Professor Iman Hajirasouliha
School of Mechanical, Aerospace and Civil Engineering
Chair in Structural Engineering
i.hajirasouliha@sheffield.ac.uk
+44 114 222 5710
+44 114 222 5710
Room C109c, Sir Frederick Mappin Building (Broad Lane Building)
Full contact details
Professor Iman Hajirasouliha
School of Mechanical, Aerospace and Civil Engineering
Room C109c
Sir Frederick Mappin Building (Broad Lane Building)
Mappin Street
Sheffield
S1 3JD
School of Mechanical, Aerospace and Civil Engineering
Room C109c
Sir Frederick Mappin Building (Broad Lane Building)
Mappin Street
Sheffield
S1 3JD
- Profile
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I am Professor of Structural Engineering at the University of Sheffield, where I serve as the Academic Line Manager (ALM) of structures and lead the Structural Engineering Group (SEG). I received my PhD from Sharif University of Technology, one of the top technical universities in the Middle East, in collaboration with the University of Sheffield through a Chevening Scholarship. Following my PhD, I was awarded a prestigious Marie Curie International Incoming Fellowship at the University of Sheffield in 2008. I joined the University of Nottingham as a Lecturer in Structural Engineering in 2010, before returning to Sheffield in 2012. I was then promoted to Senior Lecturer (Associate Professor) in 2015 and Professor in 2022.
My research focuses on developing more resilient, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly buildings and infrastructure by using deep learning, innovative structural systems, and advanced optimisation techniques. By integrating data-driven approaches with cutting-edge engineering solutions, I aim to enhance structural performance, reduce environmental impact, and drive sustainable design in the built environment.
I work on finding smart ways to make buildings and infrastructure stronger, safer, cheaper, and better for the planet.
Professor Iman Hajirasouliha
- Research interests
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I have over 25 years of research and consultancy experience in the fields of resilient buildings and infrastructure, lightweight steel structures, performance-based optimisation, novel strengthening and retrofitting techniques, vulnerability assessment, and artificial intelligence, with a particular focus on modular, low-carbon structural systems.
- Publications
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Journal articles
- Performance-based seismic design of buckling−restrained knee−braced frames: Cumulative damage optimization and design lateral force distribution. Structures, 78, 109167-109167.
- Replaceable monolithic-like beam-to-beam precast connection for RC frames: Concept development and design procedure. Structures, 76, 108875-108875.
- A probabilistic liquefaction hazard analysis: case studies from the Marmara region. Geotechnical and Geological Engineering, 43(2). View this article in WRRO
- An innovative method for mesoscale modelling of moisture diffusion in concrete. Cement and Concrete Composites, 155, 105836-105836.
- Experimental and Numerical Investigation on Flexural Behavior of Novel Unsymmetrical Cold-Formed Steel Built-Up Stiffened Box Sections. Journal of Structural Engineering, 151(2).
- Capacity and Behavior of Sheathed Cold-Formed Steel Stud Walls under Outward Flexural Loading. Journal of Structural Engineering, 151(1).
- Shaking table tests on the stability of dip and anti-dip rock slopes with structural planes induced by seismic motions. Engineering Geology, 341, 107707-107707.
- Influence zones of continuous beam systems. Structures, 68, 107069-107069.
- Serviceability fragility assessment of non-seismically designed railway viaducts in Turkey under near-field and far-field earthquakes. Structures, 68, 107102-107102.
- A review of optimum seismic design of RC frames: State-of-the-art, challenges and future directions. Engineering Structures, 315, 118455-118455.
- Effect of textile density and number of layers on the flexural behaviour of RC beams strengthened with steel reinforced grout systems. Construction and Building Materials, 430, 136424-136424.
- Optimized Interaction Equations for More Efficient Design of CFS Channels under Combined Compression and Biaxial Bending. Journal of Structural Engineering, 150(8).
- Predicting restraining effects in CFS channels: A machine learning approach. Steel and Composite Structures, 51(4), 441-456.
- Behaviour of short columns made with conventional or FRP-confined rubberised concrete: An experimental and numerical investigation. Engineering Structures, 307, 117885-117885.
