Dr Andrew Thomson
MEng(Hons), PhD
Profile
Andrew Thomson is a Research Officer in the Department of Architecture and Civil Engineering. His research is in the area of low environmental impact construction materials. His research interests include timber engineering systems, rammed earth materials and contemporary straw bale construction. Andrew is currently working on the development of prefabricated straw bale building systems for the European market.
Andrew was awarded his degree in Civil and Architectural Engineering from the University of Bath before continuing to take a PhD in the field of timber engineering. He was awarded first prize for his PhD research at the IStructE Young Researchers Conference in 2009.
After completing his PhD he worked for Ramboll as a structural engineer specialising in the design of timber structures.
Andrew joined the department as a Research Officer in 2012 to work on the development of prefabricated straw bale building systems for the European market.
Research
- Timber engineering
Development of metal-free timber connections for contemporary applications - Straw bale construction
Durability characteristics of straw bale construction, EU market development and industry certification of prefabricated building systems, monitoring of straw bale buildings - Rammed earth
Durability and weathering characteristics of unstabilised rammed earth against wind driven rainfall
Publications
Articles
Chang, W.-S., Thomson, A., Harris, R., Walker, P. and Shanks, J., 2011. Development of all-wood connections with plywood flitch plate and oak pegs. Advances in Structural Engineering, 14 (2), pp. 123-132.
Thomson, A., Harris, R., Ansell, M. and Walker, P., 2010. Experimental performance of non-metallic mechanically fastened timber connections. The Structural Engineer, 88 (17), pp. 25-32.
Conference or Workshop Items
Thomson, A., Harris, R., Ansell, M. and Walker, P., 2010. Development of non-metallic timber connections for contemporary applications. In: World Conference on Timber Engineering 2010, 2010-06-20 - 2010-06-24, Riva del Garda.
Thomson, A., Harris, R., Walker, P., Ansell, M. and Chang, W. S., 2009. Contemporary metal free dowel connections for timber structures. In: 11th International Conference on Non-conventional Materials and Technologies (NOCMAT 2009), 2009-09-06 - 2009-09-09, Bath.
Chang, W. S., Thomson, A., Walker, P. and Harris, R., 2009. Optimization of the all-wood pegged beam-to-beam timber connections. In: 11th International Conference on Non-conventional Materials and Technologies (NOCMAT 2009), 2009-09-06 - 2009-09-09, Bath.
Thomson, A., Pope, D. and Walker, P., 2008. Erosion characteristics of rammed earth. In: Kerpic'08: international conference: Learning from earthen architecture in climate change, 2008-09-04 - 2008-09-05, Cyprus International University.
Hirst, E., Brett, A., Thomson, A., Walker, P. and Harris, R., 2008. The structural performance of traditional oak tension and scarf joints. In: 10th World Conference on Timber Engineering, 2008-06-02 - 2008-06-05, Miyazaki.
Thesis
Thomson, A., 2010. The Structural Performance of Non-metallic Timber Connections. Thesis (Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)). University of Bath.
