The Centre for Resilience of Critical Infrastructure

Bahen-Tanenbaum Professor of Civil Engineering

Galbraith Building, 35 St. George Street, Room 236, Toronto, ON, M5S 1A4

Phone:  +1 416 978.4776

View Prof. Packer’s website

Prof. Packer graduated from the University of Adelaide, Australia, then received his Master’s degree from the University of Manchester and Ph.D. from the University of Nottingham in the U.K. Since his appointment at the University of Toronto in 1980 he has undertaken research, development and consulting work primarily on tubular steel structures.  He has published extensively on this topic, including 15 books.

He currently serves on technical committees for the American Welding Society, American Institute of Steel Construction, Comité International pour le Développement et l’Étude de la Construction Tubulaire, Canadian Standards Association and the International Institute of Welding (IIW).

He is a licensed Professional Engineer in Ontario and the U.K., Fellow of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), Fellow of the Institution of Civil Engineers (U.K.), Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Engineering, has served on the Editorial Boards of several journals and as a Director of IIW and Cast Connex Corporation.

Recent awards include: D.Sc. degree from the University of Nottingham (2006), Canadian Society for Civil Engineering (CSCE) “Excellence in Innovation in Civil Engineering Award” (2009), Ontario Professional Engineers “Engineering Medal for Research and Development” (2010), CSCE “Gzowski Medal” (2011) and the ASCE “Shortridge Hardesty Award” (2012).

Specializations

• Experimental (small to large-scale), numerical (non-linear finite element analysis) and analytical research with the primary area being the behaviour and design of steel structures
• Tubular structures with particular emphasis on welded, bolted, nailed and cast connections and joints
• Loading conditions cover quasi-static, fatigue, impact, blast and seismic. Recent materials studied have also included cast iron, glass, fiber reinforced polymer composites and steel-concrete composites

Interests

• Blast, impact and high strain-rate loading of materials and structural elements

CRCI Programs & Projects

• Explora Research Program into Protection against the Effects of Energetic Loadings
• Field Blast Trials Program