Dr. Jonathan Tran
Details
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Department: School of Engineering
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Campus: City Campus Australia
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jonathan.tran@rmit.edu.au
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ORCID:
0000-0003-1747-5195
Open to
- Masters Research or PhD student supervision
About
Associate Professor Tran is a leading researcher in the field of sustainable digital construction and deputy director of Post Carbon Research Centre at RMIT University. His research is focused on the development of innovative materials with revolutionary properties for extreme loading protection, which have the potential to transform the field of lightweight structural materials.
He has established a research group that specializes in 3D printing of smart materials and biomimetic structures, which has been recognized with numerous national and international awards, including the "Highly Commendable Paper Award" at the 12th International Conference on Shock & Impact Loads on Structures.
With over 140 peer-reviewed journal articles and 6 book chapters to his credit, Associate Professor Tran is a prolific author, and his work has been widely cited in the field. His research on 3D printing in construction has received extensive media coverage, with over 300 stories in mainstream, science, and trade-focused media including Reuters, New York Post, Australian Manufacturing, and Daily Mail.
Associate Professor Tran serves as a member of the editorial board for several journals including Virtual and Physical Prototype, Nature - Scientific Reports, and Journal of Materials Science in Additive Manufacturing. He also serves on various standard committees such as ASTM and RILEM, focusing on "Quality Requirements for Additive Manufacturing in Building & Construction." His contributions to the field of digital construction have been instrumental in shaping the future of sustainable and efficient building practices.
Media
Academic positions
- Academic lead for Research and Innovation
- RMIT University
- School of Engineering
- Melbourne, Australia
- 24 Feb 2025 – Present
- Deputy director
- RMIT University
- Post-Carbon Research Center
- Melbourne, Australia
- 1 Dec 2024 – Present
Supervisor projects
- Development of an Integrated Methodology using Abinitio (DFT) modelling to design and assess materials for use as optimal protection against blast and ballistic impact
- 13 Sep 2024
- From Design, Optimization to 3D-printed Fibre Reinforced Concrete
- 16 Jan 2024
- 3D printing composite material and bioinspired structures
- 20 Dec 2023
- Complete process of designing, optimizing and manufacturing of carbonation concrete using 3D-Printer
- 3 Jul 2023
- From Design, Optimisation To 3D-Printed Fiber-Reinforced Concrete
- 24 Feb 2022
- Utilisation of Industrial Wastes in Fired Clay Bricks
- 18 Apr 2021
- Characteristics and Performance of Ceramic Tiles Incorporated with Recycled Wastes
- 18 Apr 2021
- Digital framework for creation and optimisation of 3D printing concrete
- 9 Feb 2021
- Innovations in Design Methodology of Lattice Structures with Bio-Inspired Features
- 7 Jan 2021
- Digital Twin and Machine Learning-assisted Thermal Management, Mass Optimisation and Additive Manufacturing
- 14 Dec 2020
- Performance of 3D-Printed Cementitious Composites With Recycled Waste Materials
- 19 Jun 2020
- Generating Structurally Efficient Forms for Digital Fabrication: A Pathway to Manufacturing-Ready Design
- 20 Feb 2020
- Design of Compliant Structures with Tunable Mechanical Properties
- 11 Dec 2019
- Understanding Cranial Injury – Virtual Forensics
- 20 Nov 2019
- Modelling of Meta-Concrete Structures Manufactured by 3D Printing
- 15 Oct 2019
- Bioinspired Suture Structures: Design and Optimization
- 6 Aug 2019
- Novel Lattice Structures Based on Triply Periodic Minimal Surfaces
- 31 Jan 2019
- Biomimicry and Additive Manufacturing: From Materials to Functional Structures
- 2 Jan 2019
- Development of High-Performance Fibre-Reinforced Concrete for 3D Construction Printing
- 7 Oct 2018
- The Dynamic Behaviour of AlSi10Mg Lattice Structures Fabricated via Selective Laser Melting
- 10 Sep 2018
Teaching interests
- Designing and analyzing large-scale structural systems, such as long-span bridges, stadiums, and high-rise buildings.
- Exploring advanced materials and construction methods suitable for tall or wide-span structures.
- Understanding key structural considerations, including load paths, stability, and lateral load resistance.
- Incorporating sustainability, aesthetics, and practical constraints in high-rise and long-span projects.
2. Modular Design and Construction Automation
- Examination of modular/off-site construction methods, including prefabrication and standardized components.
- Integration of automation technologies (e.g., robotics, 3D printing, automated assembly lines) into design and construction workflows.
- Emphasis on productivity improvements, reduced waste, and enhanced quality control through automation.
- Considerations for transport, assembly on-site, and the overall logistics of modular construction.
3. Extreme Loadings
- Investigating the effects of extreme conditions on structural integrity, including wind, seismic forces, blasts, and impact loads.
- Assessing risk, reliability, and resilience of infrastructure under severe loading scenarios.
- Learning design codes and best practices for disaster mitigation and safety.
- Incorporating innovative materials (e.g., high-performance concrete, composites) and advanced testing methods.
4. Introduction to Engineering Design
- Providing foundational design theory, emphasizing problem-solving, creativity, and iterative design processes.
- Applying fundamental engineering principles (statics, materials, basic structural concepts) to real-world scenarios.
- Developing teamwork, communication, and project management skills through collaborative design tasks.
- Encouraging sustainable and ethical considerations early in the engineering process.
Research interests
computational mechanics, composite materials, lattice structure, fracture mechanics, lightweight concrete, thin film, additive manufacturing, bioinspired material, dynamic behaviour of materials, protective structure
Computational Mechanics
- Development and application of numerical methods (FEM, BEM, DEM, etc.) for multi-scale modeling.
- High-performance computing and algorithm optimization for large-scale simulation.
- Coupled physics simulations (fluid-structure, thermo-mechanical, etc.) for complex engineering problems.
Composite Materials
- Design and characterization of advanced fiber- or particle-reinforced composites.
- Tailoring material properties (strength, stiffness, durability) for specialized applications.
- Investigation of fabrication techniques, including molding, pultrusion, and automated layup.
Lattice Structures
- Design of periodic and non-periodic cellular architectures for optimal strength-to-weight ratios.
- Integration with additive manufacturing for custom, high-performance components.
- Exploration of energy absorption, thermal management, and fluid-flow regulation properties.
Fracture Mechanics
- Study of crack initiation, propagation, and failure in brittle, ductile, and composite materials.
- Analysis of fatigue life, damage tolerance, and residual strength under cyclic loading.
- Development of predictive models for structural integrity and lifespan assessment.
Additive Manufacturing
- Layer-by-layer construction of components from polymers, metals, ceramics, and composites.
- Process optimization (e.g., laser power, feed rate, material selection) for improved part quality.
- Exploration of next-generation 3D printing technologies and post-processing methods.
Bioinspired Material
- Emulation of natural structures (e.g., nacre, bone, spider silk) for enhanced toughness or functionality.
- Integration of biological principles (hierarchical architectures, self-healing) in synthetic systems.
- Development of environmentally friendly materials and sustainable design strategies.
Dynamic Behaviour of Materials
- Investigation of material responses under high strain-rate, impact, and blast loading conditions.
- Use of specialized instrumentation (Hopkinson bars, high-speed imaging) for transient phenomena.
- Modeling and simulation of wave propagation, shock absorption, and failure mechanisms.
Protective Structure
- Design of resilient systems to withstand extreme events (blast, ballistic impact, seismic).
- Implementation of advanced materials (composites, metal foams, smart coatings) for enhanced protection.
- Research on structural retrofitting, energy dissipation, and occupant safety strategies.
