ACES : Advanced Centre of Excellence in Structural ... · Advanced Centre of Excellence in...

WIRE: Week of Innovative Regions in Europe

Granada, 15th-17th March 2010

ACES : Advanced Centre of Excellence in

Structural & Earthquake Engineering

Co-ordinator

Michael N. FARDIS

Dept of Civil Engineering

Structures Division

University of Patras, Greecewww.aces.upatras.gr


Granada, 15th-17th March 2010The Background

• Construction: The largest sector in Greece’s economy.

• Structural & Earthquake Engineering:– Very important for the Convergence Region of Western Greece

(capital: Patras, 3rd Greek city in size): • highest seismicity in EU; • surge in infrastructure projects in 2009-20.

– National & regional interest for RTD development; – Room for competitive advantage at int’l level.

Un. of Patras:• Un. of Patras: Already of international renown in these fields, thanks to top quality staff and very active labs: – Structures

– Structural Materials.

• Structures Div. in Civil Eng. Dept: Concerted effort to enhance its position & ensure continuity to its up-and-coming junior staff, by modernising labs and networking with top European RTD centres:

– REG-POT project ACES.

Civil Engineering Department

www.civil.upatras.gr• Founded in 1972

• 33 Faculty members, 10 staff members, 1200 students per

year, 3000 graduates

• Divisions: – Structures

– Geotechnical

– Hydraulics &

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– Hydraulics &

Environmental

– Transportation

• 9 Labs

MEEES Erasmus Mundus Program

www.meees.org• Joint MSc in Earthquake Engineering and Engineering

Seismology 2005-10 (1st one in Civil Eng & Arch. in EU),

given by:

– Pavia Un.

– Patras Un.

– J.Fourier Un.

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– J.Fourier Un.

Grenoble

• Continued 2010-15

with addition of:

– METU

Project ACES:Advanced Centre of Excellence in

Structural & Earthquake Engineering

• REG-POT Coord.& Support action for convergence regions

• ACES proposal shared 2nd place among 23 projects funded by EC in the 1st call - 2007 (two projects from Greece).

• Univ. of Patras – Structures Division, networking with:

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– Building Research Establishment (UK);

– Commissariat à l’Energie Atomique (FR) - TAMARIS Seismic Lab

– EMPA, Swiss Federal Labs for Materials Testing & Research (CH);

– European Lab for Structural Assessment (ELSA), JRC (EU);

– Politecnico di Torino (IT);

– TU Delft (NL);

– Univ. J.Fourier, Grenoble (FR).

UPatras faculty members in ACES

Stavros Anagnostopoulos, 64Earthquake engineering

Co-ordinator of MEEES Erasmus Mundus MSc programme

for UoP

Nikitas Bazeos, 53Design of steel structures

Dimitris Beskos, 64

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Dimitris Beskos, 64Computational Mechanics

Stathis Bousias, 48Design and experimental response of concrete structures

Head of Management of Shake Table Facility

Michael Fardis, 60Design of concrete structures, earthquake resistant design

Director of Structures Lab

UPatras faculty members in ACES (cont’d)

Nicos Makris, 46Structural Dynamics and Mechanics

Apostolos Papageorgiou, 53Engineering Seismology

Deputy co-ordinator of the MEEES Erasmus Mundus programme

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Deputy co-ordinator of the MEEES Erasmus Mundus programme

at UoP

Korina Papanicolaou, 37Experimental mechanics of materials, Retrofitting systems

Thanasis Triantafillou, 47Application of advanced structural materials

Director of Structural Materials Lab

Joost Walraven

(TU Delft

Urs Meier (EMPA)

Michel Bouchon

(Un. J. Fourier)

ACES External Scientific Committee from

networking partners

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Jean-Claude Queval (CEA)

Artur Pinto `(JRC)

Michel Geradin(JRC)

Giuseppe Mancini

(Un. Di Torino)

Haig Galvanesian

(BRE)

• Unlock RTD potential of the Structures group of University of Patras (UoP)

• Develop further and exploit its possibilities for excellence in short- and medium-term,

ACES Objectives

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profiting from know-how and experience in other regions of Europe.

• Create synergies with Region; enhance competiveness at regional level.

