Structural safety and resilience
By testing performance under diverse loads and environmental conditions, we’re ensuring both resilient structures and sustainable supply chains. Our work is driven by circularity, designing materials and systems that last longer, waste less, and support a low-carbon built environment.
International leaders of research on structures under extreme loads.
World-leading innovation in carbon-negative construction materials.
Full-scale application of graphene enhanced concrete underpinned by extensive research.
100+ partners across industry and government, both in the UK and internationally.
Transforming construction
We're advancing the future of construction through cutting-edge research into structural resistance under different life conditions, including fire and severe environmental exposure.
In close partnership with industry, we’re helping to drive positive transformation of the construction industry – enhancing safety, sustainability, and global competitiveness.
Our researchers are developing novel, low-carbon construction materials by harnessing industrial by-products and waste, using advanced technologies and digital transformation to deliver resilient, sustainable structures.
We collaborate with leading UK and global institutions to ensure the world’s limited resources are used wisely, addressing critical challenges in construction and beyond.
Our mission is rooted in purpose: to engineer a resilient, low-carbon future by transforming construction materials and structures from a climate problem into a climate solution. This is about more than science, with a main focus on safeguarding society and the planet.
Yong Wang - Group Lead and Professor of Structural Engineering
Research
Our areas of research
AI and data-driven modelling
By integrating machine learning with cement science, we accurately predict curing efficiency, strength, and durability in various binder systems and waste-based binders. With a data-led approach involving uniquely curated database of chemical reactivity and CO₂ uptake, we reduce trial-and-error experimentation, accelerate development timelines, and enable real-time design decisions to optimise resource use across construction supply chains.
On a structural level, we develop machine learning solutions to optimise various types of structures, to improve design efficiency, mechanical performance, and cost-effectiveness.
Carbon-neutral construction
We pioneer the use of alternative binders and industrial by-products that actively sequester CO₂ during curing, converting construction materials into long-term carbon sinks. Innovative activation and seeding methods developed by our team enhance CO₂ uptake, while improving mechanical and durability performance.
Demonstrated at scale in several large-scale structures, this research has directly led to the commercial validation and funding of large-scale carbon capture initiatives in the UK, Asia and beyond. It offers a pathway to carbon-negative construction.
Construction carbon reduction
We create data and tools to support construction industry’s move towards Net Zero by accurately measuring the embodied carbon of materials and processes. Our models use real-world information to capture full lifecycle emissions and support low-carbon best practices.
We work closely with several key industrial partners, including the Lower Thames Crossing (LTC) project, one of the largest UK roads projects in the last 30 years.
Construction circularity
We develop solutions to guide the construction industry’s transition to circularity, including innovative methods of design for deconstruction, methods of reclaiming and reusing structural members, high-value recycling methods for concrete, construction glass and carbon reinforced composites, and digital twin models to facilitate high value demolition of end of service life buildings.
Structures under extreme loads
We are international leaders on structures under extreme loads, including fire, impact, flooding and tsunamis, and severe environmental exposure. Our research has made key contributions to industrial practice, such as Eurocodes on the fire resistance of steel and composite structures, and the modern method of modular construction.
Study with us
Explore master's degrees
Design the next generation of the built environment with a programme focused on equipping you to build resilient structures for a rapidly evolving world.
Discover MSc Structural Engineering
Search for a postgraduate research project
Please use our Find a PhD search to find projects related to structural safety and resilience.
Examples of previous PhD projects include:
- Development of carbon-neutral construction products involving CO2 sequestration.
- Dual-functional graphene-modified fibre reinforced cementitious matrix (FRCM) for simultaneous corrosion protection and structural strengthening.
- Green recycling and remanufacturing of carbon fibre composites for a circular economy.
- Machine-learning based optimisation of concrete-filled tubular structures for offshore wind turbine columns.
- Sustainable production of cement from locally available waste materials.
Connect with us
Our people
- Mithila Achintha - Senior Lecturer in Sustainable Infrastructure Materials
- Lee Cunningham - Reader in Structural Engineering
- Martin Simmons - Senior Lecturer in Engineering
- Meini Su - Senior Lecturer in Structural Engineering
- Cise Unluer - Chair in Net Zero
- Fangying Wang - Senior Lecturer in Earthquake/Structural Engineering
- Yong Wang - Professor of Structural Engineering
- Jack Wu - Lecturer in Structural Engineering
Get in touch
General enquires
Find out more about our research, facilities or how you can work with us by getting in touch with the structural safety and resilience team.