Research in Steel and Composite Structures

Dr Shek’s research focuses on steel connections, multi-storey steel frames, light steel framing systems, composite structures, and load-bearing interlocking block systems, with emphasis on applied testing, funded projects, and practical innovation.

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Selected publications highlighted from the old page

ISI / Web of Science indexed journal items shown in the old archive

Proceedings and conference papers listed in the old archive

Thesis and book-chapter entries carried into the new page

Selected Publications

JOURNAL HIGHLIGHT

I-beam to square hollow column blind bolted moment connection

Year: 2018
Source: Journal of Constructional Steel Research 148
Theme: Experimental and numerical study of structural steel connection behaviour.

JOURNAL HIGHLIGHT

Structural performance of reinforced interlocking blocks column

Year: 2017
Source: Construction and Building Materials
Theme: Connects directly to the interlocking-block research strand also seen on the Research page.

JOURNAL HIGHLIGHT

Standardization of composite connections for trapezoid web profiled steel sections

Year: 2015
Source: Structural Engineering and Mechanics
Theme: Strong representation of composite connection and steel-system design work.

Research Areas Highlight

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SEAA3323

Structural Steel & Timber Design

Core undergraduate course covering design principles for steel and timber structural systems to Eurocode 3.
Undergraduate

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SEAA5323 / MEAE1023

Advanced Design of Steel Composite Structures

Postgraduate course on advanced analysis and design of steel and composite structural systems.

Postgraduate

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SEAA2012 / SEAA3012

Civil Engineering Laboratory

Hands-on laboratory courses for undergraduate civil engineering students across multiple semesters.

Undergraduate

Featured Research Projects

FEATURED PROJECT

Development of Lightweight Foam Concrete for Structural Application

Role: Project Leader
Funding: Research University Grant (GUP Tier 1), RM40,000
Duration: 1 July 2017 to 30 June 2019
Why it matters: Strong example of structural-materials research with clear applied construction relevance.

FEATURED PROJECT

Smart Lightweight Innovative Modular Panel System (SLIM) Using Cold-Formed Steel Section

Role: Project Leader
Funding: Research University Grant (GUP Tier 1), RM50,000
Duration: 15 November 2015 to 14 November 2017
Why it matters: Anchors the modular and light-steel narrative with a named system already present in the old site.

FEATURED PROJECT

Development of New Technologies for Interlocking Brick Block Construction

Role: Project Leader
Funding: Research University Grant (GUP Tier 1), RM140,000
Duration: 1 December 2012 to 30 December 2014
Why it matters: Connects directly to the interlocking-block strand that appears repeatedly across projects and IP outputs.

Indexed Journal Papers

ISI / Web of Science Indexed Publications

Pull directly from the old indexed-journal list instead of summarising it too loosely. The first visible rows can already show the spread from 2025 back to the earlier steel-connection papers.

Construction and Building Materials (2025) – Hydration and microstructural development of cement pastes incorporating diatomaceous earth, expanded perlite, and shape-stabilized phase change material.
Materials (2022) – Enhanced acoustic properties of a novel precooked aggregate concrete reinforced with waste polypropylene fibres.
Construction and Building Materials (2019) – Push-out tests on three innovative shear connectors for composite cold-formed steel-concrete beams.
Journal of Constructional Steel Research (2018) – I-beam to square hollow column blind bolted moment connection: experimental and numerical study.
Construction and Building Materials (2017) – Structural performance of reinforced interlocking blocks column.

Scopus Indexed Publications

Keep the grouped ranges from the old archive visible in the real structure: 2025, 2023, 2019-2022 (IOP Conference Series), 2018, 2015-2016, 2012-2013, and 2006-2011.

2025 – Challenges in Building Information Modelling (BIM) and Robotics Integration in Malaysia’s Future Construction Industry.
2023 – Parametric Study on RHS Truss Girder Design to Eurocode 3 with Various Spans and Steel Grades.
2019-2022 – Cold-formed Steel-Concrete Composite Beam with Innovative Shear Connectors: Experimental & Numerical Analysis.
2018 – Conceptual Design Using Industrialized Building System for Affordable Housing Construction in Indonesia.

Proceedings and Conference Papers

Visible Proceedings Highlights

Bishri Kado et al. (2018) – Temperature analysis of steel hollow columns exposed to standard fire.
Khadavi Tahir et al. (2018) – Economic aspects of cold formed steel design in Europe and Malaysia.
Ahmad Ibrahim et al. (2018) – Experimental study on flexural behaviour of partially encased cold-formed steel composite beams.
Shek Poi Ngian et al. (2014) – Parametric study of blind bolted end-plate connection on structural square hollow section.
Shek Poi Ngian et al. (2012) – Experimental and theoretical analysis of retrofitted extended end-plate connections.

Archive Handling

Best handled as one or more year-grouped accordions rather than cards. The old page lists more than 50 entries, so this section should prioritise readability over full on-page exposure.

In the real page, this can be split into one short visible highlight block plus one accordion containing the full proceedings archive from 2006 to 2018.

