Scientific Programme
Theme & Sub-Themes
Main Theme
Structural Failures - Causes, Investigation, Resilience, Mitigation & Standardization
Causes of Structural Failures
- Material degradation, use of defective materials
- Fatigue failures
- Design errors and calculation mistakes
- Construction defects and poor workmanship
- Foundation failures and soil-structure interaction issues
- Environmental factors: corrosion, weathering, seismic activity
- Overloading and unforeseen load conditions
- Human errors and communication breakdowns
- Inadequate quality control and supervision
- Poor maintenance
Investigation Methodologies
- Forensic engineering techniques and tools
- Non-destructive testing methods (NDT)
- Structural health monitoring systems
- Root cause analysis frameworks
- Digital forensics and BIM-based investigation
- Case study analysis of major structural failures
- Laboratory testing and material analysis
- Site investigation and evidence collection
Building Resilience
- Resilience-based design approaches
- Performance-based engineering
- Redundancy and robustness in structural systems
- Progressive collapse prevention
- Adaptive and self-healing structures
- Climate change adaptation strategies
- Seismic and wind-resistant design
- Fire resistance and blast protection
- Regulation of Engineering Profession
Mitigation Strategies
- Retrofitting and strengthening techniques
- Early warning systems and monitoring
- Risk assessment and management frameworks
- Maintenance and inspection protocols
- Load path optimization
- Use of advanced materials (FRP, high-performance concrete)
- Structural control systems (dampers, isolators)
- Reporting of Structural Failures and Near Misses
- Emergency response planning
Standardisation and Codes
- Evolution of building codes and standards
- International code harmonization
- Lessons learned from failures incorporated into codes
- Material specifications and testing standards
- Construction quality standards
- Documentation and compliance requirements
- Future trends in structural standards
- Role of regulatory bodies and professional ethics