Professor Mahen Mahendran

Professor in Structural Engineering

PhD (Monash University), BScEng(Hons.1) (University of Moratuwa)

I am a Professor of Structural Engineering in the School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, engaged in both research and teaching activities.

ACADEMIC QUALIFICATIONS

• BScEng. First Class Honours, University of Sri Lanka, Moratuwa; Awards for the Best Student in Building and Structural Engineering and the Rex Croos Memorial Award for the Best Student in Civil Engineering Construction
• PhD (Steel Structures), Monash University, Melbourne, Australia.

PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS

• Fellow, Engineers Australia (FIE Aust.
• Member, Standards Australia Committee for Cold-formed Steel Structures BD-082
• Member, National Association of Steel Framed Housing (NASH) Standards Committee
• Member, Standards Australia Committees for Metal Claddings BD-014
• Member and Queensland Div. Committee Member, Australian Steel Institute

RESEARCH GROUP I am the leader of an active research group at QUT:  Wind and Fire Lab. This group includes:

Senior Researchers

• Dr Anthony ARIYANAYAGAM,  Senior Lecturer
• Dr Sahani Hendawitharana, Post-doctoral Research Associate

PhD Researchers

• Ben Springfield
• Sivaram Sivapalan
• Thanirosan Krishnakumar
• Saranya Ilango
• Jenothan Makeswaran
• Vipushnan Rajasekaran
• Madhushan Vijesundaram
• Ifthaz Hameed
• Branavan Arulmoly
• Thanuja Hemachandra
• Asanka  Sandaruwan
• Kalana Naveen
• Roshni Ahamed
• Imanthi Subasinghe

International Collaboration with:

• Dr B. Janarthanan, University of Jaffna, Sri Lanka
• Professor Markus Knobloch, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Germany
• Associate Professor Herm Hofmeyer, Eindhoven University of Technology, The Netherlands
• Professor Arul Jayachandran, IIT Madras, India
• Associate Professor Keerthan Poologanathan, Northumbria University, UK
• Professor S. Wanniarachchi, University of Ruhuna, Sri Lanka

Industry Collaboration with:

• NASH and its many member orgabisations  https://www.nash.asn.au/nash/
• BluescopeSteel http://www.bluescopesteel.com.au/
• Scottsdale Construction Systems
• Lysaght http://www.lysaght.com
• Queensland Government Agencies

RESEARCH  FACILITIES We have developed advanced structural, fire/bushfire and wind testing facilities at QUT, including full scale testing facilities for low-rise buildings under wind loads, air-box facilities to test cladding systems, fire testing facilities for beams, columns, walls and floors and bushfire radiant heat testing facilities for wall, roof and shutter systems. We also have advanced material testing and high performance computing facilities at QUT.

MY AREAS OF EXPERTISE AND SPECIAL INTEREST

• Structural Engineering
• Structural Fire Engineering
• Structural Wind Engineering
• Steel Structures : Cold-formed and Thin-walled
• Steel Portal Frame Buildings
• Steel Framed Housing
• Hollow Flange Steel Sections
• Thin Metal Roof and Wall Cladding Systems
• Sandwich Panel Cladding Systems
• Cyclone/storm Resistant Buildings and their Components
• Fire/Bushfire Resistant Buildings and their Components
• Fire Safety of Steel Structures
• Full Scale Behaviour of Buildings under Wind Loads
• Advanced Analysis of Steel Structures
• Disaster Resilience, Structural Safety and Hazard Mitigation
• Innovations in Building Industry

RESEARCH PUBLICATIONS I have published more than 300 journal and 300 conference papers that dealt with both theoretical and applied research topics within my areas of research. Details can be found at: http://eprints.qut.edu.au/view/person/Mahendran,_Mahen.html.

COMPETITIVE RESEARCH GRANTS  More than 30 grants including 19 ARC Linkage and Discovery grants. These projects have been mainly in the areas of thin-walled  cold-formed steel structures, wind engineering and fire safety.

