The structures group is one of the world leaders in this area of research, with many areas of acknowledged international expertise. Such areas include:

• Earthquake Engineering
• Structural Dynamics
• High Performance Materials
• Protective Technologies
• Roman Technology

Funding from national competitive and industry grants supports research activities within these areas, and is reflected by the number and quality of research publications. The structures research group currently has 7 staff and 24 postgraduate students.

Earthquake Engineering

The group is one of the world leaders in seismic performance modelling of regions of low and moderate seismic activity which include Australia. There has been strong and long-standing collaboration with top researchers in leading institutions in both Australia and internationally including Geoscience Australia, University of Adelaide, Monash University, National University of Singapore and University of Hong Kong. Research includes modelling of ground motion attenuation, site amplification, seismic behaviour of structures, building vulnerability and damage to non structural components.

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Structural Dynamics

The group has an international reputation in the field of general structural dynamics and dynamic testing techniques in particular. Research topics include: the dynamic response characteristics of offshore structures to environmental loading from wind, waves and current; land-based structures (bridges and building and floor systems) under wind, traffic and human-induced excitation; the use of dynamic testing techniques for structural system identification and damage detection. The group possesses modern Experimental Modal Analysis hardware instrumentation and software that allows them to dynamically test structural components and systems both in the laboratory and in-service.

High Performance Materials

This group is one of the leading research groups in the world, especially on high-strength (HSC)/high-performance concrete (HPC). Topics such as confinement, transmission of HSC column loads through weaker slabs, biaxial bending, bond behaviour, fire behaviour, behaviour of anchors in HSC, shear behaviour of HSC, behaviour under high-strain rates, early strength development of HPC are covered in this research. Research on behaviour of structural members constructed from (or retrofitted with) other materials such as fibre reinforced polymers (FRP), Ultra-strength reactive powder concrete (RPC), light-weight foam concrete, geopolymer concretes, high-strength steel is also conducted. In addition, ductility issues with 500MPa class L mesh are also being investigated.

Protective Technologies

The Advanced Protective Technology of Engineering Structures (APTES) Research Group is a leader in critical infrastructure protection in Australia and in the region. The group consists of internationally recognised experts in risk assessment and protective technologies for the built environment against bomb blasts, impact and fire. The group has developed advanced techniques for modelling these effects. The APTES group is coordinating the Research Network for a Secure Australia (RNSA). The group has been working closely with industry and other government organisations including the Victoria Police, DSTO, CSIRO, EMA and protective technologies centres in USA, UK, Canada and Singapore.

Roman Technology

Large scale Roman buildings such as theatres, amphitheatres and bath complexes are the impressive remains of a major civilization. Paradoxically, though individual buildings have been studied in great detail, few researchers have considered the fundamental design, engineering and construction skills developed by the Romans to enable building these structures. This project will explore that paradox by co-ordinating archaeological, architectural and engineering analysis on targeted sites. The first site under study is the theatre built at Beneventum (~100 AD). It is being structurally analysed to determine stresses present under gravity and earthquake loading. In addition, the researchers will attempt to replicate the concrete used in that structure and to test it in the laboratory. Later studies will be made of the Theatre at Cales (100BC) and the Theatre of Pompey in Rome (55 BC).

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Beneventum