Leadership

Julio Cesar Silva

Lead Researcher

Professional Overview

Julio Cesar Silva is a recognized Fellow in the field of Fire Simulations and the Lead Researcher at RIO on Fire. Dedicated to advancing the field of fire safety, he also served as the President of the Society of Fire Protection Engineers Chapter in Brazil (SFPE-Brazil) from 2023 to 2026.

Since 2008, he has been deeply involved in high-level technical works focused on identifying structural behavior, determining the root causes of structural collapses, reconstructing complex accidents (including fires), and designing architectural structures and buildings.

Academic & Research Excellence

His methodology bridges rigorous academic research with practical, high-value engineering solutions. He served as a Post-doctoral Researcher in the Civil Engineering Program at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (COPPE/UFRJ) from April 2015 to March 2016.

Prior to his post-doctoral work, he was a Guest Researcher at the Fire Research Division of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) in the United States between April 2014 and March 2015. He has also held prominent teaching positions as a Professor at the School of Architecture and Urbanism of Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (FAU/UFRJ).

Pioneering Software Development & BIM

As a leading expert in computational fire modeling, Julio has been a contributor to the official Fire Dynamics Simulator (FDS) package since 2014, where he specifically developed the Structural Interaction section.

Furthermore, he is a strong enthusiast and fluent practitioner of Building Information Modeling (BIM), successfully implementing this technology to streamline engineering workflows at multiple organizations.

Current Research & Consulting Focus

His ongoing research and consulting efforts provide specialized solutions in the following core areas:

  • CFD Fire Simulations: Advanced modeling based on Computational Fluid Dynamics.
  • Heat Transfer: Analyzing complex thermodynamic phenomena.
  • Structural Modeling: Advanced computational evaluation of global assemblies.
  • Thermo-Mechanical Analysis: Evaluating steel and composite structures under fire conditions — large displacements and plasticity.
  • BIM Integration: Leveraging Building Information Modeling for holistic project delivery.
Academic Portfolio

Extensive Publication & Research Portfolio

A foundation of peer-reviewed authority published in the world's leading engineering journals and scientific events.

📄 Articles Published in Scientific Journals (6) ▼
  1. Liu, Zhi; Silva, Julio Cesar G.; Huang, Qiao; Hasemi, Yuji; Huang, Yili; Guo, Zhaoyuan.
    Coupled CFD-FEM Simulation Methodology for Fire-Exposed Bridges.
    Journal of Bridge Engineering, v.26, 2021.
  2. Silva, Julio Cesar G.; Landesmann, Alexandre; Ribeiro, Fernando Luiz B.
    Fire-thermomechanical interface model for performance-based analysis of structures exposed to fire.
    Fire Safety Journal, v.83, p.66–78, 2016.
  3. Zhang, Chao; Silva, Julio G.; Weinschenk, Craig; Kamikawa, Daisuke; Hasemi, Yuji.
    Simulation Methodology for Coupled Fire-Structure Analysis: Modeling Localized Fire Tests on a Steel Column.
    Fire Technology, v.52, p.239–262, 2016.
  4. Silva, Julio Cesar G.; Landesmann, Alexandre; Ribeiro, Fernando Luiz B.
    Performance-based analysis of cylindrical steel containment Vessels exposed to fire.
    Fire Safety Journal, v.69, p.126–135, 2014.
  5. Silva, Julio Cesar; Landesmann, Alexandre.
    Performance-based analysis of steel-concrete composite floor exposed to fire.
    Journal of Constructional Steel Research, v.83, p.117–126, 2013.
  6. Silva, J. C. G.; Landesmann, A.
    One-way Coupling to Fire-Thermomechanical analysis of structures under fire (in Portuguese).
    Revista Sul-americana de Engenharia Estrutural, v.9, p.65–82, 2012.
🎤 Articles Published in Conferences and Events (13) ▼
  1. Silva, J. C. G.; Landesmann, A.; Ribeiro, F. L. B.
    Interface Model to Fire-Thermomechanical Performance-Based Analysis of Structures under Fire Conditions.
    Fire and Evacuation Modeling Technical Conference (FEMTC) 2014, Gaithersburg. [Link]
  2. Silva, J.C.; Cheroto, J. E.; Landesmann, A.; Ribeiro, F. L. B.
    Análise das Condições de Segurança de Túneis Rodoviários em Situação de Incêndio via Fluidodinâmica Computacional.
    II Congresso Ibero-Latino-Americano em Segurança contra Incêndios, 2013, Coimbra. p.607–616.
  3. Silva, J.C.; Antunes, Flávia; Landesmann, A.; Ribeiro, F. L. B.
    Análise Numérica via Fluidodinâmica Computacional de Tanques de Armazenamento de Etanol sob Incêndio.
    II Congresso Ibero-Latino-Americano em Segurança contra Incêndios, 2013, Coimbra. p.597–606.
  4. Silva, J.C.; Landesmann, A.; Ribeiro, F. L. B.
    Procedimento para Análise Termomecânica Inelástica de Estruturas em Situação de Incêndio.
    34º CILAMCE, 2013, Pirenópolis.
  5. Silva, J. C. G.; Landesmann, A.; Ribeiro, F. L. B.
    Análise Computacional Fluido-Termomecânica de Estruturas Metálicas de Contenção sob Incêndio.
    XXXV Jornadas Sul Americanas de Engenharia Estrutural, 2012, Rio de Janeiro.
  6. Silva, J. C. G.; Landesmann, A.; Ribeiro, F. L. B.; Toledo Filho, O, R. D.
    Simulação Numérica via Fluidodinâmica Computacional de Incêndio Real no Tubo de Sucção de UHE.
    XXXV Jornadas Sul Americanas de Engenharia Estrutural, 2012, Rio de Janeiro.
  7. Silva, J. C. G.; Landesmann, A.; Ribeiro, F. L. B.
    Aplicação de Dinâmica de Fluidos Computacional para Simulação de Incêndios em Estrutura Metálica de Contenção para Área Nuclear.
    32º CILAMCE, 2011, Ouro Preto.
  8. Silva, J. C. G.; Landesmann, A.
    A coupled Fluid-Thermal-Mechanical Analysis of Composite Structures under Fire Conditions.
    SDSS 2010 - Stability and Ductility of Steel Structures, 2010, Rio de Janeiro.
  9. Cheroto, J. E.; Silva, J. C. G.; Landesmann, A.; Ribeiro, F. L. B.
    Aplicação de Modelo CFD para Avaliação da Dinâmica de Incêndio em Túneis.
    31º CILAMCE, 2010, Buenos Aires.
  10. Silva, J. C. G.; Landesmann, A.
    Application of a 3D Fluid-Thermal-Mechanical Model for Performance-Based Analysis of Composite Structures under Fire.
    SSRC Annual Stability Conference, 2010, Orlando.
  11. Silva, J. C. G.; Landeslann, A.; Ribeiro, F. L. B.
    Simulação de Incêndios em Ambientes Petrolíferos com Emprego de Modelos Numéricos em Dinâmica de Fluidos Computacional (CFD).
    31º CILAMCE, 2010, Buenos Aires.
  12. Silva, J. C. G.; Landesmann, A.
    Aplicação de Modelo CFD para Avaliação da Dinâmica de Incêndios em Compartimentos.
    30º CILAMCE, 2009, Búzios.
  13. Silva, J. C. G.; Landesmann, A.
    Avaliação de comportamento de lajes em CA e mistas aço-concreto sob condições de incêndio.
    51º Congresso Brasileiro do Concreto, 2009, Curitiba.