PhD Level Research Projects
TRƯỜNG ĐẠI HỌC LIVERPOOL
KHOA CÔNG TRÌNH
CÁC DỰ ÁN NGHIÊN CỨU SINH 2004
THÍ NGHIỆM KHÔNG PHÁ HOẠI TRONG XÂY DỰNG CÔNG TRÌNH
Người hướng dẫn : Giáo sư J H Bungey
Công ngh ệ th í nghi ệm kh ông ph á ho ại k ết c ấu đ ư ợc s ử d ụng trong x ây d ựng c ông tr ình cho ph ép x ác
đ ịnh ch ính x ác b ản ch ất v à đi ều ki ện l àm vi ệc c ủa c ác k ết c ấu. Khoa c ó r ất nhi ều king nghi ệm v à th ực ti
ễn v ề l ĩnh v ực n ày v à c ó th ể h ư ớng d ẫn NCS v ề c ông ngh ệ v à gi ải th ích roc k ết qu ả.
and can offer a range of PhD level work focussing on applications of techniques and
interpretation of results. The use of such results to permit estimates of future lifetime prediction
will be important when planning maintenance and refurbishment programmes, as well as
identifying the cause and extent of damage and establishing continued serviceability. Such
projects are likely to involve a combination of theoretical studies, experimental work (possibly on
site) and computer modelling.
A wide range of non-destructive testing techniques are used within Civil Engineering to permit
in-situ evaluation and assessment of the nature and condition of structures. The Department has
extensive experience and expertise in this field and can offer a range of PhD level work focussing
on applications of techniques and interpretation of results. The use of such results to permit
estimates of future lifetime prediction will be important when planning maintenance and
refurbishment programmes, as well as identifying the cause and extent of damage and establishing
continued serviceability. M ỗi d ự án th ư ờng bao g ồm s ự k ết h ợp gi ữa nghi ên c ứu l ý thuy ết, c ác c ông t
ác th í nghi ệm th ực t ế (c ó th ể ở c ông tr ư ờng) v à m ô h ình m áy t ính
IN-PLACE STRENGTH ASSESSMENT OF HIGH STRENGTH CONCRETE
Supervisors: Professor J H Bungey and Dr M N Soutsos
A range of techniques are available to assess the in-place strength of structural concrete on the
basis of non-destructive and partially destructive testing. With the growing usage of High
Strength Concrete world-wide it is necessary to investigate the applicability of these established
techniques to these new materials (which may additionally incorporate fibres). to develop
guidelines for the most appropriate testing and interpretation procedures. This work would
involve theoretical studies, computer modelling and laboratory experimental studies.

temperatures. There are however indications that ggbs and pfa are heavily penalised by the
standard curing regimes. The high early age temperatures occurring inside structural elements
appear to provide the activation energy needed for the pozzolanic reaction to "kick-in" earlier.
This results in in-situ/air-cured or standard cured strength ratios of 2.0 to 2.4 as compared to ratios
of 1.0 to 1.4 for ordinary Portland cement concrete mixes. The main aim of this project will be to
investigate the early age strength development of ggbs, pfa, ggbs/csf and pfa/csf composite
cements under simulated in-situ temperature histories in order to give guidance for their use in
fast track construction. It is important that techniques for monitoring the strength development on
site, e.g., pull-out tests, microcores and maturity measurements, are validated for these composite
cements. This work would involve theoretical studies, computer modelling and laboratory
experimental studies
THERMAL STRESSES IN CONCRETE AT EARLY AGES.
Supervisor: Dr M N Soutsos
Thermal cracking in the structural concrete of foundations, bridges, tunnel linings and other
medium-sized elements has become an increasing problem in the past decades. Previous methods
of predicting thermal cracking and stresses in concrete structures have until now relied entirely on
empirical knowledge of previous construction. Now, with the advent of powerful computer
processing capabilities, it is proposed that a more rigorous and theoretically valid approach needs
to be adopted. Equipment will be developed together with practical experimental procedures for
determining the heat of hydration and early age mechanical properties of concrete specimens
undergoing the same temperature cycles as they would in a real structure. These will comprise the
increasing compressive and tensile strength, the increase of stiffness and the decrease of
relaxation capacity, the coefficient of thermal expansion and the influence of chemical reactions
on the deformation. These properties can then be used in conjunction with numerical modelling
techniques to look at the many ramifications of the heat problem. This will include the effects of
concrete strength, i.e. normal and high, binder type and content, size of structural element, casting
PhD Level Research Projects
2
PhD Level Research Projects
and ambient temperatures, formwork type and time of removal on the maximum temperature rise

MIX DESIGN, MECHANICAL PROPERTIES AND IMPACT RESISTANCE OF
REACTIVE POWDER CONCRETE (RPC).
Supervisor: Dr M N Soutsos, Prof. J. H. Bungey and Dr. S G Millard
Ultra high performance fibre reinforced concretes (UHPFRCs) which have been developed in an
attempt to improve the mechanical performance of cementitious materials, especially strength and
ductility under tension. Typical composition of UHPFRC is as follows: A very low water-
cementitious ratio ranging from 0.16 to 0.24 achieved by using high cement content (955kg/m
3
)
and a high silica fume content (240kg/m
3
) and a high dosage of a superplasticiser (15 litres/m
3
).
The only “aggregate” used is fine (150-400 µm) quartz sand (1050kg/m
3
). A high percentage by
volume (2.5 to 10%) of special types of steel fibres (24 or 12 mm length and 0.16mm in diameter)
are used. The compressive strengths of Reactive Powder Concrete, one type of UHPFRC, are
likely to be between 170 to 230 MPa depending on the post-set heat treatment (20 to 90
0
C).
Values for flexural strengths are likely to be between 30 and 60 MPa, fracture energies between
20,000 and 40,000 J.m
-2
and moduli of elasticity between 50 to 60 GPa. RPC appears to be a
promising new material not only because of its enhanced ductility but also because the mixing
and casting procedures are no different to existing procedures for normal and high strength
concretes.
PhD Level Research Projects

• Studies of historical failures and the development of design philosophies.
There would be scope for interaction with consulting engineers, government agencies and other
universities. Applications are encouraged from people wishing to study part-time and those whose
first degree is not in civil engineering.
PhD Level Research Projects
4
PhD Level Research Projects
MANAGEMENT STUDIES.
Supervisor: Mr K G Smith
From the relatively new discipline of Facilities Management, to conventional project
management, this wide area offers scope for reassessment and improvement of practice. It is
particularly suitable for mature students with some experience, not necessarily in engineering, and
wishing to study part time. Current interests include:
• Influence of computers on globalisation of trading practice.
• Quality systems take-up in developing economies.
• Decision tools for strategic Facilities Management.
Some topics may suit overseas students wishing to efficiently transfer best practice by using a
combination of analytical and case study approaches in their own country.
GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING
Supervisor: Dr. E A Dickin
Physical modelling of problems in geotechnical engineering can be greatly improved by
conducting tests on relatively small models in a centrifuge. The models are thereby subjected to
the stress levels anticipated by their full-scale prototypes and hence scaling errors are largely
overcome. The approach has considerable advantages over full scale testing, which is both time
consuming and expensive. While the centrifuge testing technique is now well established
worldwide, very few Civil Engineering Departments in the UK possess such a facility. The
machine at the University of Liverpool has formed the cornerstone of the experimental research in
geotechnics. In general this experimental approach has been carried out in parallel with finite
element modelling work using hyperbolic stress/strain models to represent the soil and
structure/soil interface. Numerous studies investigating the interaction between soil and retaining