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Masonry infills in structures are normally considered as non-structural elements and their contri... more Masonry infills in structures are normally considered as non-structural elements and their contribution in the stiffness of structure is generally ignored in practice, this assumption can lead to an unsafe design. The infill wall though constructed as secondary element of a structure behaves as a integral part of the structural system and also determines the behaviour and response of the structure, especially when the structure is subjected to lateral loads. This paper presents response spectrum analysis of 12 storey reinforced concrete office building considering bare frame, masonry wall infilled frame and frame with equivalent diagonal strut model of infill as specified in IS 1893 (part1):2016. The analysis was carried out in ETABS and a spreadsheet was developed to perform the manual calculation of response spectrum analysis to validate and compare the results obtained from ETABS. The results showed significant effect in the base shear and displacement of the structure. As the st...

Prefabricated Modular Structures are increasingly becoming popular as a strategy that can be used... more Prefabricated Modular Structures are increasingly becoming popular as a strategy that can be used to achieve cost effective and speedy construction. However, there is an absence of detailed engineering research or case studies dealing with the structural performance or building optimisation and integration strategies for this technology. This paper presents a conceptual holistic model that can be used to identify the most optimum structural system in a given scenario. A multi-disciplinary approach will be taken to optimise the building by assessing structural systems, materials, sustainability features, constructability and speed and cost of construction. This paper will discuss types of different optimisation strategies adopted in building designs and how they can be modified to assess a prefabricated modular building and what different variables will dominate as key performance indicators in the search for an optimum solution for a prefabricated modular building.

Prefabricated modular structures are increasingly becoming popular as a strategy that can be used... more Prefabricated modular structures are increasingly becoming popular as a strategy that can be used to achieve cost-effective and speedy construction. However, there is an absence of detailed engineering research and case studies dealing with the structural performance of this technology. Although such prefabricated modules are already used for some buildings, they cannot be categorized as exclusively modular structures because a core structure is used in most of them to carry the lateral loads. This paper gives a brief overview of prefabricated modular structures and an introductory preview into an innovative structural system that can be adopted to deliver a purely modular construction. The introduced structural system was assessed through a case study of a multistory apartment building that was constructed using prefabricated modules. The static and dynamic behavior of the structure was analyzed using finite-element analysis techniques with the aid of a threedimensional (3D) computer model. Torsional or twisting effects are a major problem for the designers of buildings. Results show that with the introduced system, the elevator shafts can be flexibly shifted around the plan without causing adverse torsional effects to the structure. The introduced technology is discussed in detail along with the key points that make it a viable option to be used in medium-and high-rise buildings. ASCE 05016003-2 J. Archit. Eng.

Mechanical, Electrical and Plumbing (MEP) work in high-rise construction can be very challenging ... more Mechanical, Electrical and Plumbing (MEP) work in high-rise construction can be very challenging due to the different crews involved during installation. Conflicts between the crews generally cause delays in project schedule and result in additional cost due to rework. This study will identify the MEP conflicts in high-rise construction through observations made by the author during the time spent in case study projects. This study focuses on the use of Modular MEP systems in high-rise construction to eliminate the current conflicts. Traditional MEP construction process was reviewed to identify changes to the process when using modular MEP systems. Challenges in implementing modular MEP in high-rise construction is discussed and an implementation strategy is proposed. Role of Building Information Modelling (BIM) in modular MEP construction is highlighted in the study and its involvement during different stages of the modularisation process is discussed.

Prefabricated Modular Buildings are increasingly becoming popular in the construction industry as... more Prefabricated Modular Buildings are increasingly becoming popular in the construction industry as a method to achieve financially economical buildings in a very short construction time. This increasing demand for modular construction has expanded into multi-storey applications where the effect of lateral loads such as seismic loads becomes critical. However, there is a lack of detailed scientific research that has explored the behaviour of modular buildings and their connection systems against seismic loads. This paper will therefore present the nonlinear time history analysis of a multi-storey modular building against several ground motion records. The critical elements that need special attention in designing a modular building in similar seismic conditions is discussed with a deeper explanation of the behaviour of the overall system.

Urban habitats around the world are becoming more congested with rising populations and the need ... more Urban habitats around the world are becoming more congested with rising populations and the need for tall buildings is as high as ever. Sri Lanka is experiencing this reality at present as Colombo's skyline expands rapidly with a large number of upcoming complex highrise buildings. The response of tall buildings to wind forces is a critical design criterion and it requires both conventional force based designs as well as performance based solutions. This paper discusses these challenges and the engineering solutions that they require to successfully design a tall building which is not only stable, safe and strong under wind loads but also performs excellently providing usable and highly functional design.

Prefabricated Modular Buildings are increasingly becoming a highly sort after technology to achie... more Prefabricated Modular Buildings are increasingly becoming a highly sort after technology to achieve cost effective and speedy construction in the construction industry. This increasing trend for prefabricated modular buildings has now spread into multi-storey applications since they can provide a much faster output for the ever increasing urban construction demand. In this regard the effect of lateral loads become critical as the height of the buildings increase. Therefore, the design of lateral load resisting systems is vital for these structures to perform effectively. However, there is an absence of detailed scientific research or case studies that investigate into the structural performance of modular buildings. This knowledge gap has resulted in a lack of iv Acknowledgement At the completion of my candidature, I wish to express my sincere and heartfelt gratitude to my supervisors Associate Professor Tuan Ngo, Professor Priyan Mendis, Associate Professor Lu Aye and Dr Robert Crawford. They have helped immensely in creating a welcoming and supportive environment to carry out my research from the beginning to the end. I wish to acknowledge that their expert knowledge and experience which was shared with me without reservations was key to the success of my research. I am also thankful to all former PhD students, post-doctoral researchers and lecturers at the Department of Infrastructure Engineering, The University of Melbourne for their continuous support throughout my candidature. I wish to specially acknowledge the support of the administration staff at the department for their kind and helpful efforts in providing valuable assistance with daily operations as well as other formalities.

Economy, speed of construction and improved environmental performance are critical variables that... more Economy, speed of construction and improved environmental performance are critical variables that challenge the modern construction industry to strike a balance between. Employing innovative prefabricated modular structures is one key strategy used to achieve these goals. Therefore, there is an increasing demand for detailed scientific research that deals with the potential environmental benefits of prefabrication, particularly in areas of embodied energy savings resulting from waste reduction and improved efficiency of material usage. This paper gives a brief overview of prefabricated modular structures and aims to highlight the sustainability characteristics of this technology compared to conventional construction methods.