Alper Kanyilmaz

Biography

Alper Kanyilmaz is an associate professor in the Department of Architecture, Built Environment and Construction Engineering of Politecnico di Milano in Italy. He applies data-driven approaches, artificial intelligence, and advanced manufacturing techniques to drive a digitalized and sustainable transition in the Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) sector towards a life-cycle driven building structures. He has been the principal investigator of 4 EU-projects with a €10 million total budget and 40+ international partners. He is an Expert Advisor for the European Commission Technical group “Steel Applications for New Markets” (Mandate 2023-2028), and project monitoring expert for European Commission, B.1 – Future Low Emission Industries. He is the coordinator of EU-funded research projects ConstructAdd and LASTTS. He transfers his research experience to the civil engineering and architecture students in terms of teaching, MSc and PhD thesis supervision.

Full article list / Books / Talks

If you would like to cooperate, please contact him.

Research

His three research lines are constructed using both numerical and experimental methods, up to high TRL levels (e.g., pilot-scale):

Highly cited articles:

Kanyilmaz A, Demir A.G., Chierici M., Berto F., Gardner L., Kandukuri S.Y., Kassabian P., Kinoshita T., Laurenti A., Paoletti I., Plessis A., Razavi J., Role of metal 3D printing to increase quality and resource-efficiency in the construction sector, Additive Manufacturing, Volume 50, 2022, 102541, ISSN 2214-8604, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.addma.2021.102541

Kanyilmaz, A., The problematic nature of steel hollow section joint fabrication, and a remedy using laser cutting technology: A review of research, applications, opportunities, Engineering Structures, v. 183, 2019, p. 1027-1048, ISSN 0141-0296, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.engstruct.2018.12.080

Kanyilmaz A., Tichell P.R.N., Loiacono D., A genetic algorithm tool for conceptual structural design with cost and embodied carbon optimization (2022) Engineering Applications of Artificial Intelligence, 112, art. no. 104711, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.engappai.2022.104711

Kanyilmaz, A., Berto, F., Paoletti I., Caringal, R.J., Mora, S., Nature-inspired optimization of tubular joints for metal 3D printing, Struct Multidisc Optim (2021), Springer Nature, https://doi.org/10.1007/s00158-020-02729-7

Most recent articles:

Kanyilmaz A., Dang V., Kondratenko A., How does conceptual design impact the cost and carbon footprint of structures?, Structures, Volume 58, 2023, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.istruc.2023.105102.

Kanyilmaz, A., Birhane, M., Fishwick, R., Castillo C.. Reuse of Steel in the Construction Industry: Challenges and Opportunities. Int J Steel Struct (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13296-023-00778-4.

Menghini A., Kanyilmaz A., Calado L., Castiglioni C.A., Experimental Assessment of the Behavior of Tubular Truss Girder Joints Fabricated with Laser Cutting Technology (2023) Journal of Structural Engineering (United States), 149 (6), https://doi.org/10.1061/JSENDH.STENG-12019

Teaching

He transfers his research experience to the civil engineering and architecture students (300/year) in terms of teaching, MSc and PhD thesis supervision. Moreover, Dr. Kanyilmaz provides industry-focused training courses aimed at mitigating embodied carbon within the Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) sector (you can contact him for a training request).

Dr. Kanyilmaz’s teaching, blending numerical simulations and hands-on experiments in class, lab, and online, echoes Socratic inquiry: “Can it be, Ischomachus, that asking questions is teaching? I am just beginning to see what is behind all your questions. You lead me on by means of things I know, point to things that resemble them, and persuade me that I know things that I thought I had no knowledge of.”

News

AI-powered Steel Structures

AI-powered Steel Structures

3 and 5 December 2024

Alper Kanyilmaz and Paul Kassabian (Principal and Structural Engineer at Simpson Gumpertz & Heger) will give an online training titled “AI-powered Life Cycle Driven Design of Steel Structures”. The training will explore the role of artificial intelligence in the life-cycle driven design of steel structures. The webinar will

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How to enable AI for Architecture, Engineering and Construction Companies?

How to enable AI for Architecture, Engineering and Construction Companies?

2-3 October 2024

Alper Kanyilmaz will lead the teleworkshop titled “How to Enable AI for Architecture, Engineering & Construction Companies?” hosted by Politecnico di Milano’s Department of Architecture, Engineering of Constructions, and Built Environment. The event features industry leaders like Nicolas Mangon (Vice President of AEC Strategy at Autodesk), Paul Kassabian (Principal

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Visiting research in Technical University of Munich, Germany

Visiting research in Technical University of Munich, Germany

10 July 2024

Alper Kanyilmaz visited Prof. Martin Mensinger at his Metal Structures chair at the Technical University of Munich, marking the start of an exciting new collaboration. This partnership aims to accelerate advancements in sustainable large-part metal 3D printing.