… to be achieved by

• Reinforcing S/T potential & excellence of Structures

group;

• Supporting & mobilising its human resources;

• Enhancing its material RTD infrastructure;

• Developing strategic partnerships with well established,

excellent research groups elsewhere in Europe;

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excellent research groups elsewhere in Europe;

• Diffusing S/T information & RTD results;

• Improving its response to the socio-economic needs of

the Region and the country

Action plan

• Exchange of know-how & experience with

networking partners;

• Recruitment of experienced researchers, (including

for management);

• Enhancing & upgrading lab equipment;

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• Enhancing & upgrading lab equipment;

• Workshops for knowledge transfer at regional,

national & international level;

• Participation of research staff at international S/T

events

• Diffusion & promotional activities.

Project data

• 4-year project

• Starting date 1/2/2008

• Budget (1.100.000€):

– Equipment 685.000€

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– Equipment 685.000€

– New researchers 180.000€

– Travel & subsistence 115.000€

– Workshops and publications 48.000€

– Indirect costs 72.000€

Project Organization

WP1WP1

Transnational Transnational

NetworkingNetworking

WP2WP2

Enhance Human Enhance Human

ResourcesResources

WP3WP3

Enhance RTD Enhance RTD

InfrastructuresInfrastructures

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WP4WP4

Workshops & Workshops &

ConferencesConferences

WP5WP5

Diffusion & Diffusion &

promotionpromotion

WP6WP6

CoCo--ordination & ordination &

ManagementManagement

WP6. Co-ordination & Management• Internal Co-ordination & Management

– Coordinator, Deputy and Manager

– Internal Steering Committee

– WP Leaders

• Guidance & Assessment by Int’l Scientific Committee

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WP1. Transnational Networking

Need to :

• have:

– very well-trained technical personnel

– dynamic researchers

– research staff of high quality

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– expertise in new and advanced RTD techniques and

methods

• fully integrate in European Research Area

Realization through:

• Short visits of UPatras research staff at the

networking partners’ RTD centres & vice-versa

WP2. Human Potential

• In ’80s & ’90s the Structures faculty was “manned” with:

– Top Greek nationals returning from USA as Professors;

– qualified junior faculty promoted to upper ranks.

• Few new openings before “old guard” retires (mid-2010s)

WP2: Recruit (possibly repatriate) and integrate well-

trained & promising young researchers

WP2. Enhance Human Resources

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trained & promising young researchers

• So far, 3 Post-Docs: 1. One (34) with PhD (2004) from Politecnico di Milano and 8

years of RTD experience at ELSA lab of JRC (EU),

2. another (32) with PhD (2009) from SUNY Buffalo (among

the world’s top centres & labs in Earthq. Engineering)

3. a third one (33) with Doctorate (2007) from UPatras.

• Min. of Education supports labs with scarce funds, shared by all Greek universities (6 Eng. Schools, 5 Civil Eng. Depts) regardless of excellence, activity or promise.

• Supplementary funds for the two labs through continuous RTD activity (mostly from national projects)

• Lab improvement: Very critical for ACES, ~60% of budget

WP3. Enhancement of Infrastructures

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Structures Lab Materials Lab

WP3. Structures Laboratory

Best equipped & dynamic structures lab in Greece:• Large strong floor, two medium-size strong walls for large-scale

monotonic, cyclic or seismic testing

• Pseudo-dynamic testing capability

• 2 MTS actuators, +445/-630kN, ±0.25m, 38 lt/min

• 1 MTS actuator +250/-360kN, ±0.125m, 69 lt/min

• 2 MOOG actuators ±1000kN, ±0.50m, 38 lt/min

WP3. Structures Laboratory

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• 2 MOOG actuators ±1000kN, ±0.50m, 38 lt/min

• 4-channel JRC-MOOG controller (recent upgrade)

• Pumps & oil hardline of 500 lt/min, boosted by accumulators

From ACES (via twice repeated int’l call for tender): • Dynamic actuators for biaxial/real-time tests (290,000 €)

– 2 MTS actuators, ±500kN, ±0.50m, 690 lt/min

– 1 MTS actuator, ±500kN, ±0.25m, 1500 lt/min

• Additional 4-channel control system (76,000 €).

