Young Engineers Colloquium 2023 - YEC2023
On the 24 and 25th of November 2023, the Belgian and Dutch National Groups of IABSE jointly organized their third Young Engineers Colloquium 2023 (YEC2023) at the Aula of Ghent University in Ghent in Belgium. YEC2023 is especially meant for young engineers to exchange knowledge internationally, with the focus on Belgium and the Netherlands. This colloquium offered young engineers the opportunity to present their interesting research, engineering or construction projects to an audience of fellow engineers from the structural engineering sector. The event was sponsored by 8 Belgian and Dutch sponsors and attended by 68 participants.
A call for papers was launched by August of 2023. The colloquium was open to all professionals interested in structural engineering regardless their age, but apart from the keynote speaker, all presenters are young engineers under 35 years of age. A total of 38 abstracts were accepted by the international scientific committee of 15 members with 7 Belgian members, 5 members from the Netherlands and 3 French members. The authors were invited to write a 2-page paper on their subject. The scientific committee selected oral and poster presentations based on the criteria of originality of the subject and added value, presence of a clear statement, readability and layout regarding the template. A number of 15 papers were finally selected for oral presentations and 23 for poster presentation. All papers and a keynote paper are part of the colloquium proceedings which are freely available.
On the 24th of November as the first day of the colloquium, a total of 68 participants attended the colloquium. The event started with a keynote lecture from prof. José Campos e Matos (ISISE, University of Minho, Guimarães, Portugal) on the subject “Case study for a KPI-based Quality Control system of roadway bridges”. Afterwards, 3 oral presentation sessions and 3 poster presentation sessions were held alternately. In presenting the posters, elevator pitches were organized. This provided attendees with an overview of current research topics as well as challenging engineering and construction projects and is an excellent platform to share experiences among experienced and young engineers. The best two oral and two poster pitch presentations were awarded with € 500,-. After the closing session, a city walk was organized and guided by prof. em. dr. ir. Philippe Van Bogaert. The first day ended with a Colloquium Dinner at Carlos Quinto in Ghent.
On the second day of the colloquium, Saturday 25th of November 2023, the Technical Excursion took place visiting several bridges under construction in Ghent and visiting the construction site of the Oosterweel tunnel project in Zeebruges under the guidance in Ghent of prof. em. dr. ir. Philippe Van Bogaert and under the guidance of technical specialists of the contractor TM COTU on site in Zeebruges. In Zeebruges, tunnel elements are under construction for the future immersed tunnel of the Oosterweel tunnel project in Antwerp. The excursion was attended by 43 participants
The program of the Young Engineers Colloquium was as follows:
- Friday, 24 November 2023
- 9h30 – Welcome coffee
- 10h – Session 1 – Chairs: B. Hesselinck & H. De Backer
- 10h15 – Keynote presentation – prof. José Campos e Matos (UMinho)
- 11h – Oral Presentations:
- Menuet, Carla & Bailly, Théo – Construction and calibration of digital twins for metallic truss bridges
- Spannenburg, Trevor – Methods of automating design optimalisation
- Roovers, Kelvin – Structural design automation of a cut and cover tunnel
- Bodson, Romain – A new finite element for joints based on the components method
- Denis, Eloïse – Parametric modelling to improve sustainability in design
- 12h15 – Pitch presentations:
- Gerard, Nick – Full dynamic train-track-bridge interaction calculation to verify passenger comfort on the Lembeek high-speed rail viaduct
- Cerquaglia, Marco Lucio – Simulated aleatory traffic for fatigue design of steel bridges
- Laklalech, Amine – Fatigue recalculation of the Gallieni Bridge over the Rhone in Lyon
- Pieters, Ronan – Cycling bridge ‘Vijfstraten’: using parametric design in bridge engineering
- Christoforidou, Angeliki – Shear and Wheel Loading on Bolted Connectors for Composite Bridge Decks
- 12h30 – Lunch
- 13h30 – Session 2 – Chairs: V. de Ville Goyet – H.H. Snijder
- 13h30 – Oral Presentations:
- Jilissen, Danny: Re-use of prefabricated prestressed bridge girders in the Netherlands
- Paredes, Jose: Proof load testing prestressed concrete girders for reuse
- Palm, Adrien – Wind Tunnel Tests and Normative Approaches of the ARC MAJEUR Subject to Vortex Shedding
- Cornelissen, Lieuwe – Dynamic analysis of a hybrid steel-GFRP footbridge
