Get in Touch

With Ming Shan Zhao

Name and email
CAPTCHA
This question is for testing whether or not you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spam submissions.
Associate Professor

Ming Shan Zhao

Associate Professor
PhD (Structural Engineering), Nanyang Technological University, Singapore
Cluster:
Engineering
Email
LinkedIn

SIT Appointments

  • Associate Professor
    – Present
  • Assistant Professor
    –
  • Senior Professional Officer
    –
  • Professional Officer
    –

Education

  • PhD (Structural Engineering)
    Nanyang Technological University , Singapore
  • BEng (Civil Engineering)
    Tianjin University , China

Achievements

  • SIT Fellowship (Applied Research) 2025
  • The Cement & Concrete Research First Prize - Best Paper at the 43rd Annual Cement and Concrete Science Conference, Queen’s University Belfast, 2024
  • SIT Research Excellence Award, 2024
  • The Institution of Engineers Singapore (IES) Prestigious Engineering Achievement Award 2024 – Applied Research and Development

Professional Memberships

  • Charted Engineer (CEng & MIES), the Institution of Engineers Singapore (IES)
chevron--up

Research Interests

  • Sustainable construction technologies and materials

    Ming Shan has been working on the effects of welding on high strength steel, structural optimisation for composite structures, CO2 sequestration and utilization in low carbon concrete production, and pervious concrete for urban green infrastructure. He has secured over S$2M funding as Principal Investigator. From the research outcomes of previously completed projects, he has co-authored 22 peer-reviewed international journal papers and 36 international conference papers. Among the multiple IPs he has generated, 3 technologies have been successfully implemented in actual projects in Singapore.

     

Current Projects

  • GRANTS AND PROJECTS
    – Present

    2025

    MOE Translational R&D and Innovation Fund (TIF): Smart System Development for High Performance Pre-engineered Steel-Concrete Composite Beams (HPCB). PI, TPV: S$582,000

    2024

    SIT ICD Grant: Production of ecological pervious concrete as sustainable substrate for urban greening, Co-PI, TPV: S$130,000

    2024

    SIT Ignition Grant: AI-assisted Integrated Verification System for Reusable and Alternative Structural Steel, Co-PI, TPV: S$260,000

    2024

    SIT CTIL and BCA BETA Catalyst Funding, Carbon Negative Steel Slag Permeable Concrete for Green Urban Infrastructure, PI, TPV: S$710,000

    2023

    SIT CTIL and BCA BETA Catalyst Funding, Innovative Design of Blast Door Systems, Co-PI, TPV: S$640,000

    2022

    SIT, Academic Research Fund Tier 1, Carbon Negative Ecological Concrete for Sustainable Coastal Protection, PI, TPV: S$190,000

    2022

    SIT CTIL and BCA BETA Catalyst Funding, Waste Valorisation in Concrete Production via CO2 Sequestration, PI, TPV: S$560,000

    2021

    JTC, Open Innovation Challenge, High Performance Pre-Engineered Steel Concrete Composite Beams for Sustainable Construction. Co-PI, TPV: S$250,000

    2021

    SIT ICG & CTIL and BCA BETA, Innovation Capability Grant, Innovative earth retaining & stabilizing structures: post-tensioned waler system. Co-PI, TPV:S$450,000

    2021

    SIT ICG & CTIL and BCA BETA, Innovation Capability Grant, High performance plunge-in king post for top-down building construction. Co-PI, TPV:S$450,000

    2021

    SIT ICG & CTIL and BCA BETA, Innovation Capability Grant, Economic corrosion-resistant concrete for deep foundation elements with B600. Co-PI, TPV:S$450,000

    2018

    SIT Ignition Grant: Innovative high strength steel for economy and productivity (TTJ HISTEEL). Co-PI, TPV: S$200,000

chevron--up

Journal Papers

  • Peer-reviewed international journal papers published in the last 5 years

    1. T. Li, A. S. Elsemeen, M. A. Al-Dhabyani, M.S. Zhao, S.P. Chiew, Axial Compression Behavior of UHPC-Q690 Concrete Encased Steel Stub Columns, Structures, 109663, 2025.

    2. Z. Zhang, X. Li, M.S. Zhao, X. Zhang, Mechanical performance of timber structures in tropical climate, Wood Material Science & Engineering, (2024). DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/17480272.2024.2426783 

    3. F. Jin, M.S. Zhao, X. Mao and L. Mo, Maximising the benefits of calcium carbonate in sustainable cements: opportunities and challenges associated with alkaline waste carbonation, NPJ Materials Sustainability, 2, 1 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s44296-024-00005-z.

    4. M. Ding, L. Shen, Y.Q. Ge, B. Yang, M.S. Zhao, C.H. Ran, S.P. Chiew, Experimental study on the post-fire cyclic behavior of Q960E ultra-high-strength structural steel, Thin-Walled Structures, Volume 191, 2023, 111078, ISSN 0263-231, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tws.2023.111078.

