Structures

Teknologidagarne 2013
Trondheim, 24 October

Mario Plos
Associate professor
Structural Engineering
mario.plos@chalmers.se
 Structures
at Chalmers

Building Applied
Structural Engineering Mechanics
Materials

Steel &
Concrete
Timber
Structures
Building Structures
Architecture
Physics

Geo Construction
Engineering Management
 Education in Structural Engineering
• 3 main programmes
– Civil Engineering (5 years)
– Building and Civil Engineering (3 years)
– Architecture and Engineering (5 years)
• Master programme
– Structural Engineering and Building Technology
FEM Geo- Structural Structural Master’s Thesis
s > fy
structures * technics* design * dynamics*

Structural FEM basics* Timber Structural Steel Concrete

systems engg. concrete structure structures  pl
M pl
 pl

Material Heat, moisture Indoor climate Building Building technology

performance engineering and HVAC physics and services engineering

Sound & Build. acoust & Sustainable building

vibration* commun noice* - competition*
 Structural Engineering
People
Prof. Karin Lundgren Associate prof.
Concrete Structures Mohammad Al-Emrani
(reinforcement corrosion, Steel structures,
new reinforcement types FRP structures
…)
Prof. Robert Kliger Associate prof.
Timber Structures Mario Plos
Concrete Structures,
Head of division

Prof. Björn Engström 4 (part-time) professors

Concrete Structures,
Vice head of department 6 researchers/teachers (PhDs)
13 PhD students
1 research engineer
 Structural Engineering
Research profile
• Design and performance of load carrying structures
for bridges, buildings and civil engineering structures
• Modelling, analysis and simulation of structures,
components and materials
• Development of analysis methods and material
models
• Assessment and upgrading of existing structures
• Structures with new materials and combinations of
materials
From details to entire structures…
 Research methodology
Strategic combination of theoretical analyses and experiments for
understanding of the mechanical behaviour of structures
Hypothesis
- Conceptual model

Theoretical
modelling Experiments

Engineering knowledge

Understanding of mechanical behaviour

Safe, sustainable and effective structures

 Laboratory tests, FE-analysis
and advanced measurement techniques

Laboratory test Nonlinear FE-analysis

Laboratory test Nonlinear FE-analysis Optical measurements

Laboratory and testing resources

Material
Component testing
characterization
Full-scale testing

Climate room
and climate
chamber

Advanced measurement techniques

FE-analysis and simulation

Bridge assessemnt

Projectile impact

LS-DYNA ®

Damage assessment Multi-scale modelling

Major Scientific Achievements
Concrete Structures

• Material modelling of concrete

– Fatigue
– Blast and impact
• Modelling of reinforcement
corrosion
– Bond and splitting
– Flow of corrosion products
• Safety formats for non-linear analysis
 Major Scientific Achievements
Steel and Timber Structures
• FRP composites for strengthening and repair
– Design methods and models
– Pre‐stressed FRP laminates
• Steel structures
– Fatigue design with local approaches
– Post-weld treatment
– Local stability and buckling
• Timber bridges
– Stress laminated bridge decks
 Current research
Existing concrete structures
• FEM for design and assessment
of bridges
– Bridge deck slabs
• Effects of reinforcement
corrosion
– Naturally corroded reinforcement
– Effects of fibres
• Multi-scale modelling
of chloride ingress
 Current research
Steel structures

• Fatigue design and assessment of bridges

– FEM based methods
– Post-weld treatment
 Current research
Timber structures

• Timber bridges
– Stress laminated
timber decks

A  ( Mt ) ( N )
N A N Mt
N

+ -
B B

• In-situ assessment N A
N
A

Vt N
( Vt ) ( N )

– Non-destructive techniques B B
 Current research
Effective design and construction

• Urban Infrastructure Construction

– EU project Pantura
• Effective industrialised bridge
construction
 Current research
Concrete structures with new
reinforcement materials
• Fibre reinforced concrete (FRC)
– FRC in bridges
– EU-projekt TailorCrete

• Textile reinforced concrete (TRC)

– Project “Homes for Tomorrow”
 Current research
Fibre reinforced polymer (FRP) bridges

• Strengthening with bonded composites

– Durability and long-term performance
– Prestressed composites (Pantura)

• FRP bridges
– FRP bridge decks (Pantura)
– Sweden’s first road FRP bridge
 Current research
Structures subjected to explosions
• Blast and fragment impact
• Novel material model for concrete
– Extension to fibre reinforced concrete
• Recommendations for practice
Our research vs. challenges?
A. Advanced predictive infrastructure performance proc.
• Novel materials and structures
• Industrial design and construction
• Service life prediction / deterioration models

B. Enhanced durability and life-time extension

• Cost effective strengthening
• Innovative upgrading
• Structural assessment

F. Resource and energy efficiency… (Eco-design)

• Resource efficient and sustainable structures
• Improved assessment and strenghtening
 Project proposals
Novel materials and structures
• FRC and UHPFRC for improved durability
• FRP bridge decks
– Integrated de-icing and energy storage
• Ultra light sandwich steel decks
• New combination of materials
Infused FRP plate

– FRP and TRC sandwich decks

– Timber and FRP composite bridges Lightweight concrete

• Innovative bridge design solutions

– Ultra-light railway bridges for high speed trains
Woven textile

– Lightweight temporary bridges

 Project proposals
Industrial design and construction
• Conceptual design
– Development of new structural solutions for straight crossing
– Development of solutions for repair and strengthening
• Industrial bridge construction
– IT-infrastructure for Information
management

UHPFRC
 Project proposals
Extended Life for Existing Structures

• Strengthening and upgrading

– Pre-stressed FRP laminates
– Long-term performance of FPR
strengthening joints
– Upgrading with FRP decks
• Assessment of bridges
– Deteriorated concrete bridges
– FE Model updating
– Structural safety assessment
– Condition and service life
assessment of timber bridges
 Structures at Chalmers
Conclusions
• Well established and successful research environment
• Modern research methodology
• From details to entire structures
• From theoretical modelling to engineering applications
• Research driven by urge for safe, sustainable and
effective structures
• National and leading international cooperation partners
Structures
Thank you for your attention!

Mario Plos
mario.plos@chalmers.se