Dr. (Mrs.) M T P Hettiarachchi

Dr. (Mrs.) M T P Hettiarachchi

BSc Eng Hons (Moratuwa), MSc(Lond.), DIC, PhD(Lond.)

Senior Lecturer, Department of Civil Engineering,
University of Moratuwa

Contact Information:

Address:
Department of Civil Engineering,
University of Moratuwa,
Moratuwa, Sri Lanka.

E-mail: premini@civil.mrt.ac.lk
Telephone: +94-11-2650567-8(Ext.2011)
Fax: + 94-11-2651216

      Profile 
      Qualifications 
      Work and Research Experience
      Current Research Interests 
      Major Sponsored Research Assignments

      Design Office Experience
      Publications
      Scholarships and Awards
      Other Activities
      Short Courses And Seminars

Profile

Senior Lecturer(Grade I) , Building & Structural Engineering, Department of Civil Engineering, University of Moratuwa, Moratuwa

Qualifications

BSc (Engineering) (Hons)
University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka.
MSc(Lond.), DIC
Imperial College of Science & Technology
University of London, U.K.
PhD(Lond.)
Imperial College of Science & Technology
University of London, U.K.

Work and Research Experience

Feb. 1982 - Sept. 1983	Tutorials and Laboratory Classes in Structural Engineering
Feb. 1982 - Sept. 1983	Department of Civil Engineering, University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka.

Oct. 1983 - Sept. 1984	Followed MSc. Course in Timber Structures and Technology
Oct. 1983 - Sept. 1984	Department of Civil Engineering, Imperial College, London, U.K.

Oct. 1984 - June 1987	Postgraduate Research Student
Oct. 1984 - June 1987	Department of Civil Engineering, Imperial College, London, U.K.

Sept. 1987 - todate	Teaching structural design at undergraduate and postgraduate levels
	Research and Consultancy in construction materials and structural design
	Department of Civil Engineering, University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka.

Current Research Interests

Applications of Eurocode 5 recommendations to bolted joints of Sri Lankan timber species
Understanding structural behaviour
Optimum design of steel structures

Major Sponsored Research Assignments

A study on the design of elevated water tanks and ground reservoirs for the National Water Supply and Drainage Board sponsored by USAID.
Determination of mechanical properties of small diameter timber poles (plantation thinnings) for TRADA (U.K.) sponsored by ODA.
A study on the use of 'Kempas' timber in Sri Lanka for ICTAD, sponsored by the ILO.
Determination of long term creep deflection of initially green small diameter timber poles drying out under load for TRADA (U.K.) sponsored by ODA.

Design Office Experience

With OVE ARUP & PARTNERS, U.K. on the design of the U.K. Pavillion for EXPO '92 in Seville, Spain. (May 1990 - May 1991)

Publications
	Thesis and Dissertations
	1.	Design of some structural plywood components MSc dissertation
	2.	Predicting the bending strength of structural plywood PhD thesis

	Research Reports
	1.	Hettiarachchi, M.T.P. (1993) The use of 'Kempas' timber in Sri Lanka. Report submitted to Institute of Construction Training and Development, Sri Lanka.
	2.	Hettiarachchi, M.T.P. (1999) Understanding Structural Behaviour. Report submitted to the University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka.

