Submitted by Paula Block on Mon, 23/10/2023 - 12:14
Douglas Morley's secondment at the University of Pretoria
Cohort 2 student Douglas has recently returned from a 3-month secondment to the University of Pretoria, South Africa. During the placement he continued his PhD work on integral bridges, carrying out tests on a 1.5 m bridge abutment, analysing 6-years of data from a 140 m spanning integral bridge, and getting a different perspective on his work through supervision from an experienced bridge engineer.
Further to this, Douglas visited several sites to carry out geotechnical monitoring and sampling, including a 60 m tall platinum tailings dam and the site of a wind turbine foundation. There was also the opportunity to visit a steel fabricator, timber factory, and active construction of a 10-story residential block being built in Johannesburg.
Alongside work, Douglas had the chance to take in the stunning views, wildlife and weather of South Africa, as well as travel the country doing some of the more conventional tourist activities: a visit to Cape Town’s table mountain and safari to name a couple.
Douglas thoroughly enjoyed this secondment opportunity in South Africa which is part of his studentship RTSG funding by EPSRC and returned to Cambridge as the new academic year began, motivated with new ideas to take into his final PhD year here at FIBE2 CDT.