Ahmed LOUKILIView profile
Professor
Ahmed LOUKILI is a Professor in the Mechanics, Materials and Civil Engineering Department at Ecole Centrale de Nantes, France. He is affiliated with the Research Institute in Civil and Mechanical Engineering (GeM), where he leads a research team focused on concrete. His work spans concrete technology, structural engineering, and materials science, with a particular emphasis on sustainable construction practices. Professor LOUKILI earned his Bachelor of Civil Engineering from the University of Bordeaux 1 in 1991, followed by a Master of Civil Engineering from Ecole Centrale de Nantes in 1992. He completed his Doctorate Degree (PhD) at Ecole Centrale de Nantes in November 1996 with a thesis on "Delayed deformation of the Ultrahigh-Performance Concrete." In December 2005, he obtained his Habilitation degree from the University of Nantes, enabling him to direct research. His research interests focus on the mix design and mechanical behavior of concrete, durability of cement-based materials, green concrete, and size effects in concrete. Professor LOUKILI has made significant contributions to understanding the early-age behavior of new cementitious materials and the durability mechanics of concrete structures. His work combines experimental approaches with advanced modeling techniques to address critical challenges in concrete technology. Analysis of Professor LOUKILI's recent publications reveals a strong focus on sustainable concrete technologies, including low-carbon cementitious materials, alternative binders like calcined clay and geopolymers, and the application of artificial intelligence for concrete optimization. His research increasingly integrates multi-scale characterization techniques such as nanoindentation and SEM imaging to understand the fundamental mechanisms governing concrete behavior. There's also a growing emphasis on 3D concrete printing and the development of methodologies for eco-design of concrete structures. Professor LOUKILI is a RILEM Senior Member and serves on the TC 195-DTD committee, which develops recommendations for test methods for autogenous deformation and thermal dilation of early-age concrete. He is also a member of the American Concrete Institute (ACI) and regularly reviews for numerous civil engineering journals. Since 2002, he has been a member of the scientific council at Ecole Centrale de Nantes. As Head of the concrete research team in Nantes, Professor LOUKILI has supervised numerous research projects focused on concrete technology and durability. His work has resulted in over 40 refereed papers and book chapters, with recent research expanding into areas like AI applications for concrete optimization and advanced characterization of low-carbon cementitious materials. He teaches courses in concrete technology, reinforced concrete, durability of concrete, and structural engineering. Professor LOUKILI's research is conducted through the Research Institute in Civil and Mechanical Engineering (GeM), where he leads a team investigating fundamental aspects of concrete behavior. His laboratory work combines experimental testing with advanced analytical techniques to address practical challenges in concrete technology and sustainable construction.
