Centre for Infrastructure Systems Engineering

Overview

Our research encompasses the behaviour of complex structural systems under cyclic, dynamic and extreme loads, the life-cycle characterisation and modelling of damage processes, and the performance management of individual assets and large infrastructure networks. We investigate the enormous potential of digital technologies, including sensing and machine learning algorithms, telecommunication engineering and data science on smart infrastructure and its social, environmental and economic impact on society. Advanced physical testing plays a key part in our research, with tests possible on a wide spectrum of specimens, from single fibres to full-scale bridge sub-assemblies in loading frames ranging from 1N to 1MN.

Our staff and research students bring together core competencies in materials, mechanics and structural engineering, with expertise in statistical methods, informatics and decision theory. We have established collaborations with a variety of industry partners, enabling us to analyse real data from critical infrastructure assets and to influence the development of industry guidelines on design, inspection and maintenance.

Research areas

• Asset integrity management of transport and water infrastructure networks
• Infrastructure monitoring and data analytics
• Innovative construction materials
• Hybrid and composite construction systems
• Modelling and testing of structures under static/dynamic/fatigue loading
• Risk and resilience of infrastructure assets and networks
• Robustness and progressive collapse of structural systems
• Spatial structures: form development and optimisation
• Urban systems growth modelling and nature-based solutions.