The output can be converted to time and length (in mm say) using the rulers to get a scale (mm per pixel say) and the frame rate of the video. The ‘redness’ of the liquid is the key here: the video is split into RGB and the red channel isolated and converted to black and white once a filter is applied. This image is then scrubbed to get rid of any objects smaller than a threshold size, leaving only the liquid of the column. The image is then split in two at the centre of the bounding box to analyze each column separately. Since a black and white image is represented by a matrix of 1 and 0s, summing the columns of the matrix (ie the vertical direction) gives the column height in pixels. A few other adjustments are needed, but that’s the basic idea.

Candidates interested in pursuing PhD research in Bridge Loading: statistics and dynamics should send a CV to info@colincaprani.com (482 hits).

Candidates interested in self-funding research to MSc level are also invited to send their CVs.

Again, some motivation is given in the chart below, and in this post (196 hits).

(181 hits)

The rebuilding of Wexford Opera House, the first purpose-designed opera house in Ireland was
completed on schedule for the 2008 autumn opera festival. The new opera house has been
constructed in the town centre on the site of the old Theatre Royal, contains two theatres of
differing scales. The principal auditorium accommodates 780 seats, whilst a new adaptable
auditorium of 175 seats provides for performance in a variety of formats.

Arup Consulting Engineers were the Civil, Structural and Geotechnical Engineers on the
development will describe how this steel framed building was designed and constructed. The
highly complex geometry of the steel frame, including curved fronted auditorium balconies, was
assembled in 6 phases working out from the most landlocked corner of the site.

This talk will be presented by Cian Ó Donnchadha, Chartered Engineer, Arup Consulting Engineers.

6.30 pm Tuesday 19th May 2009, Room 259, DIT, Bolton Street, Dublin 1

(Tea/ coffee reception at 6.00pm in the College). All welcome.

See the flyer here.

Prospective students can review the projects that are availabel to do research on, and subsequently make an application for funding to carry out that project. Potential supervisors typically assist the candidate closely, as it is in our interests to do so (more research students = more publications etc).

I will have three project proposals on display (described below), and anyone interested should contact either myself or the Head of Research for the Faculty of Engineering (Marek Rebow (65 hits)). The available positions will be advertised until the end of April, and filled by June 2009. The typical student profile required for these projects is also given below (see this post (196 hits) for the benfits of doing a postgraduate degree).

The three proposals are as follows.

A Statistical Crowd-Footbridge Dynamic Interaction Model

Pedestrian bridges have become longer and lighter in recent years, leading to reported incidents of such footbridges, most notably the London Millennium Bridge, undergoing excessive vibrations and discomfort for the bridge users. Most footbridge load models do not consider any interaction between the pedestrian and moving structure. However, this interaction is critical to the forces exerted on the bridge and thus the bridge response. Recent work by this research group has developed a novel technique for the modelling of vertical crowd-footbridge interaction. Further, the group has also performed testing of the Sean O’Casey Footbridge in Dublin, when subjected to crowd loading.

The load models currently used represent deterministic views of the crowd properties. This is at odds with the underlying variability of the people, and their individual responses to bridge vibration. This project will calibrate the new crowd load model based on recent testing. The model will then be extended to include the variability of the people comprising the crowd. Using a Monte Carlo approach, a statistical representation of footbridge behaviour will then be determined. This approach will allow a more realistic design, rather than a worst-case-scenario inefficient design.

This project is a unique collaboration between the Dublin Institute of Technology (43 hits), Athlone Institute of Technology (41 hits) and University College Dublin (45 hits) and maximizes the expertise of each institution. It is interdisciplinary and will be readily applied to practical problems in industry.

Principal Supervisor: Dr Colin Caprani, Dept. of Civil/Structural Engineering, DIT Bolton St.
Co-Supervisor: Dr Paul Archbold (64 hits), Civil, Construction and Mineral Engineering, Athlone Institute of Technology.
Advisory Supervisor: Dr Paul Fanning (53 hits), School of Architecture, Landscape and Civil Engineering, University College Dublin.

(56 hits)

Millenium Footbridge London, suffered lateral vibration problems

The Governing Form of Traffic for Highway Bridge Loading

Highway infrastructure is subject to degradation over the course of its design life, just as its traffic and freight volumes increase year on year. Consequently, there is a substantial cost to society of maintaining such infrastructure. Whilst the strength of existing infrastructure can be assessed with reasonable accuracy, loading cannot be. Since the EU spends over €6 billion annually on bridge rehabilitation, there is the potential for large savings to be made through more accurate estimation of bridge loading.

This work will build on the existing methods in the area to significantly increase the accuracy with which bridge loading can be assessed. To further the state of the art it is proposed to adopt micro-simulation traffic models generally used to predict traffic flow in cities, around proposed developments and other such applications. Critically, congested and free-flowing traffic can occur naturally within this modelling framework. This means that both congested and free-flowing loading scenarios are accounted for; something not previously done for bridge loading. The result of this increase in accuracy of load estimation will be a reduction in the replacement and rehabilitation requirements for infrastructure. Consequent savings across Europe are thereby potentially billions of euro annually.