Prof Kanyilmaz, TUM, in a lecture

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Lecture in Bologna, Italy

Lecture in Bologna, Italy

8 July 2024

Alper Kanyilmaz gave a lecture with title “Life cycle driven strategies for large-scale metal 3D printing” in the 2nd edition “Summer School of Metal 3D Printing in Construction” in University of Bologna. He was invited by Vittoria Laghi, coordinator of the summer school.

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ConstructAdd team is growing.

ConstructAdd team is growing.

10 April 2024

Beyond dreaming, the EU-funded R&D project ConstructAdd is making steps toward a future where metal 3D printing becomes “normal” in the construction and automotive industries. Companies willing to take part in this are invited to get in touch with the project coordinator Alper Kanyilmaz.

Alper Kanyilmaz, speaking in the video of ConstructAdd project meeting

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New article “Fatigue analysis of hybrid steel construction parts using LPBF on hot-rolled steel”

New article “Fatigue analysis of hybrid steel construction parts using LPBF on hot-rolled steel”

8 February 2024

In his recent article, Dr. Kanyilmaz and his colleagues looked into the ways to successfully connect metal 3D printed (LPBF) parts to the conventional steel. In particular, they tested fatigue performance of hybrid metal additive manufactured joints vs EN 1993-1-9 steel joints, measured the defects shape and orientation

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Is timber better for climate than steel and concrete? It’s actually not that simple

Is timber better for climate than steel and concrete? It’s actually not that simple

22 January 2024

In today’s Global Construction Review article, Dr. Kanyilmaz challenges the oversimplified views on sustainable construction. His team’s AI-powered tool emphasized that sustainability depends on multiple factors, including building design and material sourcing. Notably, reused steel is identified as exceptionally sustainable, surpassing traditional materials like timber and

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Life-cycle driven design of steel structures

Life-cycle driven design of steel structures

20 January 2024

Dr. Kanyilmaz created an 8-hour training, where you’ll gain a deep understanding of:
🌍 Challenges and opportunities for the steel community during the climate crisis,
🤔 The meaning of each life-cycle stage of a steel construction,
📊 Analysis and comparison of worldwide steel EPDs,
📈 Strategies to calculate and minimize the hashtag#embodiedcarbon carbon of steel

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Reuse of Steel in the Construction Industry: Challenges and Opportunities

Reuse of Steel in the Construction Industry: Challenges and Opportunities

25 September 2023

Kanyilmaz, A., Birhane, M.Fishwick, R.Castillo C.. Reuse of Steel in the Construction Industry: Challenges and Opportunities. Int J Steel Struct (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13296-023-00778-4. In this article, we presented the current barriers for the re-use of steel in construction indsutry, and proposed solutions to them by leveraging the digital technologies and artificial intelligence.

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3rd coordination meeting of ConstructAdd project

3rd coordination meeting of ConstructAdd project

21-22 September 2023

3rd coordination meeting of ConstructAdd project took place in Turin, Italy. ConstructAdd is a EU-RFCS project coordinated by Alper Kanyilmaz, and it aims to place the Metal Additive Manufacturing in the mainstream of Architecture Engineering, Construction (AEC), and Automotive industries. It will be achieved by developing design guidelines and processes for sustainable steel building and electric car

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Fatigue Stress Concentration Factor Reduction via Metal Additive Manufacturing. Strength Mater 55, 575–581 (2023)

Fatigue Stress Concentration Factor Reduction via Metal Additive Manufacturing. Strength Mater 55, 575–581 (2023)

20 July 2023

https://doi.org/10.1007/s11223-023-00550-3. This research article explored the use of additive manufacturing (AM) techniques to produce nature-inspired structures that exhibit reduced stress concentration factors, known to be a leading cause of fatigue-related failures.

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Laser Directed Energy Deposition on Conventional Tubular Steel Profiles

Laser Directed Energy Deposition on Conventional Tubular Steel Profiles

18 Luglio 2023

Serge Mrad graduated with his MSc thesis titled Laser Directed Energy Deposition on Conventional Tubular Steel Profiles . His thesis has been co-supervised by post-doc researcher Alessandro Menghini, Prof Ali Gokhan Demir and Prof Barbara Previtali.

