Dr Xu Dai

Senior Lecturer in Fire Engineering

School of Engineering and the Built Environment - BE

Email:: Xu.Dai@bcu.ac.uk

Dr Xu Dai is a Senior Lecturer in Fire Engineering at the Department of Built Environment at Birmingham City University, leading the course on the first UK apprenticeship in fire engineering.

Prior to his current position, Xu was a senior structural fire engineer at Buro Happold based in London office in 2021-2022, specialising in structural fire engineering assessment for fire protection optimisation to achieve sustainable engineering design solutions.

Xu also worked at the National Fire Research Laboratory (NFRL), National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) in Gaithersburg, Maryland, USA in 2019-2021, as a foreign guest researcher fully funded by the U.S. Department of Commerce. His work was mainly contributing on the research project Steel-concrete composite floor systems subject to fire, to evaluate structural resilience and failure modes of the steel-composite structure from system level exposed to large compartment fires.

Xu was a post-doctoral research associate at the BRE Centre for Fire Safety Engineering at the University of Edinburgh, in 2017-2019 (full-time), 2019-2020 (part-time), on research projects Characterization of travelling fires in large compartments, funded by the European Commission (Research Fund for Coal and Steel); Achieving resilience by integrating societal and technical knowledge (Challenging-RISK), and High-performance computing support for United Kingdom Consortium on turbulent reacting flows (UKCTRF), both funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), with an integrated focus on characterising realistic fires in large open-plan compartment of office buildings (i.e., “travelling fires”) for sustainable performance-based structural fire design, via both numerical and experimental methods.

Areas of Expertise

Qualifications

Memberships

Teaching

Research

Postgraduate Supervision

Publications

Journal Papers (leading/corresponding authors*)

X. Dai*, S. Welch, A. Usmani, ‘A critical review of “travelling fire” scenarios for performance-based structural engineering’. Fire Safety Journal, 91C (2017) pp. 568-578, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.firesaf.2017.04.001 (Awards: one of most cited Fire Safety Journal Articles in 2017-2020, by Scopus)
X. Dai*, S. Welch, O. Vassart, K. Cábová, L. Jiang, J. Maclean, C. Clifton, A. Usmani, 'An extended travelling fire method framework for performance-based structural design', Fire and Materials, 44 (2020) pp. 437-457, https://doi.org/10.1002/fam.2810 (Awards: top 10 cited in Fire and Materials journal in 2020-2021, by John Wiley & Sons, Inc)
X. Dai*, A. Gamba, C. Liu, J. Anderson, M. Charlier, D. Rush, S. Welch, ‘An engineering CFD model for fire spread on wood cribs for travelling fires', Advances in Engineering Software, 173 (2022) 103213, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.advengsoft.2022.103213
D. Rush*, X. Dai, D. Lange, ‘Tisova Fire Test – fire behaviours and lessons learnt’, Fire Safety Journal, 121 (2021) 103261, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.firesaf.2020.103261
Z. Nan, X. Dai*, H. Chen, S. Welch, A. Usmani, ‘A numerical investigation of 3D structural behaviour for steel-composite structures under various travelling fire scenarios’, Engineering Structures, 267 (2022) 114587, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.engstruct.2022.114587
Q. Guan, X. Dai*, J. Ye*, S. Huang, I. Burgess, ‘Modelling of composite fin-plate connections under fire conditions using component-based method’, Engineering Structures, 264 (2022) 114451, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.engstruct.2022.114451
J. Jiang, Y.L. Lu, X. Dai*, G.Q. Li, W. Chen, J.H. Ye, ‘Disproportionate collapse of steel-framed gravity buildings under travelling fires’, Engineering Structures, 245 (2021) 112799, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.engstruct.2021.112799

Journal Papers (co-authors)

