Dr. Suwaed is an associate professor in structural engineering at the University of Baghdad, Iraq. He earned his PhD degree from the University of Warwick in Coventry, UK, in 2017, for his research on the development of novel demountable shear connectors for precast steel-concrete composite bridges. He obtained his B.Sc. degree in civil engineering from Al-Nahrain University in Baghdad, Iraq, in 1993, and an M.Sc. degree in structural engineering in 1997 from the same university.
Dr. Suwaed began his academic career as a lecturer in Civil Engineering at the Higher Institute of Science and Technology in Regdalin, Libya, from 1998 to 2005. He joined the University of Baghdad as a lecturer in 2005. During his tenure from 2005 to 2013, he submitted full structural designs for several new faculty buildings, for which he received many letters of appreciation from the President and Assistant President of the University of Baghdad. After completing his Ph.D., Dr. Suwaed served as a Post-Doctoral Research Associate at Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh, UK, from 2017 to 2018, before returning to the University of Baghdad in 2018. His current research project focuses on the development of new demountable shear connectors and mechanisms for steel-concrete composite buildings and bridges, in collaboration with Heriot-Watt University, UK.
Dr. Suwaed holds an international patent issued by the WIPO of the United Nations in 2016 for inventing a new steel-concrete composite structure. His published article in the ASCE Journal of Bridge Engineering was among the 'most read articles' in 2017, with more than 1000 downloads. He serves as a member of editorial boards and as a reviewer for several international journals.
Dr. Suwaed's research interests include multi-hazard resilience-based design of concrete, steel, and steel-concrete composite structural systems, structural design for sustainability and lifespan extension, demountable connections for buildings and bridges, bridge engineering including design, analysis, and accelerated construction/deconstruction, fatigue assessment, and fracture simulation of concrete, steel, and steel-concrete composite structural components, as well as large-scale structural testing.
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PhD in Structural Engineering, School of Engineering, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK (Awarded in 2017). Thesis Title: Development of Novel Demountable Shear Connectors for Precast Steel-Concrete Composite Bridges.
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MSc in Structural Engineering (Taught and research), College of Engineering, Al-Nahrain University, Baghdad, Iraq (Awarded in 1997). Thesis Title: Analysis of sunken tube tunnels under various loading conditions.
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BSc in Civil Engineering (4 years), College of Engineering, Al-Nahrain University, Baghdad, Iraq (Awarded in 1993).
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Associate Professor in Structural Engineering, Department of Reconstruction and Projects, University of Baghdad, Baghdad, Iraq (2022 – Present): My duties at the University of Baghdad include teaching undergraduate and graduate courses in civil engineering, conducting research, and supervising postgraduate students. I am also responsible for developing and implementing the curriculum, as well as assessing and evaluating student performance. Additionally, I have served on various academic committees and have been involved in developing research proposals and securing funding for research projects.
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Assistant professor in Structural Engineering, Department of Reconstruction and Projects, University of Baghdad, Baghdad, Iraq (2018 – 2022)
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Post-Doctoral Research Associate, Institute for Infrastructure & Environment, Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh, UK (2017 – 2018): As a Research Associate at Heriot-Watt University, my main responsibility was to work on a research project focusing on the use of steel-concrete composite structures in offshore wind turbine foundations. I conducted extensive literature reviews and carried out detailed analyses and simulations to investigate the behavior of these structures under various loading conditions. Additionally, I collaborated with colleagues to design and carry out experiments to validate our findings. As a result of my work, we published 4 journal papers and presented our research at one international conference. I also participated in the supervision and mentoring of undergraduate and postgraduate students involved in the project
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Teaching Assistant, School of Engineering, The University of Warwick, Coventry, UK (2013 – 2017)
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Assistant Lecturer, Department of Reconstruction and Projects, University of Baghdad, Baghdad, Iraq (2005 – 2013)
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Assistant Lecturer, Department of Civil Engineering, Higher Institute of Science and Technology, Regdalin, Libya (1998 – 2005)
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Civil Engineer (Mandatory Military National Service), Baghdad, Iraq (1993 – 1994)
Awards:
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Several official letters of thanks issued by the President of the University of Baghdad.
