Dr Ayse Cagla Balaban

Dr Ayse Cagla Balaban BSc, MSc, PhD, PGCert HE, FHEA, RPA

Senior Lecturer in Built Environment

Dr A. Cagla Balaban is a Senior Lecturer in the Built Environment with a background in Civil Engineering. She completed her undergraduate studies in Turkey before moving to the UK, where she earned both her MSc in Civil Engineering and her PhD in Civil/Mechanical Engineering from the University of Greenwich.

Her doctoral research focused on the manufacturing processes, fracture mechanisms, and structural design of advanced sandwich composite materials, particularly in marine and civil engineering applications. She has established and maintained strong international research collaborations, working closely with institutions in Turkey, Italy, and the UK.

As an early career researcher, Dr Balaban has actively contributed to a number of multidisciplinary projects. Her research interests include the fracture behaviour of composite and nanomaterial-enhanced composites, sustainable material development, and system integration in structural applications. She is particularly interested in applying innovative material technologies to improve the performance and sustainability of construction systems.

Dr Balaban also supervises postgraduate research on advanced materials and sustainable construction methods. Alongside her academic responsibilities, she plays a key role in programme leadership, chairs the School’s Engineering Ethics Committee, and contributes to strategic curriculum development within her School.

Construction Engineering

Responsibilities within the university
  • Senior Lecturer in Built Environment
  • Programme Leader of MSc Construction Project Management
  • Programme Leader of MSc Construction Project Management with Industrial Placement
  • Chair of the School of Engineering Ethics Sub-Committee
  • Early Career Researcher (ECR) Network – School of Engineering & Built Environment Committee Member
  • Link Tutor – Zuyd University of Applied Science, Netherlands
  • Link Tutor – Saxion University of Applied Science, Netherlands
  • Women in Property – School of Engineering & Built Environment Representative
  • Women in Engineering – School of Engineering & Built Environment Representative

Module leader

  • BUIL1260 Design and Structures
  • BUIL1263 Research Practice and Dissertation
  • CIVI1127 Structural Design

Module contributor

  • CIVI1163 Surveying and CAD
  • BUIL1268 Quantity Surveying Practice 1
  • BUIL1258 Construction Management Practice 1

Recognition
  • Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA)
  • Recognised Practitioner in Advising (RPA)
  • Women's Engineering Society Member
  • UK Advising and Tutoring (UKAT) Affiliate Member
  • Mental Health First Aider

Research / Scholarly interests

Composite and Sandwich Composite Materials

  • Manufacturing of Composite/Sandwich Composite materials with different techniques (vacuum assisted resin infusion method, hand lay-out method etc.)
  • Structural design of composite/sandwich materials with different components (Carbon Fibre/Epoxy, Glass Fibre Epoxy etc.)
  • Finite Element Analysis of Composite/Sandwich Composites (using ANSYS).
  • Applications of Composite/Sandwich Composite materials in Construction.

Improvement of mechanical properties of materials (composites, concretes etc.) by using nanomaterials.

  • Mechanical properties identification by experimental testing (Tensile Testing, Flexural Testing procedures etc.).
  • Fracture toughness calculations of materials (3ENF and 4ENF test procedures etc.).
  • Finite Element Analysis of materials under different loading conditions (using ANSYS).
  • Using different types of additives/nanomaterials to improve mechanical properties of construction materials (additives as carbon nanotubes, other carbon nanomaterials Graphene, etc.)

Environmental and geometrical effects on composite construction materials for sustainability and long-term durability.

  • Design of Fibre Composites for Construction applications.
  • Design of sandwich composites with different components and optimising their usage areas.

Key funded projects

  • The extension of the network group on water management and cross infection in healthcare buildings (2022/2023 Impact Development Fund)
  • The creation of a network group on water management and cross infection in healthcare buildings. (2021/2022 Impact Development Fund)
  • Concrete of the Future: Integrating upcycled waste material into sustainable concrete production. (2021/2022 ECR Network - Sandpit)
  • An Investigation of Carbon/Epoxy – PVC Curved Sandwich Beam (REF 2018/2019 Funding)
  • An Investigation of Curved Sandwich Beams in Fracture and Impact Tests (REF 2017/2018 Funding)

Dr Balaban welcomes potential opportunities for industrial/ academic collaborations in one of the research topics above and/or related areas. To discuss your proposal, please contact her by email on ayse.balaban@greenwich.ac.uk.

Recent publications

Conference proceedings

Balaban, Ayse Cagla , Tee, Kong Fah, Toygar, Meltem Evren (2019), Low velocity impact behaviour of sandwich composite structures with e-glass/epoxy facesheets and PVC foam. Elsevier. In: , , , Procedia Structural Integrity. Elsevier, Procedia Structural Integrity, 18 . pp. 577-585 ISSN: 2452-3216 (Print), (doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.prostr.2019.08.202).

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