Mr Atalla Mohammed

Position:PhD Student
Sub-organisation:Faculty of Civil and Mechanical Engineering
Organisation:Curtin University
Email:atalla.mohammed@curtin.edu.au
Personal Webpage:http://
Phone:0422712373
Mobile:0422712373
Address:8 Aragon Way
City:WILSON
State:WA
Postcode:6017

Research Areas

  • Blast - loading
  • Blast - Protective Engineering
  • Analysis and design of blast-resistant buildings and facilities (steel, concrete, and masonry)
  • Critical Infrastructure Protection
  • Experimental Blast testing
  • Finite element modeling of structural behaviour under severe impact and blast loads using LSDYNA, AUTODYN, ANSYS softwar
  • Finite Element Analysis
  • Mitigation of blast effects on structures
  • Modelling and Simulation
  • Reinforced concrete structures
  • Retrofitted structures against blast loads
  • Structural Dynamics
  • Structural response to blast loads
  • Transport - Systems Modelling
  • Transport - Security

PhD Title: STRUCTURAL DYNAMIC ANALYSIS OF BOX-GIRDER HIGHWAY BRIDGES UNDER THREAT OF BLAST LOADINGS

Anticipated Completion Date: : 30 June 2014

PhD Abstract

Government authorities worldwide are taking a closer look at the safety of infrastructures, such as bridges and transportation networks, against terrorism and accidental blast threats. Blast loading has a highly dynamic, inelastic, very fast, very intensive and complex nature. Bridges undergo large dynamic plastic deformations under blast loading, and the analysis is commonly nonlinear considering effects of strain rate and inertia. Therefore, the mechanism of structural dissipation and enhancing the structural absorption against blast energy shall be paid enough attention via versatile investigation of the different structural parameters, aspects and configurations of box-girder bridges. It is well known that blast experimental studies are expensive and difficult. The cost of destroying a bridge or even a simple structure, as well as having the permission to do so, makes such testing almost out of reach. Therefore, it is the role of advanced computer programs to be the alternatives to experimental testing. A finite element package (ANSYS AUTODYN) will be used to perform the analyses for multiple bridge configurations, including a comprehensive parametric study of different bridge factors via full 3D modeling and simulation of both the blast load and bridge structure. The major objectives of this research are to investigate behavior and performance of box-girder bridges subjected to blast loading, to develop and recommend design guidelines for improving the structural blast-resistance of box-girder bridges, and to find out tools and structural configurations to improve bridge response and mitigate blast hazards by minimizing local damage and preventing global progressive collapse. Other objectives are to investigate the performance of some vital existing bridges under the attack of blast events, through effective numerical modeling of both the bridge and blast loading. Based on that, the minimum TNT charge weight that causes damage and failure to the bridge will be determined. The study then will focus on developing the best strengthening methods and recommend the practical guidelines to increase the bridge capacity against blast loading and enhance bridge resistance to carry as large explosive weights as possible.

Supervisor: V. Vimonsatit & H. Nikraz