    5. Zhao M.S., Ding M, Chiew S.P. Bar continuity and strain compatibility for high-strength steel reinforcement in reinforced concrete structures. Advances in Structural Engineering. 2023;0(0). DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/13694332231184321

    6. W. Qiao, Y. Wang, R. Zhu, R. Li, M.S. Zhao. Experimental study on the axial bearing capacity of built-up cold-formed thin-walled steel multi-limb-section columns, Steel and Composite Structures, 2021, 40(6), pp. 781–794. DOI: https://doi.org/10.12989/scs.2021.40.6.781

    7. C. Chen, S.P. Chiew, M.S. Zhao, C.K. Lee and T.C. Fung, Experimental study of welding effects on grade S690Q high strength steel butt joint, Steel and Composite Structures, vol. 39, No.4, 401-417, 2021. DOI: https://doi.org/10.12989/scs.2021.39.4.401

    8. Chiew, S.P., Chen, C., Zhao, M.S., Lee, C.K., Fung, T.C., Post-welding behaviour of S690Q high strength steel butt joints, Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering, 2021, 43(1), pp. 64–71. DOI:10.11835/j.issn.2096-6717.2020.014

    9. C. Chen, SP Chiew, M.S. Zhao, C.K. Lee, T.C. Fung, Influence of cooling rate on tensile behaviour of S690Q high strength steel butt joint, Journal of Constructional Steel Research, Vol. 173, 106258, 2020. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcsr.2020.106258

    10. C. Chen, S.P. Chiew, M.S. Zhao, C.K. Lee and TC Fung. Welding effect on tensile strength of grade S690Q steel butt joint. Journal of Constructional Steel Research, vol. 153, 153-168, 2019. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcsr.2018.10.009

Conferences

  • International conference papers published in the last 5 years

    1. M.S. Zhao, T. Li, A.S. Elsemeen, M.A. Al-Dhabyani, E. Somasundaram, S.P. Chiew, Behaviour of UHPC-S690 concrete encased steel stub columns with tuhular-shaped steel skeleton, the 19th International Symposium on Tubular Structures (ISTS 19), Hong Kong, China, December 2025
    2. Y. Xu, G.F. Chua, M.S. Zhao, L. Mo, F. Jin, Synthesis and use of different CaCO3 in Portland Cement, the 1st RILEM Youth Symposium (RYS2025), 20-21 October 2025
    3. Y. Zhang, P. Liu, N. Saravanan, M.S. Zhao, Composition transformation of calcium silicate and RO phase in BOF steel slag during carbonation, 2024 ASEAN Iron and Steel Forum – Sustainable Steel and Green Construction, Bangkok, Thailand, Nov 2024.
    4. Y.J. Chong, M.S. Zhao, G.F. Chua, C. Yip, S.B. Daneti, et al., Enhancing concrete early strength and durability by aqueous carbon sequestration approach, 43rd Annual Cement & Concrete Science Conference, Queens University Belfast, Belfast, UK, Sep 2024.
    5. G.F. Chua, M.S. Zhao, J Chong, T.Y. Yeo, S. Daneti, C. Yip, Y.W. Xu and F. Jin, Workability of Hybrid Cement with Carbonated Mixing Water, 43rd Annual Cement & Concrete Science Conference, Queens University Belfast, Belfast, UK, Sep 2024.
    6. Jamie Y. Chong, G.F. Chua, M.S. Zhao, Colin Yip, Daneti. S. B, F. Jin, Aqueous CO2 sequestration for low-carbon ready-mix concrete, the 26th International Scientific Conference on Civil Engineering, Juniorstav 2024, Bruno University, Brno, Czech Republic, January 2024.
    7. M. Ding, L. Huang, B. Yang, Y. Deng, M.S. Zhao, Experimental study on bending behavir of high performance steel concrete composite beam, The 11th International Conference on Advances in Steel Structures (ICASS 2023), Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia, Dec 2023
    8. S.P. Chiew, G.F. Chua, M.S. Zhao, M. Ding, Y. Yang, Z. Cong and Y.H. Ng, High-Performance Steel-Concrete Beam System for Sustainable Construction – Mechanical Behaviour of the Full-Scale Beams, XIV Conference on Steel and Composite Construction, Coimbra, Portugal, November 2023.
    9. M.S. Zhao, G.F. Chua, M. Ding, S. P. Chiew, Y. Yang, Z. Cong, Y.H. Ng, High-performance pre-engineered steel-concrete composite beams for sustainable construction – mechanical behaviour of the full-scale beams, Eurosteel 2023, 11-14 September, 2023, Amsterdam, Netherlands. 
    10. G.F. Chua, M.S. Zhao, Z. Cong, Y. Yang, Y.H. Ng, S.P. Chiew, High Performance Steel-Concrete Composite Beam System for Sustainable Construction, Proceedings of the 3rd International Conference on Sustainable Civil Engineering and Architecture, Spinger Nature Singapore, 2023  
    11. S.P. Chiew, M.S. Zhao. Strain compatibility in high strength reinforced concrete structures. 2020 SEAISI E-Forum on Sustainable Construction Sector
    12. C. Chen, S.P. Chiew, M.S. Zhao, C.K. Lee and T.C. Fung. Numerical study on the influence of welding on S690Q high strength steel butt joints. 17th International Symposium on Tubular Structures (ISTS17), 09-12 December 2019, Singapore.
    13. S.P. Chiew, C. Chen, M.S. Zhao, C.K. Lee and T.C. Fung. Experimental study of welding effects on S690Q high strength steel butt joints. Nordic Steel 2019, 18-20 September 2019, Copenhagen, Denmark.
    14. S.P. Chiew, C. Chen, M.S. Zhao, C.K. Lee and T.C. Fung. Post-welding behvaiour of S690Q high strength steel butt joints. International Symposium on Advances in Steel and Composite Steel-Concrete Structures 2019, 7 April 2019, Chongqing, China

Books

  • M.S. Zhao, S.P. Chiew, G.F. Chua, M. Ding, Y. Yang and Z. Cong, Design of High-performance Pre-engineered Steel Concrete Composite Beams for Sustainable Construction, 1st edition, CRC Press, 2024. DOI:10.1201/9781032626932

chevron--up

Teaching Modules

Civil Engineering, BEng (Hons)

  • CVE2321 - Design of Steel and Concrete Structures

Master of Science in Civil Engineering

  • CVE6004 - Advanced Material Technology

University Modules

  • UDE1001 - Introduction to Design Innovation
chevron--up