• ARC Linkage Projects Scheme 2025-2027, Superior Cold-formed Steel Floor Truss Systems to Modernize Construction, $419,000
• Building 4.0 CRC Grants 2022-2025 Next Generation of Robust and Fire Resistant Light Gauge Steel Systems for Mid-rise Buildings $717,000
• Metecno Pty Ltd, 2023-2026 Structural and Fire performance of mineral wool cored sandwich panels, $150,000
• Black Summer Grants 2022-2024, Assessment and Resilient Design of Buildings against Bushfires, $292,000
• ARC Discovery Projects Scheme 2022-2025 Averting Disaster: New Ways to Assess Bushfire Risk and Building Integrity, $507,000
• ARC Discovery Projects Scheme 2020-2024 Light steel roof and wall systems under combined bushfire actions $292,000
• ARC Linkage Projects Scheme 2018-2020 Fire resistance of complex light gauge steel framed wall systems; $339,000
• ARC Discovery Projects Scheme 2016-2019 Enhancing the Fire and Energy Ratings of Cold-formed Steel Frame Wall Systems; $330,000
• ARC Linkage Grants Scheme 2015-2017  Innovative and safe design solutions for aluminium façade systems; $257,000
• ARC Linkage Grants Scheme 2013-2016 Understanding the performance of cold-formed steel frame wall systems in fires to design for superior fire resistance $338,000
• ARC Linkage Grants Scheme 2012-2015  Bearing Capacities of Cold-formed Steel Floor Systems; $253,000
• ARC Discovery Grants Scheme 2012-2017 A study of pull-through failures of thin steel battens to improve building safety and resilience during extreme wind events, $344,000
• ARC Discovery Grants Scheme 2009-2011 An Integrated Thermal and Structural Investigation for the Development of Innovative Lightweight Cold-formed Steel Wall and Floor Systems under Fire Conditions; $330,000
• ARC Linkage Grants Scheme 2006-2009  Structural Behaviour of Innovative LiteSteel Beams, their Design Improvements and Applications, $280,000
• ARC Discovery Grants 2005-2008 An Investigation into the Behaviour of Light Gauge Steel Structures under Fire Conditions $178,000
• ARC Linkage Grants 2003 – 2005 Structural Behaviour of Innovative Hollow Flange Steel Members subject to Local and Lateral Distortional Buckling Effects -  $270,000
• QUT ATN Small Grants 2001 - $12,000 "Local Buckling Behaviour of Cold-formed Steel Structures under Fire.
• ARC - Australian Postgraduate Award (Industry) 2001-2003 - $84,000 for a Research Project entitled "Development of self-pierced rivet connections" in collaboration with Henrob Pty Ltd.
• ARC - Australian Postgraduate Award (Industry) 1999-2001 - $84,000 for a Project "Development of a New Cold-formed Steel Building System" in collaboration with Modern Garages Australia Ltd.
• ARC - Small Grants 2000 - $20,000 “Behaviour and design of lightly profiled sandwich panels subject to flexural wrinkling”
• ARC - Small Grants 1999 - $17,000 "Local pull-through failures of high tensile steel claddings under wind uplift”
• ARC - Small Grants 1998 - $15,000 for a Research Project entitled "Strength of screwed connections”
• Australian Research Council - Australian Postgraduate Award (Industry) 1998-1999 - $54,000 for "Energy and Struct.Efficient Sandwich Panel Systems" in collaboration with James Hardie Building Systems
• ARC - Small Grants Scheme 1997 - $17,000 for a Project entitled "Local failures in Profiled Steel Claddings”
• Australian Research Council - Australian Postgraduate Award (Industry) 1997-98 - $54,000 for “Flexural wrinkling of Sandwich Panel Systems" in collaboration with James Hardie Building Systems
• ARC-Small Grants Scheme 1996 - $17,000 for a Project "Stressed-skin Design of Profiled Steel Claddings”
• Australian Research Council - Collaborative Grants Scheme 1996-98 – $101,000 for "The Behaviour and Design of the New Hollow Flange Beams" in collaboration with Palmer Tube Mills
• Australian Research Council - Small Grants Scheme 1995  -  $15,000 for a Research Project entitled "Strength of Screwed Connections in Roof and Wall Cladding Systems under Wind Uplift"
• Australian Research Council - Small Grants Scheme 1993  -  $12,850 for a Research Project entitled "Local Plastic Mechanisms in Thin-walled Structures under Axial Compression"
• National Teaching Company Scheme Award 1993-95  -  $100,000 for a two-year Project: "Design Aids for Cold-formed Steel Trusses and Frames"  in collaboration with Textor Metal Industries
• Australian Research Council - Small Grants Scheme 1992 - $5,800 for a Research Project entitled "Full Scale Tests of Steel Portal Frame Buildings".  Palmer Tube Mills Pty. Ltd. also supported it.
• Australian Postgraduate Research Award (Industry) 1991 - 1994  $91,000 for a Research Project entitled "A New Portal Frame Building System using the Recently developed Hollow Flange Beam Sections" in collaboration with Palmer Tube Mills Pty. Ltd.

