resilient materials for INfrastructure
Interested in the solid mechanics, computational mechanics, fatigue analysis, UHPC, and composite structures.
Kefiyalew Zerfu (Dr.Eng) is a postdoctoral researcher at Yokohama National University. He graduated with a Doctor of Engineering degree from Yokohama National University in 2025. He was involved in several interdisciplinary structural design projects for reinforced concrete and steel structures. He has over 7 years of research experience in structural mechanics, concrete engineering, steel structures, and fiber-reinforced concrete structures. His current research focuses on developing a constitutive model for the shear transfer mechanism and fatigue life performance prediction in ultra-high-performance concrete (UHPC).
Publications
17
Citations
353
h-index
7
Research Activities
Awards
Publications
Teaching & Supervision
Research Activities
Research Communities
- Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?hl=en&user=n4hc7kkAAAAJ
- ResearchGate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Kefiyalew-Zerfu
- ORCiD: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0707-6660
- Scopus ID: https://www.scopus.com/authid/detail.uri?authorId=57115416200
Peer Reviewer
Awards
- Scholarship-YNU International Academic Exchange and Promotion Projects 2024
Scholarship, Japanese Government (MEXT) Scholarship,2022 (Doctor of Engineering Degree Study)
- Honourable Academic Achievement, Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember, 2017
- Gold Level Award, The Second Malaysian-Indonesian Geopolymer Conference 2015 at Surabaya, Indonesia.
- The Best Presentation Award, ASEAN Young Engineers and Scientists Summit 2015
- Scholarship, Government of Indonesia,2014 (Master of Engineering Degree Study)
Publications
Peer-reviewed journal articles
- Andika.A, Ria.A, Trihanyndio., Dwa.D, Mohammad.M, Mahendra.A, Kefiyalew .Z, Edom.A, Irwanda.L, Januarti.J:”Hydraulic conductivity of CFBC fly ash-based geopolymer: Toward sustainable liner materials” https://doi.org/10.1016/j.grets.2025.100325
- Kefiyalew Z, Fujiyama C, Maekawa K.A :“Shear failure analysis of ultra-high-performance concrete based on modified contact density and concrete damaged plasticity models”.https://doi.org/10.1002/suco.70121
- Kefiyalew Z, Fujiyama C, Maekawa K, Ichinomiya T, Kosaka T.:“Shear transfer model for ultra-high-performance concrete incorporating fiber bridging mechanism.” Structural concrete. 2025. https://doi.org/10.1002/suco.70047
- Regasa Y. ,Kefiyalew Z. ,Mulgeta M. ,Elmer C. Agon,The effects of different steel sections on the performance of encased composite columns under cyclic lateral loads. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rineng.2024.103510
- Zewudie BB, Kefiyalew Z., Agon EC., Numerical investigation of elastic-plastic buckling performance of circular arched cellular steel beam using nonlinear finite element analysis method. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e25292.
- E.D. Shumuye, W. Li, G. Fang, Z. Wang, J. Liu, Kefiyalew Z., Review on the durability of eco-friendly engineering cementitious composite (ECC), Case Stud. Constr. Mater. 19 (2023) e02324. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cscm.2023.e02324.
- Kefiyalew Z., R. Yadeta, Finite Element-Based Performance Analysis of Encased Composite Columns under Monotonic Axial Compression Load, Adv. Civ. Eng. 2023 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1155/2023/5974705.
