Material Testing Laboratory
MT LABORATORY
Material Testing Laboratory
The Material Testing Laboratory is equipped with state-of-the-art, high-precision instruments to rigorously evaluate the mechanical and physical properties of construction materials. Our mission is to ensure safety, quality, and long-term sustainability in infrastructure systems through reliable and accurate testing.
LEADERSHIP
Laboratory In-charge
Dr. Kishor Timsina, Asst. Professor and Co-ordinator
Sustainable and Resilient Infrastructure Program
Email: kishor.timsina@mbust.edu.np
INFRASTRUCTURE
Major Instruments
Reaction frame for compression testing of masonry wallets
Reaction frame for diagonal compression (shear) testing of masonry wallets
Universal Testing Machine
Bamboo samples
Bamboo bow measurement
Bamboo Splitting Test
RESEARCH OUTPUT
Completed Research in Material Testing Laboratory
Sustainable and Resilient Reconstruction of Traditional Stone Masonry Buildings in Mud Mortar (Co-PI)
Principal Investigator: Dr. Kirti Kusum Joshi
Researchers: Dr. Kishor Timsina, Mr. Mukesh Maharjan, Mr. Nilkantha Regmi, Ms. Sapana Prajapati, Ms. Diksha Bhattarai
Completion date: July 2025
Funded by: Ministry of Education, Science and Technology (MoEST), Government of Nepal.
RESEARCH PIPELINE
Ongoing Research in Material Testing Laboratory
Characterization of Neplese bamboo – Bambus nutans (Mal bans) and Bambusa balcooa (Dhanu/ Harauti bans) for structural application.
Principal Investigator: Dr. Kishor Timsina
Researchers: Dr. Nischal PN Pradhan, Prof. Elias G. DIMITRAKOPOULOS, Mr. Mukesh Maharjan
Date of initiation: 2024
Funded by: Base Bahay Foundation, Philippines
Optimization of Mud Mortar for Stone Masonry Using Natural Additives
Principal Investigator: Dr. Kishor Timsina
Researchers: Dr. Kirti Kusum Joshi, Mr. Aayush Niraula
Date of initiation: 2025
Funded by: MBUST
Performance evaluation of Pre-fabricated bamboo wall panel
Principal Investigator: Dr. Kishor Timsina
Researchers: Dr. Kirti Kusum Joshi, Dr. Nischal PN Pradhan, Mr. Rupesh Shakya
Date of initiation: 2025
Funded by: MBUST
Students Involved in Research
-
Mr. Mukesh Maharjan – Bamboo characterization research
(mukesh.maharjan@mbust.edu.np) -
Mr. Aayush Niraula- Stone masonry with mud-mortar building research
(aayush.niraula@mbust.edu.np) -
Mr. Rupesh Shakya – Performance of bamboo panel research
(rupesh.shakya@mbust.edu.np)