Honorary Fellow
Overview
Dr Felix Wiesner is an Assistant Professor at the University of British Columbia and an Honorary Fellow in the School of Civil Engineering at The University of Queensland and works as part of the National Centre for Timber Durability and Design Life. He was appointed at UQ as a Lecturer in Timber Engineering in 2019 to lead research projects focused on enhancing the fire performance of timber using treatments and modification techniques. His background is in structural fire engineering and the fire safety of timber structures, specifically engineered timber structures. His field of expertise are the critical evaluation of load bearing capacity of building elements in fire and the assessment of safety implications arising from the use of engineered timber as structural members in tall buildings or structures with extraordinary architectural features.
Dr Wiesner completed his Master of Engineering in Structural and Fire Safety Engineering at The University of Edinburgh from 2010 to 2015 before he successfully completed his doctoral studies on the structural behaviour of cross-laminated timber in fire between 2015 and 2019. During his undergraduate and postgraduate work, he closely worked with Arup on multiple projects regarding the fire safety of timber buildings and the effect of localised fires in large open spaces. He actively participated in the European COST Action FP 1404 for the Fire Safe Use of Bio-Based Building Products between 2016 and 2019, representing the UK as a Management Committee member. He significantly contributed to the success of the Fires in Tall Timber Structures: Large-scale Tests in Support of Tall Timber Construction project at the BRE in the UK and also worked as a member of the global Fire Safe Use of Wood research collaboration.
Research Interests
- Flammability of native timber species
- Effect of treatment and modification methods on the ignition and extinction characteristics of timber products
Research Impacts
Dr Wiesner's research works towards the safe use of timber in buildings and infrastructure. This research is of importance to enable a better utilisation of timber resources in Australia and thereby reduce the carbon footprint of the construction industry and foster a homegrown circular economy of sustainable building products. The research of treatment and modification methods as well as the targeted selection of species is critical to safely build in bushfire affected areas. This work is closely coordinated with the National Centre for Timber Durability and Design Life to ensure that the design life of timber structures can be optimised and quantified with respect to fire safety and durability against attack from fungi, termites and other destructive agents.
One of Dr Wiesner's key areas of expertise is the design of bespoke experiments and novel use of technology to illuminate fire safety problems. During his time at the University of Edinburgh he developed a robot for the fast and reliable drilling of fine holes into timber to enable better instrumentation. This technology was subsequently exported and improved to be used at The University of Queensland. In addition he has consistently advertised the use of image analysis for the analysis and control of fire safety experiments, including his contribution to an award winning new methodology for the assessment of intumescent paint expansion in fires.
Qualifications
- Postgraduate Diploma in Data Science, Harvard University
- Doctor of Philosophy, University of Edinburgh
- Masters (Coursework) of Engineering, University of Edinburgh
Publications
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Journal Article: Experimental study on the factors affecting smouldering behaviour of CCA-treated wood
Wu, Wenxuan, Yermán, Luis, Hidalgo, Juan P., Morrell, Jeffrey J. and Wiesner, Felix (2023). Experimental study on the factors affecting smouldering behaviour of CCA-treated wood. Fire Safety Journal, 141 104003, 104003. doi: 10.1016/j.firesaf.2023.104003
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Journal Article: Fully-developed compartment fire dynamics in large-scale mass timber compartments
Pope, Ian, Gupta, Vinny, Xu, Hangyu, Wiesner, Felix, Lange, David, Torero, José L. and Hidalgo, Juan P. (2023). Fully-developed compartment fire dynamics in large-scale mass timber compartments. Fire Safety Journal, 141 104022, 1-10. doi: 10.1016/j.firesaf.2023.104022
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Journal Article: Bushfire performance of native Australian wood species
