Concrete for the 21st Century Construction

Internationally renowned for its research excellence, the Concrete Technology Unit of the University of Dundee,UK, together with eight Indian Higher Education Institutions, is organising the above Congress, at the Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi.

The Indian Institutions involved with organising of the Congress are: Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani; Guru Nanak Dev Engineering College, Ludhiana; Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi; National Institute of Technology at Jaipur, Jalandhar, Surat and Surathkal and SRM University, Chennai. These institutions are all partners in the collaborative research programme carried out in both the countries under the UKIERI Scheme (UK-India Education and Research Initiative) funded by the two governments. The group has now been working together for nearly 2.5 years, dealing with issues relating to sustainability and high performance in concrete infrastructures.

The Congress will address new developments in concrete and construction and their role in responding, within the framework of appropriate, innovative and sustainable use of materials, to the rapid growth in the national infrastructure demands. This will be a three day Congress, as outlined below:

Day 1: Opening Ceremonies
Day 2: Concrete for High Performance Sustainable Infrastructure
Day 3: New Developments in Concrete Construction

The Congress should appeal to all sections of concrete construction industry (architects, design engineers, contractors, manufacturers and suppliers of concrete materials); various government departments and academics engaged in concrete and structural engineering research.
The full programme of the Congress now available on the websites of the eight institutions involved in organising this Congress and others.

For more details, please contact:
Dr. Moray D. Newlands
Congress Secretary
Concrete Technology Unit
University of Dundee,
Dundee, Scotland, UK
Email: m.d.z.newlands@dundee.ac.uk

More concrete roads planned: They need not be repaired or maintained for 10 years

The Coimbatore Corporation is laying concrete roads in Ramnagar and a few other parts of the city. It says the roads are long lasting compared to black-topped roads. The Coimbatore Corporation, it appears, has taken to concrete roads in a big way. It has taken up 14 black-topped roads for conversion.
Sources in the engineering wing say, the 14 roads are spread across the city and they are being laid under the Special Roads Projects at Rs. 5.20 crore. The Corporation was hitherto laying concrete roads only on by-lanes and congested areas.
At present, it is laying the concrete roads on Kalingarayan Street, Ramar Koil Street, Dabedar Street in Ramnagar, Vennal Naidu Street in Ukkadam, Thiru Valluvar Nagar, Kembatti Colony, Krishnappan Street and Ganguvar Road in Flower Market area, Ramar Koil Street in Ukkadam, Sarojini Street and Nandagopal Street in Ward 18, Ramalinga Jothi Nagar and Periyar Nagar in Sungam, Suseela Nagar in Ward 37 and in Ganesh Layout.
Commissioner Anshul Mishra says the civic body is laying concrete only on roads that are not more than four metre wide, as is the norm. The sources say the reason for going in for concrete road is to increase the life of roads. A concrete road need not be repaired or maintained for 10 years. This is not the case with BT roads, which need to be repaired every two or three years. Mr. Mishra says this is helpful especially during rains.
After every heavy rain BT roads need maintenance; whereas, the concrete roads can withstand any amount of battering. He adds that the additional advantage with concrete roads is that there will be no water stagnation. The sources say they hope to complete the work at the earliest.

– The Hindu, 06 Feb, 2011

National conference on ferrocement

The Ferrocement Society, Pune, is organising a National conference on ferrocement during May 13-14, 2011 at International Convention Center, Mahratha Chamber of Commerce Auditorium, Senapati Bapat Road, Pune.
This is the first conference organised by Ferrocement Society that is providing a forum for architects and civil engineers from India to present and discuss their applications, projects, research and developments in a broad spectrum of applications of ferrocement technology.
Some of the objectives of the society include: to promote research, development application and standardisation in ferrocement technology, to demonstrate people, individuals regarding the advantages and/or benefits of ferrocement, to impart training to artist, skilled/semi-skilled workers and entrepreneurs about the ferrocement technology and arrange to issue licensing and certification, make representations, send deputations, arrange discussions with the manufacturers of ferrocement with a view to promote, improve, maintain, and safe-guard the interest of the members of the society, etc.
The themes to be covered at the conference (but are not limited to), are as follows:

· Mechanical properties of Ferrocement, bending, cracks etc.
· Use of fibres, plasticisers and other construction chemicals in Ferrocement
· Experimental execution of Ferrocement works.
· Corrosion resistance property of Ferrocement.
· Alternative sand types and their impact on properties & cost.
· Waterproofing of ferrocement, ferrocement in coastal areas.
· Technology transfer & engineering entrepreneurship.
· Field applications of Ferrocement
· Repairs, rehabilitation and retrofitting by Ferrocement.
· Standardisation, codification of Ferrocement
· Schedule of rates, Rate analyses of Ferrocement
· Latest development and scope of Ferrocement in future.

The conference will take place at the beautiful International Convention Center, Mahratha Chamber of Commerce Auditorium, Senapati Bapat Road, Pune. The conference registration fee is INR 2000 (INR 3000 if paid after April 10, 2011).
For more details, please contact:
Conference Secretariat
Ferrocement Society,
Construction Diagnostic Center,
Kanchan Bhavan, 5, Shilavihar Colony,
Karve road, Kothrud Phata,
Pune 411 038 (INDIA)
Tel: (020) 25432643, 64009006, 9225606148
E-mail : ferrocement@gmail.com
web : www.ferrocementindia.com

Dr. D.S. Prakash Rao
We regret to announce that Dr. D.S. Prakash Rao has passed away. He was recently working in the West Indies as a Professor. He had completed his PhD from Australia and Post Doctoral work from Germany. He started his life as a researcher and later turned into an excellent teacher, and had a very good grasp of practical problems like detailing.
Prof. Rao was an accomplished researcher with more than 350 papers to his credit. Our heart-felt condolences to his bereaved family.