Postgraduate Studentship

A postgraduate studentship is available under the 3-yearEPSRC-funded project ‘Investigation of nonlinear dynamic cable behaviour and cable-deckinteraction of cable-stayed bridges'. The project aims to advance fundamental understanding of themechanisms of cable and bridge deck vibrations, which are surprisingly common on majorcable-stayed bridges. The student will concentrate on mathematical modelling of the behaviour,including ‘autoparametric resonance', whereby small bridge deck vibrations can induce very largecable vibrations. Existing models will be extended to cover more realistic situations, includingthe effects of end conditions and damping characteristics. The nonlinear equations of motionwill be explored using advanced methods in nonlinear dynamics. The eventual aims are topredict critical conditions in which cable-structure interaction effects would be problematic,to determine the responses that would be expected, and hence to provide a tool to design againstthem.

This work will be conducted in close connection withlarge-scale experiments on inclined cables in the new Earthquake and Large Structures Laboratory inBristol, which is a major part of the £20m Bristol Laboratory for Advanced Dynamics Engineering(BLADE) (http://www.blade.bris.ac.uk). The experiments will also use the novel technique of ‘dynamicsubstructuring', to couple a physical cable to a numerical model of the bridge deck, in realtime. The student's analysis will directly influence the experiments, which will subsequently be usedto validate and refine the mathematical models.

The student will work under the joint supervision of DrJohn Macdonald in the Earthquake Engineering Research Centre in the Department of CivilEngineering, and Prof. Alan Champneys in the Applied Nonlinear Mathematics Group in the Departmentof Engineering Maths. The project will also closely involve the Automatic Control Group inthe Department of Mechanical Engineering. The work should lead to a PhD.

Candidates should have a good first degree (minimum 2.1 orequivalent) in mathematics, engineering or a related subject, and should have a goodunderstanding of dynamics. Particular ability in mathematical modelling is required, coupled withan appreciation of practical application.

The position will attract a stipend of approximately£12,000 p.a. (tax free) and full fees will be covered for a resident of any EU country (meeting certaincriteria). Non-EU candidates may also apply, although they would be responsible for theapplicable additional fees.

Informal queries may be made by contacting Dr JohnMacdonald, Tel. 0117 928 9758, Email: John.Macdonald@bristol.ac.uk. Further details ofthe research groups are available at http://www.cen.bris.ac.uk/civil/research/eerc, http://www.enm.bris.ac.uk/anm and http://www.men.bris.ac.uk/research/dyncont.html.Details of how to apply are at http://www.cen.bris.ac.uk/civil/admiss/pgr.

The closing date for applications is 28 February2005.

Interviews will be held in late March, with a view to the student starting as soon as possiblethereafter, but in any case by September 2005.

URL of this document: http://jobs.ac.uk/jobfiles/IV781.html