Dr Ryan Hoult

Dr Ryan Hoult

Senior Lecturer

School of Engineering

Career Summary

Biography

Dr. Ryan Hoult is a Senior Lecturer in Structural and Earthquake Engineering at the University of Newcastle. His research focuses on improving the seismic resilience of reinforced concrete (RC) structures through a combination of experimental testing, advanced modelling, and design innovation. He has a particular interest in the behaviour of RC walls under in-plane and out-of-plane seismic demands, low-damage structural systems, torsion and warping of asymmetrical, non-planar cross-sections, and the development of sustainable concrete mixes compatible with Glass Fibre Reinforced Polymer (GFRP) reinforcement.

Dr. Hoult's work has contributed to better understanding the vulnerabilities in non-ductile concrete buildings, especially in Australian contexts where seismic risk is often underestimated. He is currently leading research into the resiliency of RC structures against corrosion and earthquake actions by investigating different reinforcement materials and techniques, including Shape Memory Alloys (SMAs) and GFRP.

In addition to his research, Dr. Hoult is an active mentor, supervisor, and contributor to academic leadership. He has played a key role in organising national and international conferences and is committed to bridging the gap between research and real-world engineering practice.

Qualifications

  • DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY, University of Melbourne
  • MASTER OF ENGINEERING STRUCTURES, University of Melbourne

Keywords

  • Earthquake Engineering
  • GFRP
  • Performance-Based Design
  • Reinforced Concrete (RC) Structures
  • SMAs
  • Structural Engineering
  • Structural Resilience

Languages

  • English (Mother)
  • French (Working)
  • Dutch (Working)

Fields of Research

Code Description Percentage
400506 Earthquake engineering 50
400510 Structural engineering 50

Professional Experience

UON Appointment

Title Organisation / Department
Senior Lecturer University of Newcastle
School of Engineering
Australia

Academic appointment

Dates Title Organisation / Department
3/7/2023 - 30/6/2025 Research Fellow

As a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Postdoctoral Fellow at UCLouvain, I lead an independent research project focused on testing novel, cost-effective reinforcing materials for concrete structures with improved durability and sustainability. This work explores the structural performance of innovative materials such as shape memory alloys and corrosion-resistant reinforcements, combining experimental testing with practical design implications. The project supports collaboration between academia and industry and contributes to advancing low-carbon, high-performance construction solutions.

 Université catholique de Louvain
Institute of Mechanics, Materials and Civil Engineering
Belgium
2/7/2021 - 30/6/2023 Postdoctoral Researcher

As a recipient of the Fonds de la Recherche Scientifique (FNRS) postdoctoral fellowship at UCLouvain, I conducted research under the supervision of Prof. João Almeida on the torsional behaviour of reinforced concrete U-shaped core walls. The project involved the design, construction, and testing of two large-scale wall specimens subjected to combined torsion and flexure, providing new insights into their seismic performance. This work addressed a critical gap in current design standards and contributed to the broader understanding of complex loading in non-planar concrete systems.

 Université catholique de Louvain
Institute of Mechanics, Materials and Civil Engineering
Belgium
16/9/2019 - 30/6/2021 Lecturer

As a Lecturer in a 100% teaching-focused role, I was responsible for the delivery and coordination of undergraduate engineering courses. My duties included lecturing core content, leading tutorials and workshops, preparing and managing laboratory sessions, and updating course materials to align with evolving industry standards. I also oversaw assessment design and grading, provided academic support to students, and managed sessional teaching staff by assigning responsibilities and ensuring consistent delivery across course components. This role strengthened my skills in curriculum development, academic leadership, and student engagement.

 The University of Melbourne
Department of Infrastructure Engineering
Australia
16/8/2018 - 1/9/2019 Postdoctoral Researcher

As a recipient of the highly competitive Swiss Government Excellence Scholarship, I undertook postdoctoral research at EPFL, where I led a large-scale experimental testing program at the Earthquake Engineering and Structural Dynamics (EESD) Laboratory. The project involved the design, construction, and dynamic testing of two full-scale reinforced concrete walls to investigate their seismic performance under bi-directional loading. I was responsible for all phases of the project, including experimental planning, instrumentation, data interpretation, and collaboration with international research partners. This role further strengthened my expertise in earthquake engineering, large-scale testing, and project leadership in a high-profile research environment.

 Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale De Lausanne
Earthquake Engineering and Structural Dynamics (EESD) Laboratory
Switzerland
1/7/2017 - 15/8/2018 Senior Tutor

As Senior Tutor in a 100% teaching-focused role, I was responsible for delivering tutorials, practical demonstrations, and occasional lectures across core undergraduate engineering courses. I supported the coordination and training of sessional tutors to ensure consistent teaching quality and contributed to the preparation and refinement of laboratory materials. In addition to academic duties, I provided administrative support to the department, assisting with course coordination, student communications, and assessment logistics. This role enhanced my skills in academic leadership, teaching delivery, and operational support within a large-scale engineering education environment.