Wiesner, Felix, McGiveron, Brett, Liu, Tongming, Hidalgo, Juan and Morrell, Jeffrey J. (2023). Bushfire performance of native Australian wood species. Fire Safety Journal, 140 103884. doi: 10.1016/j.firesaf.2023.103884
Grants
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ARC Research Hub to Advance Timber for Australia's Future Built Environment
(2023–2028) ARC Industrial Transformation Research Hubs
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(2021–2025) Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology University
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Donation for Future Timber Hub project 14
(2020–2021) XLam Australia Pty Ltd
Supervision
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Framework to model the rate of external fire spread rates in facades consisting of combustible cladding
Doctor Philosophy
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A Methodology for Preliminary Designs of Structural Elements in Tall Timber Buildings
(2023) Doctor Philosophy
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Development of novel preservative-treated timbers and their performance on self-sustaining smouldering
Doctor Philosophy
Publications
Journal Article
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Experimental study on the factors affecting smouldering behaviour of CCA-treated wood
Wu, Wenxuan, Yermán, Luis, Hidalgo, Juan P., Morrell, Jeffrey J. and Wiesner, Felix (2023). Experimental study on the factors affecting smouldering behaviour of CCA-treated wood. Fire Safety Journal, 141 104003, 104003. doi: 10.1016/j.firesaf.2023.104003
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Fully-developed compartment fire dynamics in large-scale mass timber compartments
Pope, Ian, Gupta, Vinny, Xu, Hangyu, Wiesner, Felix, Lange, David, Torero, José L. and Hidalgo, Juan P. (2023). Fully-developed compartment fire dynamics in large-scale mass timber compartments. Fire Safety Journal, 141 104022, 1-10. doi: 10.1016/j.firesaf.2023.104022
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Bushfire performance of native Australian wood species
Wiesner, Felix, McGiveron, Brett, Liu, Tongming, Hidalgo, Juan and Morrell, Jeffrey J. (2023). Bushfire performance of native Australian wood species. Fire Safety Journal, 140 103884. doi: 10.1016/j.firesaf.2023.103884
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Fire performance of timber: review for use in wildland-urban interfaces
Winandy, Jerrold E., Wiesner, Felix, Hassan, Babar and Morrell, Jeffrey J. (2022). Fire performance of timber: review for use in wildland-urban interfaces. Holzforschung, 76 (8), 679-698. doi: 10.1515/hf-2022-0038
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Factors influencing the fire dynamics in open-plan compartments with an exposed timber ceiling
Nothard, Sam, Lange, David, Hidalgo, Juan P., Gupta, Vinny, McLaggan, Martyn S., Wiesner, Felix and Torero, Jose L. (2022). Factors influencing the fire dynamics in open-plan compartments with an exposed timber ceiling. Fire Safety Journal, 129 103564, 103564. doi: 10.1016/j.firesaf.2022.103564
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Structural fire engineering considerations for cross-laminated timber walls
Wiesner, Felix, Hadden, Rory, Deeny, Susan and Bisby, Luke (2022). Structural fire engineering considerations for cross-laminated timber walls. Construction and Building Materials, 323 126605, 1-15. doi: 10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2022.126605
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Xu, Hangyu, Pope, Ian, Gupta, Vinny, Cadena, Jaime, Carrascal, Jeronimo, Lange, David, McLaggan, Martyn S., Mendez, Julian, Osorio, Andrés, Solarte, Angela, Soriguer, Diana, Torero, Jose L., Wiesner, Felix, Zaben, Abdulrahman and Hidalgo, Juan P. (2022). Large-scale compartment fires to develop a self-extinction design framework for mass timber—Part 1: Literature review and methodology. Fire Safety Journal, 128 103523, 103523. doi: 10.1016/j.firesaf.2022.103523
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Wiesner, Felix, Deeny, Susan and Bisby, Luke A. (2021). Influence of ply configuration and adhesive type on cross-laminated timber in flexure at elevated temperatures. Fire Safety Journal, 120 103073, 1-8. doi: 10.1016/j.firesaf.2020.103073
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Wiesner, Felix, Thomson, Daniel and Bisby, Luke (2021). The effect of adhesive type and ply number on the compressive strength retention of CLT at elevated temperatures. Construction and Building Materials, 266 121156, 121156. doi: 10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2020.121156
