Dr Damith Mohotti
Senior Lecturer
Academic
- PhD in Structural Engineering, University of Melbourne
- Masters in Structural Engineering (MEng.) University of Moratuwa
- BSc. in Civil Engineering (1st class honors) University of Moratuwa
Professional
- Chartered Member of Institute of Engineers Australia (MIEAust, CPEng. NER)
- Member of Asia Pacific Economic Co-operation Engineering (APEC Engineer, IntPE(Aus)
- Member of Concrete Institute Australia (CIA)
- Member of the International Association of Protective Structures (IAPS)
- Member of the Australian Wind Engineering Society (AWES)
- Member of Project Management Institute (PMI)
Career History
- 2020-present – Senior Lecturer in Civil Engineering, School of Engineering & IT, UNSW Canberra, Australia
- 2023- Visiting Associate professor - School of Civil, Mining and Environmental Engineering, University of Wollongong NSW 2522 Australia
- 2019 - Associate - Karagozian and Case (K&C), Australia
- 2015-2019 -Lecturer in School of Civil Engineering, University of Sydney, Darlington, NSW
- 2010-2015 – PhD Candidate and Research Fellow, Department of Infrastructure Engineering, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Melbourne
- 2003-2009 – Held various industry roles as a Structural Engineer and a project manager.
UNSW Canberra
School of Eng & Tech
Dr Damith Mohotti is a nationally recognised expert in designing of protective structure, numerical modeling and finite element analysis.
The materials and methods used in the design and construction of built structures determines their capacity to withstand extreme loading, including strong winds, blasts and impacts. Designing such structures to withstand these natural and human-caused hazards, and thus protecting our critical infrastructure against them, is a particularly demanding area of today's research environment. Dr. Damith Mohotti’s work aims to advance this challenging and increasingly important area of structural engineering. Most of his research efforts are aimed at keeping people safe and protecting them from both natural and human-caused disasters by developing better design techniques for structures to survive under such extreme loading. With this interest and demand, Dr. Damith Mohotti’s work can be classified into four areas: (1) Blast and impact effects on structures (2) Development of smart materials (3) Development of advanced numerical analysis methods (4) Application of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) in structural engineering.
Dr. Damith Mohotti is a Senior Lecturer and an Engineering Consultant in the School of Civil Engineering and IT at UNSW Canberra at the Australian Defence Force Academy. He has engaged in many research and consultation projects. He was a key member of the Defence Science and Technology Organisation (DMTC) Eureka Prize winning team for Outstanding Science in Safeguarding Australia in 2013. In addition to his academic experience, Damith has worked in the construction and consultation industries for many years holding different positions. Damith Mohotti is a well-recognised researcher and a consultant in engineering consultancy and defence science sectors.
Most of my research efforts are aimed at keeping people safe and protecting them from both natural and human-caused disasters. I want to see structures withstand severe loading induced by human-caused events as well as natural disasters, so I am passionate about developing better design techniques for structures to survive under such extreme loading”. "One of my major research focuses is extreme loading on structures, such as blast and impact, and development of new techniques to ensuring that civil and defence protective structures and vehicles can be operated effectively in the face of increasing threats. I have made a significant contribution to research in vulnerability modelling of critical infrastructure, particularly in the area of assessment of the effects of natural and technical hazards on buildings and infrastructure.
E-mail
Location
Canberra
- Publications
- Media
- Grants
- Awards
- Research Activities
- Engagement
- Teaching and Supervision
-
Scanning pressure measurement system for aero-mech-civil engineering applications, 2024 –[$142,000]
- ARC Discovery Project funding (DP23)- Structural safety guidelines for accidental hydrogen explosion hazards, 2023 –[$400,000]
- High strain rate testing of four armour-grade metals to derive Johnson-Cook Material model parameters, 2023 – [$55,000]
- Numerical investigation of the shockwave overpressure fields of Fuel-Air explosions (FAE),2022-DSTG, Adelaide, [$70000]
- DSP research agreement- CFD in shock wave propagation - 2021 [$50,000]
- DSTG Research funding – Analysis of Structures under the Effects of Simultaneously Detonated Multiple Charges - 2020 [$40,000]
- Rectors start-up funding - 2020 [$50,000]
- DSTG research Funding – Analysis of Structures under the Effects of Simultaneously Detonated Multiple Charges - 2019 [$120,000]
- CERDS- Development of novel multi-material systems [$50,000]
- Global Partnership award, Blast resilient glass facades: South Hampton University, UK [$40,000]
- School of Civil Engineering start-up funding -University of Sydney [$50,000]
- DMTC (Defense Materials Technology Centre) Australia, new generation armour: Apr. 2010-Aug 2013
- Australian Museum Eureka Prize for Outstanding Science in Safeguarding Australia
- Engineering Excellence Award 2017, IESL NSW Chapter
- Project Contribution Award, DMTC (Defence Materials Technology Centre)
- Development of innovative methods in predicting blast, impact and wind loads on structures
- Advanced numerical methods (AI-based predictive modelling)
- Development of innovative materials for applications such as blast and impact mitigation
- Behaviour of Engineering materials under dynamic loading
- Fluid-Structure Interaction (FSI) modelling - Development of CFD-based numerical approach in predicting blast and wind loads on structures
Major conference organising committees.
- IAPS-Australian Chapter workshop (2020) -Lead Organising Committee
- MABS - 6th International Symposium on Military Aspects of Blast and Shock (MABS26) - Dec 2023
- 11th International Symposium on Impact Engineering (ISIE2023) - Dec 2023
Leadership and Community Engagement
- Vice Chair of the Institute of Engineers Sri Lanka – New South Wales Chapter
- Executive Member of the International Association of Protective Structures (IAPS) – Australian Chapter
- IESL -NSW Chapter treasurer (2022-2023)
Recent Media activities
My Research Supervision
Current HDR Students
- Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in wind pressure prediction in tall buildings - Pasindu Piumal
- Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in blast pressure prediction - Chamodi Himasha
- Impact mitigation using novel material concept using fractal cubes - Madhusha Rukshan
- Enhance properties of concrete using GO – Isuri Chamodya
- The Use of Crumb Rubber Concrete in Medium-to-High Structural Elements Prone to Collisions -Mohamed Ahmed Hadi Aown
- Analyzing the cyclic behaviour of timber to steel connection with different structural parameters and materials properties – Azad, Muhammad Abul Kalam
Recent PhD completions
- Dr Kasun Wijesooriya
- Dr Lakshitha Fernando
- Dr Dakshitha Weerasinghe
Research Associates
- Dr Dakshitha Weerasinghe
- Dr Kasun Wijesooriya
My Teaching
- ZEIT2603 Civil Engineering Materials - Introduction to Concrete [ Ongoing]
- ZEIT3603 Design of Steel and Timber Structures [2020]
- ZEIT4600 Civil Design Practice A (Construction Management) [ Ongoing]
- ZEIT4601 Civil Design Practice B [On going]
- Design of Concrete Structures [ Previously taught]