 The University of Melbourne
Department of Infrastructure Engineering
Australia

Awards

Research Award

Year Award
2022 Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Postdoctoral Fellowship
Université catholique de Louvain
2018 Swiss Government Excellence Scholarship
Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale De Lausanne

Teaching Award

Year Award
2020 Learning and Teaching Initiatives Grant
The University of Melbourne

Thesis Examinations

Year Level Discipline Thesis
2025 PHD Earth Sciences The Belgian Macroseismic Database: Creation, Validation, and its Implications for Engineering Seismology
This PhD research addressed the underutilisation of macroseismic data in assessing seismic hazard in Belgium, a region characterised by low to moderate seismicity with long periods of inactivity. Despite the infrequent occurrence of damaging earthquakes, historical events demonstrate that significant seismic impacts are possible. To support improved hazard assessment and real-time impact monitoring, the study compiled and published two major datasets: the Belgian Traditional Macroseismic (BTM) database, containing 23,950 intensity data points (IDPs) for 80 events from the 20th century, and the Belgian Online Macroseismic (BOM) database, with 1,220 IDPs for 39 events since 2002. The research critically reviewed various macroseismic survey methods—ranging from traditional questionnaires to modern online platforms—and proposed improvements to reduce data uncertainties. It validated the Belgian seismic hazard model against observed intensities and evaluated the performance of different Intensity Prediction Equations (IPEs), finding that earthquake depth strongly influences attenuation rates. These contributions not only consolidate 125 years of seismic impact data in Belgium but also offer practical tools and recommendations for future seismic hazard analysis and monitoring.

The thesis can be found here.
2024 PHD Engineering Axial Cyclic Behaviour of RC Prisms Representing Wall Boundary Zones
This PhD research investigated the effectiveness and limitations of using idealised reinforced concrete (RC) prisms to study compression failure modes in the boundary zones of flexure-dominated structural walls subjected to seismic loading. Recognising the impracticality of large-scale wall testing for parametric studies, the research focused on RC prism testing as a simplified and resource-efficient alternative. A key contribution of the study was the development of a realistic uniaxial cyclic loading protocol that reflects earthquake-type strain demands, including near-fault and far-fault characteristics, and its comparison with conventional loading protocols. Experimental results showed that conventional protocols imposed more severe low-cycle fatigue damage than earthquake-informed ones. The research also highlighted the importance of selecting appropriate prism slenderness to accurately replicate local and global compression failure modes and established relationships between slenderness and observed failure mechanisms. Furthermore, the study addressed discrepancies between prism and full wall boundary behaviour by proposing a material-strain limit approach that accounts for strain gradients, allowing reliable drift capacity predictions from prism data. The thesis offers practical insights and methodological improvements for future testing and design of RC wall boundary zones under seismic demands.
The thesis can be found here.
2023 PHD Engineering Estimating Seismic Demand of Reinforced Concrete Wall Buildings: A Simplified Approach

This PhD research focused on developing practical and simplified methods to estimate key seismic demand parameters—maximum inter-storey drift ratio (IDR) and peak floor acceleration (PFA)—in reinforced concrete (RC) wall buildings. While detailed nonlinear analyses are central to performance-based earthquake engineering (PBEE), they are often too complex and resource-intensive for routine engineering practice. To bridge this gap, the study employed the Shear-Flexure Interaction Multiple Vertical Line Element Model (SFIMVLEM) to conduct extensive parametric studies on RC walls, identifying the shear span ratio (SSR) as the most influential factor for predicting seismic demands. Using over 10,000 nonlinear dynamic analyses, the research proposed new prediction equations for IDR and PFA, which were validated against numerical and experimental data. The study also developed a set of generic ground motions for hazard-consistent analysis in regions like Wellington, New Zealand. Overall, the thesis offers engineers simplified, yet reliable tools to assess the seismic performance of RC wall structures, enhancing the efficiency of seismic loss estimation and design.
The thesis can be found here.
2022 PHD Engineering Seismic Design of Lightly Reinforced Concrete Walls in Tall Buildings
2019 PHD Engineering Bar Buckling in Ductile Reinforced Concrete Walls: Causes, Consequences And Control
This PhD research investigated the mechanisms and mitigation of bar buckling in flexurally-dominated reinforced concrete (RC) walls used for seismic resistance. Prompted by brittle failures observed in slender RC walls during the 2010 Chile and 2010–11 New Zealand earthquakes, the study addressed the inadequacies of current anti-buckling design provisions, which primarily consider transverse reinforcement spacing but overlook tie stiffness and the effects of cyclic tensile loading. A comprehensive experimental program was undertaken, including monotonic, cyclic, and fatigue tests on reinforcing bars with varying properties, leading to the development of a path-dependent stress-strain model that incorporates buckling and low-cycle fatigue. Large-scale wall tests confirmed that current code-compliant detailing is insufficient to prevent bar buckling, while improved tie arrangements effectively limited buckling. Axial tests on boundary element prisms further highlighted key parameters influencing buckling behaviour. The findings informed a mechanics-based design approach, recommending more rigorous transverse reinforcement detailing to enhance wall performance and delay compressive deterioration under seismic loading.
The thesis can be downloaded here.

