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Professor

Mahmud Ashraf

(He/ Him)

Associate Head of School, Research

Faculty of Science Engineering and Built Environment/School of Engineering

Orcid identifier0000-0002-5207-2407
  • Associate Head of School, Research
    Faculty of Science Engineering and Built Environment/School of Engineering
  • +61 3 522 78450 (Work)
  • Geelong Waurn Ponds Campus, 75 Pigdons Road, Waurn Ponds, Victoria 3216

BIO

My current work at Deakin encompasses the dual roles of Professor of Structural Engineering and Associate Head of School (Research) in the School of Engineering.

I enjoy taking on leadership roles, from the organisational level (my term on Deakin University’s Academic Board) to the individual (my work on the Research Peer Mentoring program), to the international (I played a key role in establishing an International Research Centre on Bio-composite Materials and Structures). I am also one of the founding chairs of the biennial conference on bio-composite materials and structures.

An output from my doctoral research - Structural Stainless Steel Design: Resistance Based on Deformation Capacity – was an early contribution to the foundations of what became the Continuous Strength Method (CSM). While my initial research focused on thin-walled, nonlinear metallic structures (stainless steel, high-strength steel, and aluminium), my subsequent research has focused on investigating new concepts and materials for structural applications. Through this I have contributed to studies on geopolymer concrete, innovative composite materials, and 3D-printed metallic structures. My current research focuses heavily on structural applications of renewable materials, including timber and bamboo. I’m committed to working toward a sustainable future, and advocate for hybrid structures as the best means to minimise future environmental impact.

I lead the Engineered Timber Structures Research Group at Deakin, and I’m one of the research theme leaders in 3DEC (Deakin Digital Design and Engineering Centre). In addition, I work as an academic adviser to WoodSolutions and am a member of the INBAR (International Network for Bamboo and Rattan) task force. I’m also involved in developing several ISO Standards for structural bamboo.

My research projects are funded by industry partners, including XLam, AKD Softwoods, the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF), Forest & Wood Products Australia (FWPA), and Engineered Wood Products Association Of Australasia (EWPAA).

DEAKIN UNIVERSITY CURRENT APPOINTMENT

  • Associate Head of School, Research
    Deakin University, School of Engineering

MEDIA

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ACADEMIC POSITIONS

  • Professor
    Deakin University, School of Engineering, Geelong, Australia1 Jan 2022 - present
  • Associate Professor
    Deakin University, School of Engineering, Australia22 Jul 2017 - 31 Dec 2021

DEGREES

  • Doctor of Philosophy
    Imperial College London
  • Master of Science in Civil Engineering
    Bangladesh Uni. of Eng & Tech
  • Bachelor of Science (Civil Engineering)
    Bangladesh Uni. of Eng & Tech

FIELDS OF RESEARCH (2020)

  • Civil engineering
  • Materials engineering
  • Structural engineering
  • Timber engineering

AVAILABILITY FOR SUPERVISION

  • Masters by Research and PhD supervision

AREA/FACULTY

  • Faculty of Science Engineering and Built Environment

DEPARTMENT/SCHOOL/INSTITUTE

  • School of Engineering

RESEARCH STRENGTHS