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Hybrid manufacturing of steel construction parts via arc welding of LPBF-produced and hot-rolled stainless steels

Hybrid manufacturing of steel construction parts via arc welding of LPBF-produced and hot-rolled stainless steels

15 July 2023

Chierici, M., Demir, A.G.Kanyilmaz, A.Previtali B.Castiglioni C.ABerto, F. Hybrid manufacturing of steel construction parts via arc welding of LPBF-produced and hot-rolled stainless steels. Prog Addit Manuf (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40964-023-00466-z

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Experimental Assessment of the Behavior of Tubular Truss Girder Joints Fabricated with Laser Cutting Technology

Experimental Assessment of the Behavior of Tubular Truss Girder Joints Fabricated with Laser Cutting Technology

15 July 2023

Menghini, A.Kanyilmaz, A., Calado, L.Castiglioni C.A. Experimental Assessment of the Behavior of Tubular Truss Girder Joints Fabricated with Laser Cutting Technology. Journal of Structural Engineering 149; 6 https://doi.org/10.1061/JSENDH.STENG-12019 (2023). This article presented truss girder joints developed with Laser cutting technology (LCT). An experimental campaign of 31 specimens has been presented.

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A Metal 3D Printing Workflow to Design Lightweight Façade Joints

A Metal 3D Printing Workflow to Design Lightweight Façade Joints

25 May 2023

Davide Papini graduated with his MSc thesis titled “A Metal 3D Printing Workflow to Design Lightweight Façade Joints“, with an evaluation of 110/110 cum laude. His thesis has been co-supervised by Prof Ali Gokhan Demir and Prof Barbara Previtali from Mechanical Engineering Department of Politecnico di Milano. The focus of the thesis was on topology

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The pain points of the structural design that can be addressed with the opportunities of metal 3d printing

The pain points of the structural design that can be addressed with the opportunities of metal 3d printing

6 March 2023

Alper Kanyilmaz and  José Oliveira Pedro (Senior Bridge Engineer in GRID International Consulting Engineers, Portugal) discussed the pain points of the structural design that can be addressed with the opportunities of metal 3d printing.

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ConstructAdd 2nd coordination meeting in Madrid

ConstructAdd 2nd coordination meeting in Madrid

9 February 2023

ConstructAdd 2nd coordination meeting in Madrid took place in Madrid, Spain.

Project coordinator Alper Kanyilmaz from the Politecnico di Milano, Gorka Iglesias from ArcelorMittal Europe Tubular Products and Sastry Y Kandukuri from Det Norske Veritas (DNV-GL) share their thoughts on ConstructAdd at the six month mark.

ConstructAdd coordination meeting, Madrid, Spain

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Changing the world’s most resource-intensive industry with metal 3D printing

Changing the world’s most resource-intensive industry with metal 3D printing

1 February 2023

3D Printing Industry published an article with Alper Kanyilmaz on how ConstructAdd project is aiming to increase resource efficiency in the automobile and construction sectors through the use of 3D-printed steels:

You can read the full article at the link.

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End of 1st semester 2022/2023. Steel, timber and reinforced concrete structures course

End of 1st semester 2022/2023. Steel, timber and reinforced concrete structures course

22 December 2022

End of 1st semester 2022/2023. Steel, timber and reinforced concrete structures course completed. Done together with 170 great students and expert collaborators Alberto PiaiaManuel QuagliaroliAleksei KondratenkoMatteo Bocchi.

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Seismic response prediction of steel moment frames using machine learning methods

Seismic response prediction of steel moment frames using machine learning methods

21 December 2022

Hassan Haidar graduated with his MSc thesis titled “Seismic response prediction of steel moment frames using machine learning methods“.

His thesis was co-supervised by PhD candidate Aleksei Kondratenko.

Amazing results achieved: hours of non-linear time history analysis were reduced to seconds with 80% accuracy for multi-storey

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EU-RFCS CONSTRUCTADD project kick-off

EU-RFCS CONSTRUCTADD project kick-off

8 September 2022

We kicked-off EU-RFCS CONSTRUCTADD project in Milano, aiming to place the Metal Additive Manufacturing in the mainstream of Architecture, Engineering and Construction industry by the year 2026. 

Partnership covers the whole-supply chain of AEC industry:

Politecnico di Milano (coordinator), RWTH Aachen UniversityUniversità di PisaPrima

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Two theses in a day!

Two theses in a day!

Mussie Amaha Birhane and Furkan Turan graduated with their MSc thesis titled “Automated decision-making framework for the end-of-life scenario of steel structures using convolutional neural networks” in cooperation with Catherine de Wolf, and “Prediction of experimental test results of thin-walled racking components using machine learning“, in cooperation

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Conceptual Design of Mass Timber Structures using Genetic Algorithms

Conceptual Design of Mass Timber Structures using Genetic Algorithms

27 April 2022

Our MSc student Van Hoi Dang discussed successfully his thesis “Conceptual Design of Mass Timber Structures using Genetic Algorithms“. Full mark for him, grateful for his co-supervisor PhD candidate Aleksei Kondratenko, and thanks to Sustainability Director (Skanska) Tolga Tutar for the industry cooperation.

