Faculty

Dr. Pouria Ayough was born in December 1989 in Tehran, Iran. He is currently an Associate Professor and Hongshen Young Faculty Member in the School of Civil Engineering at Chongqing University (CQU), China. He received his Ph.D. in Structural Engineering from the University of Malaya (QS World University Ranking: 58) in 2022 with a Distinction Award, and joined Chongqing University in 2023. His research focuses on advanced composite structural systems and renewable energy infrastructure, particularly steel–concrete composite structures and wind turbine supporting systems.
Dr. Ayough’s research integrates experimental investigations, advanced numerical simulations, and analytical modelling to study the mechanical behaviour and design of innovative structural systems subjected to complex loading conditions, including compression, bending, torsion, seismic actions, and fire exposure. His work places particular emphasis on the development and application of high-performance and sustainable construction materials, including ultra-high-performance concrete (UHPC), ultra-high-strength engineered cementitious composites (UHS-ECC), and carbon-fiber-reinforced polymers (CFRP), to improve the strength, resilience, and long-term sustainability of structural infrastructure.
He has led four research projects, including a project funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) for International Young Scientists and the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities, and has participated in more than five major research projects in China and Malaysia. His research outcomes contribute to the development of innovative structural solutions for large-scale renewable energy infrastructure, particularly wind turbine tower systems.
Dr. Ayough maintains active collaborations with leading international universities, including Imperial College London, the University of Manchester, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, The University of Western Australia, Queensland University of Technology, and the University of Malaya. Through these collaborations, he contributes to global research efforts in advanced composite structures and sustainable energy infrastructure.
In addition to his academic role, he serves as the Deputy General Manager for International Affairs at Chongqing Youhang Energy Technology Co., Ltd., where he promotes international technological collaboration, industrial innovation, and technology transfer in the field of renewable energy structural systems.
He serves as an Editorial Board Member of the Journal of Energy Infrastructure and as Guest Editor of the Special Issue “Symmetry and Asymmetry in Structural Engineering” in the journal Symmetry.
Dr. Ayough has been recognized as a High-Level Overseas Talent in Chongqing Municipality and is the first foreign faculty member at Chongqing University selected for a Ministry of Education of China talent program. He is also one of the main drafters of the national engineering standard T/CECS 2195-2026, “Design Standard for Prestressed Concrete Cylindrical Towers and Foundations for Onshore Wind Turbines.”
To date, he has published more than 45 high-level academic papers, including over 30 SCI/EI-indexed papers as the first or corresponding author, in leading international journals in structural and civil engineering.

Ph.D. in Structural Engineering
University of Malaya, Malaysia — 2022

M.Sc. in Structural Engineering
Azad University, Qazvin Branch, Iran — 2016

B.Sc. in Civil Engineering
Azad University, Qazvin Branch, Iran — 2013

Academic Positions:
1. Associate Professor, School of Civil Engineering, Chongqing University, China, 2026 – Present
2. Assistant Research Fellow / Postdoctoral Researcher, Supervisor: Professor Yu-Hang Wang, School of Civil Engineering, Chongqing University, China, 2023 – 2025
3. Graduate Research Assistant, Department of Civil Engineering, University of Malaya, Malaysia, 2019 – 2022
Industry Experience:
1. Deputy General Manager (International Affairs), Chongqing Youhang Energy Technology Co., Ltd., China, 2026 – Present
2. Structural Engineer, Fanavar Sanat Rah va Bandar Consulting Engineering, Iran
3. Structural Engineer, Niroosazeh Parad Engineering Company, Iran
4. Structural Engineer, Damoon Engineering Group, Iran

1. Composite steel–concrete structures
2. Wind turbine tower structures
3. Structural performance under cyclic loading and seismic actions
3. Experimental testing and nonlinear finite element modeling of structural members
4. Structural strengthening and rehabilitation using advanced materials

