Extreme Load Effect Research Group (ELERG) at Carleton University is led by Dr. Abass Braimah and conducts research into the extreme load effects on critical infrastructure systems. The research is currently primarily concerned with impact and blast load effects on structural and non-structural elements.
The aftermath of September 11, 2001 and July 6, 2005 attacks in New York and London respectively and Hurricane Katrina has exposed serious vulnerabilities in the critical infrastructure systems that provide for the quality of life in Canada and around the world. To save lives and protect critical infrastructure systems more research into the behaviour of infrastructure systems under extreme loading conditions is required. The extreme load effects research group investigates the effects of these load on structural and non-structural components in an effort to develop resilient infrastructure systems or mitigate the effects of extreme loads on infrastructure systems.
Our research efforts are aimed at providing information about the effectiveness of physical security measures, retrofit options for critical infrastructure and cost-effective design solutions to the government and the private sector.