Dr Martin Murray

Broad area of research: Infrastructure

Main research areas

• 1991–Present: Railway track behaviour, dynamics and maintenance. Railway sleeper materials and performance (timber and concrete). Limit states design and rating of concrete sleepers.
• 1973–Present: Cracking in concrete structures.
• 1983–1990: Timber engineering

Grants

Dr Murray has received over $1,000,000 of funding for research and consulting in the following areas:

• Railways: track dynamics, track maintenance, track modulus, track substructure, sleeper behaviour and degradation, limit states design of track, track rating.
• Building: Cracking of concrete buildings, masonry columns, timber engineering.

This funding has been received from the following:

• Cooperative Research Centre in Railway Engineering and Technologies
• Australian Research Council
• Queensland Rail
• Australian Rail Track Corporation
• Railways of Australia
• Carter Holt Harvey.

Selected List of Awarded Grants

• 2010/12: $105,000 over 3 years for CRC Rail project on modelling force transmission through track.
• 2003/07: $253,000 over 4 years for studies of track dynamics, sleepers, maintenance.
• 2000: $40,000 over 2 years on a study of variability in rail track substructure.
• 1998: $16,000 on a study of uncertainty in rail degradation modelling.
• 1998: $9,800 on a study of rail track modulus.
• 1998: $28,100 on revisions needed to Australian Standard on prestressed concrete sleepers (recently commenced)
• 1998: $5000 on prediction of maintenance needs for timber sleepers
• 1996/98: $105,000 3 year grant on the optimisation of maintenance of rail track
• 1995/97: $332,000 3 year grant on degradation of rail rack.

Awards and recognitions

• 2009: Australian Government National Award for Teaching Excellence in the Physical Sciences and Related Areas. The Australian Learning & Teaching Council.
• 2009: QUT Vice-Chancellor’s Performance Award (Teaching).
• 2008: Award for Extensive Service to Peer Learning, University of Wollongong National PASS Centre.
• 2008: Railway Technical Soc. of Australasia’s National Award for Outstanding Service to Rail Industry.
• 2007: QUT Vice-Chancellor’s Performance Award.
• 2006: Australian Government Carrick Citation Award for outstanding contributions to student learning
• 2003: QUT Teaching Fellowship (12 months half time)
• 2001: Webb Prize, Institution of Civil Engineers London, for best Transport Journal paper in 2000
• 1999: QUT Built Environment and Engineering Faculty “Excellence in Teaching” Award
• 1998: QUT Outstanding Academic Contribution Award
• 1997: Nominated by QUT for National Award for Teaching (Australian Government)
• 1996: Most distinguished paper & outstanding contribution at 8th conf. Aust.Assoc.Eng’ring Education
• 1994 & 1996: Nominated for QUT Best Lecturer award

Career history

1992–Present: Lecturer then Senior lecturer in Civil Engineering, QUT

1981–1991: Lecturer then Senior lecturer in Civil Engineering, Central Queensland University and Capricornia Institute of Advanced Education

1977–1980: Lecturer in Civil Engineering, James Cook University

1973–1977: Researcher, University of Melbourne

1972: Engineer, Country Roads Board, Victoria

1983–Present: Specialist consultant to Australian companies and organisations in the areas of building and of railways