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Structures Research Group

 

Professor Campbell Middleton

Biography

Cam Middleton’s main research interests are in bridge engineering, in particular the ultimate strength of concrete structures, yield line analysis, risk and safety, wireless sensor networks and NDT applied to bridges, computer vision applications in civil engineering and the management of bridges.  He is the Director of the Laing O'Rourke Centre for Construction Engineering and Technology and a Co-Investigator at the Cambridge Centre for Smart Infrastructure and Construction (CSIC).

Research

Campbell Middleton leads the Bridge Research Group which aims to improve our understanding of the behaviour of concrete bridges under load and to develop new analysis techniques for assessing the strength and reliability of these structures.

An ongoing program of bridge model testing in the laboratory is aimed at validating our theoretical methods. These tests have included a series of half-scale beam-and-slab bridge tests funded by EPSRC and the Highways Agency and 20 scale models of concrete bridges. This research has already resulted in the development of a generalised collapse analysis method which has been incorporated into a computer program which has been released through the University’s technology transfer company, Cambridge Enterprise, to the wider engineering profession.

Other research has aimed to:

  • develop a new non-destructive method for the detection of corrosion using electromagnetic sensors in collaboration with industry
  • develop improved measures of bridge safety
  • model corrosion mechanisms in reinforced concrete
  • determine the validity of yield-line analysis when used to analyse voided-slab bridges.

Recently research has been conducted into using wireless sensors for structural health monitoring, and a new lower-bound plastic analysis technique.

For more information, see the Bridge Research Group.

http://www-civ.eng.cam.ac.uk/brg/

Publications

Key publications: 

2016

  • Butler, L. J., Gibbons, N., He, P., Middleton, C., & Elshafie, M. Z. E. B.  Evaluating the early-age behaviour of full-scale prestressed concrete beams using distributed and discrete fibre optic sensors. Construction and Building Materials, 126, 894-912. doi:10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2016.09.086
  • Butler, L. J., Gibbons, N., Middleton, C., & Elshafie, M.  Integrated Fibre-Optic Sensor Networks as Tools for Monitoring Strain Development in Bridges during Construction. In IABSE Congress Stockholm 2016 Challenges in Design and Construction of an Innovative and Sustainable Built Environment. Stockholm, Sweden: International Association of Bridge and Structural Engineering.
  • Vardanega, P. J., Webb, G. T., Fidler, P. R. A., & Middleton, C. R.  Assessing the potential value of bridge monitoring systems. Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers: Bridge Engineering, 169(2), 126-138. doi:10.1680/jbren.15.00016
  • Clarke, B., Middleton, C., & Rogers, C.  The future of geotechnical and structural engineering research. Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers: Civil Engineering, 169(1), 41-48. doi:10.1680/jcien.15.00029
  • Delgado, J. M. D., Brilakis, I., & Middleton, C.  Modelling, management, and visualisation of structural performance monitoring data on BIM. In Transforming the Future of Infrastructure through Smarter Information - Proceedings of the International Conference on Smart Infrastructure and Construction, ICSIC 2016 (pp. 543-549). doi:10.1680/tfitsi.61279.543
  • Davila Delgado, J. M., De Battista, N., Brilakis, I., & Middleton, C.  Design and Data Modelling of Fibre Optic Systems to Monitor Reinforced Concrete Structural Elements. In Construction Research Congress 2016: Old and New Construction Technologies Converge in Historic San Juan - Proceedings of the 2016 Construction Research Congress, CRC 2016 (pp. 2291-2301). doi:10.1061/9780784479827.228
  • Middleton, C. R., Fidler, P. R. A., & Vardanega, P. J.  Bridge Monitoring: A Practical Guide. London: ICE publishing. Retrieved from http://www.icebookshop.com/bookshop_main.asp?ISBN=9780727760593
  • Kim, M. K., McGovern, S., Belsky, M., Middleton, C., & Brilakis, I.  A Suitability Analysis of Precast Components for Standardized Bridge Construction in the United Kingdom. In Procedia Engineering Vol. 164 (pp. 188-195). doi:10.1016/j.proeng.2016.11.609

