You are here: University of Sydney / Engineering & IT / About us / Our people / Dr Tim Wilkinson 

Dr Tim Wilkinson

BSc BE (Hons) MA PhD
Sub Dean (Students), School of Civil Engineering

J05 - J05 Civil Engineering Building
The University of Sydney

Telephone +61 2 9351 5104
Fax +61 2 9351 3343

Website Centre for Advanced Structural Engineering

School of Civil Engineering

Research interests

Dr Tim Wilkinson's research into the behaviour of steel structural components is leading to the design of more efficient and economical buildings, bridges and other structures. As Sub-Dean (Undergraduate) of the School of Civil Engineering, he also has a strong interest in improving teaching and learning outcomes in engineering.

"Structural steel is used as the 'skeleton' that supports buildings and bridges. Columns and beams of steel are held together with connections made from bolts and welds, and we need to ensure that these components and the connections between them do not buckle or break. As technology advances we are increasingly able to make thinner and stronger steel beams, but this can sometime induce new and different types of buckles to develop.

"My research considers how new shapes and strengths of steel beams will behave. Will they buckle in the same way as older, thicker beams, or do we need to consider new types of failure that we must avoid?

"Some of my work is carried out in our structures laboratory, using hydraulic machines that can place heavy loads onto beams and columns to simulate what they experience in a real building or bridge. I record how they behave under these loads, and then analyse these results on a computer.

"My research allows me to use a combination of engineering knowledge, mathematical skills and common sense to find solutions to engineering challenges, but it's my teaching that gets me most excited.

"I've taught more than 2000 civil engineering students over the past 15 years, and those students have gone on to design and build hundreds of buildings, bridges, roads and tunnels. I like to think that I've had an influence on them and given them some of the theoretical and practical grounding that has enabled them to become so successful."

Back to Top

Teaching and supervision

CIVL2201 - Structural Mechanics
CIVL3206 - Steel Structures 1
CIVL5502 - Foundations of Structural Mechanics
CIVL5508 - Foundations of Steel Structures 1
Back to Top

Current projects

Back to Top

Associations

  • CIMS2008 (5th International Conference on Coupled Instabilities in Metal Structures) - Conference Secretary
  • Technical Expert, CIDECT (Comite International pour le Developpement et l'Etude de la Construction Tubulaire).
  • 2006-2007: Australian Steel Institute: Professional Development Lectures - AS 4100 Steel Design Refresher Course - Sydney, Brisbane, Perth, Melbourne
  • Member, Standards Australia Committee WD003, Welded Structures.
Back to Top

Selected grants

2003

  • Structural systems with hollow flange sections in cold-formed steel; Wilkinson T; Australian Research Council (ARC)/Linkage.

2001

  • Rectangular hollow sections (RHS) under combined bending and compression; Wilkinson T; University of Sydney (Sesqui)/New Staff Support Scheme.
Back to Top

Selected publications

Download citations: PDF RTF Endnote

Books

  • Zhao, X., Wilkinson, T., Hancock, G. (2005). Cold-Formed Tubular Members and Connections: Structural Behaviour and Design. Sydney: Elsevier.

Journals

  • Ma, H., Cho, C., Wilkinson, T. (2008). A numerical study on bolted end-plate connection using shape memory alloys. Materials and Structures, 41(8), 1419-1426.
  • Ma, H., Wilkinson, T., Cho, C. (2007). Feasibility study on a self-centering beam-to-column connection by using the superelastic behavior of SMAs. Smart Materials and Structures, 16(5), 1555-1563.
  • Wilkinson, T., Hancock, G. (2002). Predicting the Rotation Capacity of Cold-Formed RHS Beams using Finite Element Analysis. Journal of Constructional Steel Research, 58(11), 1455-1471.

