Internationally recognised expert in Protective Structure Design and Advanced Numerical Simulations
Chartered Professional Structural Engineer (Institute of Engineers Australia, EA)
Over 18 years of experience as a Structural Engineer and Researcher working with world leading companies and institutions such as Karogozian and Case (USA-Aus), DSTG (Defence Science Technology Group, Australia) and leading G8 Universities in Australia.
A member of Eureka prize winning team for safeguarding Australia in 2013.
Member of Institute of Engineers Australia (EA), Institute of the International Association of Protective Structures (IAPS), Concrete Institute Australia (CIA), Australian Wind Engineering Society (AWES)
A team leader and a Senior Lecturer at University of New South Wales (UNSW)
Dr. Damith Mohotti is a Senior Lecturer and a Chartered Structural Engineer (EA) in the School of Civil Engineering and IT at UNSW Canberra at the Australian Defence Force Academy. He has engaged in many research and consultation projects. He was a key member of the Defence Science and Technology Organisation (DMTC) Eureka Prize winning team for Outstanding Science in Safeguarding Australia in 2013. In addition to his academic experience, Damith has worked in the construction and consultation industries for many years holding different positions. Damith Mohotti is a well-recognised researcher and a consultant in engineering consultancy and defence science sectors.
Dr. Damith has established himself as one of Australia’s emerging scientists in critical infrastructure protection within very small-time frame. He has engaged in many different research projects in this area and have won several project contributions awards. Among them, being a member of Eureka prize winning team for safeguarding Australia in 2013 can be considered as the highest achievement. I was awarded an Engineering Excellence Award in 2017 by the Institute of Engineers Sri Lanka - NSW branch for the publication of a novel concept of using polyurea-coated composite aluminium plates in damage mitigation of high-velocity projectile impacts. Dr. Damith’s extensive contribution towards the success of the Defence Materials Technology Centre Projects 3.1 (new generation armour, 2010-2013) and 3.4 (High strain rate behaviour of mechanical and welded joints, 2011-2015) has earned him several project contributions awards.
Most of Dr. Damith’s research efforts are aimed at keeping people safe and protecting them from both natural and human-caused disasters. Dr. Mohotti is passionate about developing better design techniques for structures to survive under such extreme loading.
Design of Protective Structures to withstand Extreme Loading (Blast and Impact)
Demand for protective measures in civil and military structures are rising. The budget a government needs to spend on improving the performance of critical infrastructure is significant and is a large portion of the national income. In the 2016 Defence White Paper, the Australian government has emphasised the importance of improving the national research capability in security. Other than defence related events there are many other instances where blast and impact loads cause significant damages to the community such as vehicle crashes, destruction caused by flying objects during storms and gas explosions. Blast and impact-induced destructions can be viewed as two of the most severe structural damages that any structure can experience during its lifetime. Design for events such as blast and impact has become an extremely difficult task due to the rate of loading, unpredictability in magnitude, and extreme non-linearity in material behaviour. Concrete and steel are two of the most used materials that are used in protective structures. Even though these materials have been used for centuries still there is no clear understanding on how to use them efficiently in the design of protective structures. It is imperative to understand concepts such as material non-linearity, strain rate effect, energy absorption and high ductility and design for plastic deformation. The damage mitigation process involves development of new material systems, application of protective layers and use of other mitigation techniques to reduce the damage caused to the structures. Rapid development of computer technology and the advanced finite element softwares gives Engineers a better ability in achieving reliable design solutions.
In this presentation, key aspects of designing a structure for blast and impact loadings will be reviewed. Also new technological developments in mitigating blast and impact induced damages will be discussed.
IESL NSW Chapter team is looking forward to seeing you all at the lecture which will be held via zoom.
The registrants will be sent the Zoom details in due course via email.
Best regards,
Nilakshi Perera
Secretary, IESL NSW Chapter.
