instigated by Mikael Westermark of the Helsinki University of Technology, in conjunction with CRATerre, Grenoble, Bauhaus University, Weimar, ENTEPE, Lyons and of course the University of Plymouth. Other environmentally related research topics include an investigation of the moisture distribution in two new building techniques at the forefront of sustainable buildings: straw bale and clay straw buildings. Many of these buildings have been used in warm climates in the United States and Australia since the turn of the century. However, their introduction into a maritime climate such as exists over the UK, questions whether the behaviour of these walling systems will fulfil all of the functional requirements here. A programme of testing is underway and includes measurements of two buildings, one built from straw bales and another from clay straw. This research is being undertaken in collaboration with the University of Ulster, forming a pilot study from which the moisture measurement technique is being perfected.
A common problem encountered with buildings in many parts of the UK but particularly the South West of England is the ingress of Radon gas into dwelling and working spaces. Many dwellings have a radon gas concentration level at or slightly above the current government action level. The occupants of such a dwelling often decide to undertake some remedial measures, but are often unwilling to undertake expensive and disruptive works to reduce these concentrations. Dr Paul Bird and Steve Goodhew have been investigating possible methods of diluting the Radon gas using natural ventilation. The test dwelling used for these previous measurements has now been modified to include a positive pressurisation system. A range of tests are now just beginning, investigating the relative effects of the natural ventilation system against the changes in radon gas concentration, temperature, humidity and air pressures. These results will be used to compare the two different approaches noting any other benefits such as reductions in humidity and negative aspects sure as fan noise etc. For more information contact Dr Steve Goodhew . |
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| New Building Research Topics. The teaching staff of the Environmental Building degrees will be joined by Steve Donohoe from the University of Cape Town in February 2001. Steve is due to complete his PhD soon, and is intending to research in the fields of adjudication and procurement methods. Dennis Wilkinson is an experienced Chartered Surveyor and has interests in building defects and the consequences of listing buildings. Dennis and Steve Goodhew will be applying for a grant from the RICS educational trust in February 2001, concerning the effect of the listing of a building upon its overall condition. Because of the number of listed buildings and the general lack of affluence of the far South West of England (Cornwall has category one status from the EU), it is felt that this topic has real resonance in the locality of the University. For more information contact Mr Dennis Wilkinson. |
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