I am grateful to the Royal Commission for the Exhibition of 1851 as the Research Fellowship will enable me to pursue research that I am passionate about and to contribute to the advancement of knowledge in timber engineering.

Mohamed Elzeadani

Mohamed’s current research in the Department of Engineering investigates a promising connection design for timber structures that can sustain visible deformations before failure. This is important in a range of scenarios, including: 

• Tall timber buildings that can be subjected to large lateral deformation due to extreme winds or earthquakes;
• Large or tall timber buildings that may be required to form alternative load paths to avoid catastrophic collapse in the event of an accidental loss of a structural member; 
• Timber bridges subjected to imposed loads such as over-size vehicles or imposed deformations due to differential ground movements. 

By enhancing the structural performance of timber connections, Mohamed’s research contributes to safer and more robust construction solutions for timber structures.

Mohamed is a Research Fellow in the Structures Research Group as part of Dr. Robert Foster’s group in the Civil Engineering Division. He completed his Bachelor of Civil Engineering from Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) in 2016, followed by a master’s degree in Structural Engineering from UPM in 2019. He then joined the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Imperial College London for his PhD in 2020.  Mohamed’s doctoral research investigated the mechanical properties and composite structural behaviour of sustainable rubberised concrete materials, covering typical and extreme loading scenarios such as earthquake and impact loading.   

Dr Mohamed Elzeadani Royal Commission of 1851 Research Fellow 2024 - Enhancing Connection Ductility for the Safe Design of Timber Structures

In response to the pressing challenges of escalating urban growth and the urgent need to reduce the carbon footprint of our built environment, contemporary engineered timber structures have remerged as a pioneering solution. Already exemplified by landmark structures like the Mjøstårnet in Norway, standing at over 80 metres tall, and visionary projects like the proposed Oakwood Tower in London, reaching an impressive 300 metres, these developments underscore the transformative potential of engineered timber in fostering environmentally conscious urbanisation on a monumental scale. However, the inherent brittleness of timber continues to be a major limitation when considering its use for large-scale construction projects and remains a key concern in modern architecture today. The brittleness of timber, or its lack of ductility, means it cannot redistribute loads safely through a structure and sustain visible deformations that can provide warning of imminent failure. One way to ensure ductility in timber structures is to design the connections linking various members from materials that can sustain large deformations before failure.

This research investigates the ductility and energy dissipation performance of a promising new method of constructing timber connections using screwed-in threaded rods and steel links. The proposed connections will be tested experimentally under monotonic and cyclic loading, simulating static and seismic conditions. The results from the physicl tests will be used to benchmark new numerical models that will underpin extensive parametric studies to highlight the effect of various design parameters on the connection performance. The parametric studies will inform the development of new analytical expressions for design, enabling connections to be fine-tuned to achieve the optimal balance of strength, ductility and stiffness for the safe design of timber structures subjected to extreme loads.

Research fellowships awarded by the Royal Commission for the Exhibition of 1851 give promising scientists and engineers the opportunity for early independence and contribute to the knowledge base required for a healthy and innovative national culture.

The Royal Commission for the Exhibition of 1851 awards some 35 postgraduate Fellowships and Scholarships a year, for advanced study and research in science, engineering, the built environment and design. It also makes a small number of Special Awards to support projects consistent with its overall aims. Many of these are focused on raising the awareness of the young to the opportunities presented by science and engineering. The total annual disbursement is nearly £4m a year, funded from the Commission’s investment portfolio.

The Commission was established in 1850 by Her Majesty Queen Victoria to organise the first World Trade Fair: The Exhibition of the Works of Industry of All Nations. When the Exhibition closed in October 1851, the Royal Commission became a permanent body to spend the profits and realise Prince Albert’s ambition to “increase the means of industrial education and extend the influence of science and art upon productive industry”.

For more information on 1851 Research Fellowships and how to apply, visit the 1851 Commission website.