Structural
The structural engineering program offers exceptional expertise in steel, concrete, masonry, timber, and composites, has earned an outstanding reputation for leadership in structural design, research, outreach and code development.
Our program is a powerhouse of structural innovation, home to world-class hubs like the Steel Centre, the Nasseri School of Building Science and Engineering, and the Masonry Centre. Backed by elite industry partnerships—including the CW Carry Chair and Supreme Steel Professorship—we empower engineers to transcend traditional design. From iconic towers and bridges to resilient urban landscapes, our researchers master the materials and cutting-edge technologies needed to build the safe, sustainable, and high-performance cities of tomorrow.
Possible Careers
- Structural design and construction
- Construction companies
- Public works and transportation departments
- Resource industries
- Developers
- Consultant
- Government
Areas of Specialization
The Structures Group conducts research across a broad range of structural engineering areas, combining experimental testing, computational modelling, field monitoring, mechanics-based analysis, and data-driven methods. Our work spans traditional and emerging structural materials, including steel, concrete, masonry, timber, composites, and pipelines, as well as cross-cutting areas such as structural health monitoring, seismic design, reliability and risk, digital twinning, AI/ML, and resilient infrastructure systems. By connecting fundamental research with industry needs, the group advances safe, sustainable, intelligent, and high-performance structures for buildings, bridges, pipelines, and communities.
Steel structures
Research in steel structures focuses on the behaviour, design, assessment, and performance of steel connections, components and systems under service, extreme, and accidental loading conditions. This area includes stability of structures, seismic performance, fatigue, progressive collapse, and performance-based design. The group has strong expertise in both fundamental mechanics and practical design applications, supported by large-scale testing facilities, hybrid simulation and advanced computer-based modelling. Research also addresses emerging challenges in steel construction, including modular and prefabricated systems, resilient systems, sustainable construction, and the integration of data-driven assessment tools. Through partnerships with industry and professional organizations, research in steel structures support safer and more efficient design methods, improved understanding of structural performance, code development, and the development of guidance for new and existing steel infrastructure.
Concrete structures
Research in concrete structures addresses the behaviour, design, deterioration, rehabilitation, and performance assessment of reinforced, prestressed, precast, and composite concrete systems. The group investigates concrete members and connections under gravity, seismic, environmental, impact, and long-term loading, using large-scale experiments, analytical methods, and nonlinear finite element modelling. Key topics include assessing cracking widths and propagation, confinement, bond-slip behaviour, shear and flexural response, and assessment of aging infrastructure. This area also includes research on high-performance concrete systems, partially composite behaviour, slender walls, concrete reinforced with fibre-reinforced polymer bars, and steel-concrete connections. By using mechanics-based models, field evidence, and performance-based assessment approaches, the group supports the development of safer and more durable concrete infrastructure, including buildings, bridges, and critical facilities.
Masonry systems
Research in masonry systems focuses on the behaviour, design, assessment, and rehabilitation of masonry structures and components. This includes reinforced and unreinforced masonry, masonry walls, connections, infill systems, and masonry used in buildings and infrastructure. The group investigates the response of masonry systems under gravity, lateral, seismic, environmental, and extreme loading conditions, with attention to both new construction and existing structures. Research activities include material characterization, experimental testing, numerical modelling, structural assessment, and code-related studies. Given the large stock of existing masonry buildings, this research is particularly important for safety evaluation, seismic vulnerability assessment, and preservation of existing infrastructure. The work supports improved design guidance, better understanding of failure mechanisms, and practical solutions for durable and resilient masonry systems.
Timber systems
Research in timber systems addresses the design, behaviour, and performance of light-frame, engineered wood products, and mass timber components and structures. The group studies timber components, connections, hybrid timber systems, timber-concrete composite systems, and lateral load-resisting systems under wind, seismic, and extreme loading conditions. Key topics include high performance connection behaviour, mass timber products such as cross-laminated timber, glued-laminated timber, and structural composite lumber. Other topics include vibration assessment of timber floor systems, fire-related performance, long-term behaviour of mass timber and connection performance, considering all pillars of sustainability. Our research supports the sustainable and efficient use of timber in modern construction, including mid-rise and tall timber buildings. By combining experimental testing, analytical and numerical modelling, and industry collaboration, the group contributes to the development of design methods, code provisions (in particular CSA O86), and practical solutions that enable timber to play a larger role in low-carbon and sustainable structural systems. The research team, ARTS (Advanced Research in Timber Systems), has emerged as one of the nationally recognized leaders in timber engineering research in Canada, making contributions to the advancement of timber design practices, structural innovation, and the development of Canadian building and timber design code provisions.