	Research Papers
	1.	Booth, L.G. & Hettiarachchi, M.T.P. (1990) Predicting the bending strength of structural plywood; Part 2: An experimental verification. Journal of the Institute of Wood Science Vol. 12(1) pp 48-58.
	2.	Hettiarachchi, M.T.P. (1990) Predicting the bending strength of structural plywood; Part 3: Incorporating the effect of knots. Journal of the Institute of Wood Science Vol. 12(2) pp 83-92.
	3.	Hettiarachchi, M.T.P. (1990) Predicting the bending strength of structural plywood. Proceedings of the International Timber Engineering Conference, Tokyo, Japan. October 1990.
	4.	Dias, W.P.S. & Hettiarachchi, M.T.P. (1990) A cost comparison of some ground reservoir forms. Engineer - Journal of the Institution of Engineers, Sri Lanka. Vol. XVIII. No. 4 pp 53-59.
	5.	Dias, W.P.S. & Hettiarachchi, M.T.P. (1992) A cost comparison of elevated water tank forms. The Indian Concrete Journal Vol. 66. No. 1 pp 43-50.
	6.	Hettiarachchi, M.T.P. (1992) The use of structural timber in the construction industry of Sri Lanka. International Timber Engineering Conference, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. September 1992.
	7.	Hettiarachchi, M.T.P. (1995) The application of spreadsheets in the Design of timber roof trusses. International Conference on Value Added Hardwood Products, Kumasi, Ghana. September 1995.
	8.	Hettiarachchi, M.T.P. (1997) Guidance on the Structural use of timber imported to Sri Lanka Constructor. Vol. 2. No. 5.
	9.	Hettiarachchi, M.T.P. (1997) Creep of small diameter timber poles. Proceedings of 3rd Annual Forestry Symposium, Hikkaduwa, Sri Lanka.
	10.	Hettiarachchi, M.T.P. (1999) Investigation into the creep behaviour of initially green small diameter timber poles drying out under load. Engineer - Journal of the Institution of Engineers, Sri Lanka. Vol. XXIX. No. 1 pp 24-29.
	11.	Hettiarachchi, M.T.P. (2000) Application of Eurocode 5 Recommendations to Bolted Joints in Sri Lankan Timber Species. Engineer - Journal of the Institution of Engineers, Sri Lanka. Vol. XXXI. No. 1 pp 26-39.
	12.	Kulasuriya, C, Dias, W.P.S. and Hettiarachchi, M.T.P.(2000) Development and evaluation of the aesthetics of structural form. Proceedings of the 6th ERU Seminar, University of Moratuwa, December 2000.
	13.	Hettiarachchi, M.T.P. and Nawagamuwa, A.D. (2001) The European Yield Model applied to Bolted Joints of Ginisapu timber. Proceedings of the 7th ERU Seminar, University of Moratuwa, November 2001.
	14.	Kulasuriya, C, Dias, W.P.S. and Hettiarachchi, M.T.P.(2002) The aesthetics of proportion in structural form. The Structural Engineer. Vol. 80 No: 14.
	15.	Hettiarachchi, M.T.P. and Nawagamuwa, A.D. (2002) European Yield Model Method for Bolted Timber Joint Design- Review. Engineer - Journal of the Institution of Engineers, Sri Lanka. Vol. XXXV. No. 2 pp 66-74.
	16.	Perera, K.L.P.D , Hettiarachchi, M.T.P and Jayanandana, A.D.C. (2003) Optimum design of steel frames. Proceedings of the 9th ERU Seminar, University of Moratuwa, August 2003.
	17.	Hettiarachchi, M.T.P. and Alahakoon, C.D. (2004) Optimum design of steel open web girders- Transactions of the 98th Annual Sessions of the Institution of Engineers, Sri Lanka 2004
	18.	Hettiarachchi, M.T.P. and Nawagamuwa, A.D. (2005) Embedment strength of tropical timber species. Engineer - Journal of the Institution of Engineers, Sri Lanka. Vol. XXXVIII. No. 1 pp 39-45.

	Dissemination of Information
	1.	'Brief Review of Structural Timber Connections'. Presentation at seminar organised by the Society of Structural Engineers, sponsored by Nawaloka Construction in association with PRYDA Timber connectors of Australia, Colombo 1992.
	2.	Lectured on the topics Review of Design Methods in Timber, Review of Design Methods in Steel, Timber Construction at the Training Programme on Quality Control in Building Design and Construction for Senior Engineers from Vietnam, sponsored by UNIDO and coordinated by ICTAD. September - October 1992.
	3.	"Towards more efficient use of structural timber."Article in MODULUS, Newsletter of the society of Structural Engineers, Sri Lanka. Vol. 3. No. 3. September 1992.
	4.	'Timber Poles - their properties'. Presentation at seminar on Structural Utilisation of Timber Poles in Developing Countries organised by TRADA (U.K.) and STC held at the University of Moratuwa. May 1993.
	5.	"The Application of Spreadsheets in the Design of roof trusses". Article in MODULUS, Newsletter of the Society of Structural Engineers, Sri Lanka. Vol. 5. No. 3. September/December 1994.
	6.	"Creep of small diameter timber poles"presentation at 3rd Annual Forestry Symposium, Hikkaduwa, Sri Lanka. December 1997.
	7.	‘Timber and the Structural Engineer’ presentation at Question Time organised by the Society of Structural Engineers, Sri Lanka, March 1999.
	8.	"Do you really understand how the structure behaves ? Article in MODULUS, Newsletter of the Society of Structural Engineers, Sri Lanka. Vol. 10. No. 2. June- September 1999.
	9.	"Developing a database for timber used in Sri Lanka. Article in MODULUS, Newsletter of the Society of Structural Engineers, Sri Lanka. Vol. 10. No. 3. December 1999.
	10.	Adopting the European Yield Model to bolted timber joints in Sri Lanka timber species. Presentation at the 55th Annual Sessions of the Sri Lanka Association for the Advancement of Science. December 1999.
	11.	Seeing is Believing - Understanding structural behaviour via models. Presentation at the 57th Annual Sessions of the Sri Lanka Association for the Advancement of Science. November 2001.
	12.	"Optimum grid spacing for steel portal frames”. Article in MODULUS, Newsletter of the Society of Structural Engineers, Sri Lanka. Vol.14 No.1. March 2004.

