UC Spark

Dr Anthony Kwabena Gyekye Abu

Civil and Natural Resources Engineering

Phone: +64 3 364 2987 ext. 45550
 Office: Civil Engineering E441

Fields of Research

  • Design of structures in fire conditions
  • Design of steel, composite steel and concrete structures
  • Fire severity of buildings
  • Collapse mechanisms of slabs in fire conditions
  • Design of fire exposed buildings post-earthquake

Researcher Summary

My main area of research is on the resistance of steel and concrete structures to the effects of fires. I am particularly interested in developing simplified methods for the analysis and design of floor systems. I am also interested in the behaviour of steel connections at elevated temperatures.

Subject Area: Disciplines

Research Groups

Future Research

  • Composite Timber and Concrete systems

Key Methodologies

  • Computational Modelling
  • Finite Element Analysis
  • Experimental Testing

Prizes and Awards

  • IStructE Young Researchers Conference 2007 - 1st Prize - Poster Competition (2007)

Publications


  • Spellman, P.M., Abu, A.K., Carradine, D.M., Moss, P.J. and Buchanan, A.H. (2012) Design of post-tensioned timber beams for fire resistance. Zurich, Switzerland: 7th International Conference on Structures in Fire (SiF), 6-8 Jun 2012. In SiF2012: 317-326. http://dx.doi.org/10.3929/ethz-a-007050197. (Conference Contribution - Paper in published proceedings)
  • Min, J-K., Moss, P.J., Abu, A.K., Dhakal, R.P. and Buchanan, A.H. (2012) Fire behaviour of multi-bay hollowcore floors. Singapore: 10th International Conference on Advances in Steel Concrete Composite and Hybrid Structures (ASCCS), 2-4 Jul 2012. 934-941. http://dx.doi.org/10.3850/978-981-07-2615-7_243. (Conference Contribution - Paper in published proceedings)
  • Spellman, P., Carradine, D., Abu, A., Moss, P. and Buchanan, A. (2012) Full-scale fire tests of post-tensioned timber beams. Auckland, New Zealand: World Conference on Timber Engineering (WCTE), 16-19 Jul 2012. In Strength and Serviceability: Extreme Events: 227-236. (Conference Contribution - Paper in published proceedings)
  • O'Neill, J., Abu, A., Carradine, D., Moss, P. and Buchanan, A. (2012) Modelling prefabricated timber floors in fire. Auckland, New Zealand: World Conference on Timber Engineering (WCTE), 15-19 Jul 2012. Strength and Serviceability: Extreme Events: 218-226. (Conference Contribution - Paper in published proceedings)
  • O'Neill, J.W., Abu, A.K., Carradine, D.M., Moss, P.J. and Buchanan, A.H. (2012) Modelling the fire performance of structural timber floors. Zurich, Switzerland: 7th International Conference on Structures in Fire (SiF), 6-8 Jun 2012. In SiF2012: 397-406. http://dx.doi.org/10.3929/ethz-a-007050197. (Conference Contribution - Paper in published proceedings)
  • Min, J-K., Dhakal, R.P., Moss, P.J., Buchanan, A.H. and Abu, A.K. (2012) Modelling the Fire Resistance of Prestressed Concrete Floors using Multi-Spring Connection Elements. Journal of Structural Fire Engineering 3(1): 1-18. http://dx.doi.org/10.1260/2040-2317.3.1.1. (Journal Article)
  • Werther, N., O'Neill, J.W., Spellman, P.M., Abu, A.K., Moss, P.J., Buchanan, A.H. and Winter, S. (2012) Parametric study of modelling structural timber in fire with different software packages. Zurich, Switzerland: 7th International Conference on Structures in Fire (SiF), 6-8 Jun 2012. In SiF2012: 427-438. http://dx.doi.org/10.3929/ethz-a-007050197. (Conference Contribution - Paper in published proceedings)
  • Baker, G.B., Collier, P.C.R., Abu, A.K. and Houston, B. (2012) Post-earthquake structural design for fire: A New Zealand perspective. Zurich, Switzerland: 7th International Conference on Structures in Fire (SiF), 6-8 Jun 2012. In SiF2012: 23-32. http://dx.doi.org/10.3929/ethz-a-007050197. (Conference Contribution - Paper in published proceedings)
  • Min, J-K., Dhakal, R.P., Abu, A.K., Moss, P.J. and Buchanan, A.H. (2012) Prediction of shear failure of hollow core slabs exposed to fire. Sydney, Australia: 22nd Australasian Conference on the Mechanics of Structures and Materials (ACMSM 22), 11-14 Dec 2012. (Conference Contribution - Paper in published proceedings)
  • Abu, A.K., Burgess, I.W. and Plank, R.J. (2012) The effect of reinforcement ratios on composite slabs in fire. Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers - Structures and Buildings 165(SB7): 385-398. http://dx.doi.org/10.1680/stbu.11.00021. (Journal Article)
