PhD Studentship – Data-driven Asset Management of the UK Footbridges at University of Leeds

Project summary

Pedestrian bridges, like any other structure, require regular inspection and maintenance to ensure their fitness for purpose. Despite the availability of various data-driven techniques for structural assessment, unlike large road and railway bridges, footbridges are almost never equipped with sensors to provide suitable data for performing this task based on a quantitative approach. As a result, there are currently no specific set of guidelines on how to use data-driven techniques for efficient asset management of footbridges. Such guidelines should take into account the load characteristics, i.e. predominantly walking and running pedestrians and/or wind excitation of the deck and cables, structural characteristics, in particular topology and material properties, and should be simple enough to apply during a regular bridge inspection. The proposed project will address this issue and fill a long-standing gap, developing new knowledge that could lead to more resilient and sustainable footbridge structures.

Applicants to research degree programmes should normally have at least a first class or an upper second class British Bachelors Honours degree (or equivalent) in an appropriate discipline.