Postgraduate student projects
The
Structural Materials and Assemblies Group seek to extend the experience
of civil engineering post graduate students by engaging them in
challenging research projects. There were six PhD, and one Master by
Research students associated with the Group in 2004/5:
- Aaron O'Malley
- Wayne Potter
- Ratamanee Nuntasarn
- Shih-Wei Chuang
- Maria Pham
- Chirawat Tongkasame
- Sanhdars, Miguel
After completing a Bachelor of Science at UniSA in 1999, Aaron embarked on an industry funded project (Salisbury Council) researching the water potential of mature street trees in the City of Salisbury, South Australia to complete a Bachelor of Applied Science (HONOURS) in Environmental Management in 2000(also UniSA). From, 2001 Aaron has been working on his PhD in Civil Engineering and assisting SMAG in research projects.
His thesis is based on the Salisbury Council project which studies the influence of street trees on soil moisture, soil salinity and movements on extremely reactive soils, in the urban subdivision of Walkeley Heights, South Australia. Aaron is currently working with A.S James-Bear Pty Ltd Geotechnical Engineering based in Kapunda, SA as a Geotechnical Engineer.
Thesis: “The influence of trees on dwellings and pavements in an urban environment” (PhD, full-time funded by the Local Government Association and City of Salisbury). Supervisor: Don Cameron.
For more information regarding the Walkeley Heights project see the City of Salisbury Street Trees Project .
On the way to obtaining his Master's degree in Engineering, Wayne, who works as an engineer for the Australian Rail Track Corporation, is involved with soil movement along railway lines. The project which is sponsored by Rail CRC is looking at the effects of trees / soil / rail tracks etc.
Thesis: “The Feasibility of Improving Rail Infrastructure by Introducing Native Vegetation on Clay Soil Sites” (MEng full-time funded by ARTC and CRC for Rail Technology). Supervisor: Don Cameron.
For more information regarding the project see Rail CRC.
Originating from Thailand, Ratamanee is attending UniSA in order to complete her PhD in Civil Engineering in 2007, Ratamanee is studying the behaviour of collapsible soil, before and after chemical stabilisation. The project examines a range of collapsible soils from South Australia and Khon Kaen, Thailand.
Thesis: “Dynamic properties of collapsing soils” (PhD, full-time, student funded by Khon Kaen University, Thailand). Supervisor: Don Cameron
Abstract: This paper compares the behaviour of South Australian and Khon Kaen collapsing soils by providing the engineering index properties and the one-dimensional collapse potentials of the soils. The collapsing soil samples from both countries are silty sand (SM), and the field dry densities are similar. The chief difference between these soils appears to be the nature of the cementation between soil particles. Clay fines appear to be a major cementing agent in Khon Kaen loess. In contrast, calcium carbonate appears to be the chief cementing agent in the South Australian soils (5 to 15% by mass); calcium carbonate was absent in Khon Kaen loess.
Thesis: “Retrofitting of structures for potential earthquake effects” (PhD, full time, vice-president’s scholarship and supported by Dept. for Administrative and Information Services). Supervisor: Yan Zhuge
Thesis: “Retrofitting of Angle Legs of Transmission Towers to Increase Load Capacity” (PhD, full-time, supported by O'Donnell Griffin Pty Ltd). Supervisors: Julie Mills and Yan Zhuge
Thesis: “Sustainability and capacity assessment of cold-formed stud wall systems used in residential construction.” (UniSAPRA scholarship). Supervisors: Julie Mills and Yan Zhuge
Thesis “Progressive Failure of Structures Under Earthquake Loading” (PhD, full time). Supervisor: Yan Zhuge