2015

  • Vardanega, P. J., Webb, G. T., Fidler, P. R. A., & Middleton, C. R. Bridge Monitoring. In A. Pipinato (Ed.), Innovative Bridge Design Handbook Construction, Rehabilitation and Maintenance. Butterworth-Heinemann. doi:10.1016/B978-0-12-800058-8.00029-3
  • Gibbons, N., Butler, L. J., Williamson, M., Ellwood, A., Platt, R., Oliver, J. Elshafie, M. Monitoring the early age behaviour of prestressed concrete beams using fibre optic sensors. In 16th European Bridge Conference and Exhibition Proceedings. Edinburgh, UK.
  • Webb, G. T., Vardanega, P. J., & Middleton, C. R. Categories of SHM deployments: Technologies and capabilities. Journal of Bridge Engineering, 20(11). doi:10.1061/(ASCE)BE.1943-5592.0000735
  • Jia, Y., Yan, J., Feng, T., Du, S., Fidler, P., Soga, K., Seshia, A. A. A vibration powered wireless mote on the Forth Road Bridge. In Journal of Physics: Conference Series Vol. 660. doi:10.1088/1742-6596/660/1/012094

2014

  • Ge, Y., Elshafie, M. Z. E. B., Dirar, S., & Middleton, C. R. The response of embedded strain sensors in concrete beams subjected to thermal loading. Construction and Building Materials, 70, 279-290. doi:10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2014.07.102
  • Webb, G. T., Vardanega, P. J., Fidler, P. R. A., & Middleton, C. R. Analysis of structural health monitoring data from hammersmith flyover. Journal of Bridge Engineering, 19(6). doi:10.1061/(ASCE)BE.1943-5592.0000587

 2013

  • Webb, G., & Middleton, C. Structural health monitoring of the Hammersmith Flyover. In Assessment, Upgrading and Refurbishment of Infrastructures.
  • Jackson, A. M., & Middleton, C. R. (2013). Closely correlating lower and upper bound plastic analysis of real slabs. Structural Engineer, 91(1), 34-40.

2010

  • Hoult, N.A., Fidler, P.R.A., Hill, P.G. and Middleton, C.R. Long-term Wireless Structural Health Monitoring of the Ferriby Road Bridge. ASCE Journal of Bridge Engineering, 15(2), 153-159. 6pp.
  • Hoult, N.A., Fidler, P.R.A., Hill, P.G. and Middleton, C.R. Wireless Structural Health Monitoring of Bridges: Present and Future. International Journal of Smart Structures and Systems, 6(3).
  • Stajano, F., Hoult, N., Wassell, I., Bennett, P., Middleton, C. and Soga, K. Smart Bridges, Smart Tunnels: Transforming Wireless Sensor Networks from Research Prototypes into Robust Engineering Infrastructure. Ad Hoc Networks, 8(8), 872-888. 16pp.
  • Hoult, N.A., Fidler, P.R.A., Bennett, P.J., Middleton, C.R., Pottle, S., Duguid, K., Bessant, G., McKoy, R. and Soga, K. Large-scale WSN Installation for Pervasive Monitoring of Civil Infrastructure in London. Proceedings of the Fifth European Workshop on Structural Health Monitoring. 6pp.
  • Whelan, M.J., Gangone, M.V., Janoyan, K.D., Hoult, N.A., Middleton, C.R. and Soga, K. Wireless operational modal analysis of a multi-span prestressed concrete bridge for structural identification. International Journal of Smart Structures and Systems, 6(5).