- Xujang, Shen – Development of fully precast lightweight steel-UHPFRC composite bridge
- 14h45 – Pitch presentations:
- Janssens, Floris – Influence of a timber outrigger system on cross laminated timber core buildings
- Deceuninck, Sharon – Circularity in bridge engineering
- van Oosten, Jeroen – Train underpass Rijen: sustainable design by applying self-healing concrete
- Scharff, Tijmen – Renewal of a Station Roof: Using Bio-Based Materials
- Bastin, Thibaud – Effect of modal coupling on the assessment of footbridge vibrations
- Lambrechts, Wouter – Optimization of construction sequence by anchoring cofferdam to tunnel
- Verschaeve, Niko – Pile group effect: calculation and impact on design of high-rise buildings
- Nejad, Reza – Pile toe failure in Amazonehaven
- Fang, Heng – Automation in diaphragm wall design of project Oosterweel Junctions
- 13h30 – Oral Presentations:
- 15h15 – Coffee break
- 15h45 – Session 3 – Chairs: A. de Boer – B. De Pauw
- 15h45 – Oral Presentations:
- Van Craenenbroeck, Maarten – Structural design and analysis of Tour Triangle
- Renckens, Berber – Structural Assessment of Historical Verbundträger Bridge Decks
- Rooms, Steffie – Construction of the new Verbindingsbrug in Zeebruggeg
- Harrewijn, Thomas – Structural assessment of masonry arches
- Voortman, Rick – Risk management on historical quay walls in Amsterdam
- 17h – Pitch presentations:
- Dubucq, Robin – Lock renovation in Auvelais – Miter Gates
- Calleyl, Koen – Pont Patton – Ettelbrück – Luxemburg
- Vos, Peter – Structural Assessment of Historic Masonry Cellars in Utrecht
- Wiltjer, Lennart – The Fenix Project: A Harmonious Blend of Historical Restoration and Advanced Structural Engineering
- Van Den Hende, Karel – Assessing concrete structures after repair: a chloride ingress forecasting model
- Sami, Muhammad Farjad – Modern trends in Bridge Health Monitoring (BHM)
- Verschaeve, Niko – Pile group effect: calculation and impact on design of high-rise buildings
- Plumet, Thomas – Research: Use of innovative techniques in bridge inspections
- van der Hoeven, Laura – Renovating the IJ-viaduct while keeping Amsterdam Central Station running – A case study
- 17h30 – Closing ceremony
- 15h45 – Oral Presentations:
- 18h15 – City Walk – Ph. Van Bogaert
- 19h30 – Colloquium Dinner at Carlos Quinto
- Saturday, 25 November 2023
- 9h30 – Start in Ghent – Visit to bridges under construction
- 11h30 – Transport to Zeebrugge
- 12h30 – Lunch
- 13h30 – Construction site of the Oosterweel tunnel project in Zeebrugge
- 16h30 – Return to Ghent
Young Engineers Colloquium 2020 - YEC2020
On the 23rd of October 2020, the Belgian, French and Dutch National Groups of IABSE jointly organized their Young Engineers Colloquium 2020 (YEC2020) in an ONLINE edition. After a successful first colloquium in March 2019, the Belgian and Dutch Group invited the French National group to join for this second edition as initially planned on the 13 and 14th of March 2020 in Brussels. However, The COVID-19 virus forced the organizers to look for alternatives and finally on the 23rd of October, a successful ONLINE edition was hold. YEC2020 is especially meant for young engineers to exchange knowledge internationally, with the focus on Belgium, France and the Netherlands. This colloquium offered young engineers the opportunity to present their interesting research, engineering or construction projects to an audience of fellow engineers from the structural engineering sector. The event was sponsored by 7 Belgian and Dutch sponsors and attended by 43 participants.
A call for papers was launched by the end of 2019. The colloquium was open to all professionals interested in structural engineering regardless their age, but apart from the keynote speaker, all presenters are young engineers under 35 years of age. A total of 32 abstracts were accepted by the scientific committee of 8 members: Prof ir Bart De Pauw (Ghent University and TUC RAIL N.V.), Prof ir Vincent de Ville de Goyet (Greisch and Uliege), Ing. Bruno Godart (Gustave Eiffel University and IFSTTAR), Prof. Emmanuel Ferrier (Lyon 1 University), Dr ir Ane De Boer (formerly Rijkswaterstaat), ir Pierre Mengeot (BESIX N.V.), ing B.H. Hesselink (Movares) and Ir. Sander van Alphen (Movares). The authors were invited to write a 2-page paper on their subject. The scientific committee selected oral and poster presentations based on the criteria of originality of the subject and added value, presence of a clear statement, readability and layout regarding the template. A number of 16 papers were finally selected for oral presentations and 16 for poster presentation. All papers and a keynote paper are part of the colloquium proceedings which are freely available.
