Research

Underpinned by state-of-the-art computational tools and recent major investments in our advanced structural testing and concrete durability laboratories, our research ranges from fundamental to applied aspects of structural engineering.

In addition to our work on new and improved structural forms and materials, a growing theme has been on the response of structures to extreme loading including work on blast-resistance, seismic behaviour and structural robustness. Our contribution in the areas of lifetime assessment, durability and long-term behaviour continue to expand, as does our work on structural biomechanics.

Our research has been funded by Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), the European Commission, Office of Naval Research (USA), DTI, NPL, CIRIA, the UK Highways Agency, BNFL, NIREX, London Underground Limited, Fosroc International and Lafarge.

Principal areas of research include:

  • Bridge Engineering
  • Composite Construction
  • Computational Mechanics
  • Concrete Durability
  • Concrete Materials
  • Concrete Structures
  • Earthquake Engineering
  • Extreme and Hazardous Loading
  • Steel Structures
  • Structural Biomechanics
  • Structural Dynamics
  • Structural Reliability
  • Structural Stability

Our reseach

Structural engineering

Broad aspects of Structural Engineering are being investigated using a variety of experimental, computational and theoretical techniques. The behaviour and design of various structural components are focused upon a range of deterministic and probabilistic loadings such as fire, blast, seismic and wind.

Find out more

Structural materials

A significant proportion of the Structures section research is focused on investigating structural materials and how these behave in both the short and long-term. The traditional materials used in Civil Engineering construction, i.e. concrete and steel (with their variants), are studied in detail. Moreover, the response of modern composite materials also form a significant part of the research activity.

Find out more

Structural mechanics

There is considerable research activity in the area of Structural Mechanics. A variety of practical problems ranging from the fundamental theoretical modelling of nonlinear behaviour of structural components to the development of computational techniques for the numerical simulation of complex structural systems are studied.

Find out more

Academic and research staff and their research interests

On-going postgraduate research

Completed PhD Research

Interested in working with us?

PhD Applicants

The Structures Research Section welcomes applications from highly motivated and enthusiastic candidates, educated preferably to Masters level, in a relevant discipline. Please see our Postgraduate research (PhD) page for more information.

Contact Structures

Structures
Civil and Environmental Engineering
Skempton Building
Imperial College London
South Kensington Campus
London, SW7 2AZ

Telephone:
+44(0) 207 594 6040
Email: r.bello@imperial.ac.uk
Alternatively view our people lists

We are located in the Skempton Building (building number 27 on the South Kensington Campus Map). How to find us