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Scholarships and Awards
1.		A.N.S. Kulasinghe Award for the Best Civil Engineering Graduate in the BSc (Eng.) Examination for the academic year 1980/81.
2.		Award for the Best Civil Engineering Student in Building and Structural Engineering for the academic year 1980/81.
3.		Manamperi Memorial Award for the best Final Year Student Project presented by the Sri Lanka Association for the Advancement of Science.
4.		Scholarship awarded by the Association of Commonwealth Universities (1983-1986)
5.		Award for the best paper in the Journal of the Institution of Engineers, Sri Lanka (1990) awarded by the State Development and Construction Corporation of Sri Lanka.
6.		BC Assert Award 93/94 to visit Timber Research Organisations in the U.K. - April 94.
7.		Prize for the most innovative article in ‘Modulus’ for 1999 awarded by the Society of Structural Engineers, Sri Lanka.
8.		Fellowship awarded by the Commonwealth Science Council to visit TRADA to learn about the use of Bamboo in Construction- October 2003
9.		Short Term Training Programme sponsored by the ADB to visit the University of Surrey, Guildford on teaching of structural design and also a follow-up visit to TRADA on Bamboo in Construction.
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Other Activities
1.	Member of the Sectoral Committee on Timber and Timber based products of the Sri Lanka Standards Institution.
2.	Coordinator of Postgraduate Research on Structural Engineering Design.
3.	Editor, of the Annual Proceedings of the Seminar Research for Industry (1997-2000), Engineering Research Unit, Moratuwa.
4.	Secretary, of the Sri Lanka Network for Bamboo and Rattan
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Short Courses and Seminars
1.	BUILDING STEEL WORK DESIGN TO BS 5950: PART 1. conducted by the Steel Construction Institute held in London, U.K. November 90.
2.	Seminar on Timber Connections organised by the Society of Structural Engineers sponsored by Nawaloka Construction and PRYDA (Australia) Colombo, Sri Lanka. May 92. (Presentation at)
3.	Seminar on Preservation of Timber for Structural and other purposes organised by the Society of Structural Engineers sponsored by Finlay Rentokil, Colombo, Sri Lanka. September 92. (Summing up)
4.	Seminar on Structural Utilisation of Timber Poles in Developing Countries organised by TRADA (U.K.) & State Timber Corporation, (Sri Lanka) held at the University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka. May 1993. (Presentation at)
5.	Short Course on Structural Design of Steel buildings held at the University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka. July 97. (Resource Person)
6.	Seminar on Quality of steel and ICTAD’s role for the Construction Industry. Presentation on “Why quality steel is to be used for construction work”. March 2000.
7.	Short Course on Structural Design of Steel buildings held at the University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka. July 2000. (Resource Person)
8.	Presentation on Quality of imported timber for the Construction Industry at seminar organised by Sri Lanka Standards Institution July 2001.
9.	Short Course on Structural Design of Composite Steel and concrete buildings held at the University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka. July-August 2001. (Resource Person)
10.	Short Course on Structural Design of Highway bridges held at the University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka. April 2002. (Resource Person)
11.	Seminar on ‘Grow your own home- Bamboo as a sustainable building material’ held in Colombo, June 2002 (Chairperson).
12.	Presentation on Anatomy of Steel Structures at seminar on Structural Steel in the Construction Industry organized by the IESL Civil Engineering Section May 2005
13.	Presentation on Joints and structural integrity at seminar on Structural Steel in the Construction Industry organized by the IESL Civil Engineering Section May 2005
14.	Presentation on Design Aspects of Steel Structures and Connections Seminar on Design of Steel Structures- organized by the Society of Structural Engineers, Sri Lanka, June 2005
15.	Short Course on Structural Design of Steel work in buildings to BS 5950: Part 1 2000 held at the University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka. August 2005. (Resource Person)
16.	Presentation on Potential of bamboo in construction at Seminar on Current Issues in Bamboo organized by Section D of Sri Lanka Association for the Advancement of Science and the Sri Lanka Network for Bamboo and Rattan, August 2005
17.	Presentation on Potential of Timber in Construction at Seminar on Alternative Materials for Construction organized by the Civil Engineering Society, Peradeniya October 2005
18.	Short Course on Structural Analysis and Design of Large Structures held at the University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka. December 2005. (Resource Person)
19.	Presentation on Properties of Steel for Structural applications and Compliance Testing at Seminar on Challenge of Steel as a Structural Material- organized by the Society of Structural Engineers, Sri Lanka, March 2007
20.	Short Course on Structural Design of Steel work in buildings to BS 5950: Part 1 2000 held at the University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka. March 2007. (Resource Person)
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