Yasser Korany, PhD, PEng

Yasser KoranyAssociate Professor, Structural Engineering
MCAA Chair in Masonry Systems

Office: 3-029 Markin/CNRL Natural Resources Engineering Facility
Phone: 780 492 8088
E-mail: yasser.korany@ualberta.ca

Research Interests

  • Structural rehabilitation and strengthening of contemporary and historic masonry structures using FRP and other advanced materials and methods
  • Design and restoration of masonry buildings for environmental effects
  • Evaluation, diagnosis, and monitoring of masonry building envelopes
  • Energy efficient masonry wall systems
  • Effective design of traditional and underutilized masonry systems

Research currently in progress

  • Reliability analysis of contemporary masonry structures aimed to verify the value of the material strength factor for masonry. Current value is based on judgment and was recently increased without performing any reliability studies.
  • Building health monitoring of a clock tower (the Perron tower in St. Albert) constructed of masonry walls. The objective is to help answer the lingering question of the main source(s) of axial deformation in masonry veer. Is it the differential deformation between the CMU back up wall and brick veneer or the elastic axial deformation and deflection of the supporting members?
  • Nanosize materials such as nonosilica have proven effective in enhancing the mechanical and morphological properties of cement-based mixes (concrete and mortars). A pilot experimental program aimed to investigate the effect of nanosilica on the deformation properties of masonry mortars has been carried out.

Professional Experience

  • July 2008 to present: Associate Professor and MCAA Chair in Masonry Systems, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Alberta; Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
  • 2006 to 2008:  Project Manager, Structural Diagnostics Services of Walter P Moore; Kansas City, Missouri and Orlando, Florida, USA
  • 2005-2006:  NSERC Post-doctoral Research Fellow, Centre for Repair of Buildings and Bridges with Composites, University of Missouri-Rolla; Rolla, Missouri, USA
  • 2003-2004:  Senior Structural Engineer, Quartek Group; Niagara-on-the-lake, Ontario, Canada

Professional Affiliations

  • American Concrete Institute (ACI)
  • ACI 440 Committee on FRP Reinforcement
  • ACI 440M Subcommittee: Application of FRP to Masonry
  • ACI 530 Masonry Standards Joint Committee (MSJC), 2008-11 code cycle
  • The Masonry Society (TMS)
  • Existing Masonry Committee
  • Joint ACI-TMS task group on FRP application to existing masonry
  • Member of International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS)
  • Brick Masonry and Ceramics Committee
  • Canadian Society for Civil Engineering (CSCE)
  • American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE)
  • Professional Engineers Ontario (PEO)
  • Association of Professional Engineers, Geologists, & Geophysicists of Alberta (APEGGA)

Awards

  • Best Paper Award, 10th Canadian Masonry Symposium, Banff, Alberta, 2005
  • Best International Paper Award, 2nd Conference on Seismic Repair and Rehabilitation of Structures (SRRS2), Fullerton, California, 2000

Selected Publications

  1. Korany, Y., and Drysdale, R. (2007). Load-Displacement of Masonry Walls with Unbonded and Intermittently Bonded FRP - Part I: Analytical Model.  ASCE Journal of Composites for Construction, Vol.11, No.1, pp. 15-23.
  2. Korany, Y., and Drysdale, R. (2007). Load-Displacement of Masonry Walls with Unbonded and Intermittently Bonded FRP - Part II: Analytical Study. ASCE Journal of Composites for Construction, Vol.11, No.1, pp. 24-32.
  3. Hatzinikolas, M. and Korany, Y. (2006). Masonry Design – for Engineers and Architects. Textbook, Canadian Masonry Publications, Edmonton, Alberta. 464 pp.
  4. Korany, Y., and Drysdale, R. (2006). Rehabilitation of Masonry Walls using Unobtrusive FRP Techniques for Enhanced Out-of-Plane Seismic Resistance. ASCE Journal of Composites for Construction, Vol.10, No.3, pp. 213-222.
  5. Korany, Y. and Glanville, J. (2005). Comparing Masonry Compressive Strength in Various Codes. Concrete International, Vol. 27, No.1, pp. 35-39.
  6. Korany, Y., and Drysdale, R. (2004). Enhancing Flexural Resistance of Historic Masonry Walls Using Carbon Fibre Ropes. The Masonry Society Journal, Vol. 22, No. 1, pp. 27-38.
  7. Korany, Y. (2003). Recent Developments in Masonry – The Use of FRP. Design guide, Masonry Canada, Beeton, Ontario. 35 pp.
  8. Korany, Y., Glanville, J., and Kowalchuk, G. (2002). Masonry Saved This Under-Reinforced Building. Concrete International, Vol. 24, No. 1, pp. 45-49.
  9. Korany, Y., and El-Haggar, S. (2001). Using Slag in Manufacturing Masonry Bricks and Paving Units. The Masonry Society Journal, Vol. 19, No. 1, pp. 97-106.