  • Min, J-K., Abu, A.K., Moss, P.J., Dhakal, R.P. and Buchanan, A.H. (2012) Verification of code fire ratings of precast prestressed concrete slabs. Zurich, Switzerland: 7th International Conference on Structures in Fire (SiF), 6-8 Jun 2012. In SiF2012: 679-688. http://dx.doi.org/10.3929/ethz-a-007050197. (Conference Contribution - Paper in published proceedings)
  • Abu, A.K., Ramanitrarivo, V. and Burgess, I.W. (2011) Collapse Mechanisms of Composite Slab Panels in Fire. Journal of Structural Fire Engineering 2(3): 205-216. http://dx.doi.org/10.1260/2040-2317.2.3.205. (Journal Article)
  • Baker, G., Houston, B., Aitken, R. and Abu, A. (2011) Earthquakes: Vulnerabilities and Lessons. Ellerslie Event Centre, Auckland, New Zealand: Fire-NZ 2011 Conference, 14 Sep 2011. (Oral Presentation)
  • Abu, A.K., Ramanitrarivo, V. and Burgess, I.W. (2010) Collapse Mechanisms of Composite Slab Panels in Fire. East Lansing, MI, USA: 6th International Structures in Fire Conference (SIF'10), 2-4 Jun 2010. In Structures in Fire. Proceedings of the Sixth International Conference 382-389. (Conference Contribution - Paper in published proceedings)
  • Burgess, I., Green, A. and Abu, A. (2010) Concise Eurocodes: Loadings on Structures: BS EN 1991: Eurocode 1. London: British Standards Institution. xxiv + 109pp. (Authored Book)
  • Abu, T. (2010) Structural Fire Engineering in the UK. Auckland, New Zealand: Society of Fire Protection Engineers (SFPE) New Zealand Chapter Annual General Meeting, 23 Nov 2010. (Oral Presentation)
  • Abu, A.K. (2010) Structural Fire Engineering of Steel Structures. University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand: Research Directions for Steel Structures, 13-14 Apr 2010. (Conference Contribution - Oral presentation)
  • Abu, A.K. and Burgess, I.W. (2010) The effect of edge support on tensile membrane action of composite slabs in fire. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil: International Colloquium Stability and Ductility of Steel Structures (SDSS' Rio 2010), 8-10 Sep 2010. 21-32. http://www.labciv.eng.uerj.br/sdss2010/files/sdss_rio_2010_2_2.pdf. (Conference Contribution - Paper in published proceedings)
  • Abu, A.K. (2009) Behaviour of composite floor systems in fire. PhD, University of Sheffield, United Kingdom. (Thesis - Doctor of Philosophy)
  • Abu, A.K., Block, F.M., Butterworth, N.A. and Burgess, I.W. (2009) Structural fire engineering assessments of the FRACOF and Mokrsko fire tests, an engineering prediction. Prague, Czech Republic: International Conference Applications of Structural Fire Engineering, 19-20 Feb 2009. In Proceedings of International Conference Applications of Structural Fire Engineering 338-343. (Conference Contribution - Paper in published proceedings)
  • Abu, A.K., Burgess, I.W. and Plank, R.J. (2008) Effects of edge support and reinforcement ratios on slab panel failure in fire. Nanyang, Singapore: 5th International Conference on Structures in Fire (SiF'08), 28-30 May 2008. 380-391. (Conference Contribution - Paper in published proceedings)
  • Abu, A.K., Burgess, I.W. and Plank, R.J. (2008) Slab panel vertical support and tensile membrane action in fire. Steel & Composite Structures: An International Journal 8(3): 217-230. (Journal Article)
  • Abu, A.K., Burgess, I.W. and Plank, R.J. (2007) Analysis of Tensile Membrane Action in Composite Slabs in Fire. Wairakei, New Zealand: Pacific Structural Steel Conference (PSSC) 2007, 14-16 Mar 2007. In Proceedings of the Pacific Structural Steel Conference (PSSC) 2007 2 231-236. (Conference Contribution - Paper in published proceedings)
  • Abu, A.K., Burgess, I.W. and Plank, R.J. (2007) Effects of slab panel vertical support on tensile membrane action. Manchester, UK: 3rd International Conference on Steel and Composite Structures (ICSCS07), 30 Jul-1 Aug 2007. In Steel and Composite Structures 647-652. (Conference Contribution - Paper in published proceedings)
  • Abu, A.K., Burgess, I.W. and Plank, R.J. (2006) Effects of thermal gradients on membrane stresses in thin slabs. Aveiro, Portugal: 4th International Workshop of Structures in Fire (SiF'06), 10-12 May 2006. In SiF '06 Proceedings of the 4th International Workshop, Structures on Fire 2 671-681. (Conference Contribution - Paper in published proceedings)