Structures

Teknologidagarne 2013
Trondheim, 24 October

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

Structures
at Chalmers
Building
Materials

Building
Physics

Structural Engineering

Steel &
Timber
Structures

Geo
Engineering

Applied
Mechanics

Concrete
Structures
Architecture
Construction
Management

Education in Structural Engineering

3 main programmes

Master programme

Civil Engineering (5 years)

Building and Civil Engineering (3 years)
Architecture and Engineering (5 years)
Structural Engineering and Building Technology
FEM
structures *

Structural
systems

FEM basics*

Material
performance

Heat, moisture
engineering

Timber
engg.
Indoor climate
and HVAC

Geotechnics*
Structural
concrete
Building
physics

Sound & Build. acoust &

vibration* commun noice*

Structural
design *

Structural
dynamics*

Steel
structure

Concrete
structures

Building technology
and services engineering
Sustainable building
- competition*

Masters Thesis
s > fy

pl

M pl

pl

Structural Engineering
People
Prof. Karin Lundgren
Concrete Structures
(reinforcement corrosion,
new reinforcement types
)

Prof. Robert Kliger

Timber Structures

Associate prof.
Mohammad Al-Emrani
Steel structures,
FRP structures

Associate prof.
Mario Plos
Concrete Structures,
Head of division

Prof. Bjrn Engstrm

Concrete Structures,
Vice head of department

4 (part-time) professors
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

Laboratory test

Nonlinear FE-analysis

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
Prestressed 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
( Mt ) ( N )

Mt

N
+

In-situ assessment

Non-destructive techniques

( Vt )

Vt N

( N )

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)

Textile reinforced concrete (TRC)

FRC in bridges
EU-projekt TailorCrete

Project Homes for Tomorrow

Current research
Fibre reinforced polymer (FRP) bridges

Strengthening with bonded composites

FRP bridges

Durability and long-term performance

Prestressed composites (Pantura)

FRP bridge decks (Pantura)

Swedens 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

Infused FRP plate

New combination of materials

FRP and TRC sandwich decks

Timber and FRP composite bridges

Lightweight concrete

Innovative bridge design solutions

Ultra-light railway bridges for high speed trains

Lightweight temporary bridges

Woven textile

Project proposals

Industrial design and construction

Conceptual design

Industrial bridge construction

Development of new structural solutions for straight crossing

Development of solutions for repair and strengthening
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