In the past, outmoded and functionally obsolete buildings were routinely demolished; today they are often maintained, repaired, remodeled and restored. The concept of recycling, once applicable to collecting glass bottles, metal cans and newspapers, now has engineering significance. Recycling buildings can be viewed as a way to conserve resources and reduce landfill demand. The most astounding challenge facing engineers and scientists to date has been in the development of new, advanced construction and repair materials. The new technology of polymer composites, initially used by the aircraft industry, has now found its way to the construction industry and is bound to have a huge impact on the way structures are built and repaired.

This research includes information about the range of new materials that might become an essential component of the construction industry; explain their significance and the intrinsic, unique properties they possess; as well as the applications they would be incorporated into. Materials that possibly could bear a large role in the construction and maintenance of future structures include: metal alloys, polymers, polymer composites, plastics, phenol-formaldehyde (phenolic), composite materials (such as fiber reinforced concrete), shape-memory alloys (SMAS), sandwich panel construction, Nano-composites, etc. Advanced materials with superior qualities require the collective efforts of engineers, chemists, physicists together with economists and aestheticians. If this can be done in a really imaginative way, then the future opportunities are enormous. The concept of recycled buildings is already attracting attention and the idea is probably not mere fiction.

By the end of this course delegates will be able to:

· Learn about critical characteristics of reinforced concrete, pre-stressed concrete and precast concrete structures

· Understand the causes and mechanisms leading to deficient structures

· Workout preventive measures to counteract deterioration of structures

· Understand the nature of innovative technology and new, advanced construction and repair materials

· Comprehend the role of the designer, the contractor and the supervision in producing sound structures

· Provide an overview for the role of effective management

· Learn from historical structures that stood the test of time

· Provide insight into the challenges of the 21^st century

· Outline the potential of new innovative materials and methods in the future

Construction Engineers, Senior Construction Engineers, Construction Supervisors, Construction General Supervisors, Construction Project Managers, Engineering Technologists, Supervision Engineer, Inspection Engineers, Civil Inspectors, Foremen, Design Structural Engineers, Planners, Structural Engineers, Material Specialists, Quality Control and Quality Assurance Experts, Architects, Supervision Engineers, Team Leaders, Site Officers and Managers, Mechanical Engineers, Technical Professionals, Field Production Supervisor, Operation Engineers, Clients Representatives

Concrete an Enduring Material

· Let us walk five miles

· Concrete vs. steel

· Concrete positive and negative aspects

· Load Redistribution

· Concrete remedies

· Pre-stressing

· Concrete ductility

· High strength concrete

· The six criterion of good concrete

· Structural steel

· Thinking outside the box

· When patterns are broken

· Intuitive thinking

· Breaking the rules

· Natural vs. forced behavior

· Structures and humans

· Fiber-reinforced composites

Engineering Analysis of Structural Defects & Failures

· Causes of deterioration of concrete

· Exposure to aggressive chemicals

· Chloride and sulfate attack

· Carbonation

· Freeze-thaw disintegration

· Surface abrasion, erosion, dusting and other defects

· Alkali silica reactivity

· Thermal volume change

· Cracking in concrete structures

· Fire damage

· Corrosion of reinforcement

· Overload

· Improper reinforcement placement

· Adverse design and construction features

· Seismic vulnerability of buildings

· Non-structural elements

· Water penetration or emission

· Hot weather, cold weather

Materials of the Future

· Which is the best material?

· Materials (suitable, unsuitable) for given applications

· The kettle analogy

· The future of concrete construction

· New materials

· Improving concrete, steel, wood

· Plastics/Thermoplastics

· Metal vs. non-metal

· Material cost

· Small industries

· Energy conservation

· Impact of tradition

· Disposable technologies

Case Studies of Non-performance & Failures

· Structural dermatology

· Skin problems

· Water complications

· Old age death

· The Civic Tower of Pavia

· The weakness of mother earth

· Leaning Tower of Pisa

· The National Palace – Mexico City

· Slab replacement

· Failure investigation methodology

· Hypotheses development

Repair and Rehabilitation Strategies

· Anatomy of surface repairs

· Repair concepts

· Temporary repairs

· Permanent repairs

· Shoring

· External pre-stressing

· Supplemental reinforcement

· Strengthening and stabilization

· Passive and active design

· Epoxy repair

· Attachment of steel to concrete

· Span shortening techniques

· Column and beam section enlargement

· Strategies for repair

· Protection against water

Materials of Importance

· Materials of importance

· Product defects

· Product manufacturing

· Base-isolation systems

· Shape-memory alloys (SMAs)

· Metal alloys

· Phenolic, phenol-formaldehyde

· Composite materials

· Fiber-reinforced composites

· Sandwich panels

· Nano-composites

· Shrink-wrap polymers

· Plastics

· Civil engineering applications

Challenges of the 21^st Century

· Changing technology

· Innovative materials

· Typical structural challenges

· Lessons from the past

· Lessons from historical structures

· Standard of care

· Negligence per se

· Unforeseen problems

· Some practical tips

· A word of caution

· The future of structures

COURSE LOCATIONS