PhD Studentship: Structural Robust Optimisation of Tall Timber Buildings

Environmental concerns, combined with modern manufacturing technologies and prefabrication allow to produce timber building components with exceptional mechanical capabilities, which have enabled engineers to design and build larger and taller buildings than ever before. Since timber has highly variable properties and an inherently brittle behaviour, it is essential to ensure that such buildings are optimally robust, i.e., capable of avoiding disproportionate collapse, or exhibiting minimal deflections when exposed to wind or other sources of excitation/variability.

This PhD project will investigate the use of the most advanced robust optimisation frameworks to inform structural design of tall timber buildings, and thus ensure their continued safety and longevity, during this unprecedented bright period of the timber construction industry. Numerical simulations, laboratory shake table tests and datasets of real-world buildings excited by wind will form a basis of the validation process. The latter will be provided by the industrial partner and an ongoing collaboration with the Norwegian University of Science and Technology.

Funding details

Tuition fees cover the cost of your teaching, assessment and operating University facilities such as the library, IT equipment and other support services. University fees and charges can be paid in advance and there are several methods of payment, including online payments and payment by instalment. Fees are reviewed annually and are likely to increase to take into account inflationary pressures.

The studentship is for three years and provides a tax-free stipend of £19,237 per annum (2024/25 rate) for the duration of the studentship plus university tuition fees.

Entry Requirements

Applicants should have, or expect to achieve, at least a 2:1 honours degree (or equivalent) in a relevant subject. A relevant master’s degree and/or experience is desirable.

How to Apply

All applications should be made online via the above ‘Apply’ button and must include a completed studentship application form (instead of a personal statement) and a two-page research proposal based on the project description outlining how you would approach the project and what methods you would use. Under programme name, please select 'Architecture, Building and Civil Engineering'. Please quote reference number ABCE25-AJ.

To avoid delays in processing your application, please ensure that you submit the minimum supporting documents including an up-to-date CV, but a personal statement is not required.

ABCE will use these selection criteria to make a decision on your application.

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