Siu-Kui Au

Biography

Dr Au is currently Chair of Uncertainty, Reliability and Risk appointed jointly under the Centre for Engineering Dynamics and the Institute for Risk and Uncertainty. He obtained BEng (1995) and MPhil (1997) from the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology and PhD (2001) from the California Institute of Technology, all in civil engineering. Before joining the University of Liverpool he has held academic positions at the Nanyang Technological University (Singapore) and the City University of Hong Kong. He has also been a visiting professor at the Tokyo City University. 

Dr Au specializes in both fundamental and applied research in engineering reliability analysis and structural health monitoring. He has developed an efficient Monte Carlo method called Subset Simulation that has found risk assessment applications so far in earthquake, geotechnical, aerospace, fire and nuclear engineering. He is experienced in full-scale dynamic testing of structures and has consulted on structural vibration projects on long-span pedestrian bridges, large-span floors, super-tall buildings and microtremors. Recent research focuses on fundamental theory, computational algorithm and practical implementation of Bayesian approach for modal identification and structural system identification of full-scale structures. He is a recipient of the IASSAR Young Researcher Award (2005) and the Nishino Prize (2011).

Qualifications

  • PhD, 2001, California Institute of Technology
  • MPhil, 1997, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
  • BEng, 1995, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology

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Honours & Awards

  • Nishino Prize, 2011, 12th East Asia-Pacific Conference on Structural Engineering and Construction (26-28 Jan 2011, HK)
  • Junior Research Prize, 2005, International Association of Structural Safety and Reliability (IASSAR)
  • Keynote speaker, “Bayesian modal identification: theory and practice”, Asian-Pacific Symposium on Structural Reliability and its Applications (APSSRA), 23-25 May 2012, Singapore
  • Keynote speaker, “Uncertainty propagation in complex engineering systems”, Asia-Pacific Symposium on Reliability and Structural Safety, 19-20 Jun 2008, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong

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Professional membership

  • Member, Institute of Engineers Singapore (IES)
  • Member, American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE)
  • Member, Earthquake Engineering Research Institute (EERI)

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Selected publications

Bayesian modal identification

  1. Au SK, To P (2012). “Full-scale validation of dynamic wind load on a super-tall building under strong wind”. Journal of Structural Engineering, ASCE, 138(9):1161-1172.
  2. Au SK (2012). “Connecting Bayesian and frequentist quantification of parameter uncertainty in system Identification”. Mechanical Systems and Signal Processing, 29:328-342.
  3. Au SK, Zhang FL (2012). “Fast Bayesian ambient modal identification incorporating multiple setups”. Journal of Engineering Mechanics, 138(7):800-815.
  4. Au SK (2012). “Fast Bayesian ambient modal identification in the frequency domain, Part I: posterior most probable value”. Mechanical Systems and Signal Processing, 26(1): 60-75.
  5. Au SK (2012). “Fast Bayesian ambient modal identification in the frequency domain, Part II: posterior uncertainty”. Mechanical Systems and Signal Processing, 26(1): 76-90.
  6. Au SK, Zhang FL, To P (2012). “Field observations on modal properties of two tall buildings in Hong Kong”. Wind Engineering and Industrial Aerodynamics, 101:12-23.
  7. Au SK, Zhang FL (2012), “Ambient modal identification of a primary-secondary structure using fast Bayesian FFT approach”. Mechanical Systems and Signal Processing, 28:280-296.
  8. Au SK, Ni YC, Zhang FL, Lam HF (2012). “Full scale dynamic testing of a coupled slab system”. Engineering Structures, 37:167-178.
  9. Au SK (2011), “Assembling mode shapes by least squares”. Mechanical Systems and Signal Processing, 25(1): 163–179.
  10. Au SK (2011). “Fast Bayesian FFT method for ambient modal identification with separated modes”. Journal of Engineering Mechanics, ASCE, 137(3):214-226.

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Engineering reliability analysis

  1. Au SK, Cao ZJ, Wang Y (2010). “Implementing Advanced Monte Carlo under spreadsheet environment”. Structural Safety, 32(5): 281-292.
  2. Au SK (2009). “Stochastic control approach to reliability of elasto-plastic structures”. Structural Engineering and Mechanics, 32(1): 21-36.
  3. Au SK (2007), “Augmenting approximate solutions for consistent reliability analysis”. Probabilistic Engineering Mechanics, 22(1): 77-78.
  4. Au SK, Wang ZH, Lo SM (2007), “Compartment fire risk analysis by advanced Monte Carlo method”. Engineering Structures, 29(9):2381-2390.
  5. Au SK (2005), “Reliability-based design sensitivity by efficient simulation”. Computers & Structures, 83(14): 1048-1061.
  6. Au SK (2004), “Probabilistic failure analysis by importance sampling Markov chain simulation”. Journal of Engineering Mechanics, 130(3):303-311.
  7. Au SK, Beck JL (2003), “Importance sampling in high dimensions”.  Structural Safety, 25(2): 139-163.
  8. Au SK, Beck JL (2003), “Subset simulation and its applications to seismic risk based on dynamic analysis”. Journal of Engineering Mechanics, 129(8): 1-17.
  9. Au SK, Beck JL (2001), “Estimation of small failure probabilities in high dimensions by subset simulation”. Probabilistic Engineering Mechanics, 16(4): 263-277.
  10. Au SK, Beck JL (2001), “First excursion probability for linear systems by very efficient importance sampling”. Probabilistic Engineering Mechanics, 16(3): 193-207.