Biomechanics
Research in biomechanics applies structural engineering principles, computational modelling, experimental mechanics, and imaging-based analysis to biomedical systems. This area includes finite element modelling, three-dimensional reconstruction from medical imaging, musculoskeletal mechanics, joint implants, spine mechanics, scoliosis assessment, and the behaviour of structural biological materials. The work connects mechanics, materials, computation, and health-related applications, allowing researchers to study complex biological systems using tools commonly applied in structural engineering. Research in this area supports improved understanding of load transfer, deformation, failure, and long-term performance in biological structures and medical devices. It also creates opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration between engineering, medicine, rehabilitation science, and computational modelling, extending the impact of structural engineering methods beyond traditional civil infrastructure.
Composite Materials and Hybrid Systems
Research in composite materials and hybrid systems focuses on the behaviour, design, durability, and performance of structures that combine different materials to achieve improved strength, stiffness, ductility, constructability, sustainability, or rehabilitation performance. This area includes fibre-reinforced polymers, cured-in-place pipe (CIPP) materials, timber-concrete systems, steel-concrete systems, masonry-concrete systems, hybrid timber systems, and other multi-material structural assemblies used in buildings, bridges, pipelines, and infrastructure design and rehabilitation. The group studies composite action, interface behaviour, bond, connection performance, material compatibility, durability, creep behaviour, and performance under mechanical and environmental loading. Research methods include material characterization, structural testing, analytical modelling, and finite element simulation to understand behaviour from the material scale to the full structural system. This work supports the development of efficient, durable, and sustainable solutions for new construction, retrofit, repair, and life-extension of existing infrastructure, including hybrid structural systems and advanced composite rehabilitation technologies such as CIPP liners.
Seismic design
Research in seismic design focuses on the response, performance, and resilience of structures, such as buildings, bridges, and industrial infrastructure, subjected to earthquake loading. The group investigates nonlinear response, damage mechanisms, energy dissipation, ductility, connection behaviour, soil-structure interaction, and performance-based seismic design. Research methods include experimental testing, seismic hybrid simulation, numerical modelling, structural dynamics, fragility assessment, and reliability-based performance evaluation. Research in seismic design supports improved design of new structures, and assessment of existing buildings and bridges, with attention to life safety, damage control, post-earthquake functionality, and recovery, contributing to safer and more resilient infrastructure in seismic regions.
Pipelines
Research in pipelines addresses the structural performance, integrity, resilience, and management of energy pipeline systems. The group studies pipeline behaviour under internal pressure, ground movement, geohazards, corrosion, dents, cracks, weld flaws, buckling, strain demand, fatigue, and combined loading conditions. Research methods include full-scale testing, advanced finite element modelling, reliability analysis, sensing, field data interpretation, and AI-assisted assessment tools. This area supports both strain-based design and integrity management of existing pipeline systems, with direct relevance to industry needs and regulatory decision-making. Current and emerging topics include geohazard-resilient pipelines, dent severity assessment, crack interaction, distributed fibre-optic sensing, digital twinning, and risk-informed maintenance planning. The work contributes to a more reliable and sustainable energy infrastructure by improving how pipeline threats are detected, modelled, assessed, and managed over time.
Bridges
Research in bridges focuses on the design, assessment, monitoring, reliability, and resilience of bridge infrastructure under service loads, extreme events, deterioration, aging, and climate-related hazards. This area includes steel, concrete, composite, and timber bridges, with attention to structural performance, load rating, code development, bridge-vehicle interaction, overloads, deterioration, and rehabilitation. The group also advances risk- and reliability-informed methods for bridge safety assessment and decision-making, including applications to permitting, decision making framework, and infrastructure management. A key focus is the performance of bridges exposed to natural and environmental hazards, including flooding, scour, earthquakes, and multi-hazard effects. Research in this area integrates mechanics-based modelling, experimental testing, numerical modeling, probabilistic analysis, structural health monitoring, field testing, sensor-based measurements, remote sensing, computer vision, and AI/ML-assisted assessment. These tools support improved design methods, inspection, damage identification, scour monitoring, post-disaster assessment, digital twinning, and life-cycle resilience planning for bridge networks. By combining structural mechanics, data-driven technologies, and risk-informed decision-making, this research contributes to safer, more sustainable, and more resilient bridge infrastructure.
Structural Health Monitoring
Research in structural health monitoring focuses on using sensing, data analysis, and modelling to assess the condition, performance, and safety of structures. This area includes vibration-based monitoring, strain sensing, distributed fibre-optic sensing, image-based methods, non-destructive testing, remote sensing, damage detection, system identification, environmental and temperature compensation, and long-term performance tracking. Applications include buildings, bridges, pipelines, laboratory specimens, and critical infrastructure systems. The group develops methods to convert measured data into meaningful indicators of structural behaviour, damage, deterioration, and remaining capacity. Research also integrates SHM with finite element model updating, digital twinning, reliability analysis, and decision-making frameworks. By combining sensors, mechanics, and data-driven tools, this work supports earlier detection of problems, more informed inspection planning, improved maintenance decisions, and safer management of aging and hazard-exposed infrastructure.