- Machine learning for structural design models of continuous beam systems via influence zones. Inverse Problems, 40(5). View this article in WRRO
- Design optimisation for cold rolled steel beam sections with web and flange stiffeners. Journal of Constructional Steel Research, 213, 108375-108375.
- Experimental investigation on seismic performance of cold-formed steel strap-braced stud walls under lateral cyclic and vertical loading. Thin-Walled Structures, 194, 111312-111312.
- Experimental investigation using demountable steel-concrete composite reduced web section (RWS) connections under cyclic loads. Bulletin of Earthquake Engineering, 22(3), 1081-1110. View this article in WRRO
- Experimental investigation of the behaviour and capacity of sheathed cold-formed steel stud walls under inward flexural loading. Thin-Walled Structures, 192, 111048-111048.
- A new energy-dissipating RBS connection with double-nut-bolts: Seismic performance assessment and design methodology. Engineering Structures, 293, 116596-116596.
- Development of lightweight CFS composite built-up beams: Tests and flexural response. Journal of Constructional Steel Research, 209, 108041-108041.
- Multi-level performance-based seismic design optimisation of RC frames. Engineering Structures, 293, 116591-116591.
- Shear strength design of cold-formed steel channel sections with web openings. Engineering Structures, 291, 116426-116426.
- Machine learning‐based predictions of buckling behaviour of cold‐formed steel structural elements. ce/papers, 6(3-4), 843-847. View this article in WRRO
- Lateral performance of cold‐formed steel OSB‐sheathed stud wall panels. ce/papers, 6(3-4), 1965-1971. View this article in WRRO
- Incremental stiffening approach for CFS built-up-beams with large imperfections: Tests and flexural-behaviour. Structures, 53, 1318-1340.
- More accurate design equations for cold-formed steel members subjected to combined axial compressive load and bending. Thin-Walled Structures, 185, 110588-110588.
- Intermittently stiffened cold-formed steel GFRP composite lightweight built-up beams: Experimental investigation and performance assessment. Thin-Walled Structures, 185, 110630-110630.
- Probabilistic seismic risk assessment framework: case study Adapazari, Turkey. Bulletin of Earthquake Engineering, 21(7), 3133-3162.
- Predicting the buckling behaviour of thin-walled structural elements using machine learning methods. Thin-Walled Structures, 184.
- Value-Based Seismic Performance Optimization of Steel Frames Equipped with Viscous Dampers. Journal of Earthquake Engineering, 27(14), 4024-4050.
- Applying the Continuous Hidden Markov Model to Structural State Estimation. Practice Periodical on Structural Design and Construction, 28(2).
- Behaviour and performance of OSB-sheathed cold-formed steel stud wall panels under combined vertical and seismic loading. Thin-Walled Structures, 183.
- A critical review of cold-formed steel seismic resistant systems: Recent developments, challenges and future directions. Thin-Walled Structures, 180, 109953-109953.
- A new approach to estimate the lead core characteristic strength of lead rubber bearings. Engineering Structures, 270, 114817-114817.
- Seismic response mechanisms of casing-shape composite tunnel lining: Theoretical analysis and shaking table test verification. Soil Dynamics and Earthquake Engineering, 162, 107440-107440.
- Performance-based seismic design and assessment of multi-storey CFS strap-braced frames. Engineering Structures, 261. View this article in WRRO
- Buckling behaviour of cold-formed steel sigma and lipped channel beam–column members. Thin-Walled Structures, 173, 108963-108963.
- Capacity and design of cold-formed steel warping-restrained beam-column elements. Journal of Constructional Steel Research, 190. View this article in WRRO
- Structural engineering from an inverse problems perspective. Proceedings of the Royal Society A: Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences, 478(2257).
- Cold-formed steel beam-to-column bolted connections for seismic applications. Thin-Walled Structures, 172. View this article in WRRO
- Web crippling behaviour of slotted perforated cold-formed steel channels: IOF load case. Journal of Constructional Steel Research, 188, 106974-106974.
- Shape optimisation of cold roll formed sections considering effects of cold working. Thin-Walled Structures, 170, 108576-108576.
- Accurate prediction of cyclic hysteresis behaviour of RBS connections using Deep Learning Neural Networks. Engineering Structures, 247, 113156-113156.
- Experimental and numerical investigation of a proposed monolithic-like precast concrete column-foundation connection. Engineering Structures, 246, 113090-113090.
