Prof. Frantisek Wald Czech Technical University, Czech Republic.
Professor František Wald is a leading expert in steel and timber structures at Czech Technical University in Prague. With over three decades of dedicated research in structural steel joints and fire engineering, he has pioneered academic programs in fire safety and led several EU-wide collaborations such as COST TU and Erasmus Mundus SUSCOS. His leadership roles in European technical committees and presidency of the ECCS (2023–2024) reflect his significant influence in civil engineering. His prolific research, international impact, and innovation in structural safety under fire and seismic conditions make him a highly suitable candidate for the Best Researcher Award. His work bridges advanced theory and practical design, contributing extensively to safety standards and sustainable construction practices in Europe.
🌍 Professional Profile:
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🏆 Suitability for the Best Researcher Award
Professor František Wald is a pioneering researcher in structural steel joints and fire engineering, with over three decades of impactful contributions to structural safety. His work has advanced European standards through leadership in technical committees (TC10 Joints, TC3 Fire, TC14 FEM) and his role in drafting prEN1993-1-8. As President of ECCS (2023–2024), he strengthened international cooperation in steel construction. He has initiated and led transformative research projects such as FISHWALL and MADESCO, combining theory with real-world application. His academic influence is evident through the creation of comprehensive fire safety programs. With strong citation metrics and global collaborations, Prof. Wald exemplifies excellence in research, education, and innovation, making him a highly deserving candidate for the Best Researcher Award.
🎓 Education
František Wald pursued his engineering education at the Czech Technical University in Prague, where he laid the foundation for his career in structural engineering. He earned his doctoral degree with a focus on steel structures and fire safety, contributing to the advancement of structural resilience under extreme conditions. Over the years, he expanded his academic influence by establishing bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral programs dedicated to building fire safety, reflecting a commitment to both education and research. His expertise was further refined through collaboration with European academic institutions, shaping international educational programs like the Erasmus Mundus Master’s in Steel Structures (SUSCOS), which he co-developed. His academic background exemplifies a lifelong dedication to technical excellence and educational innovation in structural engineering.
🏢 Work Experience
Professor Wald has over 30 years of experience in structural engineering, primarily at Czech Technical University in Prague. Since 1992, he has actively contributed to European technical committees including TC10 (Joints), TC3 (Fire), and TC14 (FEM). He also worked on the drafting of prEN1993-1-8, influencing steel joint design standards across Europe. His academic leadership includes establishing multi-level fire safety programs and managing international networks like the COST TU on Fire Engineering. As president of ECCS (2023–2024), he fostered collaboration across Europe’s steel construction community. His consultancy roles and applied research in projects like Steel Hall 4.0 reflect a strong connection to industry. His experience blends academic excellence with real-world application and international research coordination.
🏅 Awards and Honors
Professor Wald’s distinguished career has been recognized through numerous honors. Most notably, he served as President of the European Convention for Constructional Steelwork (ECCS) from 2023 to 2024, a prestigious role acknowledging his leadership in steel construction research. He has received recognition for his coordination of major European programs including Erasmus Mundus SUSCOS and COST TU networks. His citation impact is substantial, with over 830 citations on Scopus and an h-index of 17, reflecting sustained scholarly influence. His projects have earned competitive funding from EU programs (e.g., RFCS, GACR), demonstrating trust in his innovative approaches to steel structure safety. His awards underscore a career of sustained excellence, international collaboration, and impactful contributions to engineering science.
🔬 Research Focus
Professor Wald’s research centers on the behavior of steel structures under fire and dynamic loads, with a focus on structural joints, resilience, and safety design. His work integrates experimental analysis, numerical modeling, and probabilistic methods to improve fire resistance and joint performance. He has led major EU projects such as FISHWALL, MADESCO, and DYNAFIRE, addressing seismic, fire, and structural challenges in industrial steel buildings. As a long-standing member of technical committees, he helps shape European design standards. He is also deeply involved in developing advanced modeling techniques (e.g., LMSTRAIN) and structural optimization through AI (e.g., MADESCO). His research is grounded in real-world impact, bridging theoretical development with design innovation for safer and more sustainable infrastructure.
📊 Publication Top Notes:
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Title: Determination of design plastic strain limit for notched structural steel tensile specimens
Authors: Kirill Golubiatnikov, Abhishek Ghimire, František Wald, Vojtěch Stančík
Year: 2025
Journal: Alexandria Engineering Journal
DOI: 10.1016/j.aej.2025.02.075
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Title: Calibration of the Induction Heating System for Dynamic Compression Test
Authors: T. Jankowiak, W. Szymkuć, M. Malendowski, K. Cabová, J. Šejna, V. Mózer, F. Wald
Year: 2025
Journal: Experimental Techniques
DOI: 10.1007/s40799-025-00807-3
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Title: Fire Protection of Steel Beam by OSB Claddings—A Fire Experiment and Numerical Models
Authors: Jakub Šejna, Vojtěch Šálek, Stanislav Šulc, Kamila Cábová, Vít Šmilauer, Slávek Zbirovský, Milan Jahoda, František Wald
Year: 2025
Journal: Fire and Materials
DOI: 10.1002/fam.3260
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Title: Numerical Design Calculation of Fin Plate Connections in Fire
Authors: Batuhan Der, Frantisek Wald, Martin Vild
Year: 2024
Book Chapter: in Lecture Notes in Civil Engineering
DOI: 10.1007/978-981-97-1972-3_60
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Title: The influence of sandwich panel cladding on horizontal structure stiffness
Authors: Břetislav Židlický, Jiří Mareš, František Wald
Year: 2024
Journal: Thin-Walled Structures
DOI: 10.1016/j.tws.2024.111771
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Title: Application of hybrid cement in passive fire protection of steel structures
Authors: Jakub Šejna, Stanislav Šulc, Vít Šmilauer, Pavel Reiterman, František Wald
Year: 2024
Journal: Journal of Structural Fire Engineering
DOI: 10.1108/JSFE-01-2023-0007
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Title: Analytical resistance of the laterally offset rectangular hollow sections connections under concentrated force
Authors: Svitlana Kalmykova, František Wald
Year: 2023
Journal: Structures
DOI: 10.1016/j.istruc.2023.105484
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Title: Optimisation of fatigue solution for welded T-stub joints by grading of FAT classes and correction of mean stress effect
Authors: Kirill Golubiatnikov, Frantisek Wald, Martin Vild, Josef Holomek
Year: 2023
Journal: Structures
DOI: 10.1016/j.istruc.2023.105582
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Title: Weld size and resistance in rectangular hollow section T-joints
Authors: Petr Jehlicka, Frantisek Wald
Year: 2023
Journal: Heliyon
DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e22689
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Title: The partial fire protection of steel members: a comparative study
Authors: Jakub Šejna, Patrik Dobrovolný, František Wald
Year: 2023
Journal: Journal of Structural Fire Engineering
DOI: 10.1108/JSFE-01-2023-0001
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Title: Emissivity of hot-dip galvanized surfaces in future development of EN 1993-1-2
Authors: Batuhan Der, Sylvie Raszková, František Wald, Gisèle Bihina, Christian Gaigl, Vasile Rus, Mikko Malaska
Year: 2022
Journal: Journal of Structural Fire Engineering
DOI: 10.1108/JSFE-11-2021-0070