Retrofitted 2-storey concrete building:

est to failure (Sept. 2009)

Retrofitted 2-storey concrete building: Test to failure

(Sept. 2009)

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Recent synergetic development: Recent synergetic development: Shake Table LabShake Table Lab

• New Shaking Table Lab built & operational (2009) with 650,000€ from Un. Patras & Civil Eng. Dept.

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WP3. Structural Materials Laboratory

• Presently: Best equipped & dynamic lab in Greece for construction & structural materials

• Future: Set up Fire Test facility– Structural fire design:

• becoming mandatory and of similar importance as design for mechanical loadings;

• supported by much less knowledge & RTD results.

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• supported by much less knowledge & RTD results.

– Need of testing to assess fire performance & resistance of construction materials, components or systems.

– No such testing facility in Southeast Europe or Middle East

– For fire resistance tests: Obtain through ACES vertical large-scale furnace (3mx3mx1.2m) for structural elements & components (load-bearing or not) under various thermal profiles (from isothermal to temperature gradients) and simulated fire-histories, possibly with simultaneous loading.

Items not included:

� Gas supply system (LPG tank, pressure regulators, piping, etc. Chimney) in all 3 in all 3

callscalls

� Chimney in 3in 3rdrd callcall

International Calls for tender so far:International Calls for tender so far:3 m3 m

Procure Vertical Fire Resistance Test Furnace

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1st call:� Release date:14-05-2008

� Bid date: 08-07-2008

� Budget: 275,000 € (w/o VAT)

� Participants:

� Outcome: Tender unsuccessful. (Letter of Credit not issued on time)

2nd call:

� Release date:29-07-2008

� Bid date: 23-09-2008

� Budget: 285,000 € (w/o VAT)

� Participants: Bouvier Technofour

� Outcome: Tender unsuccessful. Price high (& included in Technical Offer)

Vertical Fire Resistance Test Furnace Vertical Fire Resistance Test Furnace (cont’d)(cont’d)

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3rd call:

� Release date:29-01-2010

� Bid date: 12-04-2010

� Budget: 285,000 € (no VAT)

� Participants: Bouvier Technofour

� Outcome: Tender successful

� Delivery (est.):End of 2010

Currently

• Additional 800,000 € requested by Civil Engineering

Department from Region of Western Greece, for:

– Gas supply system

– Chimney.

– Horizontal Fire Resistance Test Furnace

– Single Burning Item.

Latest Developments: Latest Developments: Synergetic effects Synergetic effects with the Regionwith the Region

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– Single Burning Item.

Request approved; Intn’l call for tenders underway

Region of Western Greece

National Strategic Reference Framework

Program 2007-13

University of Patras

Civil Eng. Dept Fire Lab

800,000800,000€€

• Intn’l call for tenders for supplementary/ additional

equipment

• Works regarding Fire Lab facilities

Fire Lab siteFire Lab site

Fire Lab in progress

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Un. Patras Civil Un. Patras Civil EngineeringEngineering



WP3. Upgrading of computational capacity

• Present computational capabilities suffice, except for:

Realistic numerical simulation of seismic ground

motions in 3D (seismic fault rupture & wave

propagation in realistic media in 3D basins, etc).

– area of S&T excellence

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– Spectral Element Method (SEM) advanced by members of

Structures group.

• Cluster of 10 “nodes” (dual processors) procured via ACES

(33,600 €):

– upgrade capabilities for parallel processing in a

network/cluster of processors to 12 “nodes”.

WP4. Int’l Workshops & Conferences

• To enhance international reputation & training capacity of

UPatras via high level workshops:

– with invited contributions from prominent researchers from

Europe, US & Japan and ACES partners (UoP and networking

RTD centres)

– at the forefront of Structural & Earthquake Engineering

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– at the forefront of Structural & Earthquake Engineering

research, within the scope of ACES.

• Proceedings published by reputed publisher (e.g.,

Springer).

• Scientific Committee:

– ACES International Scientific Committee

– Selected UoP faculty.

