Abstracts – Browse Results
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Abohilal, S A (2017) Investigating the roles of leaders, managers and their mutual roles in aligning strategy and project management in public sector organisations: the case of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Unpublished PhD Thesis, , Brunel University.
Adams, K A (2023) A multi-hazard cascading risk model for coastal rail infrastructure: numerical modelling & engineering failure analysis, Unpublished PhD Thesis, , Brunel University.
- Type: Thesis
- Keywords: hazards; masonry; railway; UK; weather; failure; simulation
- ISBN/ISSN:
- URL: Brunel University
- Abstract:
The February 2014 extratropical cyclonic storm chain, that impacted the English Channel (UK) and Dawlish in particular, caused significant damage to the main railway connecting the southwest region to the rest of the UK. The incident caused the line to be closed for two months, £50 million of damage and an estimated £1.2bn of economic loss. This incident highlighted the urgent need to understand the cascading nature of multi-hazards involved in storm damage and their impacts on coastal railway infrastructure. This study focuses on the Dawlish railway where a seawall breach caused two months of railway closure in 2014. I used historical and contemporary data of severe weather damage and failure analysis to develop a multi-hazard risk model for the railway. Twenty-nine damage events caused significant line closure in the period 1846-2014. For each event, hazards were identified, the sequence of failures were deconstructed and a flowchart for each event was formulated showing the interrelationship of multiple hazards and their potential to cascade. The most frequent damage mechanisms were identified: (I) landslide; (II) direct ballast washout and (III) masonry damage. I developed a risk model for the railway which has five layers in the top-down order of: (a) Trigger (storm); (b) force generation; (c) common cause failure; (d) cascading failure and (e) network failure forcing service suspension. Armed with the multi-hazard cascading risk model, I go on to collate eyewitness accounts, analyse sea level data, and conduct numerical modelling in order to decipher the destructive forces of the storm. My analysis reveals that the disaster management of the event was successful and efficient with immediate actions taken to save lives and property before and during the storm. Wave buoy analysis showed that a complex triple peak sea state with periods at 4-8 s, 8-12 s, and 20-25 s was present, while tide gauge records indicated that significant surge of up to 0.8 m and wave components of up to 1.5 m amplitude combined as likely contributing factors in the event. Significant impulsive wave forces were most likely the initiating cause of the damage. Reflections off the vertical wall caused constructive interference of the wave amplitudes that led to increased wave height and significant overtopping, our numerical simulations suggesting up to 16.1 m3/s/m (per meter width of wall). With this information and using engineering judgment I conclude that the most probable sequence of multi-hazard cascading failure during this incident was: wave impact force leading to masonry failure, loss of infill, and failure of the structure following successive tides. The multi-hazard cascading risk model developed in this research is applicable for other infrastructure under a variety of natural hazards. Examples are presented in this research. Given the current global climate emergency and sea level rise, it is expected that the results of this work will provide an important contribution to infrastructure resilience to natural hazards.
Albar, A M (2022) The design and development of an intelligent adaptive extrusion system for additive manufacturing robotics in construction using advanced cementitious materials, Unpublished PhD Thesis, , Brunel University.
Aldawaish, B (2019) Investigating the relationship between top management teams' characteristics and organisational innovation: the mediating role of dynamic capabilities, Unpublished PhD Thesis, Business School, Brunel University.
Alfandi, G R (2015) Investigating risk management capability of construction firms in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, Unpublished PhD Thesis, Department of Mechanical Aerospace and Civil Engineering, Brunel University.
Allam, S I G (1986) Planning and scheduling: A new model for planning and scheduling construction projects, Unpublished PhD Thesis, , Brunel University.
Almutairi, A M S (2017) Protecting the rights of temporary foreign 'low-skilled' workers in the Saudi construction industry: a case for legal reform, Unpublished PhD Thesis, Department of Politics, History and Law, Brunel University.
Alrajehi, S H (2014) Importance of KPI identification and implementation in Kuwaiti construction industry, Unpublished PhD Thesis, Department of Mechanical Aerospace and Civil Engineering, Brunel University.
Alshammari, S A R (2019) Developing a comprehensive construction delay analysis technique, Unpublished PhD Thesis, Department of Mechanical Aerospace and Civil Engineering, Brunel University.
Benhaim, M (1997) Interfirm relationships within the construction industry: Towards the emergence of networks? A comparative study between France and the UK, Unpublished PhD Thesis, , Brunel University.
Clark, G G (1993) Rule-based integrated building management systems, Unpublished PhD Thesis, , Brunel University.
Cooke, R S (2006) The use of alternative energy technologies in buildings: the influence of engineering consultants, Unpublished PhD Thesis, Department of Mechanical Aerospace and Civil Engineering, Brunel University.
Ghadamsi, A (2016) Investigating the influence of procurement method selection on project performance in Libya, Unpublished PhD Thesis, Department of Mechanical Aerospace and Civil Engineering, Brunel University.
Howes, R (1983) Project management control utilising innovative forecasting and computerised data bases, Unpublished PhD Thesis, Department of Building Technology, Brunel University.
Jashapara, A (1995) Learning in organizations: A study of the UK construction industry, Unpublished PhD Thesis, Henley Management College, Brunel University.
Mesa Jiménez, J J (2021) Artificial intelligence for optimisation and demand side response in built environment, Unpublished PhD Thesis, , Brunel University.
Nam, T-J (2001) Investigations of collaborative design environments: a framework for real-time collaborative 3D CAD, Unpublished PhD Thesis, , Brunel University.
Naoum, S G (1989) An investigation into the performance of management contracts and the traditional methods of building procurement, Unpublished PhD Thesis, Department of Mechanical Aerospace and Civil Engineering, Brunel University.
Nathan, P (1991) Project planning and control systems: An investigation into their application and implications of usage in the UK construction industry, Unpublished PhD Thesis, , Brunel University.
Paling, D R (1982) Industrial relations in the building, civil engineering and engineering construction industries, Unpublished PhD Thesis, , Brunel University.
Rowlinson, S M (1988) An analysis of factors affecting project performance in industrial buildings with particular reference to design build contracts, Unpublished PhD Thesis, Department of Building Technology, Brunel University.
Sawacha, E O-O (1993) An investigation into safety attitudes and safety performance in the construction industry, Unpublished PhD Thesis, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Brunel University.
Steel, A C (1985) The diffusion of working time innovations in manufacturing and construction industry, Unpublished PhD Thesis, , Brunel University.
Zhao, Y (2022) An ontology-based semantic building post-occupancy evaluation framework and its application, Unpublished PhD Thesis, , Brunel University.