M. Charlier*, A. Gamba, X. Dai, S. Welch, O. Vassart, J. Franssen, ‘Modelling the influence of steel structure compartment geometry on travelling fires’, Proceedings of the ICE - Structures and Buildings, 174 (9) (2021) pp. 739-748, https://doi.org/10.1680/jstbu.20.00073 (Awards: Frederick Palmer Prize, by Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE))
M. Charlier*, A. Glorieux, X. Dai, N. Alam, S. Welch, J. Anderson, O. Vassart, and A. Nadjai, ‘Travelling fire experiments in steel-framed structure: numerical investigations with CFD and FEM’, Journal of Structural Fire Engineering, 12 (3) (2021) pp. 309-327, https://doi.org/10.1108/JSFE-11-2020-0034 (Awards: Emerald Literati Awards, by Emerald Publishing)
J. Anderson*, J. Sjöström, A. Temple, M. Charlier, X. Dai, S. Welch, D. Rush, ‘FDS simulations and modelling efforts of travelling fires in a large elongated compartment’, Fire and Materials, 45 (6) (2020) pp.699-707, https://doi.org/10.1002/fam.2933
L. Choe*, S. Ramesh, X. Dai, M. Hoehler, M. Bundy, ‘Experimental study on fire resistance of a full-scale composite floor assembly in a two-story steel framed building’, Journal of Structural Fire Engineering, 13 (2) (2022) pp. 145-161, https://doi.org/10.1108/JSFE-05-2021-0030
A. Nadjai*, N. Alam, M. Charlier, O. Vassart, X. Dai, J. Franssen, and J. Sjöström, ‘Travelling fire in full scale experimental building subjected to open ventilation conditions’, Journal of Structural Fire Engineering (2022), https://doi.org/10.1108/JSFE-06-2021-0037
N. Alam*, A. Nadjai, M. Charlier, O. Vassart, S. Welch, J. Sjöström, X. Dai, ‘Large scale travelling fire tests and their effect on the surrounding steel structure – the second fire test’, Journal of Constructional Steel Research, 188 (2021), 107032, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcsr.2021.107032

Conference Papers (First/corresponding authors*)

X. Dai*, L. Choe, E. Fischer, C. Clifton, ‘Thermal response and capacity of beam and shear connections during a large compartment fire experiment’, 11th International Conference on Structures in Fire (SiF 2020), Nov. 30 – Dec. 02, 2020, University of Queensland, Australia
Z. Nan, X. Dai*, H. Chen, S. Welch, A. Usmani, ‘A numerical investigation of 3D structural behaviour for steel-composite structures under various travelling fire scenarios’, 11th International Conference on Structures in Fire (SiF 2020), Nov. 30 – Dec. 02, 2020, University of Queensland, Australia.
X. Dai*, S. Welch, D. Rush, M. Charlier, J. Anderson, ‘Characterising natural fires in large compartments – revisiting an early travelling fire test (BST/FRS 1993) with CFD’, 15th International Interflam Conference, July 2019, London, UK, pp2111-2122.
X. Dai*, S. Welch, A. Usmani, 'Structural implications due to an extended travelling fire methodology (ETFM) framework using SIFBuilder’, 10th International Conference on Structures in Fire (SiF 2018), 6-8 June 2018, Belfast, UK, pp455-462.
X. Dai*, S. Welch, A. Usmani, ‘A critical review of “travelling fire” scenarios for performance-based structural engineering’, 12th International Symposium on Fire Safety Science (IAFSS 2017), 12-16 June 2017, Lund, Sweden, pp. 568-578.
X. Dai*, Y. Jiang, L. Jiang, S. Welch, A. Usmani, 'Implementation of Fire Models in OpenSees’, 1st European Conference on OpenSees, 19-20 June 2017, Porto, Portugal, pp47-50
X. Dai*, L. Jiang, J. Maclean, S. Welch, A. Usmani, 'A conceptual framework for a design travelling fire for large compartments with fire resistant islands', 14th International Interflam Conference, July 2016, London, UK, volume (2), pp1039-1050
X. Dai*, L. Jiang, J. Maclean, S. Welch, A. Usmani, 'Implementation of a new design travelling fire model for global structural analysis', 9th International Conference on Structures in Fire (SiF 2016), 8-10 June 2016, Princeton University, USA, pp959-966

Conference Papers (co-authors)