AI for structural engineering
Research in AI for structural engineering focuses on the responsible integration of machine learning, artificial intelligence, data analytics, and mechanics-based modelling to improve structural design, assessment, and infrastructure management. Applications include AI-assisted design, surrogate modelling, damage detection, structural health monitoring, digital twinning, image-based assessment, reliability analysis, deterioration forecasting, uncertainty quantification, and decision support. The group develops AI-assisted tools that are informed by structural mechanics, experimental evidence, numerical simulations, and field data. Rather than replacing engineering judgment, these methods are used to accelerate analysis, extract patterns from complex datasets, improve prediction, and support risk-informed decisions. Research also addresses key challenges such as interpretability, data quality, uncertainty, bias, generalizability, and validation. This area supports emerging needs in intelligent infrastructure systems, automated design and assessment, and scalable management of large infrastructure networks.
Structural reliability and safety risk
Research in structural reliability and safety risk focuses on quantifying uncertainty and evaluating the probability of unacceptable performance in structural and infrastructure systems. This area includes reliability analysis, risk assessment, probabilistic performance evaluation, uncertainty quantification, fragility analysis, consequence modelling, and risk-informed decision-making. Applications include bridges, buildings, pipelines, structural components, aging infrastructure, and systems exposed to natural hazards, deterioration, overloads, and operational demands. The group develops methods to account for uncertainty in material properties, loads, geometry, deterioration, modelling assumptions, inspection data, and environmental hazards. This work supports code calibration, performance-based design, maintenance planning, prioritization of interventions, and resilience assessment. By linking structural mechanics with probability, decision analysis, and infrastructure management, this research helps engineers move beyond deterministic safety checks toward more rational, transparent, and risk-informed decisions.
Smart, sustainable, and resilient infrastructure and cities
Research in smart, sustainable, and resilient infrastructure and cities focuses on improving how infrastructure systems are designed, monitored, maintained, and adapted over their life cycle and after disruptive events. This area integrates structural engineering, sensing, digital twinning, AI/ML, risk and resilience analysis, climate adaptation, sustainability, post-disaster assessment, and infrastructure asset management. Applications include buildings, bridges, pipelines, transportation networks, and urban infrastructure systems exposed to aging, extreme events, climate-related hazards, and increasing service demands. The group develops tools to evaluate performance, deterioration, vulnerability, post-disaster condition, recovery, and long-term functionality, with attention to both individual assets and interconnected systems. This work supports proactive decision-making, rapid post-disaster evaluation, targeted maintenance, retrofit planning, and resilient urban development. By combining mechanics-based knowledge with data-informed technologies, the group contributes to safer, more sustainable, and more adaptive communities.
Thermal dynamics and energy efficiency of buildings
Research in thermal dynamics and energy efficiency of buildings focuses on the interaction between structural systems, building envelopes, materials, indoor environments, and energy performance. This area includes heat transfer, thermal mass, building envelope behaviour, hygrothermal response, energy modelling, sustainable building materials, and high-performance building systems. The research group has a unique apparatus to test the combined structural and hygrothermal performance under extreme environmental conditions. The work supports the design and assessment of buildings that are not only structurally safe, but also energy-efficient, durable, comfortable, and sustainable. Research may include experimental testing, numerical simulation, field monitoring, and performance evaluation of building components and systems under changing environmental conditions. This area is increasingly important as buildings are expected to meet higher standards for carbon reduction, climate adaptation, occupant comfort, and long-term performance. It connects structural and building science expertise to support the development of resilient and energy-efficient built environments.
Digital twinning and infrastructure asset management
Research in digital twinning and infrastructure asset management focuses on creating living digital representations of infrastructure systems that can support monitoring, prediction, and decision-making throughout the life cycle of an asset. Digital twins integrate structural models, sensor data, inspection records, environmental information, deterioration models, and AI/ML tools to continuously update understanding of infrastructure condition and performance. Applications include bridges, buildings, pipelines, and broader infrastructure networks. This area supports condition assessment, anomaly detection, maintenance planning, retrofit prioritization, risk management, and long-term performance forecasting. The group’s expertise in sensing, computational modelling, reliability, resilience, and data-driven methods provides a strong foundation for developing practical digital twin frameworks. The ultimate goal is to move infrastructure management from reactive inspection-based decisions toward proactive, predictive, and risk-informed strategies.