Professor Zhong Tao
Biography
Professor Zhong Tao was one of Australia’s first Future Fellows, awarded by the Federal Government in 2009. He joined Western Sydney University in 2007 and is currently a Professor in the Centre for Infrastructure Engineering. He received his PhD in 2001 from Harbin Institute of Technology. Before joining WSU, he held the position of Professor of Structural Engineering at Fuzhou University, China.
Professor Tao has published two books and over 140 international journal papers with more than 11,700 Google Scholar citations (h-index = 58). His research has been supported by funding from both funding bodies (including 10 ARC grants) and the industry. He has principally supervised 12 PhD students to completion and is a major player in technology transfer through his role in drafting design codes. He has been invited 14 times to deliver keynote lectures on various international conferences. Professor Tao is the Specialty Chief Editor of the Fire-Resistant Engineering section in Frontiers in Built Environment and on the editorial board of two other journals. He has acted as a referee for grants applied for from the ARC and many other funding bodies. He served on the College of Experts of the Australian Research Council (2020-2022). Professor Tao has been among the World's Top 2% Scientists identified by Stanford University since 2019. His research outcomes have been reported by renowned science news outlets, such as The Conversation and PV Magazine.
Areas of Research/Teaching Expertise
Professor Zhong Tao has research interests in the development and application of new construction materials and novel structures to civil engineering. Over the last decade, he has led a multidisciplinary research team to pursue research excellence in conducting research projects involving the development of various solid waste-based construction materials, carbonate activated hybrid cement, coal tailings-based aggregates and soil conditioners, fly ash-based fireproof coating, solar roof tiles, smart bricks, green infrastructure, and net zero buildings.
Grants/Current Projects
Tao, Z., Li, W. Maximising the use of waste glass in sustainable composite columns, Australian Research Council (ARC) Discovery Project (DP220100036), AU$416,000, 2022-2024
Tao Z., Zhang Y., Samali B., Uy B., Zhao X.L., Hao H., Mukherjee A., Smith S., Zhuge Y., Heidarpour A., Dao V., Li W., Nguyen T., Aslani F. National facility for physical fire simulation, Australian Research Council (ARC) Linkage Infrastructure Equipment and Facilities (LE220100030), AU$1,213,351, 2022
Tao Z., Chen Z.H., Pan Z., Rahme M., Osborne D. Value-added products from coal tailings. The Australian Coal Association Research Program (ACARP C29057), AU$212,540, 2020-2022
Tao Z., Brian Uy, Zhu Pan, Maroun Rahme, Daniel Rahme. Development of next generation fire-resistant composite columns. Australian Research Council (ARC) Linkage Grant (LP160101484), AU$353,069, 2017-2022
Tao Z., Maroun Rahme. Development of fly ash-based sprayed passive fire protection material. Australian Research Council (ARC) Industrial Transformation Research Hub for Nanoscience based Construction Material Manufacturing (Nanocomm) (IH1501000006), AU$243,000, 2015-2022
Selected Publications
Abden, M.J., Tao, Z., Alim, M.A., Pan, Z., George, L., Wuhrer, R. Combined use of phase change material and thermal insulation to improve energy efficiency of residential buildings. Journal of Energy Storage, 2022, 56: 105880.
Alim, M.A., Tao, Z., Saeed, N., Hao, X., Abden, M.J., Rahman, A. Effect of reflective coating on thermal and electrical performances of solar roof tiles. Energy Conversion and Management, 2022, 270: 116251.
Huang, Q., Tao, Z., Pan, Z., Wuhrer, R., Rahme, M. Use of sodium/potassium citrate to enhance strength development in carbonate-activated hybrid cement. Construction and Building Materials, 2022, 350: 128913.
Katwal, U., Aziz, T., Tao, Z., Uy, B., Rahme, D. Tests of circular geopolymer concrete-filled steel columns under ambient and fire conditions. Journal of Constructional Steel Research, 2022, 196: 107393.
Alim, M.A., Tao, Z., Abden, M.J., Rahman, A., Samali, B. Improving performance of solar roof tiles by incorporating phase change material. Solar Energy, 2020, 207: 1308-1320.
Abden, M.J., Tao, Z., Pan, Z., George, L., Wuhrer, R. Inclusion of methyl stearate/diatomite composite in gypsum board ceiling for building energy conservation. Applied Energy, 2020, 259: 114113.
Askarian, M., Tao, Z., Adam, G., Samali, B. Mechanical properties of ambient cured one-part hybrid OPC-geopolymer concrete. Construction and Building Materials, 2018, 186: 330-337.
Wang, Z.B., Tao, Z., Han, L. H., Uy, B., Lam, D., Kang, W.H. Strength, stiffness and ductility of concrete-filled steel columns under axial compression. Engineering Structures, 2017, 135: 209-221.
Tao, Z., Ghannam, M., Song, T.Y., Han, L.H. Experimental and numerical investigation of concrete-filled stainless steel columns exposed to fire. Journal of Constructional Steel Research, 2016, 118: 120-134.
Tao, Z., Wang, Z.B., Yu, Q. Finite element modelling of concrete-filled steel stub columns under axial compression. Journal of Constructional Steel Research, 2013, 89: 121-131.
