Day-1 (24/08/2023)
Inaugural session
The registration commenced at 9.00 am and went on till 9:30 am at Civil Department, KPRIET. The Inaugural function started at 9:30 am and Dr.S Shanmugam, Chairman, IE(I) presented the welcome and Presidential address and briefed upon the activities of IE(I) in promoting Science and Technology and the importance of the seminar. Dr. M. Ramasamy, Principal, KPRIET gave the felicitation address to the gathering highlighting the importance of this seminar and appreciating the team to organise this event. Dr.G.Anusha, Professor and Head, Department of Civil Engineering, KPRIET presented an overview of the Two day All India Seminar on “Repair, Rehabilitation and Retrofitting of RCC Structures”. Dr V Rajeshkumar, Assistant Professor(Sl.G) gave the brief introduction about the chief guest.
Dr.K.Balasubramanian, Managing Director, Hitech concrete solution Chennai PVT LTD delivered the chief guest address elaborating the importance of Repair and retrofitting works needed to restore the RCC structure instead of demolishing the whole structure.
The Souvenir was released in the form of CD by the dignitaries. Mrs S Bharani, Assistant professor, KPRIET proposed the vote of thanks.
Technical Session - I
The first Technical session started at 10:00 am was on “Current Concrete NDT Practices and Case Studies” by Dr. Balasubramanian. The topic of the presentation, 'Current Concrete Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) Practices and Case Studies,' was introduced. The importance of concrete in construction and the need to ensure its structural integrity were highlighted. The presenter provided an overview of various NDT methods used for assessing concrete structures without causing damage. Methods including Ultrasonic Pulse Velocity, Rebound Hammer Test, Half-cell Potential Mapping, Ground Penetrating Radar, Impact-Echo Testing, Ultrasonic Tomography, and Acoustic Emission Testing were briefly explained. The significance of each technique in evaluating concrete quality and detecting defects was emphasized.
Technical Session – II
The second key note session commenced at 11:45 pm delivered by Mrs R Kavitha, Assistant Professor (Sr.G), Department of Civil Engineering, KPRIET shared her expertise on ‘Retrofitting of RCC Structures using Steel Plate’. The Resource person highlighted the benefits of using steel plates for retrofitting, such as increased load-carrying capacity, enhanced ductility, improved seismic performance, and ease of installation. The Case studies were cited to illustrate how steel plate retrofitting had successfully extended the service life of various structures. Another case study featured a seismic retrofitting project. NSM steel plates were strategically inserted into concrete members to enhance their seismic performance, safeguarding against potential earthquakes.
Technical Session - III
The Third key note session commenced at 02:00 pm delivered by Dr R Ilangovan, Visiting Professor / Civil, KPRIET. The topic of the presentation, 'Rehabilitation Techniques to Treat Leakage in Dams,' was presented by the resource person. The critical importance of dam infrastructure and the challenges posed by leakage were highlighted. The presenter provided an overview of the factors leading to leakage in dams, such as aging materials, improper construction, and changing hydrological conditions. The potential consequences of dam leakage, including structural instability, erosion, and environmental damage, were discussed.
Technical Session - IV
The Third key note session commenced at 03:15 pm delivered by Mrs V Selvapriya
Assistant Professor (Sr.G) / Civil, PSG Institute of Technology and Applied Research, Coimbatore about the topic “Strengthening of Reinforced Concrete Structural Elements”. The speaker highlighted the benefits of strengthening RCC structural elements, including increased load-carrying capacity, improved seismic performance, extended service life, and minimized disruption during construction. The step-by-step process of strengthening RCC structural elements was explained. The speaker acknowledged challenges in RCC structural strengthening, such as compatibility of materials, construction constraints, and design complexities.
Day-2 (25/08/2023)
Technical Session - V
The technical session V on “Water Proofing in RCC Structures” commenced at 09.30 AM delivered by Er N Asupathi, Specification Manager, Construction Chemicals Division - Dr.Fixit Chennai. The Speaker discussed the significance of waterproofing in RCC structures to prevent water penetration, which can lead to deterioration, corrosion, and structural damage. The effects of water ingress on the longevity, aesthetics, and safety of RCC elements were outlined. Various waterproofing methods and materials commonly used in RCC structures were presented. Cementitious coatings, liquid applied membranes, bituminous membranes, and polymer-modified coatings were discussed as effective solutions.
Technical Session - VI
The technical session V on “Repair Techniques in RC Structures” commenced at 11.30 AM delivered by Er Sivashankar, Civil Engineer, Titan Company Limited, Coimbatore. The presentation's focus on addressing common issues in RC structures and the methods to rectify them was emphasized. The speaker discussed the critical importance of repair in maintaining the structural integrity and longevity of RC structures. Factors such as environmental exposure, aging, and design shortcomings can lead to deterioration, making timely repair essential. The essential role of proper repair techniques in maintaining the safety and functionality of RC structures was reiterated. Participants were encouraged to explore further resources on repair methods and collaborate with experts in the field.
Technical Session - VII
The technical session VII on “Flood Damaged Buildings” commenced at 01.45 PM delivered by Er R Ramachandran, Former Superintending Engineer, PWD. The Session began with the host introducing the esteemed speaker and expressing gratitude to the audience for their participation. The speaker's expertise in flood damage assessment and recovery was highlighted. The seminar's focus on understanding the impacts of floods on buildings and strategies for recovery was emphasized. The presentation discussed the importance of thorough damage assessment after a flood event. The speaker highlighted immediate actions that should be taken to mitigate further damage after a flood event.
Technical Session - VIII
The technical session VIII on “Structural Health Monitoring” commenced at 03.00 PM delivered by Dr. R Saravanakumar, Associate Professor / Civil, KPRIET. The speaker's expertise in structural health monitoring (SHM) was highlighted, and the seminar's focus on the significance of real-time monitoring for structural safety and performance was emphasized. The speaker provided an overview of SHM as a proactive approach to assessing the condition of structures over time. The speaker emphasized the benefits of SHM in ensuring structural safety, extending service life, reducing maintenance costs, and enabling data-driven decision-making. Real-world examples were cited to showcase instances where SHM prevented catastrophic failures and improved overall operational efficiency. Monitoring of bridges, buildings, dams, pipelines, and offshore structures was discussed, with emphasis on the unique challenges each application presents.
Valedictory Session
The valedictory session began by 04:00 pm and the Feedback from the participants was obtained. The Seminar came to an end by 04.15pm.
21st Century Engineering College in Coimbatore
World is transforming everyday. In the rapidly evolving engineering landscape, we have an Increased responsibility to transform the engineering education from traditional curriculum to meet the 21st century skills like Creativity, Critical Thinking, Collaboration and Communication. Through our unique and strategic approach we enable our students to learn beyond and prepare them for life long success.