Teaching

Code Course Role Duration
CIVL4521 Structural Engineering Project
The University of Newcastle
This course provides a practical introduction to design techniques in structural engineering. The emphasis is on realistic design problems, such as the structural design of a new commercial or industrial building. Problems are set and supervised by practicing engineers in consultation with departmental staff and test most aspects of structural design. 		Course Coordinator 21/7/2025 - 28/11/2025
ENGR10005 Statics
The University of Melbourne
Statics introduces the principles of how objects behave when subject to forces with a mix of design projects, interactive workshops and lectures. It assumes a preference of mathematical, graphical and analytical ways of knowing, quantitative analysis and physical principles. Through analysis, model simulations, laboratory work, testing and evaluation, students will explore the fundamentals of structural analysis and commonly used materials, construction/manufacturing methods and systems. Considering the design, fabrication, buildability and sustainability issues will provide the contextual links between statics theory and the finished product. 		Course Coordinator 26/7/2021 - 24/10/2021
CVEN90017 Earthquake Resistant Design of Buildings
University of Melbourne
This subject introduces the fundamental concepts and practice of earthquake resistant design of buildings from an international perspective, incorporating consideration of design in regions of low to moderate seismicity such as Australia and in regions of high seismicity. The design of economically and environmentally feasible structures that can successfully withstand the forces and displacements generated by severe ground motions is a challenge demanding the best in structural engineering art and science. This subject builds on knowledge of Risk Analysis, Engineering Mathematics, Dynamics, and Structural Theory and Design to allow candidates to work as a supervised graduate engineer in this specialised area of practice. 		Lecturer 1/3/2021 - 30/5/2021
CVEN90049 Structural Theory and Design 2
The University of Melbourne
This subject introduces more advanced methods of structural analysis and design, and their applications to the engineering of reinforced concrete and structural steel in compliance with the standards. Students will be given the opportunity to integrate the use of different materials into the design of contemporary structures through design projects. This subject would typically be that final subject in the sequence of structural engineering subjects for civil engineering students who do not want to specialise in structural engineering. 		Lecturer 2/3/2020 - 7/6/2020
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Publications

For publications that are currently unpublished or in-press, details are shown in italics.

Highlighted Publications

Year Citation Altmetrics Link
2018 Hoult R, Goldsworthy H, Lumantarna E, 'Plastic Hinge Length for Lightly Reinforced Rectangular Concrete Walls', Journal of Earthquake Engineering, 22, 1447-1478 (2018) [C1]
DOI 10.1080/13632469.2017.1286619
2020 Hoult R, Beyer K, 'Decay of Torsional Stiffness in RC U-Shaped Walls', Journal of Structural Engineering United States, 146 (2020) [C1]
DOI 10.1061/(ASCE)ST.1943-541X.0002733
2021 Hoult R, Beyer K, 'RC U-shaped walls subjected to in-plane, diagonal, and torsional loading: New experimental findings', Engineering Structures, 233 (2021) [C1]
DOI 10.1016/j.engstruct.2021.111873
2021 Hoult R, Allen T, Borleis E, Peck W, Amirsardari A, 'Source and attenuation properties of the 2012 Moe, southeastern Australia, earthquake sequence', Seismological Research Letters, 92, 1112-1128 (2021) [C1]
DOI 10.1785/0220200234
2022 Hoult RD, de Almeida JP, 'Residual displacements of reinforced concrete walls detailed with conventional steel and shape memory alloy rebars', Engineering Structures, 256 (2022) [C1]
DOI 10.1016/j.engstruct.2022.114002
2022 Hoult R, 'Universal Plastic Hinge Length for Reinforced Concrete Walls', ACI Structural Journal, 119, 75-83 (2022) [C1]
DOI 10.14359/51734650
2023 Hoult R, Doneux C, Pacheco de Almeida J, 'Tests on reinforced concrete U-shaped walls subjected to torsion and flexure', Earthquake Spectra, 39, 2685-2710 (2023) [C1]
DOI 10.1177/87552930231195315
2023 Hoult R, Bertholet A, de Almeida JP, 'Core versus Surface Sensors for Reinforced Concrete Structures: A Comparison of Fiber-Optic Strain Sensing to Conventional Instrumentation', Sensors, 23 (2023) [C1]
DOI 10.3390/s23031745
2024 D.Hoult R, de Almeida JP, 'Modified compression field theory and disturbed stress field model on the simulation of the global and local behaviour of non-planar reinforced concrete walls under cyclic and dynamic loading', Bulletin of Earthquake Engineering (2024) [C1]
DOI 10.1007/s10518-024-01982-1
2024 Hoult RD, Pacheco de Almeida J, 'Torque Capacity of U- and H-Shaped Reinforced Concrete Walls Using Warping-Equivalent Bending Moment', ACI Structural Journal, 121, 173-184 (2024) [C1]
DOI 10.14359/51740574
2024 Hoult R, Pacheco De Almeida J, 'Flexure-Torsion Response of Compressed Open Reinforced-Concrete Cores: Experimental Strain Gradients, Numerical Methods, and Interaction Diagrams', Journal of Structural Engineering United States, 150 (2024) [C1]
DOI 10.1061/JSENDH.STENG-13147
2025 Orgnoni A, Pinho R, Hoult R, de Almeida JP, 'Numerical simulation of the shake-table response of a U-shaped RC wall using the Applied Element Method', Bulletin of Earthquake Engineering (2025)
DOI 10.1007/s10518-025-02272-0
2025 Zacchei E, Hoult RD, de Almeida JP, 'Influence of chloride and corrosion attack on the seismic resistance of reinforced concrete walls under alternative climate scenarios', Structural Concrete, 26, 2162-2181 (2025) [C1]
DOI 10.1002/suco.70038
2025 Hoult R, Correia AA, Bertholet A, Candeias P, Cumunel G, Doneux C, Garnier D, Han Y, Isakovic T, Janevski A, Lo Feudo S, Orgnoni A, Payen B, Palermo D, Pinho R, Ribeiro F, Pacheco de Almeida J, 'Shake-table tests on two 40-ton reinforced concrete U-shaped walls with uniaxial and bidirectional-torsional response', Earthquake Spectra (2025) [C1]
DOI 10.1177/87552930251378247

