Dr Ali Kashani

Dr Ali Kashani

Senior Lecturer
Engineering
Civil and Environmental Engineering

Dr Ali Kashani leads pioneering research in sustainable and low-carbon concrete and cementitious materials tailored for the construction and mining industries. His primary focus revolves around the development of innovative high-performance materials and techniques for robot-aided construction, particularly in the realm of 3D printing. Another significant aspect of Dr. Kashani's research lies in sustainable concrete applications aligned with the principles of the 'Circular Economy.' His work encompasses waste valorisation, carbon capture and mineralization, and alkali-activated materials (geopolymers).

Dr Kashani has led and participated in multiple research projects, securing substantial funding from both government entities and private industries, amounting to a total of approximately $7 million. His research outcome includes a patent and over 70 publications, garnering an impressive citation count of about 9,000. Dr Kashani received prestigious awards such as the National Award for 'Excellence in Concrete' in Technology and Innovation from the Concrete Institute of Australia. Additionally, his expertise has been recognized through a Churchill Fellowship for Digital Construction and 3D Printing. His groundbreaking research has been featured in mainstream media outlets, including articles in the Sydney Morning Herald and The Fifth State.

Beyond his research endeavours, Dr Kashani actively participates in professional community engagement. He serves as the Co-Chair of the cement and concrete working group at the Materials Embodied Carbon Leaders Alliance (MECLA) and has previously been a committee member of the Concrete Institute of Australia in New South Wales. His commitment to fostering innovation is evident in his role as a judge for the Cement, Concrete, Aggregates Australia (CCAA) Innovation Awards. Moreover, he contributes his expertise as a senior committee member of The International Union of Laboratories and Experts in Construction Materials, Systems, and Structures (RILEM), along with active involvement in various ASTM committees. Dr Kashani has further demonstrated his leadership by establishing the Innovative Decarbonised Infrastructure initiative at UNSW.