Conferences

  • Becque, J., Wilkinson, T. (2012). Experimental investigation of the static capacity of grade C450 RHS T and X truss joints. The 14th International Symposium on Tubular Structures (ISTS14), Leiden: CRC Press.
  • Mohan, M., Wilkinson, T. (2012). FEA of T & X joints in Grade C450 steel. The 14th International Symposium on Tubular Structures (ISTS14), Leiden: CRC Press.
  • Duong, D., Md Yusof, A., Wilkinson, T. (2011). Compression Capacity of Hollow Flange Channel Sections with Web Penetrations. 7th International Conference on Steel and Aluminium Structures (ICSAS 2011), Singapore, Singapore: Research Publishing Services.
  • Ginn, M., Pate, M., Wilkinson, T. (2011). Fillet Weld Connections to High Strength Steel. 7th International Conference on Steel and Aluminium Structures (ICSAS 2011), Singapore, Singapore: Research Publishing Services.
  • Wilkinson, T., Judd, M., Popplewell, M., Salhani, J. (2010). Bearing capacity of hollow flange beams with web penetrations. 13th International Symposium on Tubular Structures, London, UK: CRC Press.
  • Wilkinson, T., Stock, D., Hastie, A. (2010). Eccentric cleat plate connections in hollow section members in compression. 13th International Symposium on Tubular Structures, London, UK: CRC Press.
  • Wilkinson, T., Ranzi, G., Williams, P., Edwards, M. (2009). Bolt prying in hollow section base plate connections. Sixth International Conference on Advances in Steel Structures, Hong Kong: Hong Kong Institute of Steel Construction.
  • Wilkinson, T., Ning, X., Yang, A., Yang, B. (2009). Capacity of screwed connections between fabricated fittings and cold-formed hollow sections. Sixth International Conference on Advances in Steel Structures, Hong Kong: Hong Kong Institute of Steel Construction.
  • Cao, Y., Wilkinson, T. (2009). Shear capacity of hollow flange channel beams in simple connections. 12th International Symposium on Tubular Structures (ISTS12), P O Box 447, 2300 AK Leiden, The Netherlands: CRC Press/Balkema.
  • Wilkinson, T., Jouaux, R. (2008). Critical Strain in the Flange Local Buckling of Square Hollow Sections in Bending. 5th International Conference on Advances in Steel Structures, Singapore: Research Publishing Services.
  • Rasmussen, K., Wilkinson, T. (2008). Proceedings of the 5th International Conference on Coupled Instabilities in Metal Structures (CIMS2008). Fifth International Conference on Coupled Instabilities in Metal Structures CIMS2008 (volume 1), Sydney, Australia: The University Publishing Service, University of Sydney.
  • McMahon, B., Laing-Peach, T., Spear, N., Wilkinson, T. (2008). Shear Capacity of Litesteel Beams with Circular Web Openings. Fifth International Conference on Thin-Walled Structures, Brisbane, Australia: Queensland University of Technology.
  • Wilkinson, T., Dempsey, R. (2008). The Evolution of Hollow Flange Sections: From Concept to Practice. Fifth International Conference on Coupled Instabilities in Metal Structures CIMS2008 (volume 2), Sydney Australia: The University Publishing Service, University of Sydney.
  • Williams, P., Edwards, M., Wilkinson, T., Ranzi, G. (2008). Uplift Tests on Steel Hollow Section Baseplate Connections on Concrete Footings. 5th International Conference on Advances in Steel Structures, Singapore: Research Publishing Services.
  • Wilkinson, T. (2007). Combined Action Member Design In As 4100. Pacific Structural Steel Conference 2007 - Steel Structures in Natural Hazards (PSSC 2007), New Zealand: New Zealand Heavy Engineering Research Association and Steel Construction New Zealand.
  • Wilkinson, T., Brecht, M., Turner, J., Walford, T. (2007). Combined bending and bearing capacity of a new generation of hollow flange channel sections in cold-formed steel. Pacific Structural Steel Conference 2007 - Steel Structures in Natural Hazards (PSSC 2007), New Zealand: New Zealand Heavy Engineering Research Association and Steel Construction New Zealand.
  • Zhu, Y., Wilkinson, T. (2007). Compression capacity of hollow flange channel stub columns. Steel and Aluminium Structures ICSAS'07, Oxford, UK: Oxford Brookes University.
  • Cao, Y., Wilkinson, T. (2007). Shear Connection Tests for Hollow Flange Channels. Steel and Aluminium Structures ICSAS'07, Oxford, UK: Oxford Brookes University.
  • Wilkinson, T., Zhu, Y., Yang, D. (2006). Behaviour of hollow flange channel sections under concentrated loads. 11th International Symposium and IIW International Conference on Tubular Structures (2006), Leiden, The Netherlands: CRC Press/Balkema.
