Academic History
|
1991 -
2001 |
Newcastle
University, Professor of Structural Engineering Was responsible for all
academic, professional, financial and administrative work within the Structural
Engineering group of the Department of Civil Engineering at the
University. This represented
approximately 20% of the activity of the Department. The Group ran three
laboratories and had a staff of seven academics with technical and clerical support.
There were 41 postgraduate students in the Group each working on laboratory
and/or computer based projects and dissertations. Is a regular contributor to
local, national and BBC World Service radio, in relation to the University's
Full Scale Rolling Load Facility, bridge strengthening work undertaken with
National Trust, gravestone stability and routine expert advice on concrete
structures and highways. Has published work in
the Civils Proceedings and in the Highways Journal on the design of paver
roads, industrial pavements and aircraft pavements. In 1997, published the latest version of the American
Association of Port Authorities heavy duty pavement design manual and has
become the world's leading authority on the subject. Has been enstooled as a
Ghanaian Chie (Nana Odapagyan Ekumfi 1) following his work in the village of
Ekumfi-Atakwa. Has developed a
significant television and radio profile flowing from the enstoolment.
Undertook "blue form" research of value £320,000. Was General &
Scientific Chairman of the Fourth International Congress in Structural
Engineering, Analysis and Modelling, Kumasi, Ghana.
Has contributed to University Alumni Weekend and to University Sixth Form
Conference as lecturer. Manages the Civil Engineering Department's Structural
Engineering laboratories. Undertook research in
the field of rigid and flexible pavement design and concrete block paving. Is
author of the Civil Aviation Authority paver design guide which
is the authoritative work on the use of concrete block paving for airside
applications. Is also author of the UK & US design manuals for heavy duty paving in ports and related industries.
Effectively, all pavements subjected to loads in excess of those commonly
encountered on a highway are designed to his design methods. Has undertaken design
studies for many highway, aircraft and heavy duty industrial pavements and
has investigated defects at Gatwick Airport, Luton Airport, Ben Gurion
Airport, Manchester International Freight Terminal, Railfreight (Manchester),
Tilbury Docks, Port of Sunderland, Portsmouth Commercial Docks, Poole Harbour
and Birtley Truckstop. Was Consulting Engineer
to Cyprus Ports Authority on container pavement development at Port of
Limassol (220,000m2). Was consulted by
Long Beach Port Authority, Port of Durban, Port of Brisbane, Port of
Stavanger, Portsmouth Commercial Ferry Terminal, Tees and Hartlepool Port
Authority, Port of Sunderland, Port of Tyne, Santos Port Authority and Port
of San Fransisco in relation to port pavements. Has been engaged by Tyne
& Wear Development Corporation, York City Council, Leeds City Council,
North Wiltshire District Council, Middlesbro Borough Council and London
Borough of Camden to advise on highway construction projects. |
|
1991 -
2001 |
Was external examiner in civil
engineering at the University of Dundee, the University of Sierra Leone,
Bolton Institute of Technology and the University of Science and Technology,
Kumasi, Ghana, West AfricaÕs principal engineering school.
Undertook classified research with the US Navy, Naval Warfare Section in
testing ships hatch covers when trafficked by container handling Front Lift
Trucks. |
Academic History cont.
|
1976
– 1980 |
Newcastle
University, Lecturer in Structural Engineering Head of Division of
Structural Engineering (1979 and 1980). Published several papers during this
period in the fields of computer aided design, the structural design of
concrete block paving and the design of port pavements (see attached list).
Developed the British Ports Association Heavy Duty Pavements Design Manual,
which has become the definitive design guide for port and other heavy duty industrial pavements. The
port pavement research led to a contract with British Ports Federation to
write the definitive heavy duty pavement design
guide which was published in 1984 and expanded in 1988. The Third Edition, taking into
account innovations in container handling and finite element analysis was
published in June 1995. Most of the world's port authorities now use this
guide. In 1988, The American
Association of Port Authorities published the US version and Professor
Knapton is presently engaged to write the US version of the Third Edition. Initiated and organised the First
International Conference on Concrete Block Paving, September 1980. Three hundred delegates attended,
representing fourteen countries. This conference led to the creation of the
Small Element Pavement Technologists (SEPT) council which holds the title to
subsequent international conferences which have taken place in Delft(1984), Rome(1988), Auckland New Zealand(1992) and
Tel Aviv(1996), Tokyo(2000), Sun City(2003), San Francisco(2006) and Buenos
Aires(2009). |
|
1973 -
1975 |
Cement
and Concrete Association – Slough, Research Engineer Responsible
for all aspects of research into the structural design of concrete block
pavements. This research helped
to establish a major new industry in the United Kingdom with a present annual
turnover of over £290m. Many
publications resulted from this work, including the first concrete block road
design guide, the first industrial pavement design guide of any type and in
1992, the first British Standard. |
|
1970
– 1973 |
Newcastle
University, Junior Research Associate Ph.D.
ÒComputer Aided Design of Industrial
BuildingsÓ This
work was supported financially by the British Constructional Steelwork
Association and led to the publication of several papers. |
|
1967
– 1970 |
Newcastle
University, Department of Civil Engineering First
Class Honours B. Sc Mather
Book Prize for best academic results in the Faculty of Applied Science. |
Employment History
|
1980 -
Present |
Principal
of Consulting Practice In 1980, established a civil/structural
engineering consulting practice initially with a partner, but since 1988
acted as Principal. Hos
practice specializes in pavement engineering, mainly heavy
duty port pavements. From 1988 to 1991, John managed the
practice full time with a staff of eight. In 1991, John accepted the Chair of Structural Engineering
at Newcastle University and in 1992 sold the company to RT James &
Partners, and continued to practice whilst holding the Chair. In 2001, retired from the
University and continued in practice full time, focusing upon Expert Witness
work. Presently working on 14 disputes,
of which 12 involve paving failures. |
|
1975 -
1976 |
British
Dredging Company, Civil Engineer Concerned
mainly with structural design of industrial and highway pavements. Also responsible for concrete testing
laboratory and quality control of all the companyÕs precast concrete products
(bridge beams, retaining walls, flooring systems, building blocks, paving). |
Biodata
|
Address |
85
Monkseaton Drive Whitley
Bay Tyne
& Wear NE26
3DQ |
|
Contact |
mail@john-knapton.com www.john-knapton.com |
|
Date of
Birth |
10
March 1949 |