Conference (34 outputs)

Year Citation Altmetrics Link
2025 Hoult R, Almeida JPD, 'Warping Torque of Symmetrical Non-Planar Open RC Sections' (2025)
2025 Hoult R, Almeida JPD, 'Experimental Investigation of Surface Conditions and Embedment Length Effects on Bond-Slip Behaviour of GFRP Rebars' (2025)
2025 Almedia JPD, Hoult R, Zoller A, 'Influence of Surface Conditions and Embedment Length on the Bond-slip Response of GFRP Rebars in Concrete' (2025)
2025 de Almeida JP, Hoult R, 'Seismic Residual Displacements of RC U-Shaped Core Walls: Preliminary Findings', Lecture Notes in Civil Engineering, 718 LNCE, 132-143 (2025)
DOI 10.1007/978-3-031-98893-6_14
2024 Weng X, Lumantarna E, Hoult R, Menegon S, Lam N, 'Prediction of Lateral Drift Behaviour of Precast Concrete Walls Using Finite Element Analysis' (2024)
2024 Hoult R, Almeida JPD, Correia A, 'Overview and Blind Prediction from Shake Table Tests of a Large-Scale RC U-shaped Core Wall' (2024)
2024 Hoult R, Almedia JPD, 'Ongoing Experimental Programmes on RC Walls Reinforced with Iron-Based Shape Memory Alloy Rebars' (2024)
2024 Almeida JPD, Hoult R, Payen B, Correia A, 'Effective Stiffness of Non-Rectangular Reinforced Concrete Walls for Design and Assessment' (2024)
2024 Weng X, Lumantarna E, Hoult RD, Lam NTK, 'A Simplified Finite Element Model of Grouted Duct Connections in Precast Reinforced Concrete Walls', Proceedings of the 26th Australasian Conference on the Mechanics of Structures and Materials, 513 LNCE, 311-322 (2024) [E1]
DOI 10.1007/978-981-97-3397-2_28
2023 Weng X, Lumantarna E, Hoult R, Lam N, 'Sliding shear behaviour of horizontal grouted joints in prefabricated concrete walls: review of the literature and current design models' (2023)
2023 Weng X, Menegon S, Lumantarna E, Hoult R, Sofi M, Lam N, 'Pullout Tests of Grout Tube Connections in Limited Ductile Precast Reinforced Concrete Walls' (2023)
2022 Hoult R, Bertholet A, Almeida JPD, 'Vertical Displacement and Strain Measurements Of RC Walls using Fiber-Optic Sensors and Conventional Instrumentation' (2022)
2022 Hoult R, Doneux C, Almeida JPD, 'Blind prediction results of two RC U-shaped walls subjected to flexure and torsion' (2022)
2022 Hoult R, Bertholet A, Almeida JPD, 'Fibre-optic sensors in reinforced concrete walls: a comparison of core to surface strain measurements' (2022)
2021 Hoult R, Almeida JPD, 'Residual displacements of flexure-governed RC walls detailed with conventional steel and shape memory alloy rebars' (2021)
2021 Weng X, Lumantarna E, Hoult R, Lam N, 'Seismic Performance of Precast RC Walls in Australia: Literature Review' (2021)
2021 Lam L, de Souza R, Sutton C, Oliveira EA, Currie G, Hoult R, Esfahani LM, Canny L, Honig C, Buskes G, 'Development of an online teaching-focused professional development program for junior teaching staff', 9th Research in Engineering Education Symposium and 32nd Australasian Association for Engineering Education Conference Rees Aaee 2021 Engineering Education Research Capability Development, 2, 1113-1121 (2021)
DOI 10.52202/066488-0122
2020 Hoult R, 'Experimental Findings on the Seismic Performance of Reinforced Concrete U-shaped Walls using the Digital Image Correlation Technique' (2020)
2020 Hoult R, Miramini S, Lumantarna E, 'Students’ experience and effectiveness of learning in large classes using a blended learning approach' (2020)
2020 Hoult R, Appelle A, Almeida JPD, Beyer K, 'Seismic Performance of Slender and Unconfined RC U-shaped Walls with a Single-Layer of Reinforcement' (2020)
2020 Hoult R, Pascale A, Chan THT, 'A Cost-Effective Approach for Seismic Structural Health Monitoring' (2020)
2020 Hoult R, 'Torsional Performance of RC U-shaped Walls: Recent Experimental and Numerical Findings' (2020)
2018 Hoult R, 'Minimum longitudinal reinforcement requirements proposed for limited-ductile RC walls in as 3600' (2018)
2017 Hoult R, Goldsworthy H, Lumantarna E, 'Seismic Assessment of the RC building stock of Melbourne from rare and very rare earthquake events' (2017)
2017 Hoult R, Goldsworthy H, Lumantarna E, 'Seismic performance of lightly reinforced and unconfined C-shaped walls' (2017)
2016 Hoult R, Goldsworthy H, Lumantarna E, 'Displacement Capacity of Lightly Reinforced Rectangular Concrete Walls' (2016)
2016 Hoult R, Goldsworthy H, Lumantarna E, 'Non-ductile seismic performance of reinforced concrete walls in Australia' (2016)
2015 Hoult R, Goldsworthy H, Lumantarna E, 'Torsional displacement for asymmetric low-rise buildings with RC C-shaped cores' (2015)
2015 Hoult R, Goldsworthy H, Lumantarna E, 'Seismic assessment of nonductile reinforced concrete C-shaped walls in Australia' (2015)
2015 Hoult RD, Goldsworthy HM, Lumantarna E, 'Seismic assessment of non-ductile reinforced concrete C-shaped walls', Isec 2015 8th International Structural Engineering and Construction Conference Implementing Innovative Ideas in Structural Engineering and Project Management, 331-336 (2015)
DOI 10.14455/isec.res.2015.129
2014 Hoult R, Goldsworthy H, Lumantarna E, 'Seismic Performance of Typical C-Shaped Reinforced Concrete Shear Cores in Australia' (2014)
2014 Hoult R, Amirsardari A, Sandiford D, Lumantarna E, Goldsworthy H, Gibson G, Asten M, 'The 2012 Moe earthquake and earthquake attenuation in south eastern Australia' (2014)
2014 Leonard M, Hoult R, Somerville P, Gibson G, Sandiford D, Goldsworthy H, Lumantarna E, Spilopoulos S, 'Deaggregating the differences between seismic hazard assessments at a single site' (2014)
2013 Hoult R, Lumantarna E, Goldsworthy H, 'Ground motion modelling and response spectra for Australian earthquakes' (2013)
Show 31 more conferences

