Johnson Zhang
Johnson Zhang

Prof Johnson Zhang

Professor

 0131 455 2482

  j.zhang@napier.ac.uk

  

Biography

Professor Zhang is a Professor in Structural Engineering and Head of International for the School of Engineering and the Built Environment at Edinburgh Napier University. Before joining Edinburgh Napier University in 2004, he worked on his PhD project at Hong Kong University of Science and Technology investigating structural performance and developing novel finite elements for transfer plate structures in tall buildings. Prior to his PhD study, he also practised as a structural engineer in China and became a chartered engineer in China in 1999.

Professor Zhang's research focuses on engineered bamboo-timber composite in construction, laminate glass structures, pre-stressed concrete and steel-reinforced concrete structures in complex loading conditions. Currently, he is devoting himself to developing bamboo-timber composite materials for long span and tall building structures with a patent filed in 2020. and his research is featured as a case study by the Royal Academy of Engineering. He has extensive experiences in photogrammetry technology, software development and multiple sensor systems in civil engineering studies. In one of his research projects with the advantages of tailored photogrammetry system, he has been able to give several convincing recommendations on the torsion test method for timber beams which have been adopted by the European standard: EN 408. (EN 408:2010 currently under review and revision). He is also an experienced computer programmer who developed several analyse and design software packages for trusses and scaffolding structures.

Professor Zhang has led several research and knowledge transfer projects funded by the Royal Academy of Engineering, Scottish Founding Council, Innovation UK, British Council, etc. His research has been published widely in both highly ranked civil engineering journals and conference proceedings. He is a member of CEN/TC 124/WG-1 committee for European Standard: EN408 review and revision. He also frequently organised and chaired special sessions, gave keynote speeches and guest lectures in international conferences and other universities.

School

Research Groups

Themes

Research Areas

Esteem

Advisory panels and expert committees or witness

  • Member of CEN/TC 124/WG 1-Test methods committee for European Standard: EN 408 review and revision

 

Conference Organising Activity

  • Invited International Conference Special Session Organiser: "Analysis, Design and Modelling of Structures Using Unconventional Construction Materials", 2020
  • Invited International Conference Special Session Organiser: "Analysis, Modelling and Design of Timber Structures", 2019
  • Invited International Conference Special Session Organiser: "Analysis, Modelling and Design of Timber Structures", 2015
  • Invited International Conference Special Session Organiser: "Analysis, Modelling and Design of Timber Structures", 2013
  • Co-organised International Telford-UKIERI Workshop with The University of Edinburgh, 2013

 

Editorial Activity

  • International Journal of Structural Glass and Advanced Materials Research - Member of Editorial Board (2021-present)
  • Member of Editorial Board - The Fourteenth International Conference on Computational Structures Technology, Palma, Mallorca, Spain, 2020
  • Member of Editorial Board - The Sixteenth International Conference on Civil, Structural and Environmental Engineering Computing, Riva del Garda, Italy, 2019
  • Journal of Architectural Research and Development - Member of Editorial Board (2018-2022)
  • American Journal of Civil Engineering - Editorial Panel (2018-2020)
  • Member of Editorial Board - The Fifteenth International Conference on Civil, Structural and Environmental Engineering Computing, Prague, Czech Republic, 2015
  • Member of Editorial Board - The Fourteenth International Conference on Civil, Structural and Environmental Engineering Computing, Cagliari, Italy, 2013

 

External Examining/Validations

  • External Panel Member for MSc Programme Re-Validation: The University of West London, 2019
  • External Panel Member for MSc Programme Validation: The University of West London, 2014
  • External Examiner for BSc Civil Engineering Programme in University of Abertay Dundee, 2013 - 2017

 

