“Faster and more efficient construction,” says professor Niel Van Engelen, “and developing new methods for faster production of commercial and residential spaces is a need.”

In collaboration with civil engineering professor, Dr. Somma, at the University of Udine, Dr. Van Engelen, a professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Master’s students Tommaso Dorbolo and Endin Dafota and research associate Hamed Amini Tehrani are testing a new method, which involves concrete-filled steel tubes.

“This method of construction is very common in Europe and other parts of the world, and not very common in this part of the world,” Van Engelen says. “We are bringing the experts from Europe and matching it with our local technical and experimental resources to form a joint cobrand.” 

Powered by a $25,000 NSERC Alliance International Catalyst Grant, the research teams are working on testing concrete-filled steel tubes to strengthen the connection between the concrete and the steel. When properly connected, the materials benefit each other and result in a much stronger structural section. The testing is being done at the University of Windsor Structural Engineering Laboratory which is one of the largest structural labs in Canada. 

The research will lead to a better understanding of the structural system to improve cost efficiency and safety in our infrastructure and remove barriers to the application of this technology. This collaboration will assist in developing and promoting this effective structural system for application in Canada.