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Dr Luke Bisby,
Arup/RAEng Senior
Research Fellow in
Structures in Fire |
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A full-scale structural
fire test on a reinforced
concrete column,
strengthened with
a fibre reinforced
polymer wrap
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In the wake of several highprofile structural collapses due to fire, engineers are increasingly expected to provide additional structural integrity in fire to resist collapse, and to develop rational and reliable methods to predict and prevent structural failures due to multiple hazards.
This new reality of structural design has raised important questions about the engineering community’s understanding of the complex interactions governing the response of both materials and structural systems to fire. The structural fire safety engineering community has identified several key areas in which current knowledge is lacking, both for existing structures and for the next generation of infrastructure. In some cases, knowledge gaps are a consequence of the emergence of new materials, such as fibre-reinforced polymers and high-performance concretes, and innovative structural forms. In other cases, the fire performance of even conventional materials and structural systems remains incompletely understood.
Dr Bisby’s research seeks to find novel engineering solutions to fire safety concerns that currently prevent widespread application of emerging structural materials and systems, as well as to identify, develop, test, optimize, implement, and monitor new fire-safe materials and structural systems for infrastructure repair and renewal. His research is concerned primarily with developing a more complete understanding of materials’ thermal and mechanical response to elevated temperature, and subsequently using this knowledge to develop more rational means to predict structural performance in fire and to suggest more holistic structural design methodologies.
Under the umbrella of the BRE Centre for Fire Safety Engineering at Edinburgh, Dr Bisby will work with the existing Professor of Fire Safety Engineering (Professor Jose Torero) and others to:
- establish a new concept for building safety, where fire safety is fully integrated in the design process;
- develop a research and educational programme that will serve as a vehicle to transfer this new concept into practice; and
- generate and educate a core of leaders who will guarantee that this new concept becomes fundamental in the future development of the built environment.
For further information on the Royal Academy of Engineering’s Research Programmes, please contact Rob Barrett (E-mail rob.barrett@raeng.org.uk or research@raeng.org.uk). For further information about this research please contact Dr Luke Bisby at Edinburgh University (E-mail luke.bisby@ed.ac.uk).
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