Dataset (1 outputs)

Year Citation Altmetrics Link
2021 , 'Residual Displacements of Reinforced Concrete Walls Detailed with Conventional Steel and Shape Memory Alloy Rebars'
DOI 10.14428/dvn/a1fzt9

Journal article (31 outputs)

Year Citation Altmetrics Link
2025 Orgnoni A, Pinho R, Hoult R, de Almeida JP, 'Numerical simulation of the shake-table response of a U-shaped RC wall using the Applied Element Method', Bulletin of Earthquake Engineering (2025)
DOI 10.1007/s10518-025-02272-0
2025 Jafari A, Mirrashid M, Hoult RD, Zhou Y, 'Plastic hinge length of RC shear walls: Practical approximation via machine learning and probabilistic assessment', Engineering Failure Analysis, 169 (2025) [C1]
DOI 10.1016/j.engfailanal.2024.109179
2025 Lo Feudo S, Han Y, Cumunel G, Hoult R, Bertholet A, Garnier D, Candeias P, Correia AA, Pacheco de Almeida J, 'Video Tracking of Targets for Vibration Measurement of Large-Scale Structures Under Seismic Excitation', Earthquake Engineering and Structural Dynamics, 54, 2106-2120 (2025) [C1]
DOI 10.1002/eqe.4353
2025 Zacchei E, Hoult RD, de Almeida JP, 'Influence of chloride and corrosion attack on the seismic resistance of reinforced concrete walls under alternative climate scenarios', Structural Concrete, 26, 2162-2181 (2025) [C1]
DOI 10.1002/suco.70038
2025 Hoult R, Correia AA, Bertholet A, Candeias P, Cumunel G, Doneux C, Garnier D, Han Y, Isakovic T, Janevski A, Lo Feudo S, Orgnoni A, Payen B, Palermo D, Pinho R, Ribeiro F, Pacheco de Almeida J, 'Shake-table tests on two 40-ton reinforced concrete U-shaped walls with uniaxial and bidirectional-torsional response', Earthquake Spectra (2025) [C1]
DOI 10.1177/87552930251378247
2024 D.Hoult R, de Almeida JP, 'Modified compression field theory and disturbed stress field model on the simulation of the global and local behaviour of non-planar reinforced concrete walls under cyclic and dynamic loading', Bulletin of Earthquake Engineering (2024) [C1]
DOI 10.1007/s10518-024-01982-1
2024 Hoult RD, Pacheco de Almeida J, 'Torque Capacity of U- and H-Shaped Reinforced Concrete Walls Using Warping-Equivalent Bending Moment', ACI Structural Journal, 121, 173-184 (2024) [C1]
DOI 10.14359/51740574
2024 Hoult R, Pacheco De Almeida J, 'Flexure-Torsion Response of Compressed Open Reinforced-Concrete Cores: Experimental Strain Gradients, Numerical Methods, and Interaction Diagrams', Journal of Structural Engineering United States, 150 (2024) [C1]
DOI 10.1061/JSENDH.STENG-13147
2023 Weng X, Hoult RD, Lumantarna E, 'Site-Specific Seismic Analysis of Buildings Supported by Lightly Reinforced Precast Concrete Walls', Civileng, 4, 270-291 (2023) [C1]
DOI 10.3390/civileng4010016
2023 Hoult R, Correia AA, de Almeida JP, 'Beam-Truss Models to Simulate the Axial-Flexural-Torsional Performance of RC U-Shaped Wall Buildings', Civileng, 4, 292-310 (2023) [C1]
DOI 10.3390/civileng4010017
2023 Hoult R, Doneux C, Pacheco de Almeida J, 'Tests on reinforced concrete U-shaped walls subjected to torsion and flexure', Earthquake Spectra, 39, 2685-2710 (2023) [C1]
DOI 10.1177/87552930231195315
2023 Hoult R, Bertholet A, de Almeida JP, 'Core versus Surface Sensors for Reinforced Concrete Structures: A Comparison of Fiber-Optic Strain Sensing to Conventional Instrumentation', Sensors, 23 (2023) [C1]
DOI 10.3390/s23031745
2022 Hoult R, 'A computationally-effective method for rapidly determining the seismic structural response of high-rise buildings with a limited number of sensors', Bulletin of Earthquake Engineering, 20, 4395-4417 (2022) [C1]
DOI 10.1007/s10518-021-01171-4
2022 Hoult R, de Almeida JP, 'From experimental strain and crack distributions to plastic hinge lengths of RC walls with SMA rebars', Engineering Structures, 268 (2022) [C1]
