Alireza Toloukian | Building Construction Technology | Editorial Board Member

Assist. Prof. Dr. Alireza Toloukian | Building Construction Technology | Editorial Board Member

Professor | Iran University of Science and Technology | Iran

Dr. Ali Reza Tolou Kian, Assistant Professor of Rail Structure and Track Engineering at the Iran University of Science and Technology, is a specialist in railway track mechanics whose expertise encompasses ballast behavior, sleeper performance, rail corrugation detection, vibration attenuation, and structural connections. His professional background includes university-level teaching, research leadership, and prior experience assisting in construction project management, supported by advanced skills in experimental modal analysis, geotechnical and structural testing, and numerical modeling using FEM-based platforms. Dr. Tolou Kian has made substantial contributions to railway engineering through studies on sand-contaminated ballast, dynamic sleeper behavior, tire-derived aggregate applications, geogrid-reinforced ballast, and large-scale direct shear performance, resulting in numerous publications in high-impact international journals. He has supervised several graduate theses focused on rail corrugation monitoring, structural health assessment, ballast contamination effects, and vibration control, demonstrating strong academic mentorship. His professional activities include membership in the Tehran Construction Engineering Organization, reviewing for multiple international journals and conferences, and contributing to the design and development of specialized laboratory equipment. His research impact includes 310 citations, 13 publications, and an h-index of 10.

Profiles: Scopus | ORCID | Google Scholar

Featured Publications

Sadeghi J., Toloukian A., Zarei M.A., Khani N., Improvement of ballast behavior by inclusion of tire-derived aggregates with optimum size. Constr. Build. Mater., 2025, 458, 139530.

Sadeghi J., Kian A.R.T., Ghiasinejad H., Moqaddam M.F., Motevalli S., Effectiveness of geogrid reinforcement in improvement of mechanical behavior of sand-contaminated ballast. Geotext. Geomembr., 2020, 48(6), 768–779.

Tolou Kian A.R., Sadeghi J., Zakeri J.A., Large-scale direct shear tests on sand-contaminated ballast. Geotech. Eng., 2018, 171(5), 451–461.

Sadeghi J., Tolou Kian A.R., Shater Khabbazi A., Improvement of mechanical properties of railway track concrete sleepers using steel fibers. J. Mater. Civ. Eng., 2016, 28(11), 04016131.

Tolou Kian A.R., Sadeghi J., Zakeri J.A., Influences of railway ballast sand contamination on loading pattern of pre-stressed concrete sleeper. Constr. Build. Mater., 2020, 233.

Dr. Ali Reza Tolou Kian’s research advances the safety, resilience, and sustainability of railway infrastructure through innovative improvements in ballast behavior, sleeper performance, and track vibration mitigation. His work bridges scientific rigor with industry needs, delivering practical solutions that enhance railway durability, reduce maintenance costs, and support modern transportation development. He envisions railway systems that are smarter, more efficient, and engineered through data-driven experimentation and advanced material technologies.

Anandakumar Srinivasan | Materials and Technology in Architecture | Best Researcher Award

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Anandakumar Srinivasan | Materials and Technology in Architecture | Best Researcher Award

Associate Professor | Anna University | India

Dr. S. Anandakumar Srinivasan is an Associate Professor in the Department of Chemistry at Anna University, India, specializing in surface science, nano-hybrid coatings, bio-based polymers, and corrosion-resistant materials. With a doctorate in Polymer Chemistry and Material Science and postdoctoral research in the UK and Portugal, he has over two decades of academic and research experience including leadership roles such as Assistant Director at the Centre for Entrepreneur Development. His research focuses on developing eco-friendly polymer coatings and bio-composite films for industrial and environmental applications. He has authored over 75 peer-reviewed publications in renowned journals such as Progress in Organic Coatings, Journal of Polymer Research, and High Performance Polymers, along with eight books and multiple international patents on biodegradable barrier materials and surface treatments. He has successfully executed numerous projects funded by DST, DRDO, and Anna University and served on editorial boards of leading polymer science journals. His contributions have been recognized with prestigious honors including the IAAM Scientist Medal (Sweden), Technology Innovation Award, Active Researcher Award from Anna University, and the Royal Society Visiting Fellowship (UK). A member of the Society for Polymer Science and American Nano Society, Dr. Anandakumar continues to advance sustainable material innovation through his research on bio-based coatings, nanocomposites, and green manufacturing technologies for industrial and environmental impact. His research impact includes 1,243 citations, 50 publications, and an h-index of 19.

Profiles: Scopus | ORCID | Google Scholar

1. Anandakumar S., Shree Meenakshi K., Facile fabrication of polyaniline–MXene bilayer coatings for enhanced corrosion protection and self-healing on steel substrates. Prog. Org. Coat., 2026, Accepted.

2. Rajiv G., Ashick Naina Mohamed, Rajeswari G.R., Anandakumar S., Development of a partially bio-based sustainable polyurethane coating from non-edible mahua oil. Constr. Build. Mater., 2025, 1, [Article in press].

3. Rajiv G., Jeswin Anto L., Mathumitha K., Anandakumar S., Synergistic effects of biobased PLA and Garnet waste towards enhanced corrosion resistance of epoxy coating. J. Mol. Struct., 2025, 1, [Article in press].

4. Duraibabu D., Mohammed S.A., Suresh Kumar S.M., Anandakumar S., Advanced fabrication and characterization of AMMT nano clay reinforced tri-functional epoxy nanocomposites for superior thermal and mechanical properties. J. Polym. Res., 2024, [Article in press].

5. Dhanapal D., Srinivasan A.K., Rajarathinam M., Muthukaruppan A., Evaluation of augmented thermal, thermo-mechanical, mechanical properties of nano alumina reinforced TGDDM epoxy nanocomposites. High Perform. Polym., 2023, 35, 313–323.

Dr. S. Anandakumar Srinivasan’s pioneering research in sustainable polymer coatings and nano-hybrid composites advances the global shift toward eco-friendly materials by replacing petroleum-based systems with biodegradable, high-performance alternatives. His innovations contribute to corrosion protection, waste valorization, and green manufacturing, driving progress in sustainable industrial technologies and environmental preservation.