- Kefiyalew Z., and Januarti Jaya Ekaputri, The effect of reinforcement ratio on the fl exural performance of alkali-activated fl y ash-based geopolymer concrete beam, Heliyon. 8 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2022.e12015
- W. Li, E.D. Shumuye, T. Shiying, Z. Wang, Kefiyalew Z., Eco-friendly fibre reinforced geopolymer concrete: A critical review on the microstructure and long-term durability properties, Case Stud. Constr. Mater. 16 (2022) e00894. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cscm.2022.e00894
- B. Ahmed, Kefiyalew Z., E.C. Agon, Construction of Uniaxial Interaction Diagram for Slender Reinforced Concrete Column Based on Nonlinear Finite Element Analysis, Adv. Civ. Eng. 2021 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1155/2021/3275512
- Kefiyalew Z., J.J. Ekaputri, Nonlinear finite element study on element size effects in alkali-activated fly ash based reinforced geopolymer concrete beam, Case Stud. Constr. Mater. 15 (2021) e00765. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cscm.2021.e00765
- Kefiyalew Z., J.J. Ekaputri, Bond strength in PVA fibre reinforced fly ash-based geopolymer concrete, Mag. Civ. Eng. 101 (2021). https://doi.org/10.34910/MCE.101.5
- Kefiyalew Z., J.J. Ekaputri, Deflection Function Formulation for Simply Supported thin Plate Using Variational Approach, Adv. Asp. Eng. Res. Vol. 8. (2021) 64–73.https://doi.org/10.9734/bpi/aaer/v8/8086d
Peer-reviewed conference papers
- Kefiyalew Z, Fujiyama C. Shear mechanism of Ultra-High-Performance Concrete under shear loading.Proceedings of 15th fib International PhD Symposium in Civil Engineering. 28-30 August 2024, Budapest, Hungary. 2024;125-132. https://www.fib-international.org/publications/fib-proceedings/
- Kefiyalew Z., J.J. Ekaputri, An approximate deflection function for simply supported quadrilateral thin plate by variational approach, in: AIP Conf. Proc., 2017. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4994417.
- Kefiyalew Z., J.J. Ekaputri, Review on Alkali-Activated Fly Ash Based Geopolymer Concrete, Mater. Sci. Forum. 841 (2016) 162–169. http://www.scientific.net/MSF.841.162
Teaching & Supervision
- CENG 6502 – Finite Element Method for Structures
- CENG 6503 – Matrix Method for Structural Analysis
- CENG 7503 -Shell Structures
- CENG 2051 – Engineering Mechanics I: Statics
- CENG 2101 – Strength of Materials
- CENG 4122 – Reinforced Concrete Structures II
- CENG 5123 – Steel and Timber Structures
- CENG 5261- Theory of Structures II
- CEng 5352 – Fundamentals of Bridge Design
Our FEA research areas and expertises
Buckling
Buckling is a sudden failure of a mechanical component due to structural instability and it is not material failure type. Buckling analysis categorized into linear and non-linear buckling
Structural Dynamics
Study the behavior of a structure subjected to dynamic loading (such as from wind, waves, traffic, earthquakes, and blasts).
Damage Mechanics
FEA Fracture simulation is used in design and fabrication to understand and prevent brittle fracture. It can also be used to determine the useful life of a material under different conditions, including fatigue, corrosion and elevated temperatures
Thermal analysis
Research on time and temperature dependent effects on solid structures.
Our Research Team
Current students
Graduated
Current students
- Beteltihun Lambiye
- Research Title:-“Investigation of punching shear behavior of edge flat slab-column connection with different shear reinforcement arrangement“
Graduated
2023/2024
- Tofik Abadura
- Research Title:-“ Fracture Behavior and Mechanical Characteristics of Hollow Geopolymer Concrete Blocks“
- Ashenafi Hirgo
- Research Title:-“ Numerical Investigation on Post-Fire Exposure Behavior of Circular Concrete Filled Steel Tube Column under Axial Loading“
- Gezahagn G/Medhin
- Research Title:-“Assessment of reinforced concrete beam−column connections with different strengthening techniques using the finite element method“
- Akililu Yohannes
- Research Title:-“Finite Element Analysis on Flexural and Lateral Torsional Buckling Resistance of Steel I-Beam with Different Arrangements of Web Opening”
2022/2023
- Esirael Yohannis
- Research Title:-“Flexural Strength of fiber-reinforced alkali-activated concrete beam made from locally available cementitious materials under monotonic load“
- Abdulfetah Hamid
- Research Title:-“Flexural Strength of fiber-reinforced alkali-activated concrete beam made from locally available cementitious materials under monotonic load“
- Habtamu Daka
- Research Title:-“Structural performance and aggressive environmental resistance of geopolymer concrete material for drainage pipe production“
2021/2022
- Zidna Jihad
- Research Title:-“Physical and mechanical properties of Alkali Activated Concrete Made from
Locally Available Geo-material ,”Nech Afer”“
- Research Title:-“Physical and mechanical properties of Alkali Activated Concrete Made from