Overview of the Advanced Structural Engineering Cluster

Overview of the Structures Research group

Underpinned by state-of-the-art computational tools and recent major investments in our advanced structural testing and concrete durability laboratories, our research ranges from fundamental to applied aspects of structural engineering. In addition to our work on new and improved structural forms and materials, a growing theme has been on the response of structures to extreme loading including work on blast-resistance, seismic behaviour and structural robustness. Our contribution in the areas of lifetime assessment, durability and long-term behaviour continue to expand, as does our work on structural biomechanics. 

Who works in the Structures Research section

Structures Academic and Teaching Staff A-Z
Photo Details

Leroy Gardner

Professor of Structural Engineering, PhD, DIC, CEng, FICE, FIStructE, FREng
Head of Structural Engineering Section
Structural testing; Numerical modelling and the development of design guidance for steel structures.

Bassam Izzuddin

Professor of Computational Structural Mechanics, PhD, DIC, MASCE, CEng, FIStructE, FREng
Nonlinear structural analysis; Finite element analysis; Extreme loading; Simplified modelling; Robustness and progressive collapse; Multi-scale modelling; Steel structures; Concrete structures; Glass structures.

Pinelopi Kyvelou

Lecturer in Structural Engineering, PhD, DIC
Testing, numerical modelling and development of design guidance for steel structures, metallic 3D printed elements, cold-formed steel systems. 

Luke Louca

Reader in Engineering Structures, PhD
Behaviour and design of structures subjected to explosions. 

Lorenzo Macorini

Professor of Structural Engineering, PhD
Director of the MSc in General Structural Engineering 
Director of the MSc in Structural Steel Design
Masonry structures (numerical modelling, analysis under extreme loading, strengthening); Computational structural mechanics; Composite structures (long-term and collapse behaviour, seismic performance).

Christian Malaga Chuquitaype

Senior Lecturer in Structures, PhD, DIC
Director of the MSc in Earthquake Engineering
Postdoc Champion

Earthquake engineering and structural dynamics; structural timber engineering and hybrid construction, resilient and smart structures; performance-based and multi-hazard structural design.

Anton Koellner

Lecturer in Structural Mechanics and MSc Cluster (Structural Engineering) Director and Examinations Officer Dr.-Ing. habil.
Nonlinear mechanics; Structural instability phenomena; FRP Composite structures; Damage mechanics; Damage tolerant design; Analytical and numerical modelling

Andrew Phillips

Reader in Structural Biomechanics, PhD, CEng, MIMechE
Learning Threads Coordinator
Biomechanics, FE and inverse dynamics; Musculo-skeletal modelling; Blast biomechanics; Orthopaedic device assessment / design, Structural optimization. 

Sunday Popo-Ola

Senior Research and Teaching Fellow, PhD, DIC, FHEA
Structural engineering and testing; Composite construction, Modern method of construction, Fixing and anchor technology; Cladding and façade technology; Indigenous materials; Structural modelling; BIM; CAD and expert witness.
Andy Pullen

Andy Pullen

Senior Research Fellow
Department IC-TAP Representative
Structures, Structural materials; Blast and impact loading behaviour; Elements under impact; Extreme compressive stresses; Strain rate.

Ana Ruiz-Teran

Senior Lecturer in Bridge Engineering, PhD, CEng, MICE, FHEA
Director of MSc in Concrete Structures
Bridge engineering; Structural engineering; Innovative types of cable-stayed bridges; Spatial arch bridges; Footbridges; Accidental breakage of stay cables; Prestressed concrete; Bridge design.

Adam Jan Sadowski

Senior Lecturer in Structural Engineering, PhD
Department GTA Coordinator
Senior Tutor, Postgraduate Taught
Thin and thick shell structures, stability of shells.

Peter Stafford

Professor of Engineering Seismology, PhD
Department Careers Adviser
Quantitative risk analysis; Probabilistic methods in engineering seismology and earthquake engineering; Reliability theory. 

Margaret Szabo

Senior Teaching Fellow in Structures, PhD, FHEA
Senior Tutor, Undergraduate 
Undergraduate Year 3 Coordinator
Structural mechanics, structural design, biomechanics

Robert Vollum

Professor of Structural Concrete, PhD, CEng, MIStructE
Director of EPSRC CDT Sustainable Civil Engineering
Long-term deflections of reinforced concrete slabs; Beam-column joints; Shear in beams; Punching shear; Numerical modelling of reinforced concrete structures; Strut and tie modelling; Control of early age thermal cracking.

Ahmer Wadee

Professor of Nonlinear Mechanics, PhD, CMath, FIMA, CSci, MRI
Structural stability; Structural mechanics; Structural engineering; Laminated composite and layered materials; Steel structures; Sandwich structures; Nonlinear buckling theory; Applied mathematics; Structural failure; Solid mechanics.
Structures Academics A-Z
Structures Academics A-Z

Download our Departmental Research Brochure

Structures Research Staff A-Z
Photo Details

Qili Fang

Research Associate, PhD
Email Qili

Stanyslav Grosman

Research Associate, PhD
Nonlinear structural response; Finite element analysis; Robustness assessment; Meta modelling techniques; Masonry structures; Parametric design
Email Stanyslav

Xi Guo

Research Associate, PhD
Metal 3D printed bolted connections; cold-formed steel structures. 
Email Xi

Xin Meng

Research Associate, PhD
Email Xin

Alexandra Renouard

Research Associate, PhD
Email Alexandra

Linjie Wang

Research Associate, PhD
Project title: Identifying effective interventions to maintain bone health in lower limb amputees
Keywords: Amputee musculoskeletal modelling and simulation, Bone adaptation, Finite element analysis
Email Linjie

Ruizhi Zhang

Research Associate, PhD 
Testing, simulation and optimisation of additively manufactured steel structures; Resilience of steel framed structures
Email Ruizhi
Structures Research Staff A-Z
Structures Academics A-Z

Administration contacts

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  Structures Cluster MSc Director
Dr Anton Köllner
 Ruth Bello Cluster Administrator
Ms Ruth Bello
+44 (0)207 594 6040
Administration contacts for the Structures cluster
Administration contacts

Our community in numbers*

Our academics

  • 50+ full-time academic staff
  • 20 part-time, honorary and visiting
  • 50+ research staff
  • 40+ Professional Services and Technicians staff 

Our student population

  • 225 PhD students
    67% male; 33% female
    48 nationalities
  • 314 MSc students
    61% male; 39% female
    53 nationalities
  • 367 Undergraduates 
    71% male; 29% female
    45 nationalities
  • Total 906 students
    67% male; 33% female

* all numbers are approximate

Measures of success

Research Assessment Exercise
  • REF 2021. 75% of research assessed to be 4* (highest rating), 25% assessed to be 3*.
QS World Universities rankings
  • Subject Ranking. Civil Engineering = 6th (2021); 6th (2020); 6th (2019); 3rd (2018)
The Times Higher Education world ranking
  • Subject Ranking. Civil Engineering = 4th (2021); 11th (2020); 12th (2019)
National Student Survey
  • Overall Satisfaction, 92% (2022), 90% (2021); 78% (2020); 88% (2019)