Located at our Geelong Waurn Ponds Campus, the state-of-the-art facilities and equipment at the Structural engineering lab support applied and discovery research within structural and mechanical engineering. Throughout your engineering course, you’ll have the opportunity to manufacture and test innovative and hybrid structural elements using emerging construction material, including:
The nature of our high-tech facilities has attracted numerous innovative industry-based research projects. These projects have covered a broad range of material development, with highlights such as Deakin researchers designing a pedestrian bridge using a new type of reinforced concrete, helping avoid the corrosion problem that occurs in conventional steel reinforced concrete construction. Another Deakin research group tested and analysed the behaviour of newly developed composites and structures to improve their mechanical performance and durability.
You’ll use the lab for practical learning during your final-year project. Projects use various construction materials such as timber, fibre-reinforced polymer, concrete, geopolymer, steel and aluminium. You’ll be able to observe and analyse the material and structural behaviour of these emerging construction materials.
Our facilities allow for applied and discovery research that has attracted numerous industry-based research projects. Projects have involved timber engineering, concrete structure, geopolymer concrete, development of innovate structural systems for structural application, and novel hybrid structural systems using multiple construction materials.
When you study engineering at Deakin you get real-world experience via project-oriented design-based learning. You’ll undertake team-based projects and develop solutions to current industry needs, so you can hit the ground running when you graduate.
The Structural engineering lab is equipped with a range of high-precision technology to help you develop and visualise complex engineering principles and design.
In addition to a suite of imaging devices to help track test data, we’ve got a selection of National Association of Testing Authorities (NATA) certified load frames of varying kN capacity for testing bend and compression limits. Plus, material testing equipment for determining the characteristics of various materials, such as:
Throughout your degree you’ll learn how to harness non-destructive structural testing equipment, using oscillation waves and vibrations to test structural integrity using machines such as:
You’ll also get to experiment with our wind tunnel testing facilities.
The lab contains an environmental chamber, used to control moisture, temperature and UV light. Throughout your study, you’ll use this chamber to create simulated environments to put materials to the test through wet-dry cycles and accelerated aging experiments.
In additional to our testing facilities, the lab is also equipped with fabrication equipment. You’ll have the opportunity to make use of both general-purpose workstations and hand tools, as well as complex machinery such as lathes, laser cutters, water jet cutters and 3D printers.
Our partners are valued members of the wider Deakin engineering family, not just our school. Opportunities to partner with us include work-integrated learning and industry-based learning and placements, student projects, commercial research projects and services.
If you have further questions about our lab, please get in touch.