2009

  • Hoult, N.A., Bennett, P.J., Stoianov, I. Maksimovic, C., Middleton, C.R., Graham, N.J.D. and Soga, K. 2009. Wireless Sensor Networks: creating 'Smart Infrastructure'. Proceedings of ICE – Civil Engineering, 162(3), 136-143.
    Awarded the 2010 Telford Gold Medal
  • Hoult, N.A., Bennett, P.J., Wassell, I.J., Wu, Y., Soga, K. and Middleton, C.R. 2009. Challenges in Wireless Sensor Network Installation: Radio Wave Propagation. Proceedings of the 4th International Conference on Structural Health Monitoring of Intelligent Infrastructure, 8pp.
  • Hoult, N.A., Bennett, P.J., Soga, K. and Middleton, C.R. 2009. Smart Infrastructure: Pervasive WSNs for a more Sustainable Europe. Proceedings of the 4th International Conference on Structural Health Monitoring of Intelligent Infrastructure, 8pp.
  • Hoult, N.A., Bennett, P.J., Soga, K. and Middleton, C.R. 2009. Distributed Fibre Optic Strain Measurements for Pervasive Monitoring of Civil Infrastructure. Proceedings of the 4th International Conference on Structural Health Monitoring of Intelligent Infrastructure, 8pp.
  • Hoult, N.A., Fidler, P.R.A. and Middleton, C.R. 2009. Wireless Structural Health Monitoring of Bridges: Current Challenges and Future Innovations. Proceedings of the 7th AustRoads Bridge Conference, 12pp.
  • Jackson, A.M. and Middleton, C.R. Generalised method for predicting the flexural collapse load of concrete slabs. In Proceedings of the Annual International fib Symposium Concrete : 21st Century Superhero, Building a sustainable future, held in London, 22-24 June 2009. ISBN:9781-904482-60-4. 8pp.
  • Jackson, A.M. and Middleton, C.R. Predicting the flexural collapse load of concrete slab bridges. In Proceedings of the Austroads Bridge Conference, held in Auckland, 2009. Winner of the Young Author Award. 11pp.
  • Jackson, A.M. and Middleton, C.R. Combined lower and upper bound plastic analysis: better than the sum of its parts. ISBN 978-385748-121-5. IABSE Symposium, Bangkok, 2009

2008

  • Jackson, A.M. & Middleton C.R. Assessing the Flexural Collapse Load of Concrete Slabs. Proceedings of the Concrete Communication Conference, Liverpool, 2008. pp245-246.
  • Hoult, N.A., Fidler, P.R.A., Wassell, I.J., Hill, P.G. and Middleton, C.R. 2008. Wireless Structural Health Monitoring at the Humber Bridge. Proceedings of ICE – Bridge Engineering, 161(BE4), 189-195.
  • Hoult, N.A., Fidler, P.R.A., Middleton, C.R. and Hill, P.G. 2008. Turning the Humber Bridge into a smart structure. IABMAS ’08, Seoul, Korea, pp 1402-1409.

2007

  • Middleton, C.R. Bridge assessment Chapter in book titled Modeling Complex Engineering Structures, ASCE, Editors R.E.Melchers & R.Hough, 2007. ISBN 9780784408506.
  • Middleton, C.R. Assessment for bridge strengthening in Proceedings of the Surveyor Bridge Conference, Nottingham, March 2007.
  • Middleton, C.R. Generalised collapse analysis of concrete bridges In: Morley Symposium on Concrete Plasticity and its Application, 23 Jul 2007, Cambridge, UK.
  • Burgoyne, C.J. and Lees, J.M. and Middleton, C.R., eds. Morley Symposium on Concrete Plasticity and its Application, Cambridge, UK, 23 July 2007 CUED Technical Report CUED/D-STRUCT/TR.222. Cambridge University, Department of Engineering, Cambridge, UK. ISBN 9780903428293, 2007

2005

  • Burgoyne, C.J. and Lees, J.M. and Middleton, C.R. & Morley, C.T. Concrete materials, composites and structures Concrete, 39 (8). pp. 22-23. ISSN 0010-5317, 2005

2004

  • Imhof,D. & Middleton,C.R. Comparison of different slab-bridge safety assessment strategies. Proceedings of the ICE - Bridge Engineering. Volume 157 Issue 3, September 2004, pages 147–155.
  • Middleton,C.R. Bridge management and assessment in the UK. Proceedings of Austroads 5th Bridge Conference, Hobart, Tasmania, 19-21 May 2004. (Keynote presentation)
  • Middleton,C.R. Bridge assessment - a reality check and eye to the future. Proceedings of the Surveyor Bridge Conference, London, March 2004.
  • Middleton, C.R. and Lea, F.C. Uncertainty between inspection reporting and material quantities and properties Technical Report. Cambridge University Department of Engineering, Cambridge, UK. 2004

