Dr. Reza Kianoush
Areas of Academic Interest
Analytical modeling of reinforced concrete structures subjected to earthquake loading
Earthquake-resistant design of reinforced concrete structures
Performance-based design of concrete liquid containing structures
Seismic rehabilitation and repair of concrete structures
Non-linear finite element analysis and modeling of reinforced concrete structures
Spotlight
Leaks are bad—in your roof, your basement, your travel mug. Now, imagine a much larger scale. Picture a massive tank containing wastewater that, if it fails, will contaminate the supply of drinking water. That’s bad. And that’s why it’s good to have Reza Kianoush on the job.
An expert in liquid containing structures, Kianoush works to ensure that tanks containing hazardous waste or wastewater don’t leak. Focused mainly on containers made from concrete, his research explores optimal designs and potential applications of new materials. “We aim to improve existing knowledge so that we can suggest new designs or changes in industry standards that will prevent leaks from happening in the first place,” he says.
One of his main challenges is that these tanks can be enormous, up to 20 metres high and as long as 300 metres. “They don’t come in one piece and you can’t pour all of the concrete on the site at one time,” he says. “Our job is to determine the sort of materials, joints, water stops and overall designs that will be practical for the contractors to build while also doing everything possible to prevent a leak.”
“When you have a massive concrete tank full of wastewater, a leak isn’t just a nuisance. It’s a failure.”
- Tavakkoli, I., Kianoush, M.R., Abrishami, H., and Ming, X. Finite element modelling of a nuclear containment structure subjected to high internal pressure (external link, opens in new window) , International Journal of Pressure Vessels and Piping, Elsevier, Vol 153, PP 59-69, 2017.
- Moslemi, M., Farzin, A. and Kianoush, M.R., Nonlinear sloshing response of liquid-filled rectangular concrete tanks under seismic excitation, Journal of Engineering Structures, Elsevier, 188 (2019), 564-577.
- Moslemi, M, and Kianoush, M.R., Application of seismic isolation technique to partially filled conical elevated tanks, Journal of Engineering Structures, Elsevier. 127 (2016) 663–675.
- Ghaemmaghami, A.R., Mercan, O. and Kianoush, M.R. Seismic Soil Structure Interaction Analysis of Wind Turbines in Frequency Domain, Journal of Wind Energy, John Wiley & Sons. DOI: 10.1002/we.1995, 2016.
- Ghateh, R., Kianoush, M.R. and Pogorzelski, W., Seismic response factors of reinforced concrete pedestal in elevated water tanks (external link, opens in new window) , Engineering Structures, Elsevier, Volume 87, 15 March 2015, Pages 32-46.
- Professional Engineers Ontario (PEO), member
- Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC), Member of the selection committee for NSERC-RTI (2016-17)
- Canadian Standards Association (CSA):
- Committee N287/291 Technical Committee: Concrete Containment and Safety Related Structures, Member
- Design Requirements for Concrete Containment Structures for Nuclear Power Plants, Chair
- Committee S900 - Technical Committee on Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) Design and Construction, Vice-Chair
- American Concrete Institute (ACI):
- Committee 350 - Environmental Engineering Concrete structures- Chair
- Subcommittee 350-F- Seismic Design of Liquid Containing Structures: Member- (Chair, 2009-2015)
- Subcommittee 350-J Education- Chair
- Subcommittee 350-D Structural - Member
- Subcommittee 350-SC Steering Committee – Chair
- Subcommittees: A-General and Concrete,, B-Durability, C-Reinforcement and Development, E-Precast-Prestress, G-Tightness Testing, H-Editorial, K-Hazardous Materials, L-Specification- Ex-Officio
- ACI Faculty Network Committee, member (Ryerson Representative)
- Committee 371: Elevated Tanks with Concrete Pedestals, Member
- American Water Works Association (AWWA)
- Standards Committee on Tendon Type PS Concrete Tanks (Member)
- Canadian Association for Earthquake Engineering (CAEE), Member