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Wiesner, Felix, Bartlett, Alastair, Mohaine, Siyimane, Robert, Fabienne, McNamee, Robert, Mindeguia, Jean-Christophe and Bisby, Luke (2020). Structural capacity of one-way spanning large-scale cross-laminated timber slabs in standard and natural fires. Fire Technology, 57 (1), 291-311. doi: 10.1007/s10694-020-01003-y
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The structural capacity of laminated timber compression elements in fire: a meta-analysis
Wiesner, Felix and Bisby, Luke (2019). The structural capacity of laminated timber compression elements in fire: a meta-analysis. Fire Safety Journal, 107, 114-125. doi: 10.1016/j.firesaf.2018.04.009
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Wiesner, Felix, Bisby, Luke A., Bartlett, Alastair I., Hidalgo, Juan P., Santamaria, Simón and Deeny, Susan (2019). Structural capacity in fire of laminated timber elements in compartments with exposed timber surfaces. Engineering Structures, 179, 284-295. doi: 10.1016/j.engstruct.2018.10.084
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Auto-extinction of engineered timber: application to compartment fires with exposed timber surfaces
Bartlett, Alastair I., Hadden, Rory M., Hidalgo, Juan P., Santamaria, Simón, Wiesner, Felix, Bisby, Luke A., Deeny, Susan and Lane, Barbara (2017). Auto-extinction of engineered timber: application to compartment fires with exposed timber surfaces. Fire Safety Journal, 91, 407-413. doi: 10.1016/j.firesaf.2017.03.050
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Structural response of cross-laminated timber compression elements exposed to fire
Wiesner, Felix, Randmael, Fredrik, Wan, Wing, Bisby, Luke and Hadden, Rory M. (2017). Structural response of cross-laminated timber compression elements exposed to fire. Fire Safety Journal, 91, 56-67. doi: 10.1016/j.firesaf.2017.05.010
Conference Publication
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A novel PIV seeding method for velocity measurements within a reactive boundary layer
Hittini, Waseem, Basnayake, Asanka, Lange, David, Carrascal Tirado, Jeronimo, Hidalgo, Juan and Wiesner, Felix (2023). A novel PIV seeding method for velocity measurements within a reactive boundary layer. 15th International Symposium on Particle Image Velocimetry, San Diego, CA USA, 19-21 May 2023. San Diego, CA USA: International Symposium on Particle Image Velocimetry.
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Experimental investigation of the relationship between timber species and smouldering
Wu, Wenxuan, Yermán, Luis, Hidalgo, Juan P., Morrell, Jeffrey and Wiesner, Felix (2023). Experimental investigation of the relationship between timber species and smouldering. Experimental investigation of the relationship between timber species and smouldering, Oslo, Norway, 19-22 June. Oslo, Norway: World Conference on Timber Engineering (WCTE 2023). doi: 10.52202/069179-0225
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Spyridakis, Stavros, Carrascal, Jeronimo, Wiesner, Felix, Barber, David and Maluk, Cristian (2023). Exploring the influence of heating conditions in the charring profile of bare timber and timber protected with a thin intumescent coating. World Conference on Timber Engineering (WCTE 2023), Oslo, Norway, 19-22 June 2023. As, Norway: World Conference on Timber Engineering (WCTE 2023). doi: 10.52202/069179-0221
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Robust circle tracking for deflection measurements in structural fire experiments
Wiesner, Felix and Bisby, Luke (2020). Robust circle tracking for deflection measurements in structural fire experiments. 11th International Conference on Structures in Fire (SiF2020), Online, 30 November - 2 December 2020. Brisbane, QLD Australia: The University of Queensland. doi: 10.14264/a8296a2
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Requirements for engineered wood products and their influence on the structural fire performance
Wiesner, Felix, Klippel, Michael, Dagenais, Christian, Dunn, Andrew, Östman, Birgit, Janssens, Marc L. and Kagiya, Koji (2018). Requirements for engineered wood products and their influence on the structural fire performance. 2018 World Conference on Timber Engineering, WCTE 2018, Seoul, Korea, 20-23 August 2018. Seoul, Korea: World Conference on Timber Engineering (WCTE).
