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The Infrastructure Engineering Competence Area concentrates its R&D expertise on the following:
- Providing practical, innovative and cost-effective R&D-based solutions that address the current infrastructure needs and future challenges
- Supporting sustainable development and asset preservation
- Enhancing socio-economic impact and industry competitiveness.
Research areas include:
- Transport infrastructure engineering (including
accelerated pavement testing – APT)
Provides innovative engineering solutions for the design, construction and maintenance of transport infrastructure assets, focusing on roads and airports; research supports the provision of a sustainable and cost-effective transport network; APT and advanced testing of materials, including traditional, waste and novel materials; engineering design, analysis and modelling; vehicle-road and infrastructure-environment interaction; geotechnical engineering; environmental engineering and sustainable construction; performance data capturing techniques and instrumentation for accelerated road materials and structures testing; and international research collaboration in APT.
- Coastal engineering and port infrastructure
Integrating their broad understanding of ocean forces and coastal structures, researchers provide predictive engineering solutions and decision support for the safe and cost-effective development and operation of ports and coastal structures; physical modelling of the environmental impact on ports and coastal structures; physical and numerical modelling of moored and manoeuvring ships; wave fore and hind-casting, and wave diffraction, refraction and reflection modelling; collection and managing of real-time environmental data on waves, tides, currents, wind, weather and bathymetry for ship and port operations; monitoring the impact of the marine environment on coastal structures; and specialist support to local and international port and harbour authorities, consultants and contractors.
Research facilities and platforms
Laboratories and workshops provide specialised testing services used by the CSIR to develop specific equipment for the R&D needs of the infrastructure engineering sector:
- Hydraulic modelling hall (Stellenbosch)
- Heavy vehicle simulator
- Soils and cementitious materials laboratory - ISO 17025 accredited
- Asphalt laboratory - ISO 17025 accredited
- Road materials dynamic testing laboratory
- Bituminous binders laboratory - ISO 17025 accredited
- Chemical laboratory
- Mechanical workshops.
The competence area aims to serve the infrastructure engineering needs of the public and private sectors of South Africa through the development, application and dissemination of new knowledge, and the development of human capital. Although the primary focus is South Africa, appropriate infrastructure-related knowledge and expertise are also transferred and applied to other African countries. This is in support of the SADC and NEPAD initiatives and in partnership with government, industry and international funding agencies. It also actively participates in international R&D activities, and funnels appropriate technology back to South Africa.
Enquiries - Competence Area Manager:
Benoit Verhaeghe, tel 012-841-2907; email bverhaegh@csir.co.za
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