Fellowships and Awards

  • Academic Champion for Royal Academy of Engineering - Visiting Professor in Integrated Civil Engineering Design 2020-2023
  • Royal Academy of Engineering - Industrial Fellowship 2019 - 2020
  • Best Paper award 2017 - 19th International Conference on Wood Science and Engineering, Japan, 2017
  • Queen's Anniversary Prize 2015, Innovation in Timber Engineering and Wood Science.
  • Project shortlisted for Scottish KTP Award 2012 - KTP Action Scaffolding (KTP007069)
  • Project shortlisted for Scottish KTP Award 2012 - KTP Diageo Plc (KTP006209)

 

Invited Speaker

  • Keynote speaker at Civil and Infrastructure World Forum (CivilEnggInfra-2022)
  • Invited Speaker: The Natural Materials Association(NMA) Lunchtime Seminars: Focus on Natural Materials: Bamboo, organised by the Institute of Materials, Minerals & Mining (2021)
  • Keynote Talk at Global Summit on Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering (GSCAEE-2021)
  • Invited Speaker at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology 2019

 

Media Activity

  • Research project featured on the website of the Royal Academy of Engineering - Bamboo-Timber composites for construction 2021

 

Research Degree External Examining

  • PhD External Examining 2021 - University of West London, UK
  • PhD External Examining 2019 - The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong
  • PhD External Examining 2019 - Andhra University, Visakhapatnam, India
  • PhD External Examining 2017 - The University of West London

 

Reviewing

  • Book review - Elsevier: Engineered Bamboo: Glubam Structures
  • Materials
  • Computers and Concrete, An International Journal
  • International Journal of Wood Products
  • Materials
  • International Journal of Wind and Structures
  • Structures
  • International Journal of Numerical Methods in Engineering
  • Advances in Concrete Construction
  • International Journal of Structural Engineering and Mechanics
  • Engineering Structures
  • Computers and Structures
  • International Journal for Numerical Methods in Fluids
  • Ocean Engineering
  • Structures
  • Structures
  • Materials and Structures
  • Proceedings Of The Institution Of Civil Engineers - Structures And Buildings
  • International Journal of Structural Engineering and Mechanics
  • Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers - Management, Procurement and Law
  • Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers - Structures and Buildings
  • Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers - Management, Procurement and Law

 

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78 results

Effect of Concentrated Butt-Joints on Flexural Properties of Laminated Bamboo-Timber Flitch Beams

Journal Article
Zhang, H., Gharavi, N., Wong, S. H. F., Deng, Y., Bahadori-Jahromi, A., Limkatanyu, S., …Kuang, J. (2022)
Effect of Concentrated Butt-Joints on Flexural Properties of Laminated Bamboo-Timber Flitch Beams. Journal of Sandwich Structures and Materials, 24(2), 1226-1244. https://doi.org/10.1177/10996362211040103
This paper presents the experimental and analytical studies to investigate the effect of concentrated butt-joints on the flexural properties of laminated bamboo-timber flitch ...

Applicability of the Torsion Test and Photogrammetric Approach on Structural Timber Beams

Journal Article
Mohamed, A., Uheida, K., Quan, Y., & Zhang, H. (2021)
Applicability of the Torsion Test and Photogrammetric Approach on Structural Timber Beams. International Wood Products Journal, 12(3), 206-217. https://doi.org/10.1080/20426445.2021.1952047
The torsion test is recommended as a standard approach to determine the shear modulus of structural-size timber and glulam beams. However, there is a difficulty in measuring t...

Uncertainties in Non-Domestic Energy Performance Certificate Generating in the UK

Journal Article
Amirkhani, S., Bahadori-Jahromi, A., Mylona, A., Godfrey, P., Cook, D., Tahayori, H., & Zhang, H. (2021)
Uncertainties in Non-Domestic Energy Performance Certificate Generating in the UK. Sustainability, 13(14), https://doi.org/10.3390/su13147607
In light of the recent launch of the Minimum Energy Efficiency Standard targeting the energy performance of commercial buildings, this study compares the energy performance ce...

