Projects per year
Personal profile
Research interests
Pete Walker is a chartered civil engineer, a fellow of the Institution of Structural Engineers (UK), and a member of The Institution of Civil Engineers (UK). Pete studied at Sheffield City Polytechnic, now Sheffield Hallam University, (BSc Civil Engineering) and the University of Edinburgh (PhD Structural Engineering). Having previously worked in Zimbabwe (University of Zimbabwe) and Australia (University of New England), Pete joined the University of Bath in 1998. He was promoted to Professor in 2006, and he is currently Director of the research Centre for Innovative Construction Materials.
His current research interests include bio-based construction materials, materials for improved indoor air quality, structural masonry and innovative timber engineering. Since joining Bath he has led various research projects, having attracted funding as PI or CI from the BRE Trust, Carbon Connections, DEFRA, EASME, EPSRC, FP7, Knowledge Transfer Partnerships, Great Western Research, Technology Strategy Board, and Innovate UK. Pete has also received substantial financial and in-kind support from a number of SME and large scale industrial partners.
Research
Covering a number of construction materials, Pete’s research work is centred on the development of low carbon technologies suitable for new and retrofitting applications. His original research work focussed on structural masonry (prestressed brickwork (PhD), masonry arch bridges, dry-stone walling), but whilst working in Zimbabwe (1989-1993) and Australia (1994-1997) expanded to include earth building (compressed earth blocks, rammed earth).
Since working at Bath Pete has also led research projects developing straw bale construction, hemp-lime construction, and innovative timber engineering. His research work initially centred on physical, mechanical and structural characterisation, but has developed to include work on micro-structural analysis, heat and moisture transfer in porous materials, life-cycle appraisal, environmental monitoring and testing and most recently indoor environmental quality. Past projects have included:
- The construction and testing of BaleHaus, an innovative prefabricated straw bale house, at the University of Bath
- ECO-SEE: Eco-innovative, Safe and Energy Efficient wall panels and materials for a healthier indoor environment, FP7
- EuroCell project: EU market development of MODCELL - a prefabricated eco-building system utilising renewable materials, EASME
The impact of Pete’s research work includes enabling the successful construction of a number of award winning and innovative low carbon buildings, including to date: Adnams’ new brewery distribution centre; Cheshire Oaks M&S supermarket; Eco-Depot, York; Knowle West Media Centre, Bristol; Orwell Housing Association, Suffolk; Pines Calyx, St Margaret’s Bay; Rivergreen Centre, Durham; The Triangle, Swindon; Wales Institute Sustainable Education (WISE) Building (Centre for Alternative Technology).
Pete’s PhD students have won the IStructE Young Researchers Conference Oral Presentation award on three occasions (Dr Jon Shanks, 2004; Dr Chris Mundell 2008; and, Dr Andy Thomson 2009). He and his team have been the recipients of three best journal-paper awards from the Institution of Civil Engineers.
Other responsibilities
Since 2019 Pete has been working as a lead academic on the University of Bath's Climate Action Framework. This led to the university declaring a climate emergency in May 2020. He is currently working with colleagues implementing the university's Climate Action plan.
Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
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Network
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Wellbeing Achieved from Earthen Residence
Maskell, D., Calabria-Holley, J., Walker, P. & White, S.
18/11/19 → 17/05/23
Project: Research council
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Circular Economy of Timber Buildings
Hawkins, W., Shea, A., Maskell, D. & Walker, P.
1/06/22 → 30/11/22
Project: Research-related funding
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Adaptavate / Breathaboard - high performance, environmentally sustainable, gypsum plasterboard alternative
Walker, P. & Platt, S.
1/06/20 → 30/11/21
Project: Central government, health and local authorities
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Research output
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Chemical, mineralogical, and microstructural interactions between lime-pozzolan binders and miscanthus particles in lightweight concretes
Ntimugura, F., Vinai, R., Harper, A. & Walker, P., 31 Mar 2022, In: Cleaner Materials. 3, 100053.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open Access -
Codes and Standards on Earth Construction
Reddy, B. V. V., Morel, J. C., Faria, P., Fontana, P., Oliveira, D. V., Serclerat, I., Walker, P. & Maillard, P., 27 Nov 2022, (E-pub ahead of print) Testing and Characterisation of Earth-based Building Materials and Elements. Fabbri, A., Morel, J-C., Aubert, J-E., Bui, Q-B., Gallipoli, D. & Reddy, B. V. V. (eds.). Cham, Switzerland: Springer Science and Business Media B.V., p. 243-259 17 p. (RILEM State-of-the-Art Reports; vol. 35).Research output: Chapter or section in a book/report/conference proceeding › Chapter or section
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Comparing the Carbon Footprint of Bio-Based and Conventional Insulation Materials
Cascione, V., Roberts, M., Allen, S., Maskell, D., Dams, B., Shea, A., Walker, P. & Emmitt, S., 22 May 2022, 18th International Conference on Non-conventional Materials and Technologies: (NOCMAT 2022). Zenodo, Vol. 2022. Session 1B, Part Paper 10Research output: Chapter or section in a book/report/conference proceeding › Chapter in a published conference proceeding
Open AccessFile43 Downloads (Pure) -
Impact of fibre orientation on the hygrothermal properties of straw bale insulation
Platt, S. L., Maskell, D., Shea, A. & Walker, P., 26 Sep 2022, In: Construction and Building Materials. 349, 128752.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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Integration of life cycle assessments (LCA) in circular bio-based wall panel design
Cascione, V., Roberts, M., Allen, S., Dams, B., Maskell, D., Shea, A., Walker, P. & Emmitt, S., 10 Apr 2022, In: Journal of Cleaner Production. 344, 130938.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Datasets
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Dataset for "Scale-up effects in alkali-activated soil blocks"
Marsh, A. (Creator), Heath, A. (Creator), Venkatarama Reddy, B. V. (Creator), Krishnamurthy, P. R. (Creator), Evernden, M. (Creator), Patureau, P. (Creator) & Walker, P. (Creator), University of Bath, 6 Aug 2020
DOI: 10.15125/BATH-00564
Dataset
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Dataset for "Phase formation behaviour in alkali activation of clay mixtures"
Marsh, A. (Creator), Heath, A. (Supervisor), Patureau, P. (Supervisor), Evernden, M. (Supervisor) & Walker, P. (Supervisor), University of Bath, 17 Apr 2019
DOI: 10.15125/BATH-00563
Dataset
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Dataset for "Influence of clay minerals and associated minerals in alkali activation of soils"
Marsh, A. (Creator), Heath, A. (Supervisor), Patureau, P. (Supervisor), Evernden, M. (Supervisor) & Walker, P. (Supervisor), University of Bath, 10 Sep 2019
DOI: 10.15125/BATH-00565
Dataset
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Dataset for "Alkali activation behaviour of un-calcined montmorillonite and illite clay minerals"
Marsh, A. (Creator), Heath, A. (Supervisor), Patureau, P. (Supervisor), Evernden, M. (Supervisor) & Walker, P. (Supervisor), University of Bath, 7 Feb 2019
DOI: 10.15125/BATH-00591
Dataset