Research
Title: Construct Innovate – Ireland’s National Research Centre for Construction Technology and Innovation
Description: Dr Daniel McCrum will be leading one of the five pillar challenge areas (productivity, affordability& cost) in the new Enterprise Ireland funded Construction Technology Centre ((opens in a new window)www.constructinnovate.ie). The centre was launched in December 2022 and is being hosted and led by NUIG (Prof Jamie Goggins & Dr Magdalena Hajdukiewicz). The consortium originally consisted of 22 multidisciplinary research groups across 5 partner institutions, with over 300 researchers currently research active on topics related to construction & built environment.
The centre will bring together leading academics, industry experts, governmental agencies and practitioners to make Ireland a global leader in modern methods of construction, sustainable construction and built environment technology. Dr Daniel McCrum leads the Modern Methods of Construction Working Group within the centre and will be working with all interested stakeholders and the Research Performing Oganisations (UCD, NUIG, TCD, UCC, IGBC, TUD, ATU) to foster innovative approaches to modern methods of construction, next generation building material, sustainability and collaboration.
Funding Agency: Enterprise Ireland Technology Centre.
Project Title: Automated Structures Innovation Hub
Description: UCD Civil Engineering achieved funding to expand our automation and prototyping capabilities with new (opens in a new window)CNC machines for creating metal prototypes, a new (opens in a new window)3D concrete printer and new structural testing capabilities. Such R&D facilities will help us (opens in a new window)collaborate with industry and drive (opens in a new window)digitisation and (opens in a new window)automation in construction.
Funding Agency: Enterprise Ireland.
Project Title: Behavioural attitudes to MMC
Description: This project is largely about understanding the psychology of change involved in more widespread adoption and acceptance of MMC in housing delivery, and ascertaining the necessary steps needed to build confidence in more innovative approaches as the industry further transforms and adopts compliant modern build approaches over older methods of building for housing.
Researcher: Dr Shuo Wang
Funding Agency: Enterprise Ireland through Construct Innovate
Project Title:Review of the system of standards, testing, certification and accreditation for the delivery of housing
Description: This project will analyse the current system, identify methods for streamlining it and proposing modifications or system changes to support next generation housing. The output will offer options in how the State develops a new standards, Testing and Accreditation system for housing.
Researcher: Dr Shuo Wang
Funding Agency: Enterprise Ireland through Construct Innovate
Project Title: Disproportionate Collapse Loading in Cold-formed Steel Panelised Structures in India.
Description: CFS load-bearing frame (or panelised) construction, is an increasingly popular MMC that offers remarkable advantages to its hot-rolled steel counterparts including higher strength-to-weight ratio, high durability, lighter weight, shorter build times, recyclable and reduced construction-related carbon emissions (e.g. foundation requirements). CFS structural system is also one of the six chosen technologies out of 54 by Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, Government of India by initiating GHTC to transform housing construction sector. Its application will benefit society by fostering a greener economy through providing safer, affordable and sustainable buildings. Current Indian design standards for use of CFS in building construction and loadings does not contain provisions for design against disproportionate collapse loading, which this project will explore.
Funding Agency: Raman Research Fellowship, India
Project Title: ConCatenaTion - Novel CONnection design and modelling idealisations utilising CATENAry acTION in the disproportionate collapse resistance mechanism of cold-formed steel panelised structures
Description: Modern methods of construction (MMC) are highly precise, improve safety and reduce waste due to streamlined manufacturing and construction processes. However, lack of guidelines on the interaction between structural components and connection behaviour hinders their use worldwide. Panelised, load-bearing, cold-formed steel construction is a MMC that offers several advantages compared to standard construction techniques, including reduced construction-related carbon emissions. However, little is known about the robustness of such structures as testing and modelling data are scarce. Funded by the Marie Sklodowski-Curie Actions programme, the ConCatenaTion project plans to develop novel connection prototypes, design guidance and idealisations that should enable robust design of panelised cold-formed steel structures against disproportionate collapse, whilst utilising advantageous catenary action as a collapse resistance mechanism.
Researcher: Dr Samar Raffoul
Funding Agency: Marie Skłodowska-Curie Action – Individual Fellowship
Grant agreement ID: 101029972
Project Title: Advancing the Structural Safety and Efficiency of Modular Construction Connections under Normal and Extreme Loading Conditions
Description: The research project is investigating some of the key issues that limit the current performance of modular construction from the structural efficiency perspectives and assess the suitability of using traditional building codes in modular construction. The research aims to address the following issues: (1) stresses induced in adjoining structural members due to differential shortening of columns when more and more modular units are stacked on top of each other; and (2) assess the applicability of existing progressive collapse mitigation design rules that have not been developed for use in modular construction. This research project is in collaboration with Michael J Hough Structural Engineers.
Researcher: Heng Si-Hwa
Funding Agency: Irish Research Council Employment Based PhD
Grant agreement ID: EBPPG/2021/24
Title: Progressive collapse performance of cold-formed steel panelised construction
Description: Cold formed steel (CFS) load-bearing frame (or panelised) construction, is an increasingly popular MMC that offers remarkable advantages to its hot-rolled steel counterparts including higher strength-to-weight ratio, high durability, lighter weight, and thus, ease of handling, shorter build times, and reduced construction-related carbon emissions (e.g. foundation requirements). There is little understanding of CFS structural resistance to disproportionate collapse under loss of support, highlighted by a lack of testing and modelling. This research project will provide much needed physical testing and numerical modelling of CFS panelised construction under disproportionate collapse loading conditions.
Researcher: Sohini Mishra
Funding Agency: University College Dublin School of Civil Engineering PhD Studentship