Dr Najif Ismail
Centre of Learning: Information Technology, Engineering and Construction
School: School of Engineering
Teaching Programme: New Zealand Diploma for Engineering, Bachelor of Engineering Technology, Graduate Diploma in Engineering (Structures)
ORCID ID Number: 368-7616-1700
Research Speciality: Seismic assessment and retrofitting; seismic performance evaluation of systems and buildings; aspects of damage avoidance design; and sustainable concrete technology.
Background
Dr Najif Ismail finished his doctoral studies at the University of Auckland. He is a Chartered Professional Engineer since 2013 and is actively involved in structural engineering practice.
He chases earthquakes around New Zealand and beyond and investigates innovative ways to increase earthquake resilience of historic masonry buildings. His passion for structural earthquake engineering has taken him to epicentres of several earthquakes.
He has authored more than 45 peer-reviewed articles and a book. He has contributed to the Canterbury Earthquakes Royal Commission’s report and served on the masonry subcommittee of ASCE 41-31. He is also a recipient of the TMS Outstanding PhD Thesis Award, the Otago Polytechnic Staff Award for Excellence, and the UAE Ministry of Infrastructure Development Award for Innovation in Sustainable Materials.
Najif joined WelTec in 2017, having held academic positions in the past at the University of Auckland, the Queens Academic Group, the Otago Polytechnic, and the United Arab Emirates University. His primary research interests include seismic assessment and strengthening of building structures and sustainable concrete technology.
Academic Qualifications
2012: Graduate Diploma in Tertiary Learning and Teaching (Level 7), Otago Polytechnic
2012: PhD in Civil Engineering, University of Auckland
2008: MSc in Civil Engineering, University of Engineering and Technology, Taxila
2006: BSc in Civil Engineering with Honors, University of Engineering and Technology, Taxila
Professional Positions Held
2017 - current: Academic Staff Member, Wellington Institute of Technology
2013 - 2016: Director Solid Ground Limited, Dunedin
2015 - 2017: Assistant Professor, United Arab Emirates University
2012 - 2015: Senior Lecturer, Otago Polytechnic
2008 - 2012: Tutor and PhD Student, University of Auckland
2007 - 2008: Office Engineer, CDM Constructors Incorporation
2006 - 2007: Structural Engineer, NESPAK Pvt Ltd and Catholic Relief Services
2005 - 2006: Executive Engineer, Mobilink Pakistan
Professional Distinctions and Awards
2017: Research grant from Mapei New Zealand
2016: Award for Sustainability and Innovation, UAE Ministry of Infrastructure Development
2016 – 2017: Contestable SURE Research Fund, UAE University
2014 – 2017: Contestable STARTUP Research Fund, UAE University
2013: Staff Award for Excellence in Research, Otago Polytechnic
2013: Outstanding PhD Thesis Award, the Masonry Society
2012 – 2017: PBRF Quality Rating, Tertiary Education Commission of New Zealand
2012: Travel Grant to attend the 9th CUEE and 4th ACEE Joint Conference, Tokyo, Japan.
2010: Offer of paid traineeship at European Lab for Structural Assessment [Declined]
2009 – 2011: Research funding from Helifix Pvt. Limited, Mapei NZ, Reids, and Stoanz Pvt Limited
2008 – 2012: University of Auckland International Doctoral Scholarship
Governance roles
2016 - 2017: Consultant- Structural assessment of private schools, Abu Dhabi Education Council, UAE.
2014 - 2017: PI for research projects worth roughly $200,000 funded by UAE University.
2013 - 2016: Director, Solid Ground Limited, New Zealand.
2011 - 2013: Member of ASCE Code Committee 41-13 (Masonry)
2009 - current: Regular reviewer for several international journals
Memberships
2017- current: Chartered Member, Engineering New Zealand
2008 - 2017: Member, Institution of Professional Engineers New Zealand
2008 - current: Member, New Zealand Society for Earthquake Engineering
2006 - current: Professional Engineer on Pakistan Engineering Council’s register (# CIVIL / 25489)
2014 - 2016: Elected Member, American Society of Civil Engineers
2014 - 2015: Elected Member, Earthquake Engineering Research Institute
2013 - 2014: Honorary Member, The Masonry Society
Peer Reviewed Journal Articles
N. Ismail, T. El-Maaddawy, A. Najmal & N. Khattak (2018). Experimental in-plane performance of insulated concrete and brick masonry wall panels retrofitted using polymer composites. Bulletin of the New Zealand Society for Earthquake Engineering, 51(2), in Press.
N. Ismail & N. Khattak (2018). Observed failure modes of unreinforced masonry buildings during the 2015 Hindu Kush earthquake. Earthquake Engineering and Engineering Vibration, in press.
N. Ismail & H. El-Hassan (2018). Development and characterization of fly ash/slag-blended Geopolymer mortar and lightweight concrete. Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering, 30 (4), doi:10.1061/(ASCE)MT.1943 5533.0002209
N. Ismail, T. El-Maaddawy, N. Khattak, & A. Najmal (2018). In-plane shear strength improvement of hollow concrete masonry using fabric reinforced cementitious matrix. Journal of Composites for Construction, 22(2), doi: 10.1061/(ASCE)CC.1943-5614.0000835
El-Hassan, H. and N. Ismail (2017). Effect of process parameters on the performance of fly ash/GGBS blended geopolymer composites. Journal of Sustainable Cement-Based Materials, doi: 10.1080/21650373.2017.1411296
O. Awani, T. El-Maaddawy, & N, Ismail (2017). Fabric-reinforced cementitious matrix: A promising strengthening technique for concrete structures. Construction and Building Materials, 132, 94-111. doi: 10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2016.11.125
N. Ismail & N. Khattak (2016). Building typologies prevalent in Northern Pakistan and their performance during the 2015 Hindu Kush Earthquake. Earthquake Spectra, 32(4), 2473–2493.