- Bond behaviour of multi-ply steel reinforced grout composites. Construction and Building Materials, 305, 124750-124750.
- Structural performance of RC columns retrofitted with steel-reinforced grout jackets under combined axial and lateral loading. Engineering Structures, 245.
- More efficient design of CFS strap-braced frames under vertical and seismic loading. Journal of Constructional Steel Research, 185, 106886-106886.
- Development of more accurate cyclic hysteretic models to represent RBS connections. Engineering Structures, 245, 112899-112899.
- Structural performance of reinforced concrete columns subjected to high-temperature and axial loading under different heating-cooling scenarios. Journal of Building Engineering, 42, 102477-102477.
- Multi-level performance-based design optimisation of steel frames with nonlinear viscous dampers. Bulletin of Earthquake Engineering, 19, 5015-5049. View this article in WRRO
- Deep learning-based procedure for structural design of cold-formed steel channel sections with edge-stiffened and un-stiffened holes under axial compression. Thin-Walled Structures, 166, 108076-108076.
- Performance-based assessment of CFS strap-braced stud walls under seismic loading. Journal of Constructional Steel Research, 183, 106731-106731.
- More efficient design of reduced beam sections (RBS) for maximum seismic performance. Journal of Constructional Steel Research, 183, 106728-106728.
- Optimisation of cold-formed steel beams for best seismic performance in bolted moment connections. Journal of Constructional Steel Research, 181.
- Structural size optimization of single and built-up cold-formed steel beam-column members. Journal of Structural Engineering, 147(4).
- Behavior and design of cold-formed steel bolted connections subjected to combined actions. Journal of Structural Engineering, 147(4).
- Axial behaviour of FRP-confined rubberised concrete: An experimental investigation. Construction and Building Materials, 267, 121023-121023.
- Optimal design of cold roll formed steel channel sections under bending considering both geometry and cold work effects. Thin-Walled Structures, 157, 107020-107020.
- Experimental study of the cross-sectional capacity of cold-formed steel built-up columns. Thin-Walled Structures, 155.
- Optimum energy based seismic design of friction dampers in RC structures. Structures, 27, 2550-2562.
- Local buckling in cold-formed steel moment-resisting bolted connections : behavior, capacity and design. Journal of Structural Engineering, 146(9). View this article in WRRO
- Design and optimization of cold-formed steel sections in bolted moment connections considering bimoment. Journal of Structural Engineering, 146(8).
- Experimental study of cold-formed steel built-up beams. Journal of Structural Engineering, 146(7). View this article in WRRO
- Experimental and numerical investigations of cold-formed austenitic stainless steel unlipped channels under bearing loads. Thin-Walled Structures, 152, 106768-106768.
- Experimental study of cold-formed steel built-up columns. Thin-Walled Structures, 149.
- Tensile stress-strain characteristics of rubberised concrete from flexural tests. Construction and Building Materials, 236. View this article in WRRO
- Multi-criteria performance-based optimization of friction energy dissipation devices in RC frames. Earthquake and Structures, 2, 185-199. View this article in WRRO
- Development of a monolithic-like precast beam-column moment connection: Experimental and analytical investigation. Engineering Structures, 205. View this article in WRRO
- A practical probabilistic earthquake hazard analysis tool: case study Marmara region. Bulletin of Earthquake Engineering. View this article in WRRO
- Coupled element and structural level optimisation framework for cold-formed steel frames. Journal of Constructional Steel Research. View this article in WRRO
- Adaptive low computational cost optimisation method for performance-based seismic design of friction dampers. Engineering Structures, 198. View this article in WRRO
- Dynamic column loss analysis of reinforced concrete flat slabs. Engineering Structures, 198. View this article in WRRO
- Development of optimum cold-formed steel beams for serviceability and ultimate limit states using Big Bang-Big Crunch optimisation. Engineering Structures, 195, 172-181. View this article in WRRO
- Steel-Reinforced Grout (SRG) strengthening of shear-critical RC beams. Construction and Building Materials, 216, 68-83. View this article in WRRO
- Seismic performance of cold-formed steel bolted moment connections with bolting friction-slip mechanism. Journal of Constructional Steel Research, 156, 122-136. View this article in WRRO
- Simplified Method for Optimal Design of Friction Damper Slip Loads by Considering Near-Field and Far-Field Ground Motions. Journal of Earthquake Engineering. View this article in WRRO
- Experimental Investigation of Cross-Sectional Bending Capacity of Cold-Formed Steel Channels Subject to Local-Distortional Buckling Interaction. Journal of Structural Engineering, 145(7), 04019064-04019064. View this article in WRRO
- Efficient design of cold-formed steel bolted-moment connections for earthquake resistant frames. Thin-Walled Structures. View this article in WRRO
- Strength and deflection behaviour of cold-formed steel back-to-back channels. Engineering Structures, 177, 641-654. View this article in WRRO
- Composites with recycled rubber aggregates: Properties and opportunities in construction. Construction and Building Materials, 188, 884-897.