Phone
(+61 2) 9385 5766
Location
Civil Engineering Building (H20) Level 2, Room CE204
  • Book Chapters | 2022
    Kashani A, 2022, '6 Influence of precursors on rheology of alkali-activated materials', in Handbook of Advances in Alkali-Activated Concrete, Elsevier, pp. 107 - 124, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/b978-0-323-85469-6.00004-0
    Book Chapters | 2022
    Mahmood AH; Kashani A, 2022, 'Recycled glass as a concrete component', in Handbook of Sustainable Concrete and Industrial Waste Management, Elsevier, pp. 187 - 209, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/b978-0-12-821730-6.00015-2
    Book Chapters | 2021
    Kashani A, 2021, 'Influence of precursors on rheology of alkali-activated materials', in Handbook of advances in Alkali-activated Concrete, Woodhead Publishing
    Book Chapters | 2021
    Mahmood AH; Kashani A, 2021, 'Recycled glass as a concrete component: Possibilities and challenges', in Handbook of Sustainable Concrete and Industrial Waste Management: Recycled and Artificial Aggregate, Innovative Eco-friendly Binders, and Life Cycle Assessment, pp. 187 - 209, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-821730-6.00015-2
    Book Chapters | 2020
    Kashani A; Ngo T, 2020, '3 Production and placement of self-compacting concrete', in Self-Compacting Concrete: Materials, Properties and Applications, Elsevier, pp. 65 - 81, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/b978-0-12-817369-5.00003-9
    Book Chapters | 2019
    Kashani A; Ngo T, 2019, 'Production and placement of self-compacting concrete', in Self-Compacting Concrete: Materials, Properties and Applications, pp. 65 - 81, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-817369-5.00003-9
  • Journal articles | 2024
    Bayat H; Banar R; Nikravan M; Farnood P; Ramezanianpour AM; Kashani A, 2024, 'Durability, mechanical, workability, and environmental assessment of self-consolidating concrete containing blast furnace slag and natural zeolite', Journal of Building Engineering, 86, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jobe.2024.108737
    Journal articles | 2024
    Golafshani EM; Behnood A; Kim T; Ngo T; Kashani A, 2024, 'A framework for low-carbon mix design of recycled aggregate concrete with supplementary cementitious materials using machine learning and optimization algorithms', Structures, 61, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.istruc.2024.106143
    Journal articles | 2024
    Golafshani EM; Behnood A; Kim T; Ngo T; Kashani A, 2024, 'Metaheuristic optimization based- ensemble learners for the carbonation assessment of recycled aggregate concrete', Applied Soft Computing, 159, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.asoc.2024.111661
    Journal articles | 2024
    Karunarathna S; Linforth S; Kashani A; Liu X; Ngo T, 2024, 'Numerical investigation on the behaviour of concrete barriers subjected to vehicle impacts using modified K&C material model', Engineering Structures, 308, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.engstruct.2024.117943
    Journal articles | 2024
    Mohammadi Golafshani E; Kim T; Behnood A; Ngo T; Kashani A, 2024, 'Sustainable mix design of recycled aggregate concrete using artificial intelligence', Journal of Cleaner Production, 442, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2024.140994
    Journal articles | 2024
    Wang X; Li W; Guo Y; Kashani A; Wang K; Ferrara L; Agudelo I, 2024, 'Concrete 3D printing technology for sustainable construction: A review on raw material, concrete type and performance', Developments in the Built Environment, 17, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.dibe.2024.100378
    Journal articles | 2024
    Wang X; Li W; Guo Y; Kashani A; Wang K; Ferrara L; Agudelo I, 2024, 'Corrigendum to “Concrete 3D printing technology for sustainable construction: A review on raw material, concrete type and performance” [Dev. Built. Environ. 17 (2024) 100378] (Developments in the Built Environment (2024) 17, (S2666165924000590), (10.1016/j.dibe.2024.100378))', Developments in the Built Environment, 19, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.dibe.2024.100442
    Journal articles | 2024
    Yao Z; Kashani A; Rawal A; Song H; Kim T, 2024, 'Heat-induced phase transitions in mining tailings to create alternative supplementary cementitious materials', Resources, Conservation and Recycling, 210, pp. . - ., http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.resconrec.2024.107818
    Journal articles | 2023
    Arashpour M; Golafshani EM; Parthiban R; Lamborn J; Kashani A; Li H; Farzanehfar P, 2023, 'Predicting individual learning performance using machine-learning hybridized with the teaching-learning-based optimization', Computer Applications in Engineering Education, 31, pp. 83 - 99, http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/cae.22572
    Journal articles | 2023
    Bayat H; Kashani A, 2023, 'Analysis of rheological properties and printability of a 3D-printing mortar containing silica fume, hydrated lime, and blast furnace slag', Materials Today Communications, 37, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.mtcomm.2023.107128