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Rolling shear capacity of CLT at elevated temperature
Wiesner, Felix, Bell, Darren, Chaumont, Louis, Bisby, Luke and Deeny, Susan (2018). Rolling shear capacity of CLT at elevated temperature. World Conference on Timber Engineering, Seoul, Korea, 20-23 August 2018. World Conference on Timber Engineering (WCTE).
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Thermal and flexural behaviour of laminated bamboo exposed to severe radiant heating
Bartlett, Alastair I., Chapman, Alfred, Roberts, Calum, Wiesner, Felix, Hadden, Rory M. and Bisby, Luke A. (2018). Thermal and flexural behaviour of laminated bamboo exposed to severe radiant heating. 2018 World Conference on Timber Engineering, WCTE 2018, Seoul, Korea, 20-23 August 2018. Seoul, Korea: World Conference on Timber Engineering (WCTE).
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Effects of exposed cross laminated timber on compartment fire dynamics
Hadden, Rory M., Bartlett, Alastair I., Hidalgo, Juan P., Santamaria, Simón, Wiesner, Felix, Bisby, Luke A., Deeny, Susan and Lane, Barbara (2017). Effects of exposed cross laminated timber on compartment fire dynamics. 12th International Symposium of Fire Safety Science, Lund, Sweden, 12-16 June 2017. Kidlington, Oxford United Kingdom: Pergamon Press. doi: 10.1016/j.firesaf.2017.03.074
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Structural steel columns subjected to localised fires
Wiesner, Felix, Peters, Grant, Bisby, Luke and Hadden, Rory (2017). Structural steel columns subjected to localised fires. IFireSS, Naples, Italy, 7-9 June 2017. Naples, Italy: University of Naples Federico II.
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Needs for total fire engineering of mass timber buildings
Bartlett, Alastair, Wiesner, Felix, Hadden, Rory, Bisby, Luke, Lane, Barbara, Lawrence, Andrew, Palma, Pedro and Frangi, Andrea (2016). Needs for total fire engineering of mass timber buildings. World Conference on Timber Engineering, WCTE 2016, Vienna, Austria, 22-25 August 2016. Vienna, Austria: Vienna University of Technology.
Other Outputs
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Fire engineering of mass timber structures
Wiesner, Felix (2022, 11 05). Fire engineering of mass timber structures SEABC Newsletter 8-9.
Grants (Administered at UQ)
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ARC Research Hub to Advance Timber for Australia's Future Built Environment
(2023–2028) ARC Industrial Transformation Research Hubs
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(2021–2025) Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology University
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Donation for Future Timber Hub project 14
(2020–2021) XLam Australia Pty Ltd
PhD and MPhil Supervision
Note for students: Dr Felix Wiesner is not currently available to take on new students.
Current Supervision
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Framework to model the rate of external fire spread rates in facades consisting of combustible cladding
Doctor Philosophy — Principal Advisor
Other advisors:
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Development of novel preservative-treated timbers and their performance on self-sustaining smouldering
Doctor Philosophy — Associate Advisor
Other advisors:
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Mass Timber Behaviour in Fire
Doctor Philosophy — Associate Advisor
Other advisors:
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Scientific basis for the use of fire-safe intumescent coatings used in mass timber structures
Doctor Philosophy — Associate Advisor
Other advisors:
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Assessment of smouldering in engineered and CCA treated timber products
Doctor Philosophy — Associate Advisor
Other advisors:
Completed Supervision
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A Methodology for Preliminary Designs of Structural Elements in Tall Timber Buildings
(2023) Doctor Philosophy — Associate Advisor
Other advisors:
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Solid-phase temperature analysis and correction for multi-scale fire experimentation
(2023) Doctor Philosophy — Associate Advisor
