"Innovator" Newsletter
January 2001
CONTENTS
Feature Story
The Evolution of ISIS Canada
To The Future - 2nd Funding Cycle
Leading
the Way
Research
With a Canadian Focus
New Director for Theme 3
International Collaboration
Welcome
New Scholarship
Research, Demonstration, Commercialization
Design Manuals Available This Spring
International Sharing
Snapshot of ISIS Presentations Around the World
ISIS Research Leads to International Collaboration
Seismic Safety Calls for ISIS Technology
ISIS Monitors Historic Bridge
Awards
Industrial Research Chair
Premier's Research Excellence Award
Masonry Society's Most Prestigious Award
Appointments
Research Management Committee
Board of Directors
The Evolution of ISIS Canada
Technology Utilization and
Commercialization
From both a professional and personal perspective, Dr. Aftab Mufti is convinced that technology must go beyond the stage of research and demonstration into commercialization. As the newly appointed president of ISIS Canada, Dr. Mufti has played a leading role in the current application for a second cycle of funding for the organization.
According to Dr. Mufti, once that funding is secured, ISIS Canada will continue to develop its world caliber infrastructure research and demonstration programs, but with a much stronger emphasis on technology utilization and commercialization. Dr. Mufti says, "If the ISIS technologies are worth something, then they should be commercialized, with the benefits going directly to the innovator."
ISIS Canada was officially launched in 1995, with a research program that continues today. It is a unique Canadian approach of combining fibre-reinforced polymers (FRPs) and intelligent fibre optic sensing (FOS) technologies to tackle world infrastructure problems.
Looking back at the first cycle of funding for ISIS Canada, Dr. Mufti identifies three major achievements. The number of talented people who have been trained as highly qualified personnel ranks at the top of the list. Dr. Mufti notes that the students of today are the people who will go on to positions of influence tomorrow. Through their decisions ISIS technologies will become standard practice.
Another major achievement for ISIS Canada is the development of leading edge technologies. Work on fibre optic sensors has resulted in remote sensing capabilities that have never been possible before. Data is now being collected from these new sensors, providing an extremely efficient way to monitor structural health and behaviour and provide warning when attention is needed.
The steel-free concrete bridge deck is another ISIS supported technological marvel that has garnered world applause in the building of new infrastructure. This new technology is particularly useful in structures that are exposed to marine salts, and areas where road de-icing is used.
ISIS has also found ways to use FRP wraps and FOS technologies to repair and strengthen existing bridges and structures at a fraction of the replacement cost. In comparison to traditional repair methods, there is very little traffic disturbance because the new repair materials are lighter, quicker and much easier to work with.
Reflecting on the future of ISIS Canada, Dr Mufti says, "It's a combination of people's will and advances in civil engineering that makes things happen. People can't ask for something that they don't know exists." The next phase of ISIS development will focus resources on technology utilization and commercialization, so people will become more aware of the technological choices available to them and the benefits to Canada that will result. ISIS partnerships with industry, universities and governments make all of this possible.
To the Future - 2nd Funding Cycle
More research and technology transfer is planned with the ISIS submission to NCE for a mandate extension.
The January 2001 proposal for the NCE 2nd Funding Cycle requests $3.2 million annually until 2009. With industry, university and provincial government partnerships and support, future budgets will exceed $7.0 million.
Research is being expanded into material engineering, seismic application of FRPs, new fibre optic sensors and intelligent remote monitoring of civil engineering structures, with a focus on commercialization and technology utilization.
Results of the ISIS application for the 2nd Funding Cycle will be announced in the spring of 2001.
Leading the Way
Research With A Canadian Focus
According to Dr. Kenneth Neale, Theme Director and Vice-President of ISIS Canada, a primary objective of ISIS will continue to be the development and field implementation of advanced technologies for structural rehabilitation and strengthening. He says, “FRP rehabilitation is state-of-the-art in the rehabilitation of concrete structures. However, despite its obvious advantage, retrofit techniques using FRPs have still had limited applications in Canada. Reservations exist primarily because of unresolved questions concerning the performance, cost-effectiveness and durability of FRP rehabilitation techniques in severe Canadian climactic conditions. Consequently, ISIS research is focusing on those aspects of performance, durability and corrosion of particular relevance to Canada.”