1. National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) for International Young Scientists (W2433137) – Principal Investigator (PI)
Project Title: Investigation on the Mechanical Behavior and Design Method of Tapered Steel Fibre-Reinforced Rubberized UHPC-Filled Double-Skin Steel Tubular Towers with Large Hollow Ratio and Non-Uniform Prestressed Steel Tendons for Wind Turbines
Duration: Jan 2025 – Dec 2026
2. Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities (2023CDJKYJH094) – Principal Investigator (PI)
Project Title: Study on the Uniaxial Hysteretic Performance of Concrete–Concrete Composite Steel Tube Members
Duration: Apr 2024 – Mar 2025
3. Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities – “Belt and Road” iUNRC Innovation Fund (2024CDJYDYL007) – Co-Principal Investigator (Co-PI)
Project Title: Mechanical and Power Generation Performance of Large Wind Turbine Structures under Extreme Continental Climate
Duration: Apr 2025 – Mar 2028
4. SATU Joint Research Program Grant (ST005-2019), Malaysia – Principal Investigator (PI)
Project Title: Behaviour of CFDST Columns with Headed Shear Studs
Duration: Sep 2019 – Aug 2021
5. University of Malaya Research Grant (GPF004A-2019), Malaysia – Principal Investigator (PI)
Project Title: Behaviour of CFDST Columns with Headed Shear Studs under Push-Out Loading
Duration: Jul 2020 – Jan 2022

Book:
Elchalakani, M., Ayough, P., & Yang, B. (2021). Single Skin and Double Skin Concrete Filled Tubular Members: Analysis and Design. Elsevier Science.
Articles in the Journal (First author/Corresponding author):
1. Ayough, P., Zeng, W., Wang, Y.-H.*, Rasa, E., Peng, Y.-T., Meini, S., Elchalakani, M., & Elghazouli, A. Y. (2025). Experimental assessment of CFST beam-columns strengthened with CFRP grid-reinforced ultra-high-strength engineered cementitious composites. Construction and Building Materials, 137129.
2. Ayough, P.*, Zeng, W., Zhou, X.-H., Wang, Y.-H., Su, M., Elghazouli, A. Y., & Elchalakani, M. (2025). Numerical investigation and design of CFST beam-columns strengthened with CFRP grid-reinforced ultra-high-strength engineered cementitious composites. Thin-Walled Structures, 217, 113789.
3. Zeng, W., Zhou, X.-H., Wang, Y.-H., Ren, W., & Ayough, P.* (2025). Seismic behavior of hollow circular UHPSFRC columns with high-strength steel reinforcements and tubes subjected to combined compression–bending–torsion load. Engineering Structures, 343, 121075.
4. Ayough, P., Zeng, W., Wang, Y.-H.*, Meini, S., Elchalakani, M., & Elghazouli, A. Y. (2025). Numerical investigation and design of CFRP grid-reinforced UHS-ECC strengthened CFST beam-columns for wind turbine applications. Thin-Walled Structures, 208, 112749.
5. Zeng, W., Ayough, P.*, Zhou, X.-H., Wang, Y.-H., Ren, W., Elchalakani, M., & Elghazouli, A. Y. (2025). Performance of circular CFST columns strengthened with CFRP grid-reinforced ECC under axial compression: Numerical modelling and design. Engineering Structures, 325, 119375.
6. Wang, Y.-H., Zeng, W., Zhou, X.-H., Ayough, P.*, & Ren, W. (2025). Seismic behaviour of hollow circular UHPSFRC columns with high-strength steel reinforcements and tubes subjected to combined compression–bending–torsion load. Engineering Structures.
7. Liang, X., Zou, C., Johari, I., Ayough, P.*, Ibrahim, Z., Liang, Q. Q., & Elghazouli, A. Y. (2025). Fatigue behavior and design of reinforced concrete beams strengthened with PCM-BFRP grids. Structures, 79, 109649.
8. Wang, Y.-H., Zeng, W., Ayough, P.*, Ren, W., Wang, W., Loganathan, L., & Yap, S. P. (2024). Axial compression performance of rubberized concrete-filled steel tubular stub columns after fire exposure: Experimental investigation and calculation models. Construction and Building Materials, 438, 137129.
9.Akter, M., Sulong, N. H. R., Ayough, P.*, Tafsirojjaman, T., & Fawzia, S. (2024). Flexural behavior of circular rubberized concrete-filled double-skin steel tubular beams: Experiments. Engineering Structures, 306, 117816.
10. Ayough, P.*, Wang, Y.-H., Zeng, W., Hassanein, M. F., & Elchalakani, M. (2024). Numerical investigation and design of concrete-filled double square steel tube columns under axial compression. Journal of Constructional Steel Research, 212, 108277.
11. Ayough, P.*, Wang, Y.-H., Zeng, W., Liang, Q. Q., Elchalakani, M., & Zou, C. (2024). Numerical investigation and design of UHPC-encased CFST stub columns under axial compression. Engineering Structures.