2003

  • Imhof,D. & Middleton,C.R. Life quality method versus cost-benefit analysis for short span slab bridges. International Conference on the Application of Statistics and Probability (ICASP 9), Paper and oral presentation: San Francisco, USA, 6-9 July 2003.
  • Imhof,D. & Middleton,C.R. Sensitivity of assessed bridge safety to the method of analysis and site data. European Safety and Reliability Conference, (ESREL 2003), Paper and oral presentation: Maastricht, Netherlands, 15-18 June 2003.
  • Melchers, R.E., Ahammed,M. & Middleton,C.R. FORM for discontinuos and truncated probability density functions. Journal of Structural Safety, Vol. 25, 2003, pp. 305-313.
  • Lea,F.C. & Middleton,C.R. The effect of inspection uncertainty on reinforced concrete bridge strength assessment. 3rd International Conference on Current and Future Trends in Bridge Design, Construction and Maintenance Shanghai, China, April 28-30, 2003.
  • Middleton, C.R. Assessing structural risk Magazine of Concrete Research, 55 (6). pp. 483-484. ISSN 0024-9831, 2003

2002

  • Middleton,C.R. The risk of failure of existing bridges. Proceedings of the IABSE Henderson Colloquium, Cambridge, July 2002.
  • Lea,F.C. & Middleton,C.R. Reliability of visual inspection of highway bridges. Cambridge University Engineering Department Technical Report No. CUED/D - STRUCT/TR.201, ISSN 0309 - 7447, 2002.

2001

  • Middleton,C.R. Plastic analysis bridge assessment Concrete Engineering. Volume 5 No.3, Autumn (September) 2001, pp.67-70.

2000

  • Palmer,A., Middleton,C.R. & Hogg,V. The tail sensitivity problem, proof testing, and structural reliability theory. Structural Integrity in the 21st Century, Proceedings 5th International Conference on Engineering Structural Integrity, 19-21 September 2000, EMAS, Solihull, pp.435-442.
  • Roberts,M., Atkins,C., Hogg,V. & Middleton,C.R. A proposed empirical corrosion model for reinforced concrete structures. ICE Proceedings, Journal of Structures & Buildings, Vol.140, February 2000, pp.1-11

1999

  • Hogg,V. & Middleton,C.R. The effects of truncation on reliability analysis. Proceedings of the International Conference on Applications of Statistics and Probability, Sydney, Dec. 1999, Vol.2, pp.1087-1094.
  • Ibell,T.J., Morley,C.T. & Middleton,C.R. Strength and behaviour in shear of concrete beam-and-slab bridges. American Concrete Institute (ACI) Structures Journal, Vol.96 No.3 May-June 1999, pp.386-391.

1998

  • Ibell,T.J., Morley,C.T. & Middleton,C.R. Shear assessment of concrete beam-and-slab bridges. ICE Proceedings,Journal of Structures & Buildings, Vol.128, Issue 3, August 1998, pp.264-273.
  • Middleton,C.R. & Hogg,V. Review of deterioration models used to predict corrosion in reinforced concrete structures, Cambridge University Engineering Department Technical Report No. CUED/D - STRUCT/TR.173, ISSN 0309 - 7447, June 1998.
  • Middleton,C.R. & Hogg,V. Review of basic variables for use in the reliability analysis of concrete highway bridges, Cambridge University Engineering Department Technical Report No. CUED/D - STRUCT/TR.172, ISSN 0309 - 7447, June 1998.
  • Hogg,V. & Middleton,C.R. Whole life performance profiles for highway structures in Proceedings of symposium on Management of Highway Structures, ICE, London, June 1998.
  • Ibell,T.J., Morley,C.T. & Middleton,C.R. An upper-bound plastic analysis for shear. Magazine of Concrete Research, Vol.50 No.1, March 1998, pp.67-73.
  • Middleton,C.R. Concrete bridge assessment in Proceedings of the Surveyor Bridge Conference, London, March 1998.

1997

  • Middleton, C.R. Concrete bridge assessment: an alternative approach. The Structural Engineer, Vol.75 No.23&24, 9th December 1997, pp.403-409.M
  • Middleton, C.R. Case studies from the U.K. using yield-line analysis for concrete bridge assessment. Proceedings of the Austroads Bridging the Millennia Conference, Sydney, 3rd - 5th December 1997, pp.83-97.
  • Ibell,T.J., Morley,C.T. & Middleton,C.R. A plasticity approach to the assessment of shear in concrete beam-and-slab bridges. The Structural Engineer, Vol.75 No.19, 7th October 1997, pp.331-338.
  • Middleton,C.R. & Thoft-Christensen,P. Assessment of the reliability of concrete bridges in Proceedings of 13th ESReDA Workshop on Industrial Applications of Reliability Theory, Paris, 2-3rd Oct 1997
  • Thoft-Christensen,P., Middleton,C.R. & Blackmore,A. Revised rules for concrete bridges in Safety of Bridges, Editor P.C.Das, Thomas Jensen,F.M., Telford, London, 1997. pp.175-188.
  • Sadka,B., Ibell,T.J. & Middleton,C.R. The use of plasticity theory for the assessment of concrete and composite bridges. Proceedings of FIP Conference on Bridge Mangement, Lisbon, July 1997.
  • Blackmore,A. & Middleton,C.R. Data collection report in Safety of Bridges, Editor P.C.Das, Thomas Telford, London, 1997. pp.203-222.
  • Ibell,T.J., Morley,C.T. & Middleton,C.R. The assessment of shear in existing concrete bridges. Proceedings of Joint FIP/IABSE Conference on the Concrete Way to Development, South Africa, 9-12th March 1997, pp.529-536.