N. Ismail & J. M. Ingham (2016). In-plane and out-of-plane testing of masonry walls strengthened using polymer textile reinforced mortar. Engineering Structures, 118, 167-177. doi: 10.1016/j.engstruct.2016.03.041
N. Ismail (2016). Performance of retrofit anchors for use in seismic upgrade of heritage masonry buildings, International Journal of Architectural Heritage, 10 (07), 829-840.
N. Ismail & J. M. Ingham (2014). Polymer textiles as a retrofit material for masonry walls. Structures and Buildings, 167(1), 15-25.
N. Ismail, K. McGrannachan & G Hazelton (2013). Characterisation and seismic vulnerability assessment of unreinforced masonry buildings in Dunedin. Bulletin of the New Zealand Society for Earthquake Engineering, 46(3), 131-140.
N. Ismail & J. M. Ingham (2013). Time dependent prestress losses in historic clay brick masonry walls seismically strengthened using unbonded posttensioning. Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering, 25(6), 718-725.
N. Ismail & J. M. Ingham (2012). Cyclic out-of-plane behaviour of slender clay brick masonry walls seismically strengthened using posttensioning. Journal of Structural Engineering, 138(10), 1255-1266.
N. Ismail & J. M. Ingham (2012). In-situ and laboratory based out-of-plane testing of unreinforced masonry walls strengthened using near surface mounted twisted steel bars. Construction and Building Materials, 36(1), 119-128.
R. B. Petersen, N. Ismail, M. J. Masia & J. M. Ingham (2012). Finite element modelling of unreinforced masonry shear wallettes strengthened using twisted steel bars. Construction and Building Materials, 33(1), 14-24.
N. Ismail, R. B. Petersen, M. J. Masia & J. M. Ingham (2011). Diagonal shear behaviour of unreinforced masonry wallettes strengthened using twisted steel bars. Construction and Building Materials, 25(12), 4386-4393.
N. Ismail, D. L Lazzarini, P. T. Laursen & J. M. Ingham (2011). Seismic performance of face loaded unreinforced masonry walls retrofitted using posttensioning. Australian Journal of Structural Engineering, 11(3), 243-252.
D. Dizhur, N. Ismail, C. Knox & J. M. Ingham (2010). Performance of unreinforced and retrofitted masonry buildings during the 2010 Darfield earthquake. Bulletin of the New Zealand Society for Earthquake Engineering, 43(4), 321-339.
Books and Monographs
N. Ismail (2012). Strengthening techniques for the seismic retrofit of unreinforced masonry buildings, LAP Lambert Academic Publishing, Berlin, Germany, ISSN: 978365915561-1, pp. 304.
Peer Reviewed Book Chapters, Books Edited
N. Ismail (2011). Design actions on unreinforced masonry out-of-plane loaded walls, Assessment and Improvement of the Structural Performance of Buildings in Earthquakes, edited by J. M. Ingham, New Zealand Society for Earthquake Engineering, Wellington, New Zealand.
N. Ismail (2011). Unbonded post-tensioning, Assessment and Improvement of the Structural Performance of Buildings in Earthquakes, edited by J. M. Ingham, New Zealand Society for Earthquake Engineering, Wellington, New Zealand.
Refereed Conference Proceedings
N. Ismail (2011). Design actions on unreinforced masonry out-of-plane loaded walls, Assessment and Improvement of the Structural Performance of Buildings in
Earthquakes, edited by J. M. Ingham, New Zealand Society for Earthquake Engineering, Wellington, New Zealand.
N. Ismail (2011). Unbonded post-tensioning, Assessment and Improvement of the Structural Performance of Buildings in Earthquakes, edited by J. M. Ingham, New Zealand Society for Earthquake Engineering, Wellington, New Zealand.
Invited Exhibitions/Events
Invited lectures at NZQIS Branch Event, Rotary Club Dunedin, and Research Symposiums at Otago Polytechnic, WelTec, and overseas in Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
Invited Lecture on development of cement free polymer concrete at the The Middle East Concrete 2016, Dubai, July 19-21. doi:10.13140/RG.2.2.32648.01282
Other Forms of Dissemination
N. Ismail & N. Khattak (2015). Reconnaissance report on the Mw 7.5 Hindu Kush earthquake of 26th October 2015 and the subsequent aftershocks, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain. Available from: https://www.eeri.org/wp-content/uploads/Final-UAEU-Report.pdf
N. Ismail & K. McGrannachan (2013). Dunedin’s earthquake prone buildings. BRANZ Build, 134, 59-61.
D. Dizhur, H. Derakhshan, R. Lumantarna & N. Ismail (2011). In-situ testing of a residential unreinforced masonry (URM) building located in Wellington, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.
Research Contributions:
Reviewer for:
Construction and Building Materials (Elsevier)
Structures and Building (ICE)
Journal of Composites for Construction (ASCE)
Engineering Structures (Elsevier)
Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering (ASCE)
Structures (Elsevier)
Earthquake Spectra (EERI)
International Journal of Architectural Heritage (Taylor and Francis)
International Journal of Sustainable Building Technology and Urban Development (Taylor and Francis)
Structural Engineering and Mechanics (Techno Press)
Journal of Civil Engineering and Science
Session Chair, WWOP research symposium, 23 Nov. 2017
Session Chair & Scientific Committee Member, 4th International Conference on Structural Engineering and Construction Management, Kandy 2013
External Website:
