Performance-based Design and Assessment of Tunnel Structures under Fire

Position description:The Institute of Bridge Engineering (IBE) is recruiting a PhD student to conduct research on performance-based design and assessment of tunnel structures under fire. The work will involve interdisciplinary research including structural engineering, fire engineering, geotechnical engineering, and concrete materials. A solid background and/or interest in the following subjects is required: theoretical knowledge in fire development and thermal response of structures, nonlinear finite element modeling, investigation of the performance of normal and high strength concrete at high temperatures, and development of a risk-based approach for fire resilience of tunnel structures.

Financial support: Doctoral students are supported with a stipend ($28,541 for AY 22/23), paid tuition and health care. Financial support after the first year is contingent on academic standing and research progress.

Research Facilities: IBE faculty and students have access to state-of-the-art research facilities, including Structural Engineering and Earthquake Simulation Laboratory (SEESL), Shared Instrumentation Laboratories (SIL), and the Center for Computational Research (CCR). SEESL is equipped with a diverse array of test equipment and platforms, including two 6 DOF earthquake simulators, a geotechnical laminar box, a multiple-fan wind tunnel, a strong floor and strong wall, a furnace for structural fire testing, wind tunnel, and standard tools and equipment needed for performing state-of-the-art concrete materials and geotechnical-engineering research. The furnace, shown right, has a maximum operating temperature of 1,000°C and is designed to accommodate a fast ramp-up heating rate for structural fire testing. SIL provides access to a scanning electron microscope, atomic force microscope, nano-indenter, and other advanced equipment for nano/micro-scale investigation of materials. CCR is an academic supercomputing facility at the University at Buffalo and maintains high-performance computing and visualization laboratories.

Contact associate professor Negar Elhami-Khorasani for the position description and Jackie Baum, graduate studies coordinator, for other information, including admission, visas, and the graduate program in the department.