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A genetic algorithm tool for conceptual structural design with cost and embodied carbon optimization

A genetic algorithm tool for conceptual structural design with cost and embodied carbon optimization

EU-RFCS DISSIPABLE final workshop

EU-RFCS DISSIPABLE final workshop

23 February 2022

EU-RFCS DISSIPABLE final workshop: Alper coordinated this 4 year research project composed of pilot-scale shaking table tests, hybrid numerical/ physical simulations, life cycle economic and environmental analysis of #earthquake-resistant & dissipative #steel structures: In this workshop, the results will be presented to the worlwide engineering community, putting “#sustainability” on the table of seismic design.

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Role of metal 3D printing to increase quality and resource-efficiency in the construction sector

Role of metal 3D printing to increase quality and resource-efficiency in the construction sector

24 January 2022

Role of metal 3D printing to increase quality and resource-efficiency in the construction sector” is published in Additive Manufacturing journalIt is an opinion article discussing how metal 3D printing can help us make the construction industry better by reducing its lead times, embodied CO2 emissions and costs. It is

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Automated warehouses, and massive racking structures

Automated warehouses, and massive racking structures

26 October 2021

The MSc thesis of Aleksei Kondratenko resulted in an elegant journal article (4 rounds of review in Bulletin of Earthquake Engineering). It is about Automated warehouses, which keep the goods arriving us from Amazon and more. Massive racking structures, reaching 40 m height + 100 m in plan, using often cold formed steel.

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Nature-inspired optimization of tubular joints for metal 3D printing

Nature-inspired optimization of tubular joints for metal 3D printing

1 August 2021

New article published: “Nature-inspired optimization of tubular joints for metal 3D printing”. We analyzed new tubular joint shapes using solid isotropic material with the penalization method (SIMP) in cooperation with multiple players (architects, manufacturers, producers). The article is open access, and can be downloaded from here.

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Hybrid bolted joints composed of conventional and additively manufacturated steel profiles

Hybrid bolted joints composed of conventional and additively manufacturated steel profiles

22 July 2021

Our MSc student Muyao Li discussed successfully his thesis

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Architectural & structural design studio 2021/2022

Architectural & structural design studio 2021/2022

10 June 2021

End of 2nd year architectural & structural design studio 2021/2022: Conceptual design of steel, timber, and reinforced concrete structures, and life cycle analysis to quantify the embodied CO2 of the structural systems. In cooperation with Sandra Maglio and Giovanni Brambilla.

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Foto-Contest 2021 – Modulo Strutture

Foto-Contest 2021 – Modulo Strutture

27 May 2021

The results of the foto-contest I organized for my 2nd year BSc Architecture students are published

https://padlet.com/alperkanyilmaz/risultati-foto-contest-2021-modulo-strutture-dfoe0dp9fk1zwi25

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A multi-criteria conceptual design method using genetic algorithms to optimize structures

A multi-criteria conceptual design method using genetic algorithms to optimize structures

25 March 2021 11:30 CET Speaker in AI in AEC conference: “A multi-criteria conceptual design method using genetic algorithms to optimize structures’ cost and environmental impacts”

Dr. Kanyilmaz presented their latest research, where his team developed an AI-based computer-assisted design tool to assist structural engineers in the decision-making process of building design. The tool is

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Resource efficient joint fabrication by welding metal 3D printed parts to conventional steel: A structural integrity study

Resource efficient joint fabrication by welding metal 3D printed parts to conventional steel: A structural integrity study

03 March 2021

New article: Resource efficient joint fabrication by welding metal 3D printed parts to conventional steel: A structural integrity study: Together with Filippo Berto (Chair of Mechanics of Materials, Fracture Mechanics and Fatigue, NTNU Norway) and Martina Chierici (PhD candidate, Politecnico di Milano), we presented a ‘hybrid’ manufacturing approach

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The problematic nature of steel hollow section joint fabrication, and a remedy using laser cutting technology: A review of research, applications, opportunities

The problematic nature of steel hollow section joint fabrication, and a remedy using laser cutting technology: A review of research, applications, opportunities

15 March 2019

New article published: “The problematic nature of steel hollow section joint fabrication, and a remedy using laser cutting technology: A review of research, applications, opportunities” by Alper Kanyilmaz.

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