    Journal articles | 2023
    Golafshani EM; Kashani A; Arashpour M, 2023, 'Chloride diffusion modeling of concrete using tree-based forest models', Structural Concrete, 24, pp. 5614 - 5634, http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/suco.202300245
    Journal articles | 2023
    Mohammadi Golafshani E; Kashani A; Behnood A; Kim T, 2023, 'Modeling the chloride migration of recycled aggregate concrete using ensemble learners for sustainable building construction', Journal of Cleaner Production, 407, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2023.136968
    Journal articles | 2023
    Rezaei Shahmirzadi M; Gholampour A; Kashani A; Ngo TD, 2023, 'Geopolymer mortars for use in construction 3D printing: Effect of LSS, graphene oxide and nanoclay at different environmental conditions', Construction and Building Materials, 409, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2023.133967
    Journal articles | 2023
    Wang T; San Nicolas R; Ngoc Nguyen T; Kashani A; Ngo T, 2023, 'Experimental and numerical study of long-term alkali-silica reaction (ASR) expansion in mortar with recycled glass', Cement and Concrete Composites, 139, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.cemconcomp.2023.105043
    Journal articles | 2023
    Yang L; Sepasgozar SME; Shirowzhan S; Kashani A; Edwards D, 2023, 'Nozzle criteria for enhancing extrudability, buildability and interlayer bonding in 3D printing concrete', Automation in Construction, 146, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.autcon.2022.104671
    Journal articles | 2022
    Golafshani EM; Kashani A, 2022, 'Modeling the compressive strength of concrete containing waste glass using multi-objective automatic regression', Neural Computing and Applications, 34, pp. 17107 - 17127, http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00521-022-07360-9
    Journal articles | 2022
    Gupta S; Kashani A; Mahmood AH, 2022, 'Carbon sequestration in engineered lightweight foamed mortar – Effect on rheology, mechanical and durability properties', Construction and Building Materials, 322, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2022.126383
    Journal articles | 2022
    Karunarathna S; Ngo T; Linforth S; Kashani A; Liu X; Lu G; Ruan D, 2022, 'Evaluation of the effect of recycled rubber aggregate size on concrete for sustainable applications of rubberised concrete in impact resistant structures: Experimental and numerical study', Journal of Cleaner Production, 374, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2022.133648
    Journal articles | 2022
    Mahmood AH; Afroz S; Kashani A; Kim T; Foster SJ, 2022, 'The efficiency of recycled glass powder in mitigating the alkali-silica reaction induced by recycled glass aggregate in cementitious mortars', Materials and Structures/Materiaux et Constructions, 55, pp. 156, http://dx.doi.org/10.1617/s11527-022-01989-7
    Journal articles | 2022
    Mohammadi Golafshani E; Kashani A; Kim T; Arashpour M, 2022, 'Concrete chloride diffusion modelling using marine creatures-based metaheuristic artificial intelligence', Journal of Cleaner Production, 374, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2022.134021
    Journal articles | 2022
    Wang T; Nicolas RS; Kashani A; Ngo T, 2022, 'Sustainable utilisation of low-grade and contaminated waste glass fines as a partial sand replacement in structural concrete', Case Studies in Construction Materials, 16, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.cscm.2021.e00794
    Journal articles | 2022
    Wang T; San Nicolas R; Ngoc Nguyen T; Kashani A; Ngo T, 2022, 'Mechanical behaviour of glass-mortar under uniaxial compression loading based on a meso-scale modelling approach', Construction and Building Materials, 359, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2022.129499
    Journal articles | 2021
    Gupta S; Kashani A; Mahmood AH; Han T, 2021, 'Carbon sequestration in cementitious composites using biochar and fly ash – Effect on mechanical and durability properties', Construction and Building Materials, 291, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2021.123363
    Journal articles | 2021
    Gupta S; Kashani A, 2021, 'Utilization of biochar from unwashed peanut shell in cementitious building materials – Effect on early age properties and environmental benefits', Fuel Processing Technology, 218, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.fuproc.2021.106841
    Journal articles | 2021
    Karunarathna S; Linforth S; Kashani A; Liu X; Ngo T, 2021, 'Effect of recycled rubber aggregate size on fracture and other mechanical properties of structural concrete', Journal of Cleaner Production, 314, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2021.128230
    Journal articles | 2021
    Mohammadi Golafshani E; Arashpour M; Kashani A, 2021, 'Green mix design of rubbercrete using machine learning-based ensemble model and constrained multi-objective optimization', Journal of Cleaner Production, 327, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2021.129518