DOI 10.1016/j.engstruct.2022.114731
2022 Hoult RD, de Almeida JP, 'Residual displacements of reinforced concrete walls detailed with conventional steel and shape memory alloy rebars', Engineering Structures, 256 (2022) [C1]
DOI 10.1016/j.engstruct.2022.114002
2022 Hoult R, 'Universal Plastic Hinge Length for Reinforced Concrete Walls', ACI Structural Journal, 119, 75-83 (2022) [C1]
DOI 10.14359/51734650
2021 Hoult R, Peel M, Duffield C, 'Lessons from Flipping Subjects in Engineering: Effectiveness of Student Learning in a Flipped Environment at the University Level', Journal of Civil Engineering Education, 147 (2021) [C1]
DOI 10.1061/(ASCE)EI.2643-9115.0000028
2021 Hoult R, Beyer K, 'RC U-shaped walls subjected to in-plane, diagonal, and torsional loading: New experimental findings', Engineering Structures, 233 (2021) [C1]
DOI 10.1016/j.engstruct.2021.111873
2021 Hoult R, 'Torsional capacity of reinforced concrete U-shaped walls', Structures, 31, 190-204 (2021) [C1]
DOI 10.1016/j.istruc.2021.01.104
2021 Hoult R, Allen T, Borleis E, Peck W, Amirsardari A, 'Source and attenuation properties of the 2012 Moe, southeastern Australia, earthquake sequence', Seismological Research Letters, 92, 1112-1128 (2021) [C1]
DOI 10.1785/0220200234
2021 Sofi M, Lumantarna E, Hoult R, Mooney M, Mason N, Lu J, 'Bond strength of GiR in cross-laminated timber: A preliminary study', Construction and Building Materials, 301 (2021) [C1]
DOI 10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2021.123864
2021 Currie G, Henderson A, Hoult R, 'Diffusion of innovation in an Australian engineering school', Australasian Journal of Engineering Education, 26, 219-226 (2021) [C1]
DOI 10.1080/22054952.2021.1979174
2020 Hoult R, Beyer K, 'Decay of Torsional Stiffness in RC U-Shaped Walls', Journal of Structural Engineering United States, 146 (2020) [C1]
DOI 10.1061/(ASCE)ST.1943-541X.0002733
2020 Hoult RD, Goldsworthy HM, Lumantarna E, 'Plastic Hinge Length for Lightly Reinforced C-Shaped Concrete Walls', Journal of Earthquake Engineering, 24, 1083-1114 (2020) [C1]
DOI 10.1080/13632469.2018.1453419
2020 Hoult R, Appelle A, Almeida J, Beyer K, 'Seismic performance of slender RC U-shaped walls with a single-layer of reinforcement', Engineering Structures, 225 (2020) [C1]
DOI 10.1016/j.engstruct.2020.111257
2019 Hoult R, Goldsworthy H, Lumantarna E, 'Fragility functions for RC shear wall buildings in Australia', Earthquake Spectra, 55, 333-360 (2019) [C1]
DOI 10.1193/120717EQS251M
2019 Hoult RD, 'Shear Lag Effects in Reinforced Concrete C-Shaped Walls', Journal of Structural Engineering United States, 145 (2019) [C1]
DOI 10.1061/(ASCE)ST.1943-541X.0002272
2018 Hoult R, Goldsworthy H, Lumantarna E, 'Plastic Hinge Length for Lightly Reinforced Rectangular Concrete Walls', Journal of Earthquake Engineering, 22, 1447-1478 (2018) [C1]
DOI 10.1080/13632469.2017.1286619
2018 Hoult RD, Goldsworthy HM, Lumantarna E, 'Plastic hinge analysis for lightly reinforced and unconfined concrete structural walls', Bulletin of Earthquake Engineering, 16, 4825-4860 (2018) [C1]
DOI 10.1007/s10518-018-0369-x
2017 Hoult RD, 'Minimum longitudinal reinforcement requirements for boundary elements of limited ductile walls for as 3600', Electronic Journal of Structural Engineering, 17, 43-52 (2017) [C1]
2017 Hoult RD, Lumantarna E, Goldsworthy HM, 'Soil amplification in low-to-moderate seismic regions', Bulletin of Earthquake Engineering, 15, 1945-1963 (2017) [C1]
DOI 10.1007/s10518-016-0067-5
Show 28 more journal articles
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Grants and Funding