L. Choe, S. Ramesh, X. Dai, M. Hoehler, M. Bundy, ‘Experimental study on fire resistance of a full-scale composite floor assembly in a two-story steel framed building’, 11th International Conference on Structures in Fire (SiF 2020), Nov. 30 – Dec. 02, 2020, University of Queensland, Australia. (Best Paper Award, 1^st Place)
M. Charlier, O. Vassart, X. Dai, S. Welch, J. Sjöström, J. Anderson, A. Nadjai, ‘A simplified representation of travelling fire development in large compartment using CFD analyses’, 11th International Conference on Structures in Fire (SiF 2020), Nov. 30 – Dec. 02, 2020, University of Queensland, Australia. (Best Presentation Award- Runner Up)
A. Nadjai, N. Alam, M. Charlier, O. Vassart, X. Dai, JM. Franssen, J. Sjöström, ‘Travelling fire in full scale experimental building subjected to different ventilation conditions’, 11th International Conference on Structures in Fire (SiF 2020), Nov. 30 – Dec. 02, 2020, University of Queensland, Australia.
J. Anderson, J. Sjöström, A. Temple, M. Charlier, X. Dai, S. Welch, D. Rush, ‘FDS simulations and modelling efforts of travelling fires in a large elongated compartment’, 15th International Interflam Conference, July 2019, London, UK, pp2085-2094.
J. Hu, X. Dai, A. Usmani, R. Carvel, ‘Design fires for performance-based engineering of bridges’, 10th International Conference on Structures in Fire (SiF 2018), 6-8 June 2018, Belfast, UK, pp3-10.
M. Charlier, A. Gamba, X. Dai, S. Welch, O. Vassart, J. Franssen, ‘CFD analyses used to evaluate the influence of compartment geometry on the possibility of development of a travelling fire’, 10th International Conference on Structures in Fire (SiF 2018), 6-8 June 2018, Belfast, UK, pp341-348.
P. Khazaeinejad, X. Dai and A. Usmani, 'Analysis of heated beams: modelling benchmarks', 1st International Conference on Structural Safety under Fire & Blast (CONFAB 2015), 2-4 September 2015, Glasgow, Scotland, UK, pp469-473
L. Jiang, X. Dai, Asif Usmani and P. Kamath, 'OpenSees-based integrated tool for modelling structures in fire', 1st International Conference on Structural Safety under Fire & Blast (CONFAB 2015), 2-4 September 2015, Glasgow, Scotland, UK, pp461-468
I. Burgess, X. Dai, and S. Huang, 'An alternative simplified model of tensile membrane action of slabs in fire', Applications of Structural Fire Engineering conference (ASFE 2013), Prague, Czech Republic, April 2013, pp361-368.

Research Reports

D. Lange, D. Rush, X. Dai, L. Boström, ‘The Tisova Fire Test, part 1: test report’, RISE Report (2018), p.93, Research Institutes of Sweden (RISE), Boras, Sweden, ISBN: 978-91-88695-56-7
L. Choe, S. Ramesh, X. Dai, M. Hoehler, M. Bundy, R. A. Bryant, B. Story, A. R. Chakalis, A. A. Chernovsky, ‘Fire resilience of a steel-concrete composite floor system: full-scale experimental evaluation for U.S. prescriptive approach with a 2-hour fire-resistance rating (Test #1)’, NIST Technical Note 2165, (2021), https://doi.org/10.6028/NIST.TN.2165
L. Choe, S. Ramesh, M. Hoehler, M. Bundy, R. A. Bryant, X. Dai, B. Story, A. R. Chakalis, A. A. Chernovsky, ‘Fire resilience of a steel-concrete composite floor system: full-scale experimental evaluation for influence of slab reinforcement (Test# 2)’, NIST Technical Note 2203, (2022), https://doi.org/10.6028/NIST.TN.2203
M. Charlier, A. Glorieux, O. Vassart; J.M. Franssen, A. Gamba, F. Dumont; A. Temple, J. Sjöström, J. Anderson; S. Welch, X. Dai, D. Rush; A. Nadjai, N. Alam, ‘Characterization of TRAvelling FIRes in large compartments (TRAFIR)’, Final Report, Research Programme of the Research Fund for Coal and Steel, European Commission, Technical Group: TGS8/TGA4, Grant Agreement 754198, (2022)