In the ACI International Concrete Competition
After 3 years of continuous effort and activity, Iranian students succeeded for the second time in participating in the ACI concrete competitions. ACI, whose headquarters are in America, is dedicated to research and development of technical education and formulation of building codes. This institute holds an annual conference in America. One of the important activities of the institute is organizing a concrete competition among students. The nineteenth competition and conference in 1998 was held for the first time not following the previous format for the American continent, but internationally, and Iranian students also participated. The twentieth edition of this competition was held this year in the city of Baltimore, United States, and the participating Iranian students achieved seventh place. These students were selected from among 60 student groups from 22 universities that had registered for the competition.
The competition was managed and supported by Vandshimi Construction Company and the efforts of the Student Committee for Concrete Competition Organization, with financial support from Islamic Azad University and companies including Tehran Cement Company, Bouzarjomehr Company, Ferdalpage Iran Company, and Atropat Chemistry Company, in cooperation with officials at the University of Science and Technology, at this university's concrete laboratory on the fifth of Mehr of this year.
The jury members were: Dr. Hormoz Famili, Engineer Mostafa Ahmadvand, Dr. Alireza Khaled, Engineer Bijan Ghaznavi, Engineer Firouz Hadavi, Dr. Abdollah Keyvani, Engineer Javid. This panel prepared the competition rules and supervised their precise implementation.
In the domestic competition, 4 groups from Isfahan University of Technology, University of Mazandaran, University of Kurdistan, and K.N. Toosi University of Technology were selected. Following the refusal of the American consulate in Istanbul to issue travel visas for the student committee representative and advisor who were to take the 5x5x5 centimeter concrete samples to Johns Hopkins University, the samples were sent via a traveler bound for the United States. Meanwhile, the ACI student committee in the United States investigated the sample shipping problem and assigned three officials from student activities to resolve the issue so that the sample shipping problem would not recur in the year 2000 competition.
Winners of the domestic competition whose samples were sent to Johns Hopkins University: Isfahan University of Technology: Majid Nezhati, Navid University of Mazandaran: Mohammad Moghimi, Amir Masoud University of Kurdistan: Mohammad Zahed Amiri, Khalil Rahimi, Saleh Moradi Nia K.N. Toosi University of Technology: Kourosh Keshvarian, Mehran Seyed Razzaghi, Mohsen Sharifi
Winners of first through third place in the international competition: - Southern Illinois State University from America, sample weight 309 grams, compressive strength 1989 kilograms per square centimeter - University of Nuevo León from Mexico, sample weight 283 grams, compressive strength 1342 kilograms per square centimeter - Purdue University from America, sample weight 307 grams, compressive strength 1331 kilograms per square centimeter
Iranian students achieved seventh place in this competition. Holders of first through fourth rank are: 1. K.N. Toosi University of Technology, sample weight 310 grams, compressive strength 605 kilograms per square centimeter 2. University of Mazandaran, sample weight 310 grams, compressive strength 533 kilograms per square centimeter 3. Isfahan University of Technology, sample weight 297 grams, compressive strength 516 kilograms per square centimeter 4. University of Kurdistan, sample weight 310 grams, compressive strength 488 kilograms per square centimeter
The Executive Committee of the ACI International Student Concrete Competitions has already begun its activities for the year 2000 international competition and intends to secure the standing of Iranian youth by organizing competitions. Therefore, all those interested in research are invited to contact this committee.
It is hoped that in the future, through the efforts of students and esteemed university professors and the support of industry managers, we will witness the ever-increasing brilliance of young Iranian talent in international forums.
Shahid Khodami (Bijan) Street, Leili Alley, Number 7, Floor 6. Phone: 8787452, Fax: 8797454
Construction and Industry | Knauf Iran
Symposium on Earthquake-Resistant Buildings in Turkey
Knauf Iran Company
On January 8, 2000, corresponding to the 18th of Dey of this year, an important symposium titled Symposium on Earthquake-Resistant Buildings was held in Turkey, which has recently suffered devastating earthquakes. The organization of this symposium was the responsibility of the Civil Engineering Department of Middle East Technical University, and its sponsors included Knauf Company from Germany, EBS Company from Turkey, and Saint-Gobain from France — three companies producing lightweight building materials including drywall systems. From Iran, Knauf Iran Company participated in this symposium.
The main objective of the symposium was to discuss sustainable solutions for safe and proper construction methods, given that Turkey and similar countries must live with the reality that the permanent danger of earthquakes hangs over them. This is considered an international event in which lightweight construction techniques and their practical capabilities for safe construction are comprehensively discussed.
The working group discussions following the presentations went beyond academic boundaries and included participants from various fields including architecture, civil engineering, geology, as well as individuals with governmental responsibilities in policymaking positions. The participating Iranian delegation included: Engineer Hamidreza Khansha'i from the Plan and Budget Organization, Dr. Taheri Behbahani from the Plan and Budget Organization, Engineer Hosseini-Rad from the Housing and Urban Development Organization, Engineer Ali-Asghar Boushehri from the Housing and Urban Development Organization, Dr. Ghasem Vatar from the International Institute of Earthquake Engineering and Seismology, Dr. Mehran Tiou from the International Institute of Earthquake Engineering and Seismology, Engineer Mo'infar from the Tehran Seismology Center, Dr. Mirqaderi from the Tehran Seismology Center, Dr. Zahedi from the Tehran Seismology Center, Ms. Engineer Parastou Jafarinejad and Engineer Hamid Nabavinejad from Knauf Iran.
Conference paper topics and summaries:
Use of Steel in Earthquake-Prone Areas. Speaker: Professor Tovik Sento Arad (METU), from Turkey
After the severe earthquakes in Turkey in 1999, the question of what type of materials should be used in construction to minimize damage was seriously raised. In this paper, materials used in construction in Turkey — including metal, wood, brick, and concrete — were reviewed, emphasizing that any building that is well-designed, well-built, and constructed with safety standards will certainly have greater resistance when facing an earthquake. The paper also examined the advantages of steel structures and their behavior during earthquakes.
The Role of Gypsum Board in Earthquake Safety. Jean Loubier, from France The subject is earthquake-resistant construction and presenting suitable building methods in Turkey. The paper discusses earthquake resistance, safety requirements, the performance of fully concrete walls, and the use of gypsum board in ceilings, partitions, and level lines. Another subject is the issue of adjacency and architectural design, as in architectural design, simplicity in structure, uniformity, and repetition play an important role in earthquake resistance.
European Experience in Steel Application. Jean-Claude Gérardi, from France The paper explains that in recent years the steel market has moved toward wider use of products with greater thickness and strength. Since 1993, structural engineers have had the possibility of using stronger steels with heavy rolling, which simultaneously increase weldability without losing ductility. Steel is becoming cheaper relative to concrete every day.