http://bura.brunel.ac.uk/handle/2438/25433 2026-05-02T16:54:24Z 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 http://bura.brunel.ac.uk/handle/2438/32684 Title: Post-fire Mechanical Behaviour of Concrete Reinforced with Phragmites Australis Fibres Authors: Salih, BH; Abdallah, S; Nawar, MT; Ali, AJ; Fan, M; Hilal, AA Abstract: The use of natural fibres as concrete reinforcement has gained increasing attention due to their environmental benefits, renewability, and cost-effectiveness. This study investigates the post-fire mechanical behaviour of concrete reinforced with Phragmites australis fibres (PAF), a locally available and sustainable material. Concrete mixes containing 0%, 0.5%, 1%, 1.5%, and 2% fibre volume fractions were exposed to temperatures up to 600 °C for 2 h to simulate fire conditions. The effects of fibre content and temperature were assessed through measurements of slump, compressive strength, splitting tensile strength, flexural strength, and ultrasonic pulse velocity (UPV). Results showed that PAF-reinforced concrete retained considerable strength and integrity up to 400 °C, with a pronounced reduction observed at 600 °C due to fibre degradation and microcrack propagation. Regression models developed from the experimental data demonstrated strong correlations between fibre dosage, temperature, and residual mechanical properties. The analysis identified an optimal fibre content between 0.5% and 1%, which provided the best balance between thermal stability and mechanical performance. These findings highlight the potential of Phragmites australis fibres as an effective and sustainable reinforcement for improving the fire resistance of concrete structures. Description: Availability of Data and Materials: All data generated or analyzed during this study are included in this published article. 2025-12-31T00:00:00Z http://bura.brunel.ac.uk/handle/2438/32494 Title: Risk-based life-cycle cost–benefit analysis for critical infrastructure: piled bridge abutments under earthquake loading Authors: Hu, Q; Xia, B; Zheng, Y; Zhou, H; Argyroudis, S; Mitoulis, SA Abstract: Piled bridge abutments, which are essential components of transport infrastructure, are frequently overlooked in life-cycle performance design due to their perception as sources of uncertainty rather than as structural elements contributing to seismic resistance. This design oversight, coupled with limited research on seismic risks related to soil liquefaction during service life, has contributed to significant structural damage and traffic disruptions. This paper proposes a comprehensive framework for assessing the life-cycle seismic risk of critical infrastructure on liquefiable ground. A cost–benefit criterion is incorporated into the seismic risk analysis to evaluate return on investment (ROI). The life-cycle cost–benefit (LCC-B) model serves as an effective tool for evaluating both seismic life-cycle risk and the associated cost–benefit trade-offs. A case study focusing on the seismic risk analysis of a piled bridge abutment is included, examining the effectiveness of various ground improvement techniques, such as stone columns, deep-cement-mixing (DCM) columns, and DCM columns with non-uniform length, for mitigating soil liquefaction and associated ground deformations. The results demonstrate that DCM columns with non-uniform length design constitute the optimal solution for liquefiable ground, effectively reducing seismic risk and yielding a ROI of approximately 50%. The proposed framework and its outcomes offer practical guidance for strategic investments, enhancing the efficiency of transportation geotechnical asset management. Description: Data availability: All data generated or analysed during this study are included in this published article. 2025-11-05T00:00:00Z