Photogrammetric Evaluation of Glulam Timber Shear Modulus Using Torsion Test Method and Dual Stereo Vision System

Journal Article
Mohamed, A., Deng, Y., Zhang, H., Wong, S. H. F., Uheida, K., Zhang, Y., …Quan, Y. (2021)
Photogrammetric Evaluation of Glulam Timber Shear Modulus Using Torsion Test Method and Dual Stereo Vision System. European Journal of Wood and Wood Products, 79, 1209-1223. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00107-021-01729-8
The shear modulus of timber and timber-based composite materials is a fundamental me-chanical property which is used in the design of timber and engineered wood products. The ...

Utility-scale Subsurface Hydrogen Storage: UK Perspectives and Technology

Journal Article
Wallace, R. L., Cai, Z., Zhang, H., Zhang, K., & Guo, C. (2021)
Utility-scale Subsurface Hydrogen Storage: UK Perspectives and Technology. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, 46(49), 25137-25159. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhydene.2021.05.034
To reduce effects from anthropogenically induced climate change renewable energy systems are being implemented at an accelerated rate, the UKs wind capacity alone is set to mo...

Experimental and Analytical Studies on Steel-Reinforced Concrete Composite Members with Bonded Prestressed CFRP tendon under Eccentric Tension

Journal Article
Deng, Y., Shen, M., Zhang, H., Zhang, P., Yueng, T. Y., Hansapinyo, C., …Zhao, J. (2021)
Experimental and Analytical Studies on Steel-Reinforced Concrete Composite Members with Bonded Prestressed CFRP tendon under Eccentric Tension. Composite Structures, 271, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compstruct.2021.114124
This paper reported the very earliest experimental and analytical studies on the bonded Prestressed CFRP tendon enhanced Steel Reinforced Concrete (PSRC) members under eccentr...

Topology optimization of multi-material structures with elastoplastic strain hardening model

Journal Article
Li, M., Deng, Y., Zhang, H., Wong, S. H. F., Mohamed, A., Zheng, Y., …Kuang, J. S. (2021)
Topology optimization of multi-material structures with elastoplastic strain hardening model. Structural and Multidisciplinary Optimization, 64, 1141-1160. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00158-021-02905-3
The paper presents a new multi-material topology optimization method with novel adjoint sensitivity analysis that can accommodate not only multiple plasticity but also multipl...

On the dynamics of FG-GPLRC sandwich cylinders based on an unconstrained higher-order theory

Journal Article
Eyvazian, A., Sebaey, T. A., Żur, K. K., Khan, A., Zhang, H., & Wong, S. H. F. (2021)
On the dynamics of FG-GPLRC sandwich cylinders based on an unconstrained higher-order theory. Composite Structures, 267, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compstruct.2021.113879
In the present paper, a novel unconstrained higher-order theory (UCHOT) is applied to analyse the free vibration of cylindrical sandwich shells with nanocomposite face sheets ...

Experimental study on shear performance of RC beams strengthened with NSM CFRP prestressed concrete prisms

Journal Article
Deng, Y., Ma, F., Zhang, H., Wong, S. H. F., Pankaj, P., Zhu, L., …Bahadori-Jahromi, A. (2021)
Experimental study on shear performance of RC beams strengthened with NSM CFRP prestressed concrete prisms. Engineering Structures, 235, Article 112004. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.engstruct.2021.112004
This paper presents an experimental investigation of the shear performance of RC beams strengthened with near surface mounted (NSM) carbon fibre reinforced polymer (CFRP) pres...

Experimental and theoretical study of bond behaviour between FRP bar and high-volume fly ash-self-compacting concrete

Journal Article
Zheng, Y., Zhou, N., Zhou, L., Zhang, H., Li, H., & Zhou, Y. (2021)
Experimental and theoretical study of bond behaviour between FRP bar and high-volume fly ash-self-compacting concrete. Materials and Structures, 54, https://doi.org/10.1617/s11527-021-01624-x
The combination of fibre-reinforced polymer (FRP) and high-volume fly ash self-compacting concrete (HVFA-SCC) reinforced is expected to solve the problem of steel corrosion in...

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