Our Research

Overview:

The Geotechnical Engineering Group focuses on improving our understanding of geo-materials in ways that are particularly relevant to our Southern African environment. The group relies on a number of research approaches to achieve these goals: laboratory experimentation, numerical modelling, critical literature surveys, and field measurements. Most of our laboratory research efforts are conducted in the Geoffrey Blight Geotechnical Laboratory which houses large (30 x 30 cm) and standard (10 x 10 cm) shear boxes, triaxial testing devices, oedometers, and Rowe-Barden consolidation cells. For our numerical modelling we rely on commercial finite difference software. Additionally, we regularly collaborate with industry to ensure that our research remains relevant to geotechnical practitioners. Topics of interest to our research group include: underground coal gasification, thermal effects on the mechanical properties of rocks, interpretation of Cone Penetration Tests, mechanical stability of tailings dams, and enhanced interpretation of soil index properties.

Academics:

• Dr Luis Torres-Cruz
• Dr. Ganesh Rathod (Personal Website: https://sites.google.com/view/ganeshrathod/home?authuser=0)
• Dr Irvin Luker (Honorary Senior Lecturer)
• Ms Shiella Mudenge 

Technical À×ËÙÌåÓý_À×ËÙÌåÓýÖ±²¥:

• Mrs Tumelo Sithole (Senior Technician)
• Mr Sammuel Mabote (Assistant Technician)

Overview:

The Construction Materials Research Group is a dynamic entity that focuses on both fundamental and applied research in the field of concrete and cement-based materials using both numerical and empirical approaches. The primary objectives of the research group include to:

• contribute towards development of technical expertise in the field of concrete and cement-based materials, including management of concrete infrastructure;
• influence the development of national policies, and both national and international standards/codes/guidelines in the field of concrete and cement-based materials;
• advance frontiers in the research and application of new and/or improved construction materials.

The group boasts of a diverse range of postgraduate students from various backgrounds – both national and international. We work closely with the concrete and cement industry in South Africa, and receive support from organizations such as The Concrete Institute (TCI), The National Research Foundation (NRF), and a number of cement and concrete production companies.

The research focus areas within this group are:

• General engineering properties of cement-based materials
• Alternative concrete-making materials (including recycled materials)
• Sustainability, durability and service life prediction of concrete structures
• Maintenance, repair and rehabilitation of concrete structures
• Cement hydration in relation to macro-behaviour of concrete

Academics:

• Prof Yunus Ballim
• Prof. Mike Otieno
• Ms. Janina Kanjee
• Dr. Lewis Parsons

 Technical À×ËÙÌåÓý_À×ËÙÌåÓýÖ±²¥:

• Mr Masindi Lambani (Ronny) - Senior Technician
• Mr Vusi Ndhlovu - Assistant Technician 

The structural engineering group consists of four lecturers, with vast theoretical and experimental experience.   Prof Alex Elvin has developed theoretical algorithms for numerical modelling, has extensive knowledge in the failure of structures and has developed instrumentation to monitor the health of buildings.   The majority of his research is in the field of steel structures.   Dr. Kuinian Li is an expert in structural dynamics and vibrations of structures.  Dr. Li has extensive experience in the dynamic testing of structures and has developed theoretical models for the isolation of vibration.   Dr. Bradley is an expert in shell structures, and has developed wind and temperature loading models, based on wind tunnel testing and monitoring of thermocouples on shell models, and full-scale shell structures.   He also has extensive experience in the use of sustainable building materials, such as cement stabilized earth bricks.   Prof Mitch Gohnert is also an expert in shell structures, and has developed thrust-line and membrane theories for specialized structural forms, such as catenary and parabolic shapes.  He is an author of a text book on shell structures, and has developed design criteria for the optimization of structural systems.  Prof Gohnert works primarily with reinforced concrete and masonry.      