12. Ünal, M. T., Hashim, H., Gökçe, H. S., Ayough, P.*, Köksal, F., El-Shafie, A., & Salman, A. M. (2024). Physical and mechanical properties of pre-treated plant-based lightweight aggregate concretes: A review. Construction and Building Materials, 444, 137728.
13. Zeng, W., Ayough, P.*, Wang, Y.-H., & Elchalakani, M. (2024). Numerical simulation of axially loaded circular concrete-filled steel tubular short columns with localized corrosion. Engineering Structures, 312, 118243.
14. Zou, C., Ibrahim, Z., Hashim, H., Liang, Q. Q., Ayough, P.*, & Jameel, M. (2024). Fatigue performance simulation of reinforced concrete beams externally strengthened with side-bonded CFRP sheets. Engineering Structures, 316, 118530.
15. Zou, C., Ibrahim, Z., Hashim, H., Jameel, M., Ayough, P.*, & Sinoh, S. S. (2023). Nonlinear FE analysis of RC slabs strengthened with prestressed EB CFRP strips under high-cyclic fatigue loading. Structures, 56, 104953.
16. Akter, M., Ramli Sulong, N. H., Ayough, P.*, Tafsirojjaman, T., & Fawzia, S. (2023). Finite element investigation of circular rubberized CFST beams under four-point loading. Structures, 57, 105302.
17. Ayough, P.*, Wang, Y.-H., & Ibrahim, Z. (2023). Analytical study of concrete-filled steel tubular stub columns with double inner steel tubes. Steel and Composite Structures, 47, 645–661.
18. Haddadian, A., Alengaram, U. J., Ayough, P.*, & Alnahhal, A. M. (2023). Inherent characteristics of agro- and industrial by-product-based lightweight concrete: A comprehensive review. Construction and Building Materials.
19. Ayough, P.*, Ibrahim, Z., Jameel, M., & Alnahhal, A. M. (2023). Axial compression behaviour of circular concrete-filled double-skin steel tubular columns with bolted shear studs: Numerical investigation and design. Journal of Constructional Steel Research, 205, 107911.
20. Ayough, P.*, Ibrahim, Z., Ramli Sulong, N. H., Ganasan, R., Hamad Ghayeb, H., & Elchalakani, M. (2022). Experimental and numerical investigations into the compressive behaviour of circular concrete-filled double-skin steel tubular columns with bolted shear studs. Structures, 46, 880–898.
21. Ayough, P.*, Ibrahim, Z., Sulong, N. H. R., & Hsiao, P.-C. (2021). The effects of cross-sectional shapes on the axial performance of concrete-filled steel tube columns. Journal of Constructional Steel Research, 176, 106424.
22. Ayough, P.*, Ibrahim, Z., Sulong, N. H. R., Hsiao, P.-C., & Elchalakani, M. (2021). Numerical analysis of square concrete-filled double-skin steel tubular columns with rubberized concrete. Structures, 32, 1026–1047.
23. Ayough, P.*, Ramli Sulong, N. H., Ibrahim, Z., & Hsiao, P.-C. (2020). Nonlinear analysis of square concrete-filled double-skin steel tubular columns under axial compression. Engineering Structures, 216, 110678.
24. Ayough, P., Ramli Sulong, N. H.*, & Ibrahim, Z. (2020). Analysis and review of concrete-filled double-skin steel tubes under compression. Thin-Walled Structures, 148, 106495.
25. Ayough, P.*, Mohamadi, S., & Taghia, S. A. H. S. (2017). Response of steel moment and braced frames subjected to near-source pulse-like ground motions considering soil–structure interaction effects. Civil Engineering Journal, 3, 15–34.

1. Ph.D. Distinction Award, University of Malaya, Malaysia (2022)
2. University of Malaya Student Financial Aid Scholarship, University of Malaya, Malaysia (2019–2021)
3. High-Level Overseas Talent of Chongqing Municipality, Chongqing Municipal Government, China (2025)
4. Ministry of Education of China Talent Introduction Program, First Foreign Faculty Member Selected at Chongqing University (2024–2027)

Available Positions:
The research group is led by Associate Dean and Professor Yu-Hang Wang. The group recruits 1–2 postdoctoral researchers, 1–2 PhD students, and 3–5 MSc students each year. Applicants interested in the related research areas are welcome to contact me in advance. Applicants are expected to have experience using ABAQUS software. Chinese students are also required to possess basic English communication skills to facilitate academic discussions and research collaboration. Before submitting an application, please contact me by email and include your CV, academic transcripts, and any additional materials demonstrating your academic achievements.