http://bura.brunel.ac.uk/handle/2438/25433 2026-07-03T20:44:51Z http://bura.brunel.ac.uk/handle/2438/33476 Title: Enhancing out-of-plane seismic resistance of masonry walls with fiber-reinforced overlays: tests, modeling, and fragility analysis Authors: Wen, T-H; Yuen, TYP; Zhou, X Abstract: This study investigates the out-of-plane seismic performance and fragility of masonry walls retrofitted with basalt fiber grid (BFG), carbon fiber–reinforced polymer (CFRP), glass fiber–reinforced polymer (GFRP), and ultra-high-performance concrete (UHPC). Large-scale masonry wall specimens were tested under lateral loading to examine strength, deformation capacity, and failure mechanisms. This study focuses on the pure out-of-plane response of masonry walls, without considering in-plane forces or deformations. All retrofitted walls significantly outperformed the unreinforced masonry (URM) wall, which failed at 11.34 kN. Peak strengths reached 40.79 kN (GFRP), 30.92 kN (UHPC), 24.88 kN (BFG), and 21.39 kN (CFRP), with varying ductility and crack patterns. Discrete finite element models, calibrated against experimental results, were employed to perform incremental dynamic analysis and derive seismic fragility curves. Results show that retrofitting markedly reduced failure probabilities, raising median spectral acceleration thresholds by factors of 3–7 compared with URM. Among the methods, GFRP achieved the most favorable fragility performance, exhibiting both high capacity and low drift exceedance. These findings demonstrate that retrofit material choice and configuration are critical for improving seismic resilience and reducing collapse risk in masonry structures. 2026-01-13T00:00:00Z http://bura.brunel.ac.uk/handle/2438/33280 Title: Impact of loading rate and elevated temperatures on the pull-out behaviour of inclined hooked-end steel fibres embedded in normal and high-strength concrete Authors: Abdallah, S; Rees, DWA; Fan, M Abstract: The coupled effects of loading rate, fibre inclination, and post-fire exposure on the pull-out behaviour of steel fibre reinforced concrete (SFRC) remain insufficiently quantified. This study experimentally investigates the pull-out response of hooked-end steel fibres embedded in normal and high-strength concretes under quasi-static, intermediate (seismic), and impact loading, before and after thermal exposure up to 600°C. Single-fibre tests were conducted over inclination angles from 0° to 60° and slip rates from 0.018 to 1800 mm/s, generating a comprehensive dataset of 120 tests. Results show pronounced rate sensitivity, progressive bond degradation beyond 400°C, and strong inclination effects, with high angles inducing severe spalling and strength loss, particularly in high-strength concrete. Based on these findings, a unified analytical model is proposed incorporating snubbing, rate-dependent amplification, thermal degradation, and high-angle damage. The model accurately predicts peak pull-out loads across all loading regimes, providing a robust framework for SFRC assessment under combined impact and post-fire loading. Description: Highlights: • Rate sensitivity observed across quasi-static, seismic, and impact loading. • Bond degradation beyond 400 °C, severe spalling in high-strength concrete. • Novel interaction of fibre inclination with temperature and loading rate, compounding effects on pull‑out capacity. • Unified model predicts pull-out loads under combined impact and post-fire.; Data availability: The data that has been used is confidential. 2026-04-20T00:00:00Z http://bura.brunel.ac.uk/handle/2438/33069 Title: A new paradigm for resilient and equitable post-war recovery of cities Authors: Kopiika, N; Argyroudis, S; Ouyang, M; Mitoulis, S-A Abstract: Rebuilding cities after conflict often prioritizes political or economic interests at the expense of long-term resilience, equity and inclusion. Post-war recovery must break away from traditional, interest-driven patterns. Instead, reconstruction should be redefined through a science-driven, multidisciplinary lens that has people and communities, social justice, and sustainability at its heart. Description: Comment.; Supplementary information is available online at: https://www.nature.com/articles/s44284-026-00424-0#Sec6 . 2026-03-30T00:00:00Z http://bura.brunel.ac.uk/handle/2438/32937 Title: The pollution load of combined sewer overflows and risks to England’s waterbodies: Relating event duration monitoring data to discharge consents from wastewater treatment works Authors: Giakoumis, T; Voulvoulis, N Abstract: The increasing frequency of Combined Sewer Overflows (CSOs) has heightened public concern, triggered government action, and driven water authorities worldwide to commit to major infrastructure upgrades. In England, the installation of Event Duration Monitors (EDMs) has revealed how often and for how long spills occur annually, discharging untreated or dilluted sewage to the receiving environment. However, overflow frequency and duration are poor proxies for pollution loads or ecological risk. This study provides the first national estimation of pollution loads from individual CSOs and the risks they pose to receiving waterbodies, drawing on permitted effluent limits from connected Wastewater Treatment Works (WWTWs) and receiving waterbody characteristics. A source-pathway-receptor framework is used to classify risk across England’s wastewater systems in relation to CSO discharges and their impacts. The findings challenge the Environment Agency’s position that CSOs are not a primary driver of waterbody status failure, indicating their ecological impacts may be underestimated. For 2023, estimated aggregated CSO loads frequently surpassed those from the effluents of their WWTWs, with affected waterbodies receiving loads from CSOs four times higher for BOD and double for Suspended Solids. While nutrient loads exhibit lower relative contributions, the presence of wastewater systems where CSO loads equal or exceed treated effluent loads demonstrates that nutrient management strategies focusing solely on WWTWs risk overlooking a critical source. The study demonstrates how a systems approach integrating all available data, can strengthen evidence-based policy making, and support water companies in prioritising investments that can deliver measurable environmental improvements. Description: Data availability: Data are available as Electronic supplementary information.; All data used in this study are available through publicly accessible datasets (as cited). Data generated through the analyses are provided as Electronic Supplementary Information in the Supplementary Materials.; Supplementary files: Supplementary information: https://www.rsc.org/suppdata/d5/ew/d5ew00860c/d5ew00860c1.csv CSV (4518K). Supplementary information: https://www.rsc.org/suppdata/d5/ew/d5ew00860c/d5ew00860c2.xlsx XLSX (1503K). Supplementary information: https://www.rsc.org/suppdata/d5/ew/d5ew00860c/d5ew00860c3.csv CSV (855K). Supplementary information: https://www.rsc.org/suppdata/d5/ew/d5ew00860c/d5ew00860c4.pdf PDF (138K). 2026-03-04T00:00:00Z