Construction Science Expert Group
The overall aims of the group are to provide robust bases for the design of standard test procedures and to place specification in construction on a sound scientific footing.
Group members
Group Leader: Dr Moira Wilson
Membership: Dr Margaret Carter, Prof William D Hoff, Dr Ceren Ince,
The Construction Science group has developed an internationally recognised theoretical framework based on unsaturated flow theory that provides the first fundamental scientific basis for explaining many aspects of construction performance (e.g. water movement through layered structures, anomalous water transport properties of cementitious materials etc) and that elucidates the principles underlying much trade practice (bricklaying, plastering, controlled permeability formwork etc).
As part of the associated experimental work the group has pioneered new applications of tomographic techniques (NMR, PET, NR, EDDT) to monitor liquid movement processes and to gain new insights into a wide range of degradation reactions. The overall aims of the group are to provide robust bases for the design of standard test procedures and to place specification in construction on a sound scientific footing.
Rehydroxylation Dating
Scientists at The University of Manchester have developed a new way of dating archaeological objects – using fire and water to unlock their ‘internal clocks’.