Dr Chris Morley - Research Interests

He has always been interested in plasticity theory, and especially in its application to reinforced concrete structures, either to predict the collapse load of a given structure or to design reinforcement against a given ultimate load. He has considered beams, slabs, deep beams, bridge decks etc, under shear forces as well as bending moments. A particular interest is the design of slabs; the Hillerborg strip method, and optimum layout of reinforcement.  Recent research students here worked on flat slabs with irregular column layout;  on design against earthquake damage;  and on flat slabs with steel fibre reinforcement.

Of course, plasticity theory has to be modified to cope with the special features of reinforced concrete; and so his research interests also extend to such phenomena as limited rotation capacity and compressive membrane action in slabs, and to non-linear FE analysis of RC structures and methods of allowing for materials which strain-soften. Stemming from his time in Oslo is an intermittent interest in water in hardened concrete, pore pressure, and water absorption - and recently he has been interested in enforced carbonation using supercritical carbon dioxide.