EPSRC DTP Studentship - Vibration Isolation of Buildings and the Impact of Soil-Structure Interaction

Significant progress has been made in recent years in understanding the behaviour of vibration-isolated buildings, with research in Cambridge having considered various aspects of the vibration source, the transmission paths and the building itself. This project aims to advance our understanding to the point at which practicable design guidance may be formulated. The project has three primary objectives.

Quantifying Soil-Structure Interaction: A range of theoretical studies will be undertaken to quantify the effect of constructing a foundation in the vicinity of an underground railway tunnel. This will include extending recent work on the dynamic behaviour of piled foundations to account for layered soils. A range of semi-analytical and numerical models will be used.

Simplified Models for the Prediction of Base-Isolation Performance: A range of simplified models will be developed based on current research into effective building/foundation impedance modelling. This will take advantage of the findings of recent power flow analysis, which has highlighted the dominant vibration transmission paths and helped establish the acceptable modelling assumptions that may be made to enhance computational efficiency.

Design Methodology: An outline design methodology will be developed to cover the measurement (or prediction) of free-field vibration levels, the accounting for building and foundation structures and the prediction of the final isolation performance. The focus will be on a practicable methodology, supported, where necessary, with computationally efficient tools that are suitable for practitioner use.

The research will be conducted in close collaboration with CDM-Stravitec, a leading supplier of vibration isolation products.

Applicants should have (or expect to obtain) a 1st class, or high 2:1, honours degree in Mechanical or Structural Engineering. Preference will be given to those with experience in Structural Dynamics.

EPSRC DTP studentships are fully-funded (fees and maintenance) for students eligible for Home fees. Full eligibility criteria can be found via the following link; https://www.postgraduate.study.cam.ac.uk/finance/fees/what-my-fee-status

To apply for this studentship, in the first instance please email a CV to Dr James Talbot ([email protected] ), to arrive no later than 19 April 2024.

Please note that any offer of funding will be conditional on securing a place as a PhD student. Candidates will need to apply separately for admission through the University's Graduate Admissions application portal; this can be done before or after applying for this funding opportunity. The applicant portal can be accessed via: www.graduate.study.cam.ac.uk/courses/directory/egegpdpeg . The final deadline for PhD applications is 16 May 2024, although it is advisable to apply earlier than this.

The University actively supports equality, diversity and inclusion and encourages applications from all sections of society.