Higher Degree Research Supervision (as Principal Supervisor) Many HDR students have completed their theses under my supervision. There were 53 PhD and 15 ME completions with me as the principal supervisor (except five). PhD Theses Completed

1. Tim Heldt: The Use of Hollow Flange Beams in Steel Portal Frame Buildings, PhD 1997
2. Phil Avery: Advanced Analysis of Steel Frame Structures Comprising Non-compact Sections PhD 1998
3. Yaip Telue: Behaviour and Design of Cold-formed Steel Wall Frames lined with Plasterboard PhD 2002
4. Dhammika Mahaarachchi:  Behaviour and Design of Profiled Steel Cladding Systems Subject to Localised Pull-through Failures, PhD 2003
5. Narayan Pokharel:  Behaviour and Design of Composite Sandwich Panels subject to Local and Flexural Wrinkling Effects, PhD 2004
6. Jung Hoon Lee:  Effects of Fire on the Local Buckling Behaviour of Light Gauge Steel Structures, PhD 2004
7. Mat Humphreys: Structural Behaviour of Monocoque Fibre Composite Trusses, PhD 2004
8. Zeng Yuan: Advanced Analysis of Steel Frame Structures Subject to Lateral Torsional Buckling Effects, PhD 2004
9. Greg Darcy:  Behaviour and Design of a New Cold-formed Steel Building System, PhD 2005
10. Wen-bin Zhao:  Structural Behaviour and Design of a new Cold-formed Steel Compression Member with Torsionally Rigid Flanges, PhD 2006
11. K.S. Wanniarachchi, Behaviour and Design of a New Cold-formed Steel Beam subject to Local and Lateral Distortional Buckling Effects, PhD 2006
12. Thanuja Ranawaka, Distortional Buckling Behaviour of Light Gauge Steel Structures under Fire Conditions, PhD March 2007
13. Than Singh Sharma, Acceptable Use of Vertical Transportation Systems for Evacuation during Fire Emergencies, PhD April 2008
14. Yasintha Bandula Heva, Behaviour and Design of Cold-formed Steel Compression members at Elevated Temperatures, PhD June 2009
15. Poologanthan Keerthan, Shear Behaviour and Design of LiteSteel Beams, PhD February 2010
16. S. Jeyaragan, Flexural Behaviour and Design of the New Built-up LiteSteel Beams, PhD April 2010
17. Nirosha Dolamune Kankanamge, Structural Behaviour and Design of Cold-formed Steel Beams at Elevated Temperatures, PhD May 2010
18. Tharmarajah Anapayan, Flexural Behaviour and Design of Hollow Flange Steel Beams, PhD June 2010
19. Prakash Kolarkar, Structural and Thermal Performance of Cold-formed Steel Stud wall Systems under fire Conditions, PhD May 2011
20. Shanmuganthan Gunalan, Structural Behaviour and Design of Cold-formed Steel Wall Systems under Fire Conditions, PhD Dec. 2011
21. Balachandren Baleshan, Numerical and Experimental Studies of Cold-formed Steel Floor Systems under Standard Fire Conditions, PhD March 2012
22. Anthny Deloge Ariyanayagam,  Fire Performance and Design of Light Gauge Steel Frame Wall Systems Exposed to Realistic Design Fires, PhD July 2013
23. Kesawan Sivakumar, Fire Performance and Design of Light Gauge Steel Frame Wall Systems Made of Hollow Flange Sections, PhD Nov 2014
24. Varathananthan Jatheeshan, Numerical and Experimental Studies of Cold-formed Steel Floor Systems Made of Hollow Flange Section Joists in Fire, PhD Nov 2014
25. Manuvidhya Balarupan, Structural Behaviour and Design of Cold-formed Steel Hollow Section Columns at Elevated Temperatures, PhD November 2015
26. Mayooran Sivapathasundaram, Localised Pull-through Failures of Thin Steel Roof Battens Subject to Wind Uplift Loads, PhD November 2015
