Ehab Zalok

Associate Professor in Structural Fire Safety Engineering

• B.Sc. (Military Technical College), M.A.Sc. (Ain Shams University), Ph.D. (Carleton University), P.Eng.
• 2486 Mackenzie, Carleton University
• 1125 Colonel By Drive, Ottawa, ON, K1S 5B6
• EhabZalok@cunet.carleton.ca

• View Website

Prof. Zalok’s mailbox is located in room 3432 C.J. Mackenzie Building, Carleton University, 1125 Colonel By Drive, Ottawa, ON K1S 5B6 Canada

Teaching Assignments 2024-2025

• CIVE 4614 Building Fire Safety
• CIVE 4918 Design Project
• CIVE 5614 Design for Fire Resistance
• ECOR 1046 Mechanics

Previous Teaching Assignments

• ECOR 1101 Mechanics I
• ECOR 1045 Statics
• ECOR 1046 Mechanics
• ECOR 3800 Engineering Economics
• CIVE 2200 Mechanics of Solids I
• CIVE 4400 Construction/Project Management
• CIVE 4614 Building Fire Safety
• CIVE 4918 Design Group
• CIVE 5614 Design for Fire Resistance
• CIVE 5615 Fire Behaviour of Materials (previously taught as CIVE 5705 and CIVE 5706)

Research Interests

Fire-structure interaction, Reinforced concrete structures. Evaluation of structural aspects of fire safety in buildings by using experimental work and computer modeling. Identification of the fire hazard in buildings by analyzing thermal response of structures and fire resistance of building elements under different fire scenarios; and finally developing performance-based Fire-Structural designs, design fires and fire scenarios in buildings using modeling (computational fluid dynamics–zone modeling) approach. Currently investigating new research opportunities in Canada, under the general theme of how the integration of building information models with fire simulation software can improve the understanding of fire-damaged structures and behavior of structural and combustible materials under actual use conditions.

Current Research:  Improving the Fire Endurance of Concrete Block Masonry Walls towards Next-Generation Performance-Based Fire Standards

A series of experimental tests are being conducted on the fire performance of full sized non-loadbearing (partition) masonry walls, and small-scale assemblages to quantify the effects of a variety of parameters on heat and mass transfer, fire endurance, and mechanical behavior and residual strength of typical and prototype concrete blocks and masonry assemblages.

The goals of this research project are to:

• Develop the next-generation of masonry fire performance standards.
• Improve fire-rated masonry assemblage design and construction.
• Optimize masonry unit manufacturing for fire resistance.
• Facilitate robust post-disaster assessment of fire damaged masonry.

As part of the testing, thermal imaging is used to monitor the test walls. Data from thermal imaging is used to draw contours of the non-uniform temperature profile on the unexposed surface of the walls, which allows for the determination of the critical points on the surface. Unlike thermocouples, thermal imaging allows for monitoring the whole wall surface, which is useful if the critical points happen to be somewhere where there are no thermocouples.  Temperatures from the camera can be used to validate the thermocouple readings to ensure accuracy.

This project is conducted through funding and technical support from the Canada Masonry Design Centre (CMDC), and the Canadian Concrete Masonry Producers Association (CCMPA).  Also through funding from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC).

Honours and Awards

• 2010-2011 Teaching Achievement Award
• 2006 SFPE (Society of Fire Prevention Engineers) National Capital Region Chapter Scholarship for Fire Safety Engineering