Research Fields and Projects

Reinforced concrete structures are subjected to different types of natural and man-made hazards during their lifetime. These hazards might be in the form of extreme loadings e.g. earthquakes, fire, impact, explosions or in terms of chronic deteriorating loadings due to environments such as corrosion or fatigue. Traditionally the design of structures is done following the linear analysis and force-based design principles. Such designs work well provided (i) a good estimate of the load can be done and (ii) the structure remains within the linear range. This is applicable only in case of normal gravity loads that can be estimated well on the higher side and the structure is designed to withstand these loads within the linear range. However, for any kind of hazardous load as listed above, this is no longer valid. On one side, it is very difficult or even impossible to predict the extent of load that the structure might be subjected to. On the other side, since these loads are relatively infrequent, it is highly uneconomical to design them to resist such loads by remaining within linear range. As soon as the structure goes into the nonlinear (inelastic) range, the linear force based design principles become invalid and the structures designed with such rules might behave in an unprecedented and unacceptable manner. It is the responsibility of the structural engineer that the structure designed by him/her performs in a way as is desired from it. This can only be done if the design of the structure is carried out not on the basis of linear force based analysis but on the basis of nonlinear (inelastic) performance-based analysis. This has been the primary focus of my research work. Since 2004, the major fields of my research are:

• • – Performance assessment of concrete structures under earthquakes
  • – Performance assessment of concrete structures subjected to fire

• • – Behavior of concrete under impact

• • – Developing innovative retrofitting solutions for concrete structures

• • – Anchorages in concrete construction

• • – Development of advanced materials