1996

  • Ibell,T.J., Morley,C.T. & Middleton,C.R. An experimental investigation into shear in large-scale concrete beam-and-slab structures. Technical Report No. CUED/D - Struct/TR.165, Cambridge University Engineering Department, October 1996, 114 pages.
  • Ibell,T.J.,Morley,C.T. & Middleton,C.R. A generalised collapse analysis method for concrete bridges. Technical Report No. CUED/D - Struct/TR.166, Cambridge University Engineering Department, October 1996, 104 pages.
  • Thoft-Christensen,P., Middleton,C.R. & Blackmore,A. Assessment of the reliability of concrete slab bridges in Proceedings of 7th Jensen,F.M. International Federation for Information Processing (I.F.I.P.) WG7.5 Seminar on Reliability & Optimization of Structural Systems, Boulder, Colorado, 2-4th April 1996.
  • Ibell,T.J., Morley,C.T. & Middleton,C.R. Background to and developments in shear in reinforced concrete members Technical Report No. CUED/D - Struct/TR.151, Cambridge University Engineering Department, February 1996.

1995

  • Ibell,T.J. & Middleton,C.R. Generalised collapse analysis method for concrete bridge assessment in IABSE Symposium on Extending the Lifespan of Structures, San Francisco, Aug 1995, pp.1569-1574.
  • Middleton, C.R. Bridge research: current topics, future prospects In: 14th Australasian Conference on the Mechanics of Structures and Materials, December 1995, Hobart, Tasmania. (Unpublished)

1994

  • Middleton, C.R. Example collapse and reliability analyses of concrete bridges using a new analysis technique in Developments in Short & Medium Span Bridge Engineering. Editors A.Mufti, B.Bakht & L.Jaeger, Canadian Society of Civil Engineers, Montreal, 1994.
  • Middleton, C.R. The application of new analysis techniques to the strength & safety assessment of existing concrete bridges. Transport Research Laboratory Contract Report. January 1994.

1993

  • Middleton, C.R. Strength and safety assessment of existing concrete bridges. Transport Research Laboratory Contract Report. April, 1993.
  • Middleton, C.R. The ultimate strength of concrete bridges. in Bridge Management 2: Inspection, Maintenance, Assessment and Repair, editors J.E.Harding, G.A.R.Parke, M.J.Ryall, Telford, London, 1993 (pp.85-95).

1992

  • Middleton, C.R. Strength and safety assessment of concrete bridges. PhD dissertation. University of Cambridge, December 1992.

1990

  • Middleton, C. & Low, A. The use of reliability analysis in the assessment of existing bridges. in Bridge Management: Inspection, Maintenance, Assessment and Repair, editors J.E.Harding, G.A.R.Parke, M.J.Ryall, Elsevier, 1990.(pp.417-428).

1985

  • Middleton, C.R. Causes of deterioration in concrete. MSc dissertation submitted to Imperial College, London, June 1985.
Laing O'Rourke Professor of Construction Engineering
Director of Laing O'Rourke Centre for Construction Engineering & Technology
Fellow of King's College
Professor Campbell Middleton

Contact Details

Cambridge University
Engineering Department
Trumpington Street
Cambridge CB2 1PZ
+44 1223 332814
http://www.construction.cam.ac.uk/centre-staff/campbell-middleton
Not available for consultancy

Affiliations

Classifications: 
Affiliated Academic Staff

Useful links

Civil Engineering Division

National Research Facility for Infrastructure Sensing

Department of Engineering

University of Cambridge

Study at Cambridge

About the University

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