Summary

Number of grants 5
Total funding $932,100

Click on a grant title below to expand the full details for that specific grant.

20233 grants / $838,000

Smart ALLoys for WALLs (ALL4wALL)$350,000

The many advantages of reinforced concrete (RC) make it irreplaceable for countless infrastructures, and led it to become the dominant building material for medium‐to‐high rise construction around the world. This project advances the understanding of the seismic behaviour of RC U‐shaped core walls by investigating two factors that commonly contribute to poor structural response and limit post-earthquake serviceability: torsional response and permanent (or residual) displacements, which are key in determining the post‐earthquake repairability of such structures. Permanent displacements can be minimised through a mitigation principle that consists in replacing partially some of the longitudinal steel reinforcement at the base by smart (superelastic) alloy bars (Figure 1). ALL4wALL will demonstrate this technological innovation, contributing to ensure target performances for buildings with significantly longer service lives, which should be an aim for sustainable design and assessment. The project is financed by ERIES, and will be carried out by a consortium of seven universities (Liège, Pavia, York - in Canada, ENPC ParisTech, Ljubljana, ISAE-Supméca) led by UCLouvain. It will finish with the testing of two 40-ton 6-m tall large-scale wall units (Figure 2) on the shake table of LNEC (Figure 3). The second unit will include shape-memory alloy rebars at the base to minimize the permanent deformations after the earthquake. The goal is to contribute to the design and assessment of structures with longer services lives.

Funding body: HORIZON Europe

Funding body HORIZON Europe
Project Team

João Pacheco de Almeida, António A. Correia, Alex Bertholet, Paulo Candeias, Gwendal Cumunel, Catherine Doneux, Denis Garnier, Yunhyeok Han, Ryan Hoult, Tatjana Isaković, Antonio Janevski, Stefania Lo Feudo, Andrea Orgnoni, Basile Payen, Dan Palermo, Rui Pinho, Filipe Ribeiro
Scheme Engineering Research Infrastructures for European Synergies (ERIES)
Role Investigator
Funding Start 2023
Funding Finish 2024
GNo
Type Of Funding International - Competitive
Category 3IFA
UON N

Seismic Performance and Residual Displacements of Reinforced Concrete Walls Detailed with Iron-Based Shape Memory Alloys$338,000

Most structures built to withstand earthquakes currently rely on reinforced concrete walls that concentrate damage in a region, typically at the base of those walls. While this can prevent collapses and save lives, it often damages the building to such an extent that it must be torn down after a quake. The EU-funded SMA-RC-Walls aims to test walls with shape-memory alloy (SMA) rebars, which offer the potential to return to their original form after seismic demands, and hence prevent damage and avoid permanent tilting of structures. The researchers will conduct experiments using iron-based SMA reinforcement in the boundary regions of concrete walls as a substitute material for the typical steel rebars. The goal is to contribute to a more robust and resilient building stock internationally, and to provide guidance for seismic design and assessment with this novel technology.

Funding body: HORIZON Europe

Funding body HORIZON Europe
Project Team

Ryan Hoult
Scheme Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Postdoctoral Fellowship
Role Lead
Funding Start 2023
Funding Finish 2025
GNo
Type Of Funding International - Competitive
Category 3IFA
UON N

Monitoring the Structural Response of Darwin Buildings to Earthquake Ground Motion$150,000

This project aims to establish the first instrumented building network in Darwin to record how Australian-designed structures respond to real earthquake shaking. Despite Australia’s adoption of seismic design standards since the 1990s, there is currently no public data validating how buildings actually perform under local earthquake conditions. Darwin, regularly affected by ground motions from large Banda Sea earthquakes, provides an ideal natural laboratory to capture this data. The project will identify and equip selected buildings with structural monitoring instruments capable of recording responses to regional and local earthquakes. The collected data will form an open-access database hosted by ANU’s AusPass Data Server, enabling researchers and engineers to evaluate the accuracy of Australian seismic design provisions while enhancing national earthquake awareness and emergency response capability.