    Journal articles | 2021
    Shahmirzadi MR; Gholampour A; Kashani A; Ngo TD, 2021, 'Shrinkage behavior of cementitious 3D printing materials: Effect of temperature and relative humidity', Cement and Concrete Composites, 124, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.cemconcomp.2021.104238
    Journal articles | 2020
    Gupta S; Krishnan P; Kashani A; Kua HW, 2020, 'Application of biochar from coconut and wood waste to reduce shrinkage and improve physical properties of silica fume-cement mortar', Construction and Building Materials, 262, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2020.120688
    Journal articles | 2020
    Kashani A; Ngo TD; Nguyen TN; Hajimohammadi A; Sinaie S; Mendis P, 2020, 'The effects of surfactants on properties of lightweight concrete foam', Magazine of Concrete Research, 72, pp. 163 - 172, http://dx.doi.org/10.1680/jmacr.18.00242
    Journal articles | 2019
    Kashani A; Ngo TD; Hajimohammadi A, 2019, 'Effect of recycled glass fines on mechanical and durability properties of concrete foam in comparison with traditional cementitious fines', Cement and Concrete Composites, 99, pp. 120 - 129, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.cemconcomp.2019.03.004
    Journal articles | 2019
    Kashani A; Ngo TD; Mendis P, 2019, 'The effects of precursors on rheology and self-compactness of geopolymer concrete', Magazine of Concrete Research, 71, pp. 557 - 566, http://dx.doi.org/10.1680/jmacr.17.00495
    Journal articles | 2019
    Nguyen T; Kashani A; Ngo T; Bordas S, 2019, 'Deep neural network with high-order neuron for the prediction of foamed concrete strength', Computer-Aided Civil and Infrastructure Engineering, 34, pp. 316 - 332, http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/mice.12422
    Journal articles | 2019
    Sinaie S; Ngo TD; Kashani A; Whittaker AS, 2019, 'Simulation of cellular structures under large deformations using the material point method', International Journal of Impact Engineering, 134, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ijimpeng.2019.103385
    Journal articles | 2018
    Hajimohammadi A; Ngo T; Kashani A, 2018, 'Glass waste versus sand as aggregates: The characteristics of the evolving geopolymer binders', Journal of Cleaner Production, 193, pp. 593 - 603
    Journal articles | 2018
    Hajimohammadi A; Ngo T; Kashani A, 2018, 'Sustainable one-part geopolymer foams with glass fines versus sand as aggregates', Construction and Building Materials, 171, pp. 223 - 231
    Journal articles | 2018
    Kashani A; Ngo TD; Hemachandra P; Hajimohammadi A, 2018, 'Effects of surface treatments of recycled tyre crumb on cement-rubber bonding in concrete composite foam', Construction and Building Materials, 171, pp. 467 - 473
    Journal articles | 2018
    Kashani A; Ngo TD; Nguyen TN; Hajimohammadi A; Sinaie S; Mendis P, 2018, 'The effects of surfactants on properties of lightweight concrete foam', Magazine of Concrete Research, pp. 1 - 10
    Journal articles | 2018
    Ngo TD; Kashani A; Imbalzano G; Nguyen KTQ; Hui D, 2018, 'Additive manufacturing (3D printing): A review of materials, methods, applications and challenges', Composites Part B: Engineering, 143, pp. 172 - 196, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.compositesb.2018.02.012
    Journal articles | 2018
    Nguyen T; Ghazlan A; Kashani A; Bordas S; Ngo T, 2018, '3D meso-scale modelling of foamed concrete based on X-ray Computed Tomography', Construction and Building Materials, 188, pp. 583 - 598, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2018.08.085
    Journal articles | 2018
    Walkley B; Kashani A; Sani MA; Ngo TD; Mendis P, 2018, 'Examination of alkali-activated material nanostructure during thermal treatment', Journal of Materials Science, 53, pp. 9486 - 9503, http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10853-018-2270-z
    Journal articles | 2017
    Hajimohammadi A; Ngo T; Mendis P; Kashani A; van Deventer JSJ, 2017, 'Alkali activated slag foams: the effect of the alkali reaction on foam characteristics', Journal of Cleaner Production, 147, pp. 330 - 339
    Journal articles | 2017
    Hajimohammadi A; Ngo T; Mendis P; Nguyen T; Kashani A; van Deventer JSJ, 2017, 'Pore characteristics in one-part mix geopolymers foamed by H2O2: The impact of mix design', Materials & Design, 130, pp. 381 - 391
    Journal articles | 2017
    Kashani A; Ngo TD; Mendis P; Black JR; Hajimohammadi A, 2017, 'A sustainable application of recycled tyre crumbs as insulator in lightweight cellular concrete', Journal of cleaner production, 149, pp. 925 - 935
    Journal articles | 2017
    Kashani A; Ngo TD; Walkley B; Mendis P, 2017, 'Thermal performance of calcium-rich alkali-activated materials: A microstructural and mechanical study', Construction and Building Materials, 153, pp. 225 - 237, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2017.07.119
    Journal articles | 2015