- Seismic response modification factors for stiffness degrading soil-structure systems. Structural Engineering and Mechanics, 68(2), 159-170.
- Seismic risk assessment for developing countries: Pakistan as a case study. Earthquake Engineering and Engineering Vibration, 17(4), 787-804. View this article in WRRO
- Performance-based optimisation of RC frames with friction wall dampers using a low-cost optimisation method. Bulletin of Earthquake Engineering, 16(10), 5017-5040. View this article in WRRO
- Direct displacement-based seismic design of flexible-base structures subjected to pulse-like ground motions. Engineering Structures, 168, 276-289. View this article in WRRO
- Design-oriented models for concrete columns confined by steel-reinforced grout jackets. Construction and Building Materials, 178, 313-326. View this article in WRRO
- An improved replacement oscillator approach for soil-structure interaction analysis considering soft soils. Engineering Structures, 167, 26-38. View this article in WRRO
- Local-flexural interactive buckling of standard and optimised cold-formed steel columns. Journal of Constructional Steel Research, 144, 106-118. View this article in WRRO
- Nonlinear behaviour of reinforced concrete flat slabs after a column loss event. Advances in Structural Engineering, 1-15. View this article in WRRO
- Development of optimum cold-formed steel sections for maximum energy dissipation in uniaxial bending. Engineering Structures, 161, 55-67. View this article in WRRO
- Experimental investigation of local-flexural interactive buckling of cold-formed steel channel columns. Thin-Walled Structures, 125, 245-258. View this article in WRRO
- Analytical and experimental study on the seismic performance of cold-formed steel frames. Journal of Constructional Steel Research, 143, 18-31. View this article in WRRO
- Compressive behaviour of concrete columns confined with steel-reinforced grout jackets. Composites Part B: Engineering, 138, 222-231. View this article in WRRO
- A practical grid generation procedure for the design of free-form structures. Computers and Structures, 196, 292-310. View this article in WRRO
- Behaviour of unconfined and FRP-confined rubberised concrete in axial compression. Construction and Building Materials, 147, 388-397. View this article in WRRO
- Seismic retrofitting of RC buildings using CFRP and post-tensioned metal straps: shake table tests. Bulletin of Earthquake Engineering, 15(8), 3321-3347. View this article in WRRO
- A Practical Method for Optimum Seismic Design of Friction Wall Dampers. Earthquake Spectra, 33(3), 1033-1052. View this article in WRRO
- A practical grid generation procedure for the design of free-form structures.. International Conference on Steel and Aluminium Structures.
- Bond of substandard laps in RC beams retrofitted with post-tensioned metal straps. ACI Structural Journal, 113(6), 1197-1208. View this article in WRRO
- Optimum design of cold-formed steel beams using Particle Swarm Optimisation method. Journal of Constructional Steel Research, 122, 80-93. View this article in WRRO
- Development of more efficient cold-formed steel channel sections in bending. Thin-Walled Structures, 101, 1-13. View this article in WRRO
- Performance-based seismic design of flexible-base multi-storey buildings considering soil–structure interaction. Engineering Structures, 108, 90-103. View this article in WRRO
- A simplified Nonlinear Sway-Rocking model for evaluation of seismic response of structures on shallow foundations. Soil Dynamics and Earthquake Engineering, 81, 14-26. View this article in WRRO
- Effects of uncertainties on seismic behaviour of optimum designed braced steel frames. Steel and Composite Structures, 20(2), 317-335. View this article in WRRO
- Strengthening of short splices in RC beams using Post-Tensioned Metal Straps. Materials and Structures, 49(1-2), 133-147. View this article in WRRO
- Cross-sectional optimization of cold-formed steel channels to Eurocode 3. Engineering Structures, 101, 641-651. View this article in WRRO
- Experimental investigation on the dynamic response of RC flat slabs after a sudden column loss. Engineering Structures, 99, 28-41.