WP4. 1st Workshop:“Performance-based earthquake engineering”

• July 5-7, 2009 at Corfu (GR), 45 participants

– 16 participants from Greece

(9 from Un. Patras)

– 28 from rest of Europe

– 16 from USA or CA

– 5 from Pacific region

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(JP, NZ, TW, CN).

• Topics:

– Ground motion,

– Performance-based seismic design and retrofitting,

– Displacement-based seismic design and retrofitting,

– Advanced seismic testing techniques.

• Proceedings (hardbound, 500p.) published by Springer in

July 2010.

WP4. 2nd Workshop: “Innovative materials &

techniques for concrete construction”

• Corfu (GR), 10-12 Oct. 2010, 49 participants

– 6 participants from Greece (all from Un. of Patras)

– 36 from the rest of Europe

– 1 from CA


WP4. 2nd Workshop:“Innovative materials & techniques for concrete

construction”

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(JP, NZ, HK).

• Topics:

– Innovative Materials,

– Innovative design concepts and construction techniques.

• Proceedings (hardbound, ~500p.) to be published by

Springer in late spring 2011.

WP5. Dissemination & promotion activities

• Diffuse S/T information and RTD results,

• Facilitate communication with other RTD centres having similar scientific interests,

• Improve response to socio-economic needs of the country and the region.

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WP5: Web-based access to S/T information

through tele-observation and data repositories

• Synchronised data from the Lab data acquisition

system and video cameras streamlined to web

server; external users may attend in real-time or

later (data play back).

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• A structured database of UPatras test results will

be installed on the Structures Lab server.

Web-based real-time access & telepresence to tests

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WP5: High level Seismic Design Guide for

Bridges

• Rich knowledge and expertise exists in Greece on design &

construction of bridges in seismic regions: Valuable

experience & information remains untapped.

• UPatras staff, together with top bridge designers/

consultants from Greece and other European countries, are

developing Design Guide (user-friendly educational,

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developing Design Guide (user-friendly educational,

technical document, including case studies, examples &

applications).

• English version first (to become the reference source in

Europe)

• Greek translation to follow.

WP5: UPatras RTD report series in Structural &

Earthquake Engineering

– Research reports (in

English) by UPatras

Structures faculty

(checked by members

of Internal Steering

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of Internal Steering

Committee)

WP5: Advanced training of engineers in modern

structural design and retrofitting, including

seismic aspects

• Few-day-long training courses

• Addressed to practicing engineers

• Based on EN-Eurocodes (compulsory design standards by 1-1-2011)

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• Organised & publicised jointly with Technical Chamber of Greece and/or Chamber of Civil Engineers

• One already in Patras (capital of Western Greece region)

• 3-4 more to take place around the end of 2011- in the seismic Western Greece region & Ionian islands (Zante, Kefalonia)

Conclusions: Achievements

Prime fruits so far:– Enhanced co-operation with Networking Partners:

• UPatras coordinator or partner in two new (2009) FP7 projects

– Three post-docs integrated in RTD activity (will stay on, in the new

projects and beyond);

– Major upgrade of Structures Lab;

– Synergies with Region of Western Greece:

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– Synergies with Region of Western Greece:

• Major additional funding of future Fire Test facility of Materials Lab;

– Enhanced reputation & standing of Structures team within Un. of

Patras & nationally:

• Shake Table lab built (2009) via Civil Eng Dept & Un Patras funds;

• Structures Lab among the 3 presentations made to RTD Committee of Greek Parliament (2010) by Greek Universities.

– Two International Workshops very successful;

– External experts mobilized for Bridge Seismic Design Guide.

Conclusions: Lessons & Outlook

• Lessons Learnt:– Procedure for procurement of costly custom-made S/T

equipment via open int’l calls for tender:

• Long, arduous and with unpleasant surprises (delivery times or

asked price exceed specs, etc),

• Not compulsory by law, but may be required by the auditors.

– Long lead times for the return of experienced researchers from

abroad, depending on their on-going S/T commitments.

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abroad, depending on their on-going S/T commitments.

• For future:– Excellence, competiveness, int’l standing & coherence of Un. of

Patras Structures group secured and enhanced;

– Structures Lab will be in the core of seismic labs in Europe;

– Fire Test Facility holds great promise for the Region & the

Country

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