  • Zhu, Y., Wilkinson, T. (2006). Finite element analysis of structural steel elliptical hollow sections in pure compression. 11th International Symposium and IIW International Conference on Tubular Structures (2006), Leiden, The Netherlands: CRC Press/Balkema.
  • Cao, Y., Wilkinson, T. (2006). Hollow flange channel bolted web side plate connection tests. 11th International Symposium and IIW International Conference on Tubular Structures (2006), Leiden, The Netherlands: CRC Press/Balkema.
  • Wilkinson, T., LIU, P., Magpayo, J., Nguyen, H. (2006). Increasing the strength and stiffness of cold-formed hollow flange channel sections for web crippling. 18th International Specialty Conference on Cold-Formed Steel Structures, Rolla, Missouri: University of Missouri-Rolla.
  • Wilkinson, T. (2005). A Staggered Approach to Developing Report Writing Skills within the Civil Engineering Discipline. 4th ASEE/AaeE Global Colloquium on Engineering Education 2005, Brisband, Queensland, Australia: AaeE.
  • Yang, D., Wilkinson, T. (2005). Bearing Tests of LiteSteel Beams (LSB). Australian Structural Engineering Conference (ASEC 2005), Newcastle, NSW, Australia: Engineers Australia.
  • Cao, Y., Wilkinson, T. (2005). Combined Axial Compression and Bending Tests of Cold-Formed Rectangular Hollow Sections. Australian Structural Engineering Conference (ASEC 2005), Newcastle, NSW, Australia: Engineers Australia.
  • Wilkinson, T., Baglin, W., Cox, K. (2005). Comparison of Floor Vibration Data with Theoretical Predictions. 18th Australasian Conference on the Mechanics of Structures and Materials, London: A A Balkema.
  • Baglin, W., Wilkinson, T., Cox, K., Wood, G. (2005). Full Scale Measurements of Floor Vibrations in Multi Storey Buildings Under Construction. 18th Australasian Conference on the Mechanics of Structures and Materials, London: A A Balkema.
  • Airey, D., Wilkinson, T., Wood, G. (2005). Revising the Civil Engineering Curriculum at The University of Sydney. 4th ASEE/AaeE Global Colloquium on Engineering Education 2005, Brisband, Queensland, Australia: AaeE.
  • Wilkinson, T., Jouaux, R. (2005). Tests to Examine the Effect of Axial Compression on the Rotation Capacity of Square Hollow Sections. 4th International Conference on Advances in Steel Structures (ICASS 2005), Great Britain: Elsevier.
  • Wilkinson, T., Daniels, A., Wilton, M., Wood, D. (2005). Uplift Tests on Column Base Plate Connections. 4th International Conference on Advances in Steel Structures (ICASS 2005), Great Britain: Elsevier.
  • Baglin, W., Cox, K., Wilkinson, T. (2004). Comparison Of Floor Vibration Data With Theoretical Predictions. 18th Australasian Conference on the Mechanics of Structures and Materials, London, England: A A Balkema.
  • Wood, K., Wilkinson, T. (2003). Measuring Imperfections In Hollow Sections. 10th International Symposium on Tubular Structures, The Netherlands: A A Balkema.
  • Wilkinson, T. (2003). Recent Research in Steel Structures at The University of Sydney. International Conference on Advances in Structures (ASSCCA 2003), The Netherlands: A A Balkema.
  • Wilkinson, T. (2003). Recommendations For Cold-Formed RHS In Bending and Compression. 10th International Symposium on Tubular Structures, The Netherlands: A A Balkema.
  • Wilkinson, T., Petrevski, T., Rubal, M. (2002). Experimental Investigation of Slot Lengths in RHS Bracing Members. Third International Conference on Advances in Steel Structures, Amsterdam: Elsevier.
  • Ho, P., Wilkinson, T., Chen, A., Ray, C. (2002). Tests on Non-Compact Rectangular Hollow Sections in Cold-Formed Steel. 17th Australasian Conference on the Mechanics of Structures & Materials, Lisse, The Netherlands: A A Balkema.
  • Dean, M., Wilkinson, T., Hancock, G. (2001). Bending and Compression Tests of Cold-Formed Rectangular Hollow Sections. 9th International Symposium and Euroconference on Tubular Structures, : UNSW Australian Defence Force Academy.
  • Wilkinson, T., Hancock, G. (2001). Finite Element Analysis to Investigate the Effect of Imperfections on RHS in Bending. 9th International Symposium and Euroconference on Tubular Structures, : UNSW Australian Defence Force Academy.
  • Wilkinson, T., Hancock, G. (2001). Finite Element Methods for the Analysis of Thin-Wall Tubular Sections undergoing Plastic Rotation. 3rd International Conference on Thin-Walled Structures, : UNSW Australian Defence Force Academy.