Academics:

• Prof. M Gohnert
• Prof. A Elvin
• Dr. K Li
• Dr. R Bradley
• Dr M Kabani

 Technical À×ËÙÌåÓý_À×ËÙÌåÓýÖ±²¥:

• Mr Mutshutshu Nethononda (Chris) - Snr Technician of Heavy Structures Lab and Workshop
• Mr Masindi Lambani (Ronny) - Snr Technician of Light Structures Lab
• Mr Henrique Licotso - Assistant Technician / Workshop
• Mr Adam Ndhlovu – Assistant Technician stationed in the Light and Heavy Structures Laboratories

Within the Sustainable Infrastructure and Environment group there are many subgroups that research over multi-disciplinary fields. 

Water Research Group

The Water Research Group (WRG) promotes the highest level of intellectual discourse, training and research on water and environmental issues from an integrated, multi-faceted and interdisciplinary approach to achieve equitable, efficient and sustainable use of water resources. The activities of the Group address directly the sustainable development goal (SDG) 6 – clean water and sanitation and 13 – climate action, and these make significant contribution to SDGs 1 and 2 – no poverty and zero hunger. These activities involve a combination of approaches that include experimentation in the hydraulics and environmental engineering laboratories in Hillman building, numerical modelling with a wide-range of software packages, and field investigations.  Some of the research activities carried out by the Group include hydraulic modelling, hydrological and water resource systems modelling, water resources planning and management, water distribution system optimization and water quality monitoring, sanitation, sustainable stormwater management, environmental sustainability, and drought and risk mitigation. The Group receives funding for its research activities from a variety of sources including the Water Research Commission (WRC), the National Research Foundation (NRF), the City of Johannesburg and Joburg Water.

Environmental Infrastructure Group

The Environmental Engineering Group is made up of academics who conduct research in a number of topical areas. The group has worked on and/or is currently working on projects aimed at assessing and managing biostability and biofilm growth in drinking water distribution systems, developing polymeric membrane systems for the removal of trace pharmaceuticals from wastewater, evaluating the efficiency of a novel photobioreactor design in supporting the growth of cyanobacteria, exploring sustainable approaches for the disposal of sludge from secondary wastewater treatment plants, understanding the drivers of, and  barriers to, the acceptance of alternative toilets in South Africa, using low-cost and micro-scale green infrastructure to manage surface water and storm-water runoff in informal settlements and exploring the utility of stabilized earth as a structural material.

The Group has a well-equipped analytical chemistry laboratory and a small molecular biology laboratory. These laboratories are managed by a professional chemist and are accessible to researchers and students from within and outside of the School.  

Academics:

• Professor John Ndiritu
• Professor Adesola Ilemobade
• Associate Professor Jean-Marc Mwenge Kahinda  
• Associate Professor David Omole 
• Doctor Precious Biyela
• Doctor Siphesihle Khumalo
• Professor Emeritus Akpofure Taigbenu 
• Honorary Associate Professor Anne Fitchett

 Technical À×ËÙÌåÓý_À×ËÙÌåÓýÖ±²¥:

• Mr. Tinashe Mangere (Principal technician and Hydraulic lab)
• Ms. Namhla Maqubela (Senior Technician, Environmental Engineering Laboratory)
• Mr. Stephen Ndlovu (Assistant Technician, Hydraulics / Water laboratory)

Transportation Engineering & Systems Group

The Transportation Engineering and Systems group is involved in research in various aspects of transportation. The major objective of this group is to contribute towards understanding the complexities around transportation systems, from infrastructure design and development, to the management and control of its operations, with a view to developing sustainable solutions that meet the needs of society.

Research in this area include

• Urban traffic management and control with a focus on the application of technology and innovative approaches for real-time traffic management and control to minimize negative externalities.
• Land-use and transport integration with a focus on accessibility across motorized and non-motorized modes, including the development of indicators for transport justice and equity assessment in low and middle-income cities.
• Pavement analysis with a focus on understanding the mechanistic responses and failure mechanisms of flexible and rigid pavement using simulation-based approaches.
• Innovative design methods for long-lasting (perpetual) pavement.
• Transit and Shared Mobility - Public transport performance assessment. Emerging mobility options and impact analyses. User behaviour analyses. Mobility-as-a-service (MAAS).

Academics:

• Dr. Imuentinyan Aivinhenyo
• Ms. Lerato Molefe