On the 23rd of October, a total of 43 participants attended the colloquium. The event started with an introduction of the three chairs of the Belgian, French and Dutch National Groups. Afterwards, 3 oral presentation sessions and 3 poster presentation sessions were held alternately. In presenting the posters, elevator pitches were organized. Finally, a keynote lecture was given by Prof ir Laurent Ney (Ney & Partners) on the subject “Context and user experience in the design process”. An extensive paper is available in the proceedings of the colloquium. The program of this colloquium provided attendees with an overview of current research topics as well as challenging engineering and construction projects and is an excellent platform to share experiences among experienced and young engineers. The best two oral and two poster pitch presentations were awarded with € 500,- during the closing session. All contributions are available in the official proceedings as part of IABSE publications. A second day of the colloquium, with a site visit on the Silver Tower in Brussels, was unfortunately impossible.
Young Engineers Colloquium 2019 - YEC2019
On the 15 and 16th of March 2019, the Belgian and Dutch National Groups of IABSE jointly organized their first Young Engineers Colloquium 2019 (YEC2019) at Eindhoven University of Technology in The Netherlands. YEC2019 is especially meant for young engineers to exchange knowledge internationally, with the focus on Belgium and the Netherlands. This colloquium offered young engineers the opportunity to present their interesting research, engineering or construction projects to an audience of fellow engineers from the structural engineering sector. The event was sponsored by 14 Belgian and Dutch sponsors and attended by 64 participants.
A call for papers was launched by the end of 2018. The colloquium was open to all professionals interested in structural engineering regardless their age, but apart from the keynote speaker, all presenters are young engineers under 35 years of age. A total of 34 abstracts were accepted by the scientific committee of 5 members: Prof ir H. H. Snijder (Eindhoven University of Technology), Prof ir B. De Pauw (Ghent University and TUC RAIL), Dr ir Ane De Boer (formerly Rijkswaterstaat), ir Pierre Mengeot (BESIX N.V.) and ing B.H. Hesselink (Movares). The authors were invited to write a 2-page paper on their subject. The scientific committee selected oral and poster presentations based on the criteria of originality of the subject and added value, presence of a clear statement, readability and layout regarding the template. A number of 13 papers were finally selected for oral presentations and 21 for poster presentation. All papers and a keynote paper are part of the colloquium proceedings which are freely available.
On the 15th of March as the first day of the colloquium, a total of 64 participants attended the colloquium. The event started with a keynote lecture from Prof dr ir V. De Ville de Goyet (GREISCH – Uliège – CHEC (Paris)) on the subject “The arch, a tool for the bridge designer”. Afterwards, 3 oral presentation sessions and 3 poster presentation sessions were held alternately. In presenting the posters, elevator pitches were organized. This provided attendees with an overview of current research topics as well as challenging engineering and construction projects and is an excellent platform to share experiences among experienced and young engineers. The best two oral and two poster pitch presentations were awarded with € 500,-. After the closing session, a 3D concrete printing demonstration was given in the Structures Laboratory of the Eindhoven University of Technology. The first day ended with a dinner at the laboratory, a dinner speech by Rob Wolfs (Eindhoven University of Technology) on the subject ‘3D concrete printing on a tabula rasa’ and finally an awards ceremony on the best oral and poster presentations.
On the second day of the colloquium, Saturday 16th of March 2019, the Technical Excursion took place visiting several bridges on the Albert Canal in Belgium by bus under the guidance of technical specialists. Three bridge building sites were visited: in Zutendaal, in Ham (Kwaadmechelen) and in Eindhout. The bridges are under construction but in different construction phases. These three road bridges on the Albert Canal are part of a project with the aim to increase the clearance height under the bridges along the whole of the Albert Canal. The project was commissioned by Vlaamse Waterweg to the joint-venture Via T-Albert in the form of a PPP contract for the design, building, financing and maintaining of the bridges. The bridge type of these bridges is similar: a steel bowstring bridge with steel arches coming together in the central part of the arch. The deck consists of steel main and transverse girders with a concrete deck plate on top of it. The deck and the arches are