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Certificate of 'Outstanding Contribution' in reviewing Elsevier journal: Engineering Structures, November 2018
Memberships:
- Editorial Board Member:
- Construction of Unique Buildings and Structures, ISSN 2304-6295, Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University (SPbPU), Russia.
- Journal of Building Material Science, ISSN: 2630-5216, Bilingual Publishing Co., Singapore.
- American Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering, American Association for Science and Technology, USA.
- Invited Scientific Member:
- 8th International Conference on Environmental Science and Civil Engineering (ESCE 2022), December 15 to 16, 2022, by Xinan Jiaotong University, Chengdu, China.
- Invited Publishing Committee Member:
- International Association of Applied Science and Technology (IAAST), China.
- Official Reviewer for International Scopus-Indexed Journals. Some of them:
- Sustainable Cities and Society, Elsevier, CiteScore = 18.4 (5 reviews)
- Steel & Composite Structures, CiteScore = 9.6 (2 review)
- Engineering Structures, Elsevier, CiteScore = 9.2 (12 reviews)
- Smart Structures and Systems, Techno Press, CiteScore = 7.3 (1 review)
- Journal of Constructional Steel Research, Elsevier, CiteScore = 7.3 (34 reviews)
- Journal of Building Engineering, Elsevier, CiteScore = 8.3 (25 reviews)
- Journal of Bridge Engineering, ASCE, CiteScore = 6.8 (13 reviews)
- Case Studies in Construction Materials, Elsevier, CiteScore = 5.3 (2 reviews)
- KSCE Journal of Civil Engineering, Springer Nature, CiteScore = 3.9 (11 reviews)
- Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers, CiteScore = 2.4 (3 reviews)
- Innovation in steel, concrete, and steel-concrete composite structures, with a focus on optimizing material usage and enhancing structural performance.
- Development of resilient structural buildings and bridges for multi-hazard mitigation, utilizing advanced materials and construction techniques.
- Sustainable structural configuration, including demountable structures, circular economy principles, and Design for Deconstruction strategies.
- Experimental projects, including full-size beam, pushout, pullout, and materials tests, providing valuable insights for practical applications.
- Finite element analysis, using modeling tools like Abaqus and Ansys, and programming with C++ and Python to solve complex engineering problems.
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2014 – 2015 Project Title: ‘Experimental fees.’ Funding Source: Embassy of The Republic of Iraq in London. Principal Investigator: Suwaed, A. S. H. Grant No.: 6035352 - OPG00944247 Value: £5,777
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2013 – 2017 Project Title: Integration of smart structural design, passive control and damage detection to achieve sustainable and resilient highway/railway bridge infrastructure. Funding Source: Higher Education Innovation Fund (Strategic Impact Award) and Demonstrator Fund (Sustainable Cities GRP and CUSP initiative), University of Warwick. Principal Investigator: Karavasilis, T. L Co-Investigators: Zivanovic, S., Prof. Johnson, R. P. PhD student: Suwaed, A. S. H. Value: £56,500
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2013 – 2016 Project Title: Full-scholarship for PhD degree. Funding Source: Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research in Iraq. Principal Investigator: Suwaed, A. S. H. Value: $415,492
- University of Baghdad, Baghdad, Iraq
- Transportation Engineering (final year, 25-40 students) - [2018 –]
- Institute for Infrastructure & Environment, Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh, UK
- Plastic Analysis of Structures (D20DT) - [2017–2018]
- Advanced Design of Steel and Steel Concrete Composite Structures (D20DS) - [2017–2018]
- The University of Warwick, Coventry, UK
- Group Project for MEng students (Bridge design supervision) - [2013–2017]
- Structural Steel Design– 3rd year (Lectures and homework assignments on plastic design of steel frames) - [2013-2017]
- University of Baghdad, Baghdad, Iraq
- Structural Drawings (50-70 students) - [2006–2013]
- Higher Institute of Science and Technology, Regdalin, Libya
- Public Sewage Networks (12 students) - [1998–2000]
- Engineering Drawings (80-100 students) - [1998–2005]
- Construction of Buildings (15-30 students) - [1998–2000]
- Building Materials (15-30 students) - [1998–2000]
- Structural Drawings (15-30 students) - [2000–2005]
- Graduation Project (Design of Reinforced Concrete Slab using STAAD III) (3 students) - [2002]
- Graduation Project (Design of Reinforced Concrete Retaining Wall using STAAD III) (4 students) - [2003]
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In 2017, I co-supervised a PhD student (Eliza Feidaki) with a research titled ‘Steel Concrete Composite Beams with Demountable Shear Connection and Hollow Core Units-Push out Tests.” at the Institute of Infrastructure and Environment at Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh, UK.