2012

  • Becque, J., Wilkinson, T. (2012). Experimental investigation of the static capacity of grade C450 RHS T and X truss joints. The 14th International Symposium on Tubular Structures (ISTS14), Leiden: CRC Press.
  • Mohan, M., Wilkinson, T. (2012). FEA of T & X joints in Grade C450 steel. The 14th International Symposium on Tubular Structures (ISTS14), Leiden: CRC Press.

2011

  • Duong, D., Md Yusof, A., Wilkinson, T. (2011). Compression Capacity of Hollow Flange Channel Sections with Web Penetrations. 7th International Conference on Steel and Aluminium Structures (ICSAS 2011), Singapore, Singapore: Research Publishing Services.
  • Ginn, M., Pate, M., Wilkinson, T. (2011). Fillet Weld Connections to High Strength Steel. 7th International Conference on Steel and Aluminium Structures (ICSAS 2011), Singapore, Singapore: Research Publishing Services.

2010

  • Wilkinson, T., Judd, M., Popplewell, M., Salhani, J. (2010). Bearing capacity of hollow flange beams with web penetrations. 13th International Symposium on Tubular Structures, London, UK: CRC Press.
  • Wilkinson, T., Stock, D., Hastie, A. (2010). Eccentric cleat plate connections in hollow section members in compression. 13th International Symposium on Tubular Structures, London, UK: CRC Press.

2009

  • Wilkinson, T., Ranzi, G., Williams, P., Edwards, M. (2009). Bolt prying in hollow section base plate connections. Sixth International Conference on Advances in Steel Structures, Hong Kong: Hong Kong Institute of Steel Construction.
  • Wilkinson, T., Ning, X., Yang, A., Yang, B. (2009). Capacity of screwed connections between fabricated fittings and cold-formed hollow sections. Sixth International Conference on Advances in Steel Structures, Hong Kong: Hong Kong Institute of Steel Construction.
  • Cao, Y., Wilkinson, T. (2009). Shear capacity of hollow flange channel beams in simple connections. 12th International Symposium on Tubular Structures (ISTS12), P O Box 447, 2300 AK Leiden, The Netherlands: CRC Press/Balkema.

