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
WIRE: Week of Innovative Regions in Europe
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
Fire Lab siteFire Lab site
Fire Lab siteFire Lab site
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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– 5 from Pacific region
(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
– 6 from Pacific region
WP4. 2nd Workshop:“Innovative materials & techniques for concrete
construction”
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– 6 from Pacific region
(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