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An Open-source Digital Framework for Integrated Simulation via Machine Learning to Achieve Sustainable Building Safety Design in Fire

Project Code: SIFBuilder

Project Description:

This research project aims at bridging the gap between fire engineers and structural engineers via developing a numerical tool using C++. This research will increase wider acceptance and adoption of these more scientific approaches in fire safety engineering, specifically while interacting with structural engineering discipline.

This project will focus on the challenges of accurately estimating the demand imposed by real fire scenarios on the structure (rather than the current approach of a ‘standard fire’), and faithful simulation of the structural response using an integrated computational tool based upon modelling of real fires.

A C++ developed software, Structures in Fire Builder (SIFBuilder 2.0), with a digital framework for integrating fire and structural simulation will be developed in this project. This tool will be seamlessly bridged with machine learning and artificial intelligence (AI) packages, to enable structural fire protection optimisation for achieving sustainable building safety design under an extensive library of fire scenarios.

Anticipated Findings and Contribution to Knowledge:

This digital tool, SIFBuilder 2.0, will provide the fire engineering community with an improved understanding of the structural resilience in real fires. It will also assist small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) for fire engineering consultancies both in the UK and internationally, to deliver green industrial solutions via saving fire protection, considering carbon is the main component of fire protections for worldwide zero carbon target. Note that there are several hundred SME’s in engineering in the UK alone. The PhD student will have the opportunity to engage with knowledge in fire engineering, structural engineering, and software engineering, which are all STEAM-based subjects for advancing the project.

Person Specification:

Candidates are encouraged to apply if having a BEng/MSc degree in one of the following subjects (or closely equivalent):

  1. Structural Engineering
  2. Fire Engineering
  3. Software Engineering

Please also evidence your coding experience if having any.

Contact (and Director of Studies for this project): Dr Xu Dai, Xu.Dai@bcu.ac.uk

How to Apply

To apply, please complete the project proposal form, ensuring that you quote the project reference, and then complete the online application where you will be required to upload your proposal in place of a personal statement as a PDF document.

You will also be required to upload two references, at least one being an academic reference, and your qualification/s of entry (Bachelor/Masters certificate/s and transcript/s).