Dr Michele W.T. Mak, a former doctoral student at Sidney and now one of the College’s newest Research Associates, has scooped multiple awards for his doctoral work concerning the deterioration of existing concrete bridges.
Michele developed a new approach to the assessment of their residual load-bearing capacity that can lead to more accurate predictions and enhanced asset management strategies. Michele concluded that through the extension of the service life of bridges, their overall environmental footprint can be reduced. Michele’s PhD was fully funded by the Research Council, although he collaborated with Highways England and the consulting firm Arup.
The thesis was awarded the following prizes:
- Institution of Structural Engineers Young Researchers Conference 2020 – 1st Prize by scientific jury
- Institution of Structural Engineers Young Researchers Conference 2020 – 1st Prize by audience vote
- International Federation for Structural Concrete fib Italy YMG Symposium 2019 – 1st Prize for ‘Best Research Advances in Concrete and Concrete Structures’
Michele is currently working on new and more sustainable concrete structures. He is busy developing a new generation of structures through the concept of Functionally Graded Concrete, which uses different types of concretes in different parts of a structural element. This technique will optimise the mechanical and environmental behaviour, enhancing their performance and reducing their environmental impact.
Key links
Adam Neville PhD Prize 2020 Finalist | Concrete Infrastructure Research Group (CIRG)
2020 Young researchers conference: report | The Institution of Structural Engineers
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