Dr Riadh Al-Mahaidi

Contact Information:

Teaching Commitments:

• CIV2226 Design of Concrete and Masonry Structures
• CIV3221 Building Structures and Technology
• CIV3222 Bridge Design and Assessment
• CIV4235 Advanced Structural Design

Qualifications:

• B.Sc.(Hon I) in Civil Engineering, University of Baghdad, Iraq
• M.S. in Structural Engineering (Major), Theoretical and Applied Mechanics (Minor), Cornell University, USA
• Ph.D. in Structural Engineering (Major), Theoretical and Applied Mechanics (Minor), Structural Mechanics (Minor), Cornell University
• FIEAUST, MASCE, MACI, MIIFC, MSEI

Research:

• Retrofitting of concrete structures using fibre reinforced polymers FRP composites
• Charctersitcis of normal and high modulus CFRP bonded to steel members
• Torsion-shear strength of concrete box girders strengthened with FRP laminates
• Advanced numerical simulation of failure mechanisms of FRP laminated concrete members
• Structural health monitoring of concrete bridges using fibre optic sensors
• Strengthening of steel structures using CFRP laminates
• Behaviour of longitudinal fillet welds in very high strength (VHS) steel circular tubes
• Finite element analysis of structures

Publications:

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Short Resume:

Dr Al-Mahaidi is the Head of the Structural Engineering Group at Monash University since 2001.

In the majority of his 27-year professional career, Dr Al-Mahaidi was engaged in the discipline of structural engineering applied to civil infrastructure assessment, rehabilitation and maintenance. He graduated with first Class Honours in Civil Engineering from the University of Baghdad in 1971, ranking second in a class of 106 graduates. In 1974 he was awarded a Masters degree in Structural Engineering (with a minor in Structural Mechanics) from Cornell University , USA . In 1978, he was awarded a PhD in Structural Engineering (with minors in Theoretical and Applied Mechanics and Structural Mechanics) from Cornell as well.

The research profile of Dr Al-Mahaidi is internationally recognized through significant research contributions to the field of development and application of nonlinear finite element models for concrete structures and strength assessment and rehabilitation of civil infrastructure. This is demonstrated through extensive refereed publication record, invitations to international conferences as a keynote speaker and to present lectures and seminars worldwide, his research leadership of the "Life Time Integrity of Structures"; research stream at Monash, and his substantial research funding. At Monash, Dr Al-Mahaidi focused his research on life time integrity of bridges, particularly in the area of structural strength assessment and retrofitting using advanced composite materials. In addition, much of the research he has undertaken has had a significant impact on the way bridges are assessed for load rating by the road authorities where a large effort is underway to develop new strategies for strength assessment and retrofitting of existing bridges. Over the last seven years, Dr Al-Mahaidi has been involved in contract research with VicRoads, the road and bridges authority in the State of Victoria, Australia, involving experimental and theoretical studies on the shear and flexural strength of concrete bridges. This has resulted in higher ratings for bridges that were marked for either replacement or costly retrofitting. Over thirty publications have resulted from this work in the form of technical reports, conference and journal papers.

At present, Dr Al-Mahaidi is leading a number of research projects on strengthening techniques of bridges and buildings deficient in strength using innovative materials in the form of carbon fibre composites; durability of concrete and steel structures retrofitted with FRP composites under extreme temperatures; and rehabilitation and life extension of steel structures using high modulus FRP composites. Six PhD students are working in this area under Dr Al-Mahaidi's supervision.

Over the past 5 years, Dr Al-Mahaidi successfully supervised to completion 11 PhD and 3 Masters students.

Dr Al-Mahaidi published over 170 papers in international, regional and national conferences and international journals, the latter in journals that are of the highest international standing in the structural engineering field. They include the American Society of Civil Engineers Journal of Structural Engineering, American Concrete Institute Structural Journal, Journal of the International Society of Offshore and Polar Engineering, Journal of Thin-Walled Structures, Journal of Composite Structures, American Society of Civil Engineers Journal of Composites for Construction, Magazine of Concrete Research, Canadian Journal of Civil Engineering, and Journal of the Transportation Research Board.