New Director for Theme 3
Dr. J.J. Roger Cheng is the new Director for Theme 3, Structural Health Monitoring, and will continue his varied research as an ISIS Project Leader in both areas of structural rehabilitation with FRP and wireless remote monitoring of structures. Dr. Cheng is Professor and C.W. Carry Chair in Steel Structures in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Alberta. He is a leading expert in using FRP sheets in the rehabilitation and repair of structures. Currently, he is expanding the use of FRP to steel structures. In addition, he continues his leading edge research into intelligent wireless remote monitoring technology. He believes combining fibre optic sensing technology and wireless remote monitoring will be the preferred methodology of the future.
International Collaboration
| ISIS Project
Leader
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Visiting
Professors and Students |
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| Dr. Nemkumar
Banthia University of British Columbia |
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Dr. Xiaoyi Bao |
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Dr. Ivan Campbell |
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Dr. Amin Ghali |
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Dr. Aftab Mufti |
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Dr. Nigel Shrive |
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Dr. Rod Tennyson |
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And many
more……
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Welcome
University of Ottawa
MSc Program: Distributed Brillouin Sensor System
Jeyaganesha Gangkatharan
Queen's University
MSc Program: Hybrid FRP/Stainless Steel Reinforcements
for Bridges
Mark Masia
University of Calgary
Postdoctoral Fellow: Rehabilitation of
Masonry Columns
Paschal Racine
Universite de Sherbrooke
MSc Program: Reinforcement of Timber Structures with FRPs
Chester Shi
Queen's University
MSc Program: Rehabilitation of Concrete Beams with Prestressed FRP Sheets
Penny Shrive
University of Calgary
MSc Program: Field Assessment of the Centre Street Bridge Deck
Dorian Tung
Queen's University
MSc Program: Hybrid FRP/Stainless Steel Reinforcements
for Bridges
Brea Williams
Queen's University
Ph.D. Program: Fire Resistance of FRP Systems
New Scholarship
ISIS Canada is now offering three scholarships. Along with one scholarship for women and one for aboriginals, this year there will be a third $5,000 scholarship open to all student researchers. Deadline for applications is March 31, 2001.
Research, Demonstration, Commercialization
Design Manuals Available This Spring
The following ISIS design manuals are undergoing a peer review process and will be available to the design community in the spring of 2001:
1. Installation, Use and Repair of Fibre Optic Sensors
2. Guidelines for Structural Health Monitoring
3. Reinforcing Concrete Structures with Fibre Reinforced Polymers
4. Strengthening Reinforced Concrete Structures with Externally Bonded Fibre Reinforced Polymers
Workshops are planned to transfer the research achievements to the user sector.
ISIS Canada has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Drexel University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to exchange exclusive technical information. ISIS will share its one of a kind long-gauge sensor technology. In return, Drexel will pass on its advanced software program that records and analyzes data associated with structural health monitoring.
Snapshot of ISIS Presentations Around the World
Dr. Nemkumar Banthia
University of British Columbia
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Dr. Brahim Benmokrane
Universite de Sherbrooke
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Dr. Ivan Campbell
Queen's University
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Dr. Ahmed Ghobarah
McMaster University
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Dr. Kenneth Johns
Universite de Sherbrooke
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Dr. Alex Kalamkarov
Dalhousie University
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Dr. Aftab Mufti
University of Manitoba
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Isis Canada researchers are joining a team from the University of New Hampshire to install sensors and establish a monitoring program for a new bridge in Rollinsford, New Hampshire, U.S.A. This is the first bridge of its kind in New England to incorporate both fibre-reinforced polymers (FRPs) and fibre-optic sensing (FOS) technologies.
Dr. Xiaoyi Bao has developed an exclusive, precision strain
sensor monitoring system based on Brillouin Scattering technology. This portable equipment
will be used to collect the field data on this joint venture test program.
ISIS Project Leader: Dr. Xiaoyi Bao, University of Ottawa, e-mail:
xbao@science.uottawa.ca
Seismic Safety Calls for ISIS Technology
ISIS technology is being used to bring the Portage Creek Bridge in Victoria, British Columbia up to current seismic code. The retrofit of this 19-year-old bridge will incorporate FRP wraps and include a three year monitoring program.