    Kashani A; Provis JL; van Deventer BBG; Qiao GG; van Deventer JSJ, 2015, 'Time-resolved yield stress measurement of evolving materials using a creeping sphere', Rheologica Acta, 54, pp. 365 - 376, http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00397-015-0839-x
    Journal articles | 2014
    Kashani A; Provis JL; Qiao GG; Van Deventer JSJ, 2014, 'The interrelationship between surface chemistry and rheology in alkali activated slag paste', Construction and Building Materials, 65, pp. 583 - 591, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2014.04.127
    Journal articles | 2014
    Kashani A; Provis JL; Xu J; Kilcullen AR; Qiao GG; Van Deventer JSJ, 2014, 'Effect of molecular architecture of polycarboxylate ethers on plasticizing performance in alkali-activated slag paste', Journal of Materials Science, 49, pp. 2761 - 2772, http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10853-013-7979-0
    Journal articles | 2014
    Kashani A; San Nicolas R; Qiao GG; van Deventer JSJ; Provis JL, 2014, 'Modelling the yield stress of ternary cement-slag-fly ash pastes based on particle size distribution', Powder Technology, 266, pp. 203 - 209, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.powtec.2014.06.041
    Journal articles | 2012
    Ramezanzadeh B; Moradian S; Yari H; Kashani A; Niknahad M, 2012, 'The effect of basecoat pigmentation on the scratch resistance and weathering performance of an acrylicmelamine basecoat/clearcoat automotive finish', Tribology International, 47, pp. 77 - 89, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.triboint.2011.10.016
    Journal articles | 2012
    Yari H; Moradian S; Ramezanzadeh B; Kashani A; Niknahad M, 2012, 'The influence of basecoat pigmentation on chemical structure and surface topology of automotive clearcoats during weathering', Progress in Organic Coatings, 75, pp. 420 - 428, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.porgcoat.2012.07.002
    Journal articles | 2009
    Yari H; Moradian S; Ramazanzade B; Kashani A; Tahmasebi N, 2009, 'The effect of basecoat pigmentation on mechanical properties of an automotive basecoat/clearcoat system during weathering', Polymer Degradation and Stability, 94, pp. 1281 - 1289, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.polymdegradstab.2009.04.008
  • Reports | 2020
    Kashani A, 2020, Digital Construction and 3D Printing, https://www.churchilltrust.com.au/fellow/alireza-kashani-vic-2018/
    Conference Papers | 2019
    Kashani A; Ngo T, 2019, 'Sustainable applications of municipal wastes in concrete', in FIB 2018 - Proceedings for the 2018 fib Congress: Better, Smarter, Stronger, pp. 3748 - 3758
    Conference Papers | 2018
    Kashani A; Ngo TD, 2018, 'Optimisation of mixture properties for 3D printing of geopolymer concrete', in ISARC 2018 - 35th International Symposium on Automation and Robotics in Construction and International AEC/FM Hackathon: The Future of Building Things, http://dx.doi.org/10.22260/isarc2018/0037
    Conference Papers | 2018
    Kashani A, 2018, 'Sustainable applications of municipal wastes in concrete', in fib Symposium, pp. 3748 - 3758
    Conference Papers | 2013
    Kashani A; Provis JL; Van Deventer JSJ, 2013, 'Effect of ground granulated blast furnace slag particle size distribution on paste rheology: A preliminary model', in AIP Conference Proceedings, pp. 1094 - 1097, http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.4812126
    Conference Papers | 2013
    Kashani A; Provis JL; van Deventer JSJ, 2013, 'Effect of Ground Granulated Blast Furnace Slag Particle Size Distribution on Paste Rheology: A Preliminary Model', in Yu A; Dong K; Yang R; Luding S (eds.), POWDERS AND GRAINS 2013, AMER INST PHYSICS, AUSTRALIA, Sydney, pp. 1094 - 1097, presented at 7th International Conference on Micromechanics of Granular Media (Powders and Grains), AUSTRALIA, Sydney, 08 July 2013 - 12 July 2013, http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.481216
    Conference Papers | 2012
    Kashani A; Provis JL; Xu J; Kilcullen A; Duxson P; Qiao GG; Van Deventer JSJ, 2012, 'Effects of different polycarboxylate ether structures on the rheology of alkali-activated slag binders', in American Concrete Institute, ACI Special Publication, pp. 279 - 289
    Preprints |
    Mohammadi Golafshani E; Kashani A; Arashpour M, Chloride Diffusion Modeling of Concrete Using Tree-Based Forest Models, , http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.4060548

National Award of Excellence in Concrete - Technology and Innovation by Concrete Institute of Australia for the first 3D-printed house (joint with Contour 3D and Group Architects)

NSW Award of Excellence in Concrete - Technology and Innovation by Concrete Institute of Australia for the first 3D-printed house (joint with Contour 3D and Group Architects)

UNSW Vice Chancellor’s Values in Action Awards (nominee)

Churchill Fellowship for Digital Construction and 3D Printing sponsored by AVJennings and awarded by Winston Churchill Memorial Trust

My Research Supervision


 

My Teaching

CVEN 4104 'Sustainability in Construction'

CVEN 9731 'Project Management Framework'