21 August 2007
Blast-resistant tall buildings, sports stadia, oil platforms and train stations are a brick closer to reality thanks to the work of engineer Hussein Jama.
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| Mr Hussein Jama |
Mr Jama is investigating how to build more resilient structures made from tubular steel that can withstand accidental explosions caused by gas leaks or dust explosions as well as from terrorist attacks.
His work will also assist in the protection of large oil rigs in remote areas of the ocean that are vulnerable to accidental explosions, which can result in loss of life, reduced oil supplies and massive pollution.
The 35 year old postgraduate student is one of six people to win a prestigious 2007 Victoria Fellowship. He received the Fellowship on Wednesday 15 August at a gala function at Government House from the Governor of Victoria, Professor David de Kretser, AC.
The Victoria Fellowships, worth $18,000 each, were established ten years ago by the Victorian Government to recognise young researchers with leadership potential and to enhance their future careers, while developing new ideas which could offer commercial benefit to Victoria.
He will use the Victoria Fellowship to further his research into the behaviour of tubular beams and columns under blast load conditions. Tubular structures are increasingly used in structural applications including oil platforms in Victoria .
Mr Jama's research is two-fold: firstly to better understand how tubular beams and columns respond under blast conditions and secondly, to determine how safe tubular steel structures are after a blast.
He will travel to South Africa to carry out blast experiments at the Blast Impact and Survivability Research Unit at the University of Cape Town , the only facility in the world where explosives can be used in a University setting.
He will also travel to Norway to carry out tests on the steel specimens using specialised facilities.
Mr Jama is undertaking a doctorate in engineering at Monash University.
For more information, contact Ms Samantha Blair, Media and Communications on +61 3 9905 9315.
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