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In 2016, I co-supervised a graduation project named ‘A Theoretical Evaluation of Composite Bridges Using Demountable Shear Connectors’. Awarded 1st Class Honours by Mr. Cameron Bee and Mr. Ross Torry at School of Engineering at University of Warwick.
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In 2015, I co-supervised a graduation project named ‘Design a Steel-Concrete Composite Beam with Removable Shear Connectors," Awarded 71% (1st Class) by Ms. Charlotte Blakeley at School of Engineering at University of Warwick.
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In 2002, Graduation Project (Design of Reinforced Concrete Slab using STAAD III) (3 students)
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In 2003, Graduation Project (Design of Reinforced Concrete Retaining Wall using STAAD III) (4 students)
In order to promote sustainable steel-concrete composite structures, special shear connectors that can facilitate deconstruction are needed. A lockbolt demountable shear connector (LB-DSC), including a grout-filled steel tube embedded in the concrete slab and fastened to a geometrically compatible partial-thread bolt, which is bolted on the steel section's top flange of a composite beam, was proposed. The main drawback of previous similar demountable bolts is the sudden slip of the bolt inside its hole. This bolt has a locked conical seat lug that is secured inside a predrilled compatible counter-sunk hole in the steel section's flange to provide a non-slip bolt-flange connection. Deconstruction is achieved by demounting the tube from the t
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A novel welded demountable shear connector for sustainable steel-concrete composite structures is proposed. The proposed connector consists of a grout-filled steel tube bolted to a compatible partially threaded stud, which is welded on a steel section. This connector allows for an easy deconstruction at the end of the service life of a building, promoting the reuse of both the concrete slabs and the steel sections. This paper presents the experimental evaluation of the structural behavior of the proposed connector using a horizontal pushout test arrangement. The effects of various parameters, including the tube thickness, the presence of grout infill, and the concrete slab compressive strength, were assessed. A nonlinear finite element mode
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A bolted–welded hybrid demountable shear connector for use in deconstructable steel–concrete composite buildings and bridges was proposed. The hybrid connector consisted of a partially threaded stud, which was welded on the flange of a steel section, and a machined steel tube with compatible geometry, which was bolted on the stud. Four standard pushout tests according to Eurocode 4 were carried out to assess the shear performance of the hybrid connector. The experimental results show that the initial stiffness, shear resistance, and slip capacity of the proposed connector were higher than those of traditional welded studs. The hybrid connector was a ductile connector, according to Eurocode 4, with slip capacity higher than 6 mm. A nonli
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A novel demountable shear connector is proposed to link a concrete slab to steel sections in a way that resulting steel-concrete composite floor is demountable, i.e. it can be easily dismantled at the end of its service life. The proposed connectors consist of two parts: the first part is a hollow steel tube with internal threads at its lower end. The second part is a compatible partially threaded bolted stud. After linking the stud to the steel section, the hollow steel tube can be fastened over the threaded stud, which create a complete demountable shear connector. The connector is suitable for use in both composite bridges and buildings, and using cast in-situ slabs, precast solid slabs, or hollow-core precast slabs. A series of push-off
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The conception and experimental assessment of a removable friction-based shear connector (FBSC) for precast steel-concrete composite bridges is presented. The FBSC uses pre-tensioned high-strength steel bolts that pass through countersunk holes drilled on the top flange of the steel beam. Pre-tensioning of the bolts provides the FBSC with significant frictional resistance that essentially prevents relative slip displacement of the concrete slab with respect to the steel beam under service loading. The countersunk holes are grouted to prevent sudden slip of the FBSC when friction resistance is exceeded. Moreover, the FBSC promotes accelerated bridge construction by fully exploiting prefabrication, does not raise issues relevant to precast co