Principal Supervisor: Dr Colin Caprani, Dept. of Civil/Structural Engineering, DIT Bolton St.
Advisory Supervisor: Prof. Eugene OBrien, School of Architecture, Landscape and Civil Engineering, University College Dublin.

(46 hits)

Current state of the art

Stochastic Analysis of Residential Energy Balances and Economic Performances

Ireland is committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 33% by 2020. Residential energy consumption accounts for one quarter of national emissions. Therefore significant reductions must be made from existing housing. One major policy option is the widespread introduction of renewable energy systems (RES) which generate heat and power.

The uptake of RES technologies is inhibited because existing energy assessment tools do not allow occupants or designers to accurately assess the performance of RES in individual dwellings. Instead, they use aggregated deterministic models of RES technologies and demand. This also hinders policymakers since there is not sufficient information to target initiatives at particular domestic subsectors.

This research will build stochastic energy balance and economic performance models for RES and demand patterns. Demand and supply profiles with limited data will be statistically characterized and used, together with energy balance models, to derive probability distributions of key dependent variables allowing RES better appraisal and informing policymakers.

The work builds on the Dublin Energy Laboratory’s Energy Policy in Domestic Dwellings project (Stand III), EFONET (FP7), and other research projects. It is interdisciplinary, industry-focused and will help the participants to develop the academic track record in Energy research to apply for large-scale research funding.

Principal Supervisor: Dr Colin Caprani, Dept. of Civil/Structural Engineering, DIT Bolton St.
Co-Supervisor: Dr Aidan Duffy (57 hits), Dept. of Civil/Structural Engineering, DIT Bolton St.

(68 hits)

Residential PV System

Student Profile

The student to be recruited will have received a First Class Honours Degree in Civil/Structural Engineering or a related field. Candidates with a high Second Class Honours Degree may also be considered. Candidates are expected to have a skill set appropriate and readily applicable to the problem. In particular, candidates should be proficient at numerical computation and have a working knowledge of basic statistics. Personally, the candidate will have demonstrated a commitment to engineering excellence, initiative and an ability to work alone, and a keen desire to solve complex problems.

This interview came about from an article Dyson wrote in The Guardian (59 hits) about Britain’s engineers, available here (262 hits). In Dyson explains the impact that the relatively low esteem afforded engineers in the UK (and Ireland also) has on the inventiveness of the economy as a whole. He contrasts this with continental countries (France and Germany) where engineers are held in high regard, and industrial output reflects this.

Engineers Ireland have also published a report on the economic importance of engineers, as reported here (66 hits) in the Irish Times (57 hits).

(57 hits)

Other aspects of research-based postgraduate study are:

• Postgraduate study is not at all like undergraduate study: you have an office (shared), a computer, usually no classes (though Ireland is moving towards the American model where classes complementary to your research area can be attended – a very positive thing), and you are the boss of your own time (save for meetings etc). It is so much more than a continuation of undergraduate study – just ask your nearest postgrad!
• In most cases postgraduate students have their fees covered and are paid a modest stipend, around €14,000 to €18,000 per year.
• Specializing in an area that you are interested in is extremely rewarding, leading to much higher levels of career satisfaction and a better life-work balance (because doing something you’re interested in just doesn’t feel like work!).

Please check back for more information, as we (in DIT civil/structural engineering) may arrange for some talks on doing postgraduate study, as well as make you aware of the areas of interest that are available to research in.

Immediate Irish Funding

If you are interested in pursuing graduate research in civil/structural engineering in September 2009 you can apply for funding from the Irish Research Council for Science Engineering & Technology (IRCSET) (66 hits) through their Embark Postgraduate Scholarship Scheme. You will need to identify an area of research interest and liaise with your potential supervisor in advance of making the application. The application process opens on 21 January 2009 and closes on 25 February 2009

Please note that applicants for postgraduate funding will be expected to have an excellent academic record and be on course to achieve a First Class Honours, or very high 2:1 degree award.

Bridge Traffic Loading

If you are interested in researching the area of bridge traffic loading, please email me to express your interest and progress the necessary funding applications. Have a browse in the publications (61 hits) section on the site to see the type of research that I carry out. Don’t worry if it is a lot to take in initially, just understand the broad thrust of our goals.

Links of Interest

• Ireland: Postgraduate Income Prospect (66 hits)
• UK: How do postgraduate and graduate earnings compare (64 hits)
• United States: Are Masters Degrees Worth Millions? (72 hits)
• Australia: Postgraduate Statistics Show Higher Earnings, More Jobs (62 hits)

* These groups were disqualified due to non-conformance with the specifications (267 hits) of the problem.

First, second, and third were awarded to Groups 2, 4 and 11 respectively (as may be seen by sorting on the SW column). The Faculty Director also awarded Group 5 a special merit prize for their unique entry.

One very intersting aspect of the results is the significant over-estimation of strength across the board, save for Groups 2 and 11. Is it coincidence that these groups were prize-winners?

