Gilbert Grondin, PhD, PEng

Professor, Structural Engineering

Office: 3-025 Markin/CNRL Natural Resources  Engineering Facility
Phone: 780 492 2794
E-mail: ggrondin@ualberta.ca

Research Interests

My general research interest is in the area of steel structures. My research activities over the past five years have included fatigue of steel structures and remaining life assessment, stability of stiffened steel plates, cyclic behaviour of steel plate shear walls, and research on steel structures connections. My research activities in the area of fatigue include:

  1. field instrumentation to identify the service loading conditions that initiate and propagate fatigue cracks
  2. experimental testing under controlled conditions to replicate field conditions so that remedial procedures can be investigated and to characterize fatigue material properties
  3. development of analytical models, which are validated by comparison with the test results
  4. development of a database using the validated model and test results
  5. the formulation of design recommendations from the database

My research in the area of structures connections includes various topics in bolted and welded connections. Several research projects include block shear in coped beam and gusset plate connections, connections that combine bolts and welds, fatigue of bolted connections, strength and ductility of concentrically and eccentrically loaded welded joints, design of slip-critical connections. New research projects in this area are initiated as a result of my current involvement in the preparation of the third edition of the Guide to Design Criteria for Bolted and Riveted Joints. Two projects (welded joints under combined shear and out-of-plane bending and reliability approach to block shear in welded connections for coped beams) are conducted in collaboration with colleagues from the USA (UC Davis) and Hong Kong (Hong Kong Polytechnic University). I am also acting as advisor on research projects on structural connections in the USA (use of filler plates in bolted and welded connections (projects at Portland University and University of Illinois) and Hong Kong (block shear failure of welded connections).

Education

  • Ph.D. in Civil Engineering, University of Alberta, 1991
  • M.Sc. in Civil Engineering, University of New Brunswick, 1983
  • B.Sc. in Civil Engineering, University of New Brunswick, 1981

Professional Experience

  • 1995 to Present: Associate Professor, Department of Civil Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
  • 1991-1994: Bridge Engineer, Buckland & Taylor, Ltd., North Vancouver, B.C.
  • 1993: Visiting Researcher, Institute for Research in Construction, National Research Council, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
  • 1984 to 1986: Assistant Professor, Department of Civil Engineering, Univrsité de Moncton, Moncton, New Brunswick

Professional Affiliations

  • Association of Professional Engineers, Geologists and Geophysicists of Alberta (APEGGA); member
  • Member, CSA Committee S478 on Designing for Durability, member
  • Canadian consulting group on ISO/TC 59/WG 9 Buildings: Service Life Planning; member
  • Edmonton Society of Structural Engineers; secretary