Funding body: Northern Territory Emergency Service

Funding body Northern Territory Emergency Service
Project Team

Scott Menegon, Trevor Allen, Dion Weatherley, Michelle Salmon, Hing Ho Tsang, Hugh Glanville, Ryan Hoult, Adam Pascale, Dee Ninis, Wayne Peck
Scheme Disaster Ready Fund
Role Investigator
Funding Start 2023
Funding Finish 2028
GNo
Type Of Funding C1600 - Aust Competitive - StateTerritory Govt
Category 1600
UON N

20201 grants / $14,100

Improving Remote Student Learning with Engaging Online Practical Laboratory Classes in Engineering$14,100

I received internal teaching innovation funding to lead the development of interactive online laboratory modules for structural engineering education during and beyond COVID-19. These modules—covering the design, construction, and testing of reinforced concrete beams—were designed to replicate hands-on learning in a virtual format using embedded video, 3D models, and interactive assessments. The initiative aimed to deliver core intended learning outcomes across multiple undergraduate and graduate subjects, and has since served as a model for remote laboratory teaching across disciplines, including architecture and materials engineering.

Funding body: The University of Melbourne

Funding body The University of Melbourne
Project Team

Ryan Hoult
Scheme Learning and Teaching Initiatives Grant
Role Lead
Funding Start 2020
Funding Finish 2021
GNo
Type Of Funding External
Category EXTE
UON N

20181 grants / $80,000

Seismic Performance of Slender RC U-shaped Walls with a Single-Layer of Reinforcement$80,000

I was awarded the prestigious Swiss Government Excellence Scholarship to undertake a one-year postdoctoral research program at EPFL, Switzerland, under the supervision of Professor Katrin Beyer in the Earthquake Engineering and Structural Dynamics (EESD) Laboratory. I led large-scale experimental testing of two slender U-shaped reinforced concrete walls detailed with a single reinforcement layer. Unlike conventional studies focused on planar walls, this project addressed the seismic behaviour of non-planar wall geometries (U-, T-, L-, H-shaped), which are more representative of real building cores but remain under-researched. Using advanced instrumentation and data acquisition systems, we captured critical structural performance parameters to inform future design guidelines.
Success rate of ~15%.

Funding body: Federal Commission for Scholarships for Foreign Students

Funding body Federal Commission for Scholarships for Foreign Students
Project Team

Ryan Hoult, Katrin Beyer
Scheme Swiss Government Excellence Scholarship
Role Lead
Funding Start 2018
Funding Finish 2019
GNo
Type Of Funding International - Competitive
Category 3IFA
UON N
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Research Supervision

Number of supervisions

Completed1
Current1

Current Supervision

Commenced Level of Study Research Title Program Supervisor Type
2025 PhD Durability Assessment of GFRP-Reinforced Concrete Structures Under Combined Loading for Sustainable, Long-Life Performance
This PhD project aims to develop a new, sustainability-focused design paradigm for reinforced concrete structures by addressing critical gaps in the long-term durability and structural performance of Glass Fibre Reinforced Polymer (GFRP) reinforcement. Motivated by the escalating global costs of corrosion, the increasing demand for low-maintenance infrastructure, and the need to reduce the environmental impact of construction materials, the project investigates the mechanical, environmental, and structural behaviour of thermoplastic GFRP rebars as a corrosion-resistant and recyclable alternative to steel. The research will evaluate their long-term performance through creep, relaxation, and ageing tests; examine the combined bending, shear, and torsional response of GFRP-RC elements, including after sustained loading; and use experimental, numerical, and analytical methods to develop improved design recommendations. By integrating material durability assessment with advanced structural testing and modelling, the project will generate essential knowledge to support the safe, efficient, and widespread implementation of GFRP reinforcement in future resilient and sustainable concrete infrastructure. 		Structural Engineering, Université catholique de Louvain Co-Supervisor

Past Supervision

Year Level of Study Research Title Program Supervisor Type
2024 PhD Seismic Performance of Precast Reinforced Concrete Walls in Low-to-Moderate Seismicity Regions
Dr. Xiangzhe Weng's PhD research focused on the seismic performance of precast reinforced concrete (RC) structural walls, commonly used in low-to-moderate seismicity regions such as Australia. These walls, which utilise grout tube connections and horizontal grout bedding joints, offer construction and sustainability benefits but lack comprehensive performance data under earthquake loading. Dr. Weng conducted detailed experimental pull-out tests to investigate the bond behaviour of grout tube connections and developed a modelling approach calibrated with these results. Using finite element analysis, he evaluated factors influencing connection performance—such as material strengths, embedment lengths, and detailing—revealing that existing design provisions in AS 3600:2018 overpredict development lengths. He proposed improved equations and extended his modelling to full-wall simulations, confirming the walls’ ability to meet limited-ductile design requirements while identifying key design considerations to avoid premature failure. His work offers critical design recommendations and introduces a simplified displacement-based method to assess the seismic performance of multi-storey precast wall buildings in such regions. 		Structural Engineering, The University of Melbourne Co-Supervisor
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Dr Ryan Hoult

Position

Senior Lecturer
School of Engineering
College of Engineering, Science and Environment

Contact Details

Email ryan.hoult@newcastle.edu.au
Phone 0243484351
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