Some housekeeping updates to the site include:

• Results of the Christmas Spaghetti Bridge Competition (as above);
• Structural Analysis III exam information (209 hits), handout (232 hits), and sample paper (288 hits) is available;
• Structural Analysis IV group laboratory submissions are now available;
• Structural Analysis IV stiffness analysis of beams spreadsheet (No click) available;
• Structural Mechanics column notes (No click) are available.

Please use the message board (43 hits) to communicate and ask questions of your colleagues. Hopefully this will help remove some of the panic. Remember also that 99% of all questions I am ever asked have the answer already in the notes – please read them closely. The infomation you seek may be in an earlier example, not necessarily on the page you’re looking at.

Here’s to a great Christmas and an even better New Year!

• Hardcopy to the departmental secretary;
• Softcopy emailed to Lacour Ayompe as before.

Both submissions must be made on or before the specified time and date.

Dr Vincent de VIlle of Bureau Greisch (45 hits) de Liège gave an enthralling lecture in DIT Bolton St (62 hits) last night about the design and construction of the MIllau Viaduct (emblazoned on this website). The Millau Viaduct, completed in 2004, has already taken its rightful place as an engineering masterpiece and this was reflected in the turnout for the lecture. Over 150 people attended – one of the highest attendances ever for an Institution of Structural Engineers (247 hits), Republic of Ireland Branch (73 hits), Evening Meeting. The lecture left even experienced engineers breathless as Dr de Ville explained the many bold decisions made in both the design and construction of the deck. Indeed he made designing for 5 m deflections during construction seem reasonable!

The lecture was certainly one of the best seen here in recent years. Dr de Ville modestly claims that the subject matter is the reason for success. However, the way in which extremely complex structural engineering ideas were conveyed meant that even the lay-people that attended were able to follow and enjoy the excitement of this design. The lecture reinforced a pride in structural engineering, and the accomplishments that are possible given a bold vision and adequate resources.

Some relevant links to this talk are:

• A paper similar to the talk: The design and construction of the Millau Viaduct (109 hits);
• Millau Viaduct in Structurae (86 hits);
• Another paper: Non-linear behaviour of the piers of the Millau Viaduct (81 hits);
• Foster + Partners website article (90 hits);
• Requisite Wikipedia link (43 hits);
• Official website (84 hits).

What is the Semester 1 Syndrome?

Simply put, it is the tendency for students, fresh into 3rd year, to put an inadequate amount of work in, and who consequently don’t perform as well as they wish.

Have you any evidence for it?

Yes from experience. Semester 1 exam results tend to be quite poor, with a high number of students having to resit the exams. Surprisingly, 9 months later, with no further classes in the subjects, students generally improve their marks significantly, sometimes by over 60%. That’s the Semester 1 Syndrome!

As an aside, many lecturers give individual feedback, without the “I’m being assessed” feel to it. Interestingly, in the majority of cases, such feedback correctly predicts whether students would pass or not. I think the moral is, when given personalized and informal feedback well in advance of any assessment, please act on it!

Why does it happen?

This is complex but the probable answer lies in the way that the students have ‘engineered’ exam success up to the point of arrival in 3rd year. Unfortunately the Points System and Leaving Cert. encourage a learn-by-rote model as being optimal for exam success. The first two years in third level can be approached in the same way, but it gets increasingly difficult. The failings of this learning model come to a head in 3rd year when the material that must be known is minimal – extensive exam handouts mean that little memorization is required. Instead, the material must be understood. Simple really, but since this is the first time students may actually have to try understand material for exam success, it poses a real difficulty and a harsh awakening in many cases. And by understood, we mean that the material is second nature and that disparate pieces of information can be assimilated into different coherent forms so that reasonably complex engineering problems can be solved.

Ok, so how can it be avoided?

Well I’ll bet you know the answer to this, in the same way you know that you should eat more fruit and vegetables. For every hour spent in class, at least another hour must be spent at home doing the following:

• assimilating the material already covered;
• reading ahead on the new material;
• practicing examples until exhaustion (!);
• preparing questions to ask the lecturer in the next class;
• studying with colleagues – peer-learning is very effective.

Last year a quick class survey noted that over 90% of students had part-time jobs during term-time. In a week, it is simply impossible to spend say 30 hours in class, another 30 hours of home study, and then do a job. It seems that for short-term gain (i.e. some extra money now), the longer-term benefits of performing well in college are ignored. These longer-term benefits include improved employment prospects and the possibility of a higher starting salary for 1st class and 2:1 Honours Degree awards. It’s called full-time education for a reason!

One further issue that can significantly affect performance is the abuse of alcohol amongst 3rd level students. A recent study summarized here (47 hits) and fully reported here (48 hits) shows that use of alcohol is increasing amongst undergraduate students. This can only have a negative affect upon coursework. Whilst certainly the college experience is not all about hard work and learning, going too far the other way is not a recipe for success or happiness. If you or a friend is affected by alcohol abuse you should contact the student counselling service.