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A novel demountable shear connector for precast steel-concrete composite bridges is presented. The connector uses high-strength steel bolts, which are fastened to the top flange of the steel beam with the aid of a special locking nut configuration that prevents bolts from slipping within their holes. Moreover, the connector promotes accelerated construction and overcomes the typical construction tolerance issues of precast structures. Most importantly, the connector allows bridge disassembly. Therefore, it can address different bridge deterioration scenarios with minimum disturbance to traffic flow including the following: (1) precast deck panels can be rapidly uplifted and replaced; (2) connectors can be rapidly removed and replaced; and (
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A ‘locking-bolt’ demountable shear connector (LBDSC) is proposed to facilitate the deconstruction and reuse of steel-concrete composite structures, in line with achieving a more sustainable construction design paradigm. The LBDSC is comprised of a grout-filled steel tube and a geometrically compatible partially threaded bolt. The latter has a geometry that ‘locks’ the bolt in compatible holes predrilled on the steel flange and eliminates initial slip and construction tolerance issues. The structural behaviour of the LBDSC is evaluated through nine pushout tests using a horizontal test setup. The effects of the tube thickness, strength of concrete slab, and strength of infilled grout on the shear resistance, initial stiffness, and du
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It is suitable to use precast steel-concrete composite beams to quickly assemble a bridge or a building, particularly in isolated regions where cast-in-situ concrete is not a practical option. If steel-concrete composite beams are designed to allow demountability, they can also be extremely useful in the aftermath of natural disasters, such as earthquakes or flooding, to replace damaged infrastructure. Furthermore, rapid replacement of slabs is extremely beneficial in case of severe deterioration due to long-term stressors such as fatigue or corrosion. The only way to rapidly assemble and disassemble a steel-concrete composite structure is to use demountable shear connectors to connect/disconnect the steel beams to/from the concrete slab. I
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Two novel demountable shear connectors for precast steel-concrete composite bridges are presented. The connectors use high-strength steel bolts, which are fastened to the steel beam with the aid of a special locking configuration that prevents slip of bolts within their holes. Moreover, the connectors promote accelerated construction and overcome typical construction tolerances issues of precast structures. Most importantly, the connectors allow bridge disassembly, and therefore, can address different bridge deterioration scenarios with minimum disturbance to traffic flow, i.e. (1) precast deck panels can be rapidly uplifted and replaced; (2) connectors can be rapidly removed and replaced; and (3) steel beams can be replaced, while precast
... Show MoreA novel demountable shear connector for precast steel‐concrete composite bridges is presented. The connector uses high‐strength steel bolts, which are fastened to the top flange of the steel beam with the aid of a special locking nut configuration that prevents slip of bolts within their holes. Moreover, the connector promotes accelerated construction and overcomes typical construction tolerances issues of precast structures. Most importantly, the connector allows bridge disassembly, and therefore, can address different bridge deterioration scenarios with minimum disturbance to traffic flow, i.e. (i) precast deck panels can be rapidly uplifted and replaced; (ii) connectors can be rapidly removed and replaced; and (iii) steel beams can b
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A steel-concrete composite structure (1) is described. The steel-concrete composite structure comprises a steel member (2) having an upper surface (5) and a plurality of shear connector elements (6) upstanding from the upper surface and a concrete slab (4) having upper and lower surfaces (7, 8). The slab is supported on its lower surface by the upper surface of the steel member. The slab comprises a plurality of through holes (9) between the upper and lower surfaces, each through hole tapering towards the lower surface so as to form an inverted frustally-shaped seating surface (10). The concrete slab is configured and positioned with respect to the steel member such that at least one shear connector element projects into each through hole.
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