Professor Iman Hajirasouliha

School of Mechanical, Aerospace and Civil Engineering

Chair in Structural Engineering

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i.hajirasouliha@sheffield.ac.uk
+44 114 222 5710
Room C109c, Sir Frederick Mappin Building (Broad Lane Building)

Full contact details

Professor Iman Hajirasouliha
School of Mechanical, Aerospace and Civil Engineering
Room C109c
Sir Frederick Mappin Building (Broad Lane Building)
Mappin Street
Sheffield
S1 3JD
Profile

I am Professor of Structural Engineering at the University of Sheffield, where I serve as the Academic Line Manager (ALM) of structures and lead the Structural Engineering Group (SEG). I received my PhD from Sharif University of Technology, one of the top technical universities in the Middle East, in collaboration with the University of Sheffield through a Chevening Scholarship. Following my PhD, I was awarded a prestigious Marie Curie International Incoming Fellowship at the University of Sheffield in 2008. I joined the University of Nottingham as a Lecturer in Structural Engineering in 2010, before returning to Sheffield in 2012. I was then promoted to Senior Lecturer (Associate Professor) in 2015 and Professor in 2022.

My research focuses on developing more resilient, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly buildings and infrastructure by using deep learning, innovative structural systems, and advanced optimisation techniques. By integrating data-driven approaches with cutting-edge engineering solutions, I aim to enhance structural performance, reduce environmental impact, and drive sustainable design in the built environment.

I work on finding smart ways to make buildings and infrastructure stronger, safer, cheaper, and better for the planet.

Professor Iman Hajirasouliha

Research interests

I have over 25 years of research and consultancy experience in the fields of resilient buildings and infrastructure, lightweight steel structures, performance-based optimisation, novel strengthening and retrofitting techniques, vulnerability assessment, and artificial intelligence, with a particular focus on modular, low-carbon structural systems.

Publications

Journal articles

Research group
  • Steel & Composite Structures
  • Earthquake Engineering Group
  • Concrete Structures 
Grants

View all research projects

  • Principal Investigator (2025-2027). Marie Curie Fellowship on “Low-Carbon Geopolymer Textile Reinforced Concrete for Seismic Strengthening (STRENGTH)”, £221,000, Horizon Europe (Fellow: Dr Narges Azadvar).
  • Principal Investigator (2023-2025). "New Generation of Sustainable Lightweight Cold-Formed Steel Structures”, £8,000, Royal Society
  • Principal Investigator (2023-2025)."Hybrid Lightweight Structural Systems for Low-Cost Housing (HYLIGHTS)", £378,000 (total grant £1,105,500), EPSRC EP/W027267/1
  • Co-Investigator (2023-2024). "New Generation of Resilient Lightweight Cold-Formed Steel Structures", £12,000,British Council
  • Principal Investigator (2022-2024). Marie Curie Fellowship on “New Generation of Lightweight Steel Elements for Sustainable Resilient Construction (LightSteel)”, £204,000, Horizon Europe (Fellow: Dr Adil Dar)
  • Principal Investigator (2021-2023). EPSRC Doctoral Prize Fellowship on “Adaptive resilient cold-formed steel structural systems for modular construction”, £116,000, EPSRC (Fellow: Dr Mohammad Mojtabaei)
  • Co-Investigator (2019). "Tracking post-earthquake reconstruction in Nepal: Addressing Civil Engineering and Policy Implementation Challenges", £39,300, Research England
  • Principal Investigator (2017). Newton Fund Researcher Links -Workshop Grant on “Seismic Loss, Rehabilitation and Post-earthquake Crisis Management of Critical Infrastructure”, £43,200, British Council
  • Principal Investigator (2016-2018). Marie Curie Fellowship on “Innovative Retrofitting for Substandard Construction (IRESCO)”, £158,300, European Commission-Horizon 2020 (Fellow: Dr Georgia Thermou)
  • Co-Investigator (2016-2018). British Council Institutional Links on “Earthquake Risk Assessment and Rapid Response Framework for Industrial Zones”, £75,000, Newton Fund
  • Co-Investigator (2016-2019). "Rapid Earthquake Risk Assessment and Post-Earthquake Disaster Management Framework for Substandard Buildings in Turkey”, £118,300, EPSRC EP/P010016/1
  • Co-Investigator (2016). Newton Fund Researcher Links –Workshop Grant on “Seismic Risk Assessment and Mitigation Strategies for Existing Buildings and Structures”, £46,200, British Council
  • Principal Investigator (2014-2015)."Performance-Based Optimisation of Novel Lightweight Steel Frame Systems for Rapid, Economical and Sustainable Construction", £101,000, EPSRC EP/L019116/1
  • Co-Investigator (2013-2017). "Innovative Reuse of All Tyre Components in Concrete (Anagennisi)", £521,240 (total grant £3,240,000), European Commission- FP7
  • Co-Investigator (2013-2017). COST Action TU1207 on "Next Generation Design Guidelines for Composites in Construction", £378,000, European Commission- FP7
  • Co-Investigator (2013-2017). MC ITN European Network for "Durable Reinforcement and Rehabilitation Solutions (endure)", £525,000 (total grant £3,870,500), European Commission- FP7
  • Principal Investigator (2011-2012). "Resilience of multi-storey structures under extreme loading conditions”, £47,800, Early Career Research and Knowledge Transfer grant, University of Nottingham
Teaching activities

I currently serve as the module leader for two postgraduate courses:

MAC473 – Structural Dynamics and Earthquake Engineering (MSc, 15 credits)
MAC474 – Structural Dynamics and Applications to Vibration Design (Year 4 MEng, 15 credits)

I welcome PhD students in the following research areas:

  • Modular and adaptive lightweight structural systems for sustainable construction
  • AI-based design and optimisation of innovative structural systems
  • Cost-efficient, damage-free, seismic-resilient buildings and infrastructure
  • Performance-based optimisation of next-generation energy dissipation devices
  • Novel strengthening techniques using environmentally friendly materials
Professional activities and memberships

I have co-authored over 300 peer-reviewed journal and conference papers, and since 2020, I have been recognised among the world’s top 2% of scientists in my field, according to the Stanford University and Elsevier global database. I have served as Principal Investigator or Co-Investigator on several UK and EU-funded research projects, with total funding exceeding £10 million.

I am an active member of various national and international technical committees and research networks, including fib, IABSE, and BSI task groups. Currently, I serve as an Associate Editor for Structures (Elsevier), Practice Periodical on Structural Design and Construction (ASCE), and Frontiers in Built Environment (Earthquake Engineering section).

Potential PhD offerings

Performance-based Optimisation Of Energy Dissipation Systems

This proposed project will lead to the development of practical procedures for the optimum design of added dissipation systems in framed structures. The proposed design method will be based on a novel optimisation technique that has been introduced by Dr Iman Hajirasouliha and successfully used for seismic design and strengthening of different structural systems. The work will involve analysis, design and computer modelling.

Seismic Strengthening Of RC Using External Lateral Post-tensioning

The project will investigate this technique both experimentally and analytically and develop models for its application in vulnerable buildings.

Novel Cold-formed Steel Structural Systems For Multi-storey Buildings

The main aim of this research is to enhance strength and ductility of CFS structural systems (elements and connections) to increase their resistance and overall safety under extreme loading events, through the development of special connections and high-performance dual wall-frame systems.

If you're interested in one of these projects, or would like to self-propose a project, please contact Iman at i.hajirasouliha@sheffield.ac.uk. Current PhD opportunities in the department can be viewed here.

Links

Structural Engineering & Materials Discipline