FRP wraps are being used on Pier #2 to strengthen the short columns for shear without increasing the moment capacity. ISIS researchers will provide assistance in the application of FRP wraps and will coordinate the ongoing monitoring program using fibre-optic sensing technology.
Project Partners include: Ministry of Transportation, British
Columbia; Sargent and Vaughan Engineering Ltd; and ISIS Canada.
ISIS Project Leader: Dr. Aftab Mufti, University of Manitoba, e-mail:
muftia@cc.umanitoba.ca
ISIS Monitors Historic Bridge
Built in 1916, the Centre Street Bridge in Calgary has a new lease on life thanks to a major overhaul completed in September 2000. As one of the team members on the project, ISIS Canada has established a monitoring program to test for structural behaviour and non-corrosive properties of the FRPs used in this newly renovated bridge.
Designated as a municipal historic property, this flagship Calgary bridge was badly deteriorated by road salt. It was completely refurbished with high performance concrete and glass fibre reinforced polymers, including a new bridge deck, wider walkways, period lighting, and detailing on viewing platforms. To maintain the historic character, the original lion statues were replaced with high performance concrete replicas. The project took 14 months and $7 million to complete. According to City of Calgary Senior Design Engineer, Jadwiga Kroman, P.Eng., “The structure was nearing the end of its useful life, but by doing a major overhaul with the new materials, operation of the bridge has been extended another 35 to 40 years.”
ISIS Canada will monitor the bridge for an initial term of three years, utilizing leading edge fibre optic sensors and remote wireless monitoring technology. The data recorded will become part of the ISIS data bank, providing an analysis of structural behaviour that will assist engineers in future rehabilitation projects.
Project Partners include: Contractor - PCL-MAXAM a Joint
Venture; Design Engineer - Reid Crowther & Partners; Architect - Simpson Roberts;
In-river Specialist - Hydroconsult; Monitoring Program - ISIS Canada.
ISIS Project Leader: Dr. Nigel Shrive, University of Calgary, e-mail:
shrive@acs.ucalgary.ca
Awards
Industrial
Research Chair
Dr. Brahim Benmokrane has been named Professor of the NSERC
Research Chair in FRP Reinforcement for Concrete Structures at the Université of
Sherbrooke. The total five year budget for the Chair is $2.1 million, of which $625,000
comes from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC). In addition,
in-kind contributions of over $1 million will be provided by industrial partners.
In making the announcement, the President of NSERC, Tom Brzustowski, said that as a highly experienced and skilled researcher, “Professor Benmokrane merits our congratulations because he has obtained the support of an impressive range of partners.” Dr. Benmokrane is an ISIS Project Leader at the Universite de Sherbrooke.
Premier’s Research Excellence Award
Accolades are in order for Dr. Mark Green, recent recipient of
a $100,000 Premier's Research Excellence Award from the Government of Ontario. He is being
recognized for his leading edge research into the development of pre-stressed fibre
reinforced polymer (FRP) sheets for repairing steel reinforced concrete used in civil
engineering structures such as bridges and parking garages. Much of Dr. Green's research
is conducted as an ISIS Canada Project Leader at Queen's University.
Masonry
Society’s Most Prestigious Award
Dr. Nigel Shrive has been awarded the 2000 John B.Scalzi Award
by The Masonry Society. The annual award pays tribute to individuals who have made
outstanding contributions to masonry research. Considered one of the most prestigious
research awards in masonry, Dr. Shrive joins an internationally recognized group of select
and elite researchers. He is an ISIS Canada Project Leader at the University of Calgary.
Appointments
Research
Management Committee
Two new members have been appointed to the Research Management
Committee:
Dr. Nemkumar Banthia, P.Eng.
ISIS Project Leader
University of British ColumbiaMr. Andrew Horosko, P.Eng
Deputy Minister
Manitoba Highways & Government Services
Board
of Directors
Mr. Bruce Blackett, P.Eng., joins the ISIS Board of Directors.
Mr. Blackett is with Con-Force Structures Limited of Calgary, Alberta where he is Vice
President of Research, Development and Process Improvement.