- Full-Scale Shaking Table Tests on a Substandard RC Building Repaired and Strengthened with Post-Tensioned Metal Straps. Journal of Earthquake Engineering, 18(2), 187-213. View this article in WRRO
- Hysteretic performance of a new blind bolted connection to concrete filled columns under cyclic loading: An experimental investigation. Engineering Structures, 46, 535-546. View this article in WRRO
- Deflection behaviour of FRP reinforced concrete beams and slabs: An experimental investigation. Composites Part B: Engineering. View this article in WRRO
- An efficient Performance-Based Seismic Design of Reinforced Concrete Frames. Earthquake Engineering and Structural Dynamics, 40. View this article in WRRO
- General Seismic Load Distribution for Optimum Performance-Based Design of Shear-Buildings. Journal of Earthquake Engineering, 16(4), 443-462. View this article in WRRO
- Strength and deformability of waste tyre rubber-filled reinforced concrete columns. Construction and Building Materials, 25(1), 218-226. View this article in WRRO
- Topology optimization for the seismic design of truss-like structures. Computers and Structures, 89(7-8), 702-711.
- A simplified model for seismic response prediction of concentrically braced frames. ADV ENG SOFTW, 41(3), 497-505. View this article in WRRO
- Seismic behaviour of deficient RC frames strengthened with CFRP composites. Engineering Structures, 32(10), 3075-3085. View this article in WRRO
- New Lateral Force Distribution for Seismic Design of Structures. J STRUCT ENG-ASCE, 135(8), 906-915. View this article in WRRO
- Optimum strength distribution for seismic design of tall buildings. Structural Design of Tall and Special Buildings, 17(2), 331-349. View this article in WRRO
- Toward more rational criteria for determination of design earthquake forces. INT J SOLIDS STRUCT, 43(9), 2631-2645.
- An investigation on the accuracy of pushover analysis for estimating the seismic deformation of braced steel frames. Journal of Constructional Steel Research, 62(4), 343-351. View this article in WRRO
- Optimum seismic design of concentrically braced steel frames: concepts and design procedures. Journal of Constructional Steel Research, 61(2), 151-166. View this article in WRRO
- Performance-based seismic design of buckling−restrained knee−braced frames: Cumulative damage optimization and design lateral force distribution. Structures, 78, 109167-109167.
- Research group
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- Steel & Composite Structures
- Earthquake Engineering Group
- Concrete Structures
- Grants
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- Principal Investigator (2025-2027). Marie Curie Fellowship on “Low-Carbon Geopolymer Textile Reinforced Concrete for Seismic Strengthening (STRENGTH)”, £221,000, Horizon Europe (Fellow: Dr Narges Azadvar).