Refereed Publications

  1. Sheikh, I., G.Y. Grondin, A.E. Elwi, "Stiffened Steel Plates under Uniaxial Compression," accepted for publication in the Journal of Constructional Steel Research.
  2. Chen H., G. Y. Grondin and R. G. Driver (2002) "Fatigue Resistance of High Performance Steel," Sixth International Conference on Short & Medium Span Bridges, July 31 – August 2, Vancouver, B.C.
  3. Grondin, R. Fraser, and M. D'Andrea (2002) "Testing and Evaluation of Fatigue Damaged Girders" paper to be presented to the 4th Structural Specialty Conference of the CSCE, Montreal, 5-8 June.
  4. Franchuk, C. R., R. G. Driver, G. Y. Grondin (2002) "Block Shear Failure of Coped Steel Beams," paper to be presented to the 4th Structural Specialty Conference of the CSCE, Montreal, 5-8 June.
  5. Huns, B. B. S., G. Y. Grondin and R. G. Driver (2002) "Block Shear Failure of Bolted Gusset Plates," paper to be presented to the 4th Structural Specialty Conference of the CSCE, Montreal, 5-8 June.
  6. Ng, A. K.F., R. G. Driver, and G. Y. Grondin (2002) " Behaviour of Transversely Loaded Fillet Welds Made With Filler Metals Without Specified Toughness," paper to be presented to the 4th Structural Specialty Conference of the CSCE, Montreal, 5-8 June.
  7. Grondin, E. Wang, and A.E. Elwi (2002) " Interaction Buckling of Stiffened Steel Plates," Annual Conference of the Structural Stability Research Council, Seattle, Washington, April 24-27.
  8. Kulak, G. L. and G.Y. Grondin (2001) "AISC LRFD Rules for Block Shear—A Review," Engineering Journal, American Institute of Steel Construction, Vol. 38, No. 4, pp. 199-203.
  9. Grondin and Behbahannidard (2001) "Cyclic Behaviour of Three-Storey Unstiffened Steel Plate Shear Wall", Canadian Society of Civil Engineers Conference, June.
  10. Grondin and Wu (2001) "Strength and Stability of Reinforced Steel Columns," Structural Stability Research Council Annual Meeting, May 9-12, Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
  11. Driver, R.G. and Grondin (2001) "Steel Plate Shear Walls: Now Performing on the Main Stage" Modern Steel Construction, AISC.
  12. Driver, Grondin, Behbahannifard and Hussain (2001) "Recent Developments and Future Directions in Steel Plate Shear Wall Research," North American Steel Construction Conference, May 9-12, Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
  13. Adey, B.T., G.Y. Grondin, and Cheng (2001) “Cyclic Loading of End Plate Moment Connections”, Canadian Journal of Civil Engineering, Vol. 27, No. 4, Aug, pp. 683-701.
  14. Kulak, G.L. and G.Y. Grondin (2000), "Block Shear Failure in Steel Members – A Review of Design Practice," Connections in Steel Structures IV: Steel Connections in the New Millenium, October 22-25, Roanoke, Virginia (paper submitted).
  15. Sheihk, I., G.Y. Grondin, and A.E. Elwi (2000), "Tripping Behaviour of Stiffened Steel Plates," paper accepted for the Canadian Society of Civil Engineering Conference, London, Ontario.
  16. Grondin, G.Y., A.E. Elwi, and J.J.R. Cheng (2000), "Stability of Stiffened Steel Plates Under Axial Compression and Bending," paper accepted for the SSRC 2000 Annual Technical Session & Meeting, Memphis, Tennessee, July.
  17. Cheng, J.J.R. and G.Y. Grondin (2000), "Strength and Stability of Corner Gusset Plates Under Cyclic Loading," paper accepted for the SSRC 2000 Annual Technical Session & Meeting, Memphis, Tennessee, July.
  18. Cheng, J.J.R. and G.Y. Grondin (2000), "Tension Flange Buckling of Wide Flange Beams," paper accepted for the SSRC 2000 Annual Technical Session & Meeting, Memphis, Tennessee, July.
  19. Grondin, G.Y. and Cheng (1999) “Sidesway Web Buckling of Steel Beams”, Engineering Journal of the AISC, Fourth Quarter, Vol. 36, No.4, pp. 169-179.
  20. Schumacher, A.S., G.Y. Grondin, and G.L. Kulak (1999) “Connection of Infill Panels in Steel Plate Shear Walls,” Journal of the Canadian Society of Civil Engineering, October.
  21. Grondin, G.Y., A.E. Elwi and J.J.R. Cheng (1999), “Buckling of Stiffened Steel Plates – A Parametric Study,” Journal of Constructional Steel Research, Vol. 50, No. 2, pp. 151-175.
  22. Cheng, J.J.R. and G.Y. Grondin (1999), “Recent Developments in the Behaviour of Cyclically Loaded Gusset Plate Connections,” 1999 North American Steel Construction Conference, Toronto, May 19-22.
  23. Dorey, Cheng, Grondin, Murray and Zhou (1999), “Behaviour of Large Diameter Pipeline Under Combined Loading,” International Conference on Offshore Mechanics and Arctic Engineering, June.
  24. Estabrooks, B., G.Y. Grondin, and Cheng (1999), “Shear Lag in Cold Formed Steel Channel Tension Members,” Canadian Society of Civil Engineering Conference, Regina, Saskatchewan, June.
  25. Adey, B.T., G.Y. Grondin, and J.J. Cheng (1998), "Extended End Plate Moment Connections Under Cyclic Loading," 2nd World Conference on Constructional Steel Design, Spain, May 11-13.(also published in Journal of Constructional Steel Research, Vol. 46, Nos. 1-3, 1998)
  26. Walbridge, Grondin, Cheng (1998) "Design of Gusset Plate Connections in Concentric Braced Frames for Seismic Loads," 2nd World Conference on Constructional Steel Design, Spain, May 11-13. (also published in Journal of Constructional Steel Research, Vol. 46, Nos. 1-3, 1998)
  27. Walbridge, S.S., Grondin, G.Y., and Cheng, J.J.R. (1998),"An Analytical Study of the Cyclic Behaviour of Steel Gusset Plate Connections," CSCE Annual Conference, Halifax, Nova Scotia, June.
  28. Takai, N, Grondin, G.Y. and Cheng, J.J.R. (1998), "Shear Lag in Cold Formed Steel Angle Tension Member," CSCE Annual Conference, Halifax, Nova Scotia, June.
  29. Grondin, G.Y. Chen, Elwi and Cheng (1998), "Buckling of stiffened steel plates – Validation of a numerical model", Journal of Constructional Steel Research, Vol 45, No. 2, pp. 125-148.
  30. Adey, B.T., G.Y. Grondin and J.J. Cheng (1997) "Extended End Plate Connections Under Cyclic Loading," 25th Annual Conference of the CSCE, May.
  31. Adey, B.T., G.Y. Grondin and J.J. Cheng (1997) "Bolted Extended End Plate Connections for Ductile Moment Connections", 5th International Colloquium on Stability and Ductility of Steel Structures, Japan, July.

Other Contributions

  1. D'Andrea, Grondin and Kulak (2001) "Behaviour and Rehabilitation of Distortion Induced Fatigue Cracks in Bridge," Structural Engineering Report 240, Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, University of Alberta, September, 2001.
  2. Sheikh, Grondin and Elwi (2001) "Stiffener Tripping in Stiffened Steel Plates," Structural Engineering Report 236, Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, University of Alberta, April, 2001.
  3. Fraser, Grondin and Kulak (2000) "Behaviour of Distortion-Induced Fatigue Cracks in Bridge Girders," Structural Engineering Report 235, Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, University of Alberta, December 2000.
  4. Nast, Grondin, and Cheng (1999), "Cyclic Behavior of Stiffened Gusset Plate–Brace Member Assemblies," Structural Engineering Report No. 229, Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, University of Alberta.
  5. Josi, Grondin, and Kulak “Fatigue of Bolted Shear Splices in Bearing,” Structural Engineering Report 227, Department of Civil Engineering, University of Alberta, May, 1999.
  6. DelCol, Grondin, Cheng, and Murray “Behaviour of Large Diameter Line Pipe under Combined Loads,” Structural Engineering Report 224, Department of Civil Engineering, U of Alberta, September, 1998.
  7. Walbridge, Grondin and Cheng, “An Analysis of the Cyclic Behaviour of Steel Gusset Plates,” Structural Engineering Report 225, Department of Civil Engineering, U of Alberta, September, 1998.
  8. Schumacher, A.S., Grondin, G.Y. and Kulak, G.L. "Connection of Infill Panels in Steel Plate Shear Walls," Structural Engineering Report 217, Department of Civil Engineering, U of Alberta.
  9. Adey, B.T., Grondin, G.Y., and J.J.R. Cheng "Behaviour of Extended End Plate Moment Connections Under Cyclic Loading," Structural Engineering Report 216, Department of Civil Engineering, U of Alberta.