Thesis and Book Chapters

Core Entries

Structural Behaviour of Built-Up Steel Sections Using Partial Strength Connection – PhD thesis, UTM, 2009
Structural Behaviour of Innovative Constructional Steel – edited volume, Penerbit UTM Press, 2016
Experimental Investigation on Lightweight Composite Slab for Floating Structures – case studies in Asia, 2018
Economic Aspects of Cruciform Column Used in the Design of unbraced Multi-Storey Steel Frame – Lambert Academic Publishing, 2016
Structural Behavior of End-Plate Connections to Cruciform Column Section under Monotonic Loading – Penerbit UTM, 2016

How It Should Read on the New Page

Keep the PhD thesis as the lead academic foundation item.
Group the 2016 edited volume and 2016 book-chapter items together as one compact publishing cluster.
Let the 2018 floating-structures chapter act as the later application-oriented entry.

Research Grants and Projects Archive

University Research Grants

Development of Lightweight Foam Concrete for Structural Application – Project Leader, GUP Tier 1, RM40,000, 2017 to 2019
Flagship Grant for Interlocking Brick Column under Normal Working Load – Project Leader, RUG UTM, RM50,000, 2016 to 2018
Smart Lightweight Innovative Modular Panel System (SLIM) – Project Leader, GUP Tier 1, RM50,000, 2015 to 2017
Development of Partial Strength Connection for Cruciform Column Section in Low Rise Structures – Project Leader, GUP Tier 1, RM45,000, 2014 to 2015
Development of New Technologies for Interlocking Brick Block Construction – Project Leader, GUP Tier 1, RM140,000, 2012 to 2014
Analytical Study of Blind Bolted Connections to Structural Hollow Sections – Project Leader, University Grant, RM40,000, 2011 to 2012

Contract Research Project Awarded by JKR SHRE / MOHE

RNP3-Solid Material Diverter (SOLMAD) – Project Leader, JKR SHRE, RM109,000, 2013 to 2016
RNP2-Hydrokinetic Turbine Anchoring System (HTAS) – Project Member, JKR SHRE, RM79,000, 2013
Innovative Construction and Production Method of Interlocking Brick System for Green Building Construction – Project Member, Ministry of Education translational grant, RM500,000, 2017

Fundamental Research Grant Scheme (FRGS Fund)

Investigative Study of Partial Strength Connection on Both Axes of Cruciform Column – Project Leader, FRGS, RM50,000, 2011 to 2012
Theoretical Model to Enhance Community Acceptance of Migrant Labour Settlement in Malaysia – Project Member, FRGS, RM86,200, 2019
Building Resistance Factor for Build-Up Cold-Formed Steel Slender Column under Elevated Temperatures – Project Member, FRGS 2015, RM70,200
Innovative Construction of Floating Lightweight Affordable House Designed for Flood Resistant – Project Member, FRGS 2015, RM69,400
Innovative Construction and Production Method of Interlocking Brick System for Green Building Construction – Project Member, MOHE Translational Research Grant, RM500,000, 2017

International Contract Research Project Awarded

Sustainable High-Performance Materials for Climate Change – Project Member, Yonsei University, RM150,000, 2016
Structural Behaviour of Composite Connection used in Pre-Cast Concrete Integrated with Cold-Formed Steel Section– Project Member, Universitas Sriwijaya, RM150,000, 2016
Real Time Monitoring of Geo-Disaster due to Climate Change – Project Member, Yonsei University, RM150,000, 2016
Microstructure and Hydration Model of POFA Concrete – Project Member, Hanyang University, RM150,000, 2015

Consultancy and Industry Work

2024 Consultancy Highlights

Pushover Test for Dexion Speedlock Storage Rack, Review of Storage Rack Test Report for Dexion Asia, Site Inspection and Testing at MRT Sungai Buloh Depot, and Short Course on Design of Temporary Structures for PETRONAS.

2023 Consultancy Highlights

BEC Bending Test to AS4084, Floor Connection Test to AS4084, Static Finite Element Analysis for Sino Rail, and Design of Single-Storey Bungalow House.

2020 to 2022 Summary

UTM Envision 2025 Housing Project, structural assessment and forensic investigation for MMHE West Yard, fire resistance tests for precast concrete panels, AAC / mortar / cement-sand brick and clay-brick durability work, beam-bending tests, and storage-racking and connector testing across multiple industrial clients.

2024 Consultancy Highlights

Pushover Test for Dexion Speedlock Storage Rack, Review of Storage Rack Test Report for Dexion Asia, Site Inspection and Testing at MRT Sungai Buloh Depot, and Short Course on Design of Temporary Structures for PETRONAS.

Intellectual Property and Innovation

Patents

IP GROUP

Includes Blind Bolted Flush End-Plate Connection on Square Hollow Section, Composition of Interlocking Hollow Block or Brick, and Prefabricated Modular Unit for Load or Non-Load Bearing Masonry Wall.

Industrial Designs

IP GROUP

Covers the SLIM Wall Frame System, blind-bolted end-plate connection designs, multiple composite cold-formed steel-concrete shear connectors, and gusset/ cleat connection systems for cold-formed steel sections.

Copyright and Trade Secret

IP GROUP

Includes copyright approvals for lightweight geopolymer concrete, interlocking brick production, storage-racking reinforcement, and the trade secret Partial Strength Composite Connection on Trapezoid Web Profiled Sections.