- Principal Investigator (2023-2025). "New Generation of Sustainable Lightweight Cold-Formed Steel Structures”, £8,000, Royal Society
- Principal Investigator (2023-2025)."Hybrid Lightweight Structural Systems for Low-Cost Housing (HYLIGHTS)", £378,000 (total grant £1,105,500), EPSRC EP/W027267/1
- Co-Investigator (2023-2024). "New Generation of Resilient Lightweight Cold-Formed Steel Structures", £12,000,British Council
- Principal Investigator (2022-2024). Marie Curie Fellowship on “New Generation of Lightweight Steel Elements for Sustainable Resilient Construction (LightSteel)”, £204,000, Horizon Europe (Fellow: Dr Adil Dar)
- Principal Investigator (2021-2023). EPSRC Doctoral Prize Fellowship on “Adaptive resilient cold-formed steel structural systems for modular construction”, £116,000, EPSRC (Fellow: Dr Mohammad Mojtabaei)
- Co-Investigator (2019). "Tracking post-earthquake reconstruction in Nepal: Addressing Civil Engineering and Policy Implementation Challenges", £39,300, Research England
- Principal Investigator (2017). Newton Fund Researcher Links -Workshop Grant on “Seismic Loss, Rehabilitation and Post-earthquake Crisis Management of Critical Infrastructure”, £43,200, British Council
- Principal Investigator (2016-2018). Marie Curie Fellowship on “Innovative Retrofitting for Substandard Construction (IRESCO)”, £158,300, European Commission-Horizon 2020 (Fellow: Dr Georgia Thermou)
- Co-Investigator (2016-2018). British Council Institutional Links on “Earthquake Risk Assessment and Rapid Response Framework for Industrial Zones”, £75,000, Newton Fund
- Co-Investigator (2016-2019). "Rapid Earthquake Risk Assessment and Post-Earthquake Disaster Management Framework for Substandard Buildings in Turkey”, £118,300, EPSRC EP/P010016/1
- Co-Investigator (2016). Newton Fund Researcher Links –Workshop Grant on “Seismic Risk Assessment and Mitigation Strategies for Existing Buildings and Structures”, £46,200, British Council
- Principal Investigator (2014-2015)."Performance-Based Optimisation of Novel Lightweight Steel Frame Systems for Rapid, Economical and Sustainable Construction", £101,000, EPSRC EP/L019116/1
- Co-Investigator (2013-2017). "Innovative Reuse of All Tyre Components in Concrete (Anagennisi)", £521,240 (total grant £3,240,000), European Commission- FP7
- Co-Investigator (2013-2017). COST Action TU1207 on "Next Generation Design Guidelines for Composites in Construction", £378,000, European Commission- FP7
- Co-Investigator (2013-2017). MC ITN European Network for "Durable Reinforcement and Rehabilitation Solutions (endure)", £525,000 (total grant £3,870,500), European Commission- FP7
- Principal Investigator (2011-2012). "Resilience of multi-storey structures under extreme loading conditions”, £47,800, Early Career Research and Knowledge Transfer grant, University of Nottingham
- Teaching activities
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I currently serve as the module leader for two postgraduate courses:
MAC473 – Structural Dynamics and Earthquake Engineering (MSc, 15 credits)
MAC474 – Structural Dynamics and Applications to Vibration Design (Year 4 MEng, 15 credits)I welcome PhD students in the following research areas:
- Modular and adaptive lightweight structural systems for sustainable construction
- AI-based design and optimisation of innovative structural systems
- Cost-efficient, damage-free, seismic-resilient buildings and infrastructure
- Performance-based optimisation of next-generation energy dissipation devices
- Novel strengthening techniques using environmentally friendly materials
- Professional activities and memberships
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I have co-authored over 300 peer-reviewed journal and conference papers, and since 2020, I have been recognised among the world’s top 2% of scientists in my field, according to the Stanford University and Elsevier global database. I have served as Principal Investigator or Co-Investigator on several UK and EU-funded research projects, with total funding exceeding £10 million.
I am an active member of various national and international technical committees and research networks, including fib, IABSE, and BSI task groups. Currently, I serve as an Associate Editor for Structures (Elsevier), Practice Periodical on Structural Design and Construction (ASCE), and Frontiers in Built Environment (Earthquake Engineering section).
- Potential PhD offerings
Performance-based Optimisation Of Energy Dissipation Systems
This proposed project will lead to the development of practical procedures for the optimum design of added dissipation systems in framed structures. The proposed design method will be based on a novel optimisation technique that has been introduced by Dr Iman Hajirasouliha and successfully used for seismic design and strengthening of different structural systems. The work will involve analysis, design and computer modelling.
Seismic Strengthening Of RC Using External Lateral Post-tensioning
The project will investigate this technique both experimentally and analytically and develop models for its application in vulnerable buildings.
Novel Cold-formed Steel Structural Systems For Multi-storey Buildings
The main aim of this research is to enhance strength and ductility of CFS structural systems (elements and connections) to increase their resistance and overall safety under extreme loading events, through the development of special connections and high-performance dual wall-frame systems.
If you're interested in one of these projects, or would like to self-propose a project, please contact Iman at i.hajirasouliha@sheffield.ac.uk. Current PhD opportunities in the department can be viewed here.