27. Lavan Sundararajah, Web Crippling Studies of Cold-formed Steel Channel Beams, Experiments, Numerical Analyses and Design Rules, PhD Oct  2016
28. Ropalin Siahaan, Structural Behaviour and Design of Rivet fastened Rectangular Hollow Flange Channel Beams, PhD December 2016.
29. Janarthanan Balaubramaniam, Structural Beahaviour and Design of Cold-formed Steel Floor Systems, PhD March 2017
30. Mohamed Rusthi, Experimental and Finite Element Studies of Light Gauge Steel Frame Wall Systems under Fire Conditions, PhD April 2017
31. Maneesha DODANGODA, Improving the Fire Resistance of Cold-formed Steel Frame Wall Systems using Enhanced Plasterboards, PhD June 2018
32. Myuran KATHEKEYAN, Fatigue Performance and Design of Cold-formed Steel Roof Battens Under Cyclic Wind Uplift Loads, PhD June 2018
33. Nilakshi PERERA, Structural Behaviour and Design of Innovative Hollow Flange Steel Plate Girders, PhD July 2018
34. Imran AHAMED, Fire Performance and Design of CFRP Strengthened and Insulated Cold-Formed Steel Tubular Columns, PhD October 2018
35. Yomal Dias, Structural and Fire Behaviour of Gypsum Plasterboard and Steel Sheathed LSF Walls,  May 2019
36. Thananjayan SIVAPRAKASAM, Structural Behaviour and Design of Aluminium Facade Mullions under Wind Actions, PhD June 2019
37. Edward STEAU, Behaviour of Cold-Formed LSF Floor-Ceiling Systems in Fire, PhD June 2019
38. Sayilacksha GNANACHELVAM, Fire and Energy Performance of Cold-formed Steel Frame Wall Systems, PhD Jan 2020
39. Magarabooshanam HARIKRISHNAN, Fire Performance of Complex Light Gauge Steel Framed Wall Systems, PhD March 2020.
40. Rokilan MAHENTHIRARASA, Cold-formed Steel Compression Members Exposed to Extreme Temperature Environments, PhD April 2021.
41. Yunxiang (Gary) TAO,  Advanced Numerical Analysis and  Fire Testing of Cold-formed  Steel Hollow Section Stud Walls, PhD June 2021.
42. Akshay Mangal Mahar, Buckling and Post-buckling Behaviour of Cold-formed Steel Built-up Columns, PhD May 2022.
43. Jashnav Pancheti, Fire Resistance of External Light Gauge Steel Framed Walls, PhD August 2022.
44. Tharindu Abeysiriwardena, Cold-formed Steel Stud Walls Subject to Distortional buckling Failures under Ambient and Fire Conditions, PhD Nov 2022.
45. Mithum Peiris, Behaviour and Design of LSF Walls Subject to Combined Compression and Bending Actions under Ambient and Fire Conditions, PhD December 2022.
46. Lisa Pieper, Cold-formed Steel Cladding Systems Exposed to Combined Wind and Bushfire Conditions, PhD, December 2022.
47. Son Tung Vy, Behaviour of Light Gauge Steel Framed Wall Systems Made of Built-up Stud Sections under Ambient and Fire Conditions, PhD Feb 2023.
48. Indunil Erandi Ariyaratne, Bushfire Resistant Wall Systems Using Lightweight Cement Blocks, PhD March 2023 (Associate Supervisor).
49. Sahani Hendawitharana, Advanced Numerical and Experimental Studies of Bushfire Safe Rooms, PhD April 2023 (Associate Supervisor).
50. Gopikrishna Athmarajah, Localised Failures of Thin Steel Battens under Extreme Temperature Environments, PhD August 2024.
51. Fatheen Isham, Fire Resistance of LSF Floor Systems made of Lipped Channel Joists, PhD July 2025
52. Gihan Ranasinghe, Behaviour and Design of LSF Truss Floor-Ceiling Systems under Ambient and Fire Conditions, PhD  2025.
53. Birunthan Perinpalingam, Investigation of Bushfire Resistant Shutter Systems, PhD 2025

MEng Theses Completed  

1. M. Jeevaharan:  Local Buckling Behaviour and Design of Sandwich Panels, MEng 1996
2. David Bell: Development of Cold-formed Steel Trusses, MEng 1996
3. Anca Galatanu:  Behaviour and Design of Hollow Flange Beams in Axial Compression, MEng 1997
4. Costin Moor:  Three-dimensional Modelling of Steel Portal Frame Buildings, MEng 1997
5. S. Subaaharan: Improved Modelling and Design of Steel Portal Frame Buildings, MEng 1998
6. Ruo Biang Tang: Local Failures in Steel Cladding Systems, MEng 1998
7. Yahya Alsaket:  Benchmark Solutions for Steel Frame Structures, MEng 1999
8. Duncan McAndrew: Behaviour and Design of Sandwich Panels for Flexural Wrinkling, MEng 1999
9. David Luxmoore, Evaluation of Greensmart Homes, Under Examination, ME thesis, April 2005
10. Cyrilus Win Kurniawan, Structural Behaviour of the New LiteSteel Beam Sections, Dec 2007
11. Leo Gunawan, Development of Numerical Models to Simulate the Thermal Performance of LSF Walls, Oct 2011
12. Edward Steau, Web Bearing Behaviour and Design of Hollow Flange Beams,  Sept. 2015
13. Jimmy Kim, Development of Modular Building Systems Made of Innovative Steel Sections and Wall Configurations, November 2018.
14. Alexander Krossa, Material Characteristics of New High-strength Steels Manufactured by Giflo Steels, MPhil, 2022.
15. Ruoqing (Rebecca) Zhao, Behaviour of Valley-fixed Cold-formed Steel Cladding Systems under Combined Wind and Fire Actions, MPhil, 2023.

RESEARCH QUALITY

Our research in the fields of thin-walled steel structures, cyclone/storm resistant buildings and fire safety is well recognised nationally and internationally as reflected by many awards, invitations to present research papers, seminars and workshops.

RESEARCH AWARDS

• 2025 Shortidge Hardesty Award from American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) Structural Engineering Institute for substantial contributions to the fields of wind and fire engineering
• 2022 Vice Chancellor's Performance Award for High Impact Research
• 2022 QUT Centre for Materials Science Award for Excellence – Impact and Translation
• 2015 Vice-Chancellor’s Performance Award
• 2012 Vice-Chancellor’s Performance Award
• 2011 Vice-Chancellor's Performance Award
• 2008 Vice-Chancellor's Performance Award
• 2010 Dean’s Excellence Award for Research Publications
• 2005 Faculty of Built Environment and Engineering Postgraduate Distinguished Supervisor Award
• 2001Excellence Award – Research and Development, The Institution of Engineers, Australia (QLD)

TEACHING AWARDS

• 2011 Vice-Chancellor’s Performance Award
• 2008 Vice-Chancellor’s Performance Award
• 2005 Vice Chancellor’s Distinguished Teaching Award
• 2002 Vice Chancellor’s Distinguished Teaching Award
• 2002 Australian Awards for University Teaching – Physical Sciences and Related Studies – One of the Three Finalists
• 2000 Faculty of Built Environment and Engineering Teaching Excellence Award
• Nominated for Vice Chancellor’s award for excellence 2009 & 2010
• One of the six Finalists for the Best Lecturer of the Year Award – QUT 1995

PARTNERSHIP WITH INDUSTRY AND PROFESSION

We have very strong linkages with Australian steel industry and have worked closely with many of them, ex, NASH, Bluescope Steel, James Hardie Building Systems, Smorgon Steel, Henrob, BHP & Stramit Industries, OneSteel, Boral & Australian Steel Institute.  This has enhanced the practical relevance of our research.  In addition, these strong relationships have created an environment where industry has adopted and benefited from our research An important contribution to research is the dissemination of new knowledge and awareness of new opportunities and implications of research results.  We have consulted widely, and presented workshops and continuing education courses in Australia & overseas to engineers and manufacturers, newspaper articles and radio and national TV interviews. We have assisted in improving the quality of steel design education for undergraduates and engineers.

PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES

• CONFERENCE CHAIR for the 5th International Conference on Thin-walled Structures held in Brisbane in 2008, which is one of the most prestigious conferences in this field
• A REVIEWER for 10 international journals, a Scientific/International Advisory Committee member for over 10 well respected conferences, a PhD examiner for universities in Australia and overseas, and an Assessor for major Australian, UAE, Canadian & Hong Kong research grants
• Member of Editorial Board of the International Journal of Steel Structures and Thin-Walled Structures, Steel and Composite Structures
• INVITED to assist on postgraduate research projects at:  IIT Madras; Anna University, India; Clemson University, USA; Concordia Univ., Canada; Eindhoven University of Technology, Netherlands; Thiagarajar College of Engineering, Madurai, India; University of Technology Malaysia; City University of Hong Kong

MY ACADEMIC CAREER

Teaching

1. Assistant Lecturer in Civil Engineering, Universityof Sri Lanka
2. Tutor in Structural Engineering, Monash University, Australia
3. Lecturer in Structural Engineering, Swinburne Universityof Technology, Australia
4. Lecturer in Structural Engineering, HindustanCollege of Engineering, India
5. Lecturer in Structural Engineering, James Cook University, Australia
6. Lecturer, Senior Lecturer and Associate professor in Civil Engineering (Structures), QUT
7. Professor of Structural Engineering, current

Research

1. Ph.D. Research Student, MonashUniversity, Thin-walled Steel Box-columns
2. Research Engineer, James Cook Cyclone Testing Station, Townsville
3. Principal Supervisor of more than 50 HDR students at QUT

Academic and Research Leadership and Management

1. Postgraduate Studies Coordinator,Schoolof Civil Engineering, 1996 - 2002
2. Course Coordinator – ME (Research) and PhD (Civil Engineering), 1997 – 2002
3. Course Coordinator – ME (Research) Faculty of Built Environment and Engineering 1997-2006
4. Director, Physical Infrastructure Centre, QUT, 1997 - 2002
5. Leader, Building and Infrastructure Systems, Faculty of Built Environment and Engineering 2003 - 2004
6. Acting Chair, Research Degrees Committee (equivalent to Dean of Graduate Studies), QUT 2003 - 2004
7. Director, Higher Degree Research, Faculty of Built Environment and Engineering 2005 – 2006
8. Acting Head of School of Civil Engineering, several short periods during 1997-2004
9. Acting Head of School of Urban Development, several short periods during 2007-2012

Additional information