2008

  • Ma, H., Cho, C., Wilkinson, T. (2008). A numerical study on bolted end-plate connection using shape memory alloys. Materials and Structures, 41(8), 1419-1426.
  • Wilkinson, T., Jouaux, R. (2008). Critical Strain in the Flange Local Buckling of Square Hollow Sections in Bending. 5th International Conference on Advances in Steel Structures, Singapore: Research Publishing Services.
  • Rasmussen, K., Wilkinson, T. (2008). Proceedings of the 5th International Conference on Coupled Instabilities in Metal Structures (CIMS2008). Fifth International Conference on Coupled Instabilities in Metal Structures CIMS2008 (volume 1), Sydney, Australia: The University Publishing Service, University of Sydney.
  • McMahon, B., Laing-Peach, T., Spear, N., Wilkinson, T. (2008). Shear Capacity of Litesteel Beams with Circular Web Openings. Fifth International Conference on Thin-Walled Structures, Brisbane, Australia: Queensland University of Technology.
  • Wilkinson, T., Dempsey, R. (2008). The Evolution of Hollow Flange Sections: From Concept to Practice. Fifth International Conference on Coupled Instabilities in Metal Structures CIMS2008 (volume 2), Sydney Australia: The University Publishing Service, University of Sydney.
  • Williams, P., Edwards, M., Wilkinson, T., Ranzi, G. (2008). Uplift Tests on Steel Hollow Section Baseplate Connections on Concrete Footings. 5th International Conference on Advances in Steel Structures, Singapore: Research Publishing Services.

2007

  • Wilkinson, T. (2007). Combined Action Member Design In As 4100. Pacific Structural Steel Conference 2007 - Steel Structures in Natural Hazards (PSSC 2007), New Zealand: New Zealand Heavy Engineering Research Association and Steel Construction New Zealand.
  • Wilkinson, T., Brecht, M., Turner, J., Walford, T. (2007). Combined bending and bearing capacity of a new generation of hollow flange channel sections in cold-formed steel. Pacific Structural Steel Conference 2007 - Steel Structures in Natural Hazards (PSSC 2007), New Zealand: New Zealand Heavy Engineering Research Association and Steel Construction New Zealand.
  • Zhu, Y., Wilkinson, T. (2007). Compression capacity of hollow flange channel stub columns. Steel and Aluminium Structures ICSAS'07, Oxford, UK: Oxford Brookes University.
  • Ma, H., Wilkinson, T., Cho, C. (2007). Feasibility study on a self-centering beam-to-column connection by using the superelastic behavior of SMAs. Smart Materials and Structures, 16(5), 1555-1563.
  • Cao, Y., Wilkinson, T. (2007). Shear Connection Tests for Hollow Flange Channels. Steel and Aluminium Structures ICSAS'07, Oxford, UK: Oxford Brookes University.

2006

  • Wilkinson, T., Zhu, Y., Yang, D. (2006). Behaviour of hollow flange channel sections under concentrated loads. 11th International Symposium and IIW International Conference on Tubular Structures (2006), Leiden, The Netherlands: CRC Press/Balkema.
  • Zhu, Y., Wilkinson, T. (2006). Finite element analysis of structural steel elliptical hollow sections in pure compression. 11th International Symposium and IIW International Conference on Tubular Structures (2006), Leiden, The Netherlands: CRC Press/Balkema.
  • Cao, Y., Wilkinson, T. (2006). Hollow flange channel bolted web side plate connection tests. 11th International Symposium and IIW International Conference on Tubular Structures (2006), Leiden, The Netherlands: CRC Press/Balkema.
  • Wilkinson, T., LIU, P., Magpayo, J., Nguyen, H. (2006). Increasing the strength and stiffness of cold-formed hollow flange channel sections for web crippling. 18th International Specialty Conference on Cold-Formed Steel Structures, Rolla, Missouri: University of Missouri-Rolla.

2005

  • Wilkinson, T. (2005). A Staggered Approach to Developing Report Writing Skills within the Civil Engineering Discipline. 4th ASEE/AaeE Global Colloquium on Engineering Education 2005, Brisband, Queensland, Australia: AaeE.
  • Yang, D., Wilkinson, T. (2005). Bearing Tests of LiteSteel Beams (LSB). Australian Structural Engineering Conference (ASEC 2005), Newcastle, NSW, Australia: Engineers Australia.
  • Zhao, X., Wilkinson, T., Hancock, G. (2005). Cold-Formed Tubular Members and Connections: Structural Behaviour and Design. Sydney: Elsevier.
  • Cao, Y., Wilkinson, T. (2005). Combined Axial Compression and Bending Tests of Cold-Formed Rectangular Hollow Sections. Australian Structural Engineering Conference (ASEC 2005), Newcastle, NSW, Australia: Engineers Australia.
  • Wilkinson, T., Baglin, W., Cox, K. (2005). Comparison of Floor Vibration Data with Theoretical Predictions. 18th Australasian Conference on the Mechanics of Structures and Materials, London: A A Balkema.
  • Baglin, W., Wilkinson, T., Cox, K., Wood, G. (2005). Full Scale Measurements of Floor Vibrations in Multi Storey Buildings Under Construction. 18th Australasian Conference on the Mechanics of Structures and Materials, London: A A Balkema.
  • Airey, D., Wilkinson, T., Wood, G. (2005). Revising the Civil Engineering Curriculum at The University of Sydney. 4th ASEE/AaeE Global Colloquium on Engineering Education 2005, Brisband, Queensland, Australia: AaeE.
  • Wilkinson, T., Jouaux, R. (2005). Tests to Examine the Effect of Axial Compression on the Rotation Capacity of Square Hollow Sections. 4th International Conference on Advances in Steel Structures (ICASS 2005), Great Britain: Elsevier.
  • Wilkinson, T., Daniels, A., Wilton, M., Wood, D. (2005). Uplift Tests on Column Base Plate Connections. 4th International Conference on Advances in Steel Structures (ICASS 2005), Great Britain: Elsevier.

2004

  • Baglin, W., Cox, K., Wilkinson, T. (2004). Comparison Of Floor Vibration Data With Theoretical Predictions. 18th Australasian Conference on the Mechanics of Structures and Materials, London, England: A A Balkema.

2003

  • Wood, K., Wilkinson, T. (2003). Measuring Imperfections In Hollow Sections. 10th International Symposium on Tubular Structures, The Netherlands: A A Balkema.
  • Wilkinson, T. (2003). Recent Research in Steel Structures at The University of Sydney. International Conference on Advances in Structures (ASSCCA 2003), The Netherlands: A A Balkema.
  • Wilkinson, T. (2003). Recommendations For Cold-Formed RHS In Bending and Compression. 10th International Symposium on Tubular Structures, The Netherlands: A A Balkema.

2002

  • Wilkinson, T., Petrevski, T., Rubal, M. (2002). Experimental Investigation of Slot Lengths in RHS Bracing Members. Third International Conference on Advances in Steel Structures, Amsterdam: Elsevier.
  • Wilkinson, T., Hancock, G. (2002). Predicting the Rotation Capacity of Cold-Formed RHS Beams using Finite Element Analysis. Journal of Constructional Steel Research, 58(11), 1455-1471.
  • Ho, P., Wilkinson, T., Chen, A., Ray, C. (2002). Tests on Non-Compact Rectangular Hollow Sections in Cold-Formed Steel. 17th Australasian Conference on the Mechanics of Structures & Materials, Lisse, The Netherlands: A A Balkema.

2001

  • Dean, M., Wilkinson, T., Hancock, G. (2001). Bending and Compression Tests of Cold-Formed Rectangular Hollow Sections. 9th International Symposium and Euroconference on Tubular Structures, : UNSW Australian Defence Force Academy.
  • Wilkinson, T., Hancock, G. (2001). Finite Element Analysis to Investigate the Effect of Imperfections on RHS in Bending. 9th International Symposium and Euroconference on Tubular Structures, : UNSW Australian Defence Force Academy.
  • Wilkinson, T., Hancock, G. (2001). Finite Element Methods for the Analysis of Thin-Wall Tubular Sections undergoing Plastic Rotation. 3rd International Conference on Thin-Walled Structures, : UNSW Australian Defence Force Academy.
Back to Top

For support on your academic profile contact Research Support.