Institute for Structural Engineering

DIRECTOR: Prof. J A Wium

CONTACT DETAILS

Phone : +27 (0)21 808-4498
Fax : +27 (0)21 808-4947

Postal address :
University of Stellenbosch
Department of Civil Engineering
Private Bag X1
7602
MATIELAND
South Africa
General Information: natalies@sun.ac.za

AIM

The ISE undertakes advanced research and development in various fields of structural engineering, including the application of information technology in civil engineering. The Institute also offers specialist consultation services to industry.

In addition to commissioned research, industry is provided the opportunity to support academic research and to support training of specialists in the post-graduate programs. The research infrastructure of the Institute and of the University is extended at the same time.

CO-WORKERS

Collaborators are full time staff members of the Structural Engineering and Informatics Division of the Department of Civil Engineering. Post-graduate students also participate as team members in specialist consultation appointments. The names of collaborators and a brief summary of their fields of expertise are listed below :

Prof PE Dunaiski
- Steel Structures
- Experimental Structural Mechanics.

Prof GPAG van Zijl
- Computational Mechanics
- Structural concrete and masonry
- Creep and shrinkage of concrete/masonry.

Prof JV Retief
-Structural reliability, application to serviceability
- Risk based decision making, with applications to civil engineering projects.

Dr JA van Breda Strasheim
- Computer Applications in Civil Engineering
- Facility Management.

Dr GC van Rooyen
- Collaborative civil engineering in a distributed communication network, focussing on Finite Element structural analysis and Structural Steel design.

Prof J A Wium
- Computational Mechanics, Dynamics of structures including seismic analysis and vibration of machine foundations.
- Design in reinforced concrete and structural steel
- Engineering management of structural projects

PROJECTS

The following paragraphs provide a short summary of diverse recent projects performed by the Institute :

• Construction project risk management : The project entailed the development of a reliability model with inter dependent basic variables. The solution that was developed is applicable to reliability modelling in general although the application focussed on construction project risk management.
• The project for development of construction risk management was extended and generalised towards guidelines for the development of a database for risk management in civil engineering.
• An analysis was performed to confirm the reasons for a buckling failure of a high risk petrochemical pressure pipeline.
• A variety of projects including :

• seismic analysis of structures :
  • Future disaster management centre at Tygerberg Hospital
  • Kadco industrial project in Cairo, Egypt (2005)
  • BiWaterproject in Algeria (2005)
  • MTN of steel containers (Iran) (2006)
• dynamic analysis of structures :
  • Rosh Pinha Conveyor structure : Dynamic analysis (2004)
  • Feedwell steel structure for Impala Platinum mine (2005)
  • MLS10 pavement tester mechanical equipment (2005)
  • Steel conveyor support structure Kumba Sishen (2005)
  • UG2 foundation at Impala Platinum Mine (2006)
  • Nelspruit Sports Stadium for WFA 2010 World Cup (2006)
• others services :
  • Tubular Track rail support system
  • Gate of Kuwait Development : 50 storey structure : Independent design review of overall structural behaviour
  • Structural analysis of The Sandown (25 storey residential building, Johannesburg) (2004)
  • Stressed ribbon footbridge at Mkomaas : Structural analysis and design
  • Structural analysis of OTR Dubai Hotel A (10 storey structure) (2004)
  • Verification of steel roof structure with suspended steel pedestrian bridge : (2004)
  • Stability verification : Gate Village Kuwait : 10 storey building plus 5 basement levels (2005)
  • External review of the design and construction of Media24 printing press facility, Johannesburg.
  • Specialist investigations were performed on the reasons for damage to joints in concrete ground slabs subject to repetitive wheel loads.
    

RESEARCH

The ISE manages several current research programmes including the following :

• In a comprehensive research program, the Centre for Development of Steel Structures (CDSS) performs testing of full-scale structures and sub-structures, including dynamic measurements and numerical modelling. Examples of the available facilities are the installations for testing of overhead travelling crane support structures, and a general beam testing facility.
• Reliability analysis of structures are applied to the development of codified design. Items under consideration include:
  • Partial load factors and relevant material factors
  • Overhead crane structure loads
  • Roof loads
• Development of generic data models for efficient information exchange in computer-network supported collaborative engineering.
• Development of an Inverse Finite Element Method for assessing displacements and strains in a structure, based on actual measurements of displacement, strain etc. at limited locations. The Method simultaneously allows the assessment of applied loads on the structure and will have a wide range of applications in structural monitoring.
• The Centre for Development of Sustainable Infrastructure (CDSI) performs research on concrete, concrete materials, computational mechanics, structural engineering informatics, and structural reliability. Projects include research on cement based fibre reinforced concrete, integrity of hyper structure concrete, and settlement of concrete based structures. A program is envisaged in support of revisions to seismic loads and seismic design as defined in the South African Structural Loading Code. More information on research carried out through the CDSI is presented under a separate heading.
• Various structural aspects are investigated on a 1000m high solar chimney structure. In the first phase of this project, extensive finite element modelling was used to study the optimum configuration for concrete support columns and intake vanes.

ISE SOFTWARE

The CDSI has at its full disposal the finite element software DIANA which is used for the design and assessment of concrete and reinforced concrete structures. The program offers a wide range of material models for the analysis of the non-linear behaviour of concrete, which comprises cracking, crushing and shearing effects in cracks and joints, special techniques for modelling reinforcement and prestressed cables, determination and integration of creep and shrinkage and advanced solutions for the analysis of young hardening concrete.

LABORATORY

• Climate rooms
  • Humidity chamber up to 95% relative humidity at temperatures from 20 to 35 ° Celcius
  • Steam room
  • Water curing room
  • Freeze room
• Vibration tables
• Compression machine 2 (MN)
• Tensile force applications : 250 kN and 600 kN
• 2 x 50 kN en 1 x 500 kN Servo controlled oil pressure pistons
• Drying ovens
• Shrinkage measurement apparatus
• Shake table for dynamic loads
• Arrangement for measurement of hydration temperature
• Full scale mechano type test frames
• Load cells and deflectometers