Engineering facilities
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Engineering facilities
Civ Eng Labs
The Civil Engineering Laboratories are dedicated to advancing knowledge and practice in civil engineering through practical experimentation, research, and collaboration with industrial partners. Equipped with specialist testing rigs, moulds, mixers, and tooling, our labs provide the necessary resources to conduct experiments and research in various aspects of civil engineering, such as concrete and construction materials technology, as well as the study of heavy structures, geotechnics and soil mechanics, fluid mechanics and hydraulics.
Concrete Lab
The Concrete Lab is a specialist facility dedicated to the study and exploration of concrete technology and materials. In addition to concrete, the lab also supports work with other construction materials such as steel, timber, glass, etc.
Our mission is to provide the resources and expertise necessary to carry out experiments, research, and hands-on
learning—with a particular emphasis on low-carbon materials and sustainable construction practices.
Heavy Structures Lab
The Heavy Structures Lab is a specialist facility designed for testing large-scale structural elements and systems. It features two advanced loading rigs housed on a reinforced concrete strong floor, allowing for experiments on structural members with large spans and depths. Users have access to equipment for testing concrete elements such as beams, columns, and slabs, allowing them to study structural behaviour under various loading conditions and analyse factors affecting integrity and stability. Features include a large loading frame and a self-contained loading frame.
Mech Eng Labs
Our recently refurbished Mechanical Labs feature state-of-the-art facilities designed to enhance the user learning experience. Equipped with manual milling machines, lathes, HAAS CNC machines, and a hot processing facility that includes a Plasma Laser Cutter, our workshops offer comprehensive resources for hands-on engineering projects.
The new Mechanical Engineering Suite serves as a user-friendly space, fostering the development of innovative design projects and enabling efficient engineering solutions to be conceptualised, prototyped, and manufactured. A wide range of resources, including CAD/CAM software, supports teaching, research, and project work across various engineering disciplines.
- HAAS CNC Mini Mill Machines
- Manual Lathe and Mill engineering machines
- CAD/CAM engineering facilities
- CNC digital manufacturing program writing facilities
- Plasma Laser Cutter Machines
- General engineering equipment
Climate Chamber Lab
The Climate Chamber Lab features a large, environmentally controlled chamber and a dedicated carbonation chamber. These facilities are used for a range of durability standard tests, particularly focused on the long-term performance of construction materials.
- Freeze–Thaw Testing
The chamber can simulate repeated freeze–thaw cycles across a wide temperature range. It includes 27 data points (sensors) for real-time monitoring of humidity, temperature, and other environmental variables.
- Drying and Wetting Testing
The chamber allows precise control of moisture levels and includes its own water purification system to ensure a consistent supply. Environmental conditions, such as humidity and temperature, are measured at 27 points throughout
the chamber.
- Carbonation Testing
The dedicated carbonation chamber enables measurement of carbonation absorption—an essential factor when investigating the carbon sequestration, absorption, or storage capabilities of different materials.
The Geo Technics Lab
The Geotechnics Lab is a specialist facility dedicated to the study of geotechnical engineering.
- Geotechnics Research Laboratory
This laboratory is equipped with a pneumatically controlled, large-scale, cyclic loading triaxial rig that can be used for soil specimens up to 100mm in diameter. Within this laboratory, there are also 2 pneumatically controlled shear boxes that are capable of accepting samples up to 100mm by 100mm and two pneumatic oedometers. All of the equipment in this laboratory is computer-controlled, with all readings being recorded by data logger software.
- Engineering Geology
This area is furnished with a point load index apparatus and a 25-tonne compression testing machine for determining the strength of rock. The PUNDIT apparatus is used to determine density comparison and isotropic characteristics of rock,
and the influence of discontinuities on in situ P wave velocities. The Slake durability apparatus is available to be used to determine weathering index values.
- Structural Testing Apparatus
The lab features structural testing equipment for evaluating the performance of foundations, retaining walls, and other geotechnical structures. This apparatus enables users to assess the stability and load-bearing capacity of these
structures under various loading conditions.
- Geotechnical Modelling Software
Users have access to advanced modelling software that simulates and analyses the behaviour of soil and rock formations in virtual environments. This software allows the development of accurate models of geological structures to assess their stability and performance.
- Soil Mechanics
This area is equipped to sample and prepare soils, in accordance with the latest codes and standards, to determine their engineering properties, to analyse the chemical properties of solid and pore fluids and to undertake model structure interaction. The equipment includes sieves, Casagrande limit apparatus, standard cone apparatus, soil density measuring devices, compaction and shrinkage apparatus. The equipment used for determining the strength of soils includes the vane, shear box, consolidation and swelling apparatus. Tri-axial and unconfined compression tests are performed using 1 and 5 tonne compression machines and constant pressure systems. In order to determine permeability, constant head and falling head devices are available. We have recently embarked on a programme of enabling the existing equipment in this laboratory with data logging facilities.
- Fieldwork Opportunities
The Geotechnics Lab offers fieldwork and site visit opportunities to real-world geotechnical engineering projects. These experiences allow users to apply theoretical knowledge in practical situations and gain hands-on experience in practice.
Interdisciplinary Collaboration: The lab fosters collaboration across various disciplines and industries. By bringing together experts in geo-technical engineering, architecture, urban planning, and environmental science, the lab encourages the exchange of ideas and the development of innovative solutions to complex challenges.
Hydraulics Lab
The Hydraulics Laboratory is a specialist facility equipped with a comprehensive range of tools and equipment for hydraulics and water management engineering research and education. The lab contains equipment for studying the flow of water in pipes and channels, oscillation in surge tanks, scouring and sediment transport in channels. The laboratory houses open channels, surge apparatus, hydraulic benches and flow measurement equipment.
Aeronautical Eng Labs
Our Aeronautical Engineering Labs feature advanced flight simulators and wind tunnel equipment to support both education, innovation and research. A highlight is the MERLIN Engineering Flight Simulator, a high-fidelity, six-degree-of-freedom motion platform designed for advanced aerospace teaching and research.
Mech Eng Labs
Our recently refurbished Mechanical Labs feature state-of-the-art facilities designed to enhance the user learning experience. Equipped with manual milling machines, lathes, HAAS CNC machines, and a hot processing facility that includes a Plasma Laser Cutter, our workshops offer comprehensive resources for hands-on engineering projects.
The new Mechanical Engineering Suite serves as a user-friendly space, fostering the development of innovative design projects and enabling efficient engineering solutions to be conceptualised, prototyped, and manufactured. A wide range of resources, including CAD/CAM software, supports teaching, research, and project work across various engineering disciplines.
Electrical Eng Lab
The Electrical Engineering Lab is a specialist facility dedicated to providing users with the tools, resources, and expertise necessary to explore and innovate in the field of electrical engineering. Our mission is to foster a dynamic and innovative environment where users can engage in hands-on experimentation, research, and collaboration in various aspects of electrical engineering.
Surveying and Mapping Sciences Lab
This lab houses our surveying equipment, including a range of total stations, a 3D laser scanner, and geodetic precision levels. It also contains supporting ancillary survey equipment. The facility features external access for convenient field equipment distribution.
London Renewable Energy Lab
The London Renewable Energy Laboratory (LREL) brings together a whole array of equipment that empowers our students’ learning experience. The laboratory aims to focus on the full energy spectrum, encompassing equipment that can be used to test renewable energy technologies, understand the concepts of energy conversion, and identify how this energy can be
stored in the long term.
Gen Eng Lab
The General Engineering Laboratory is a versatile and well-equipped space for experimentation, learning, and collaboration in various engineering disciplines. Through experimentation, users gain valuable insights into the behaviour of materials, the principles of mechanics, and the fundamentals of thermodynamics and fluid mechanics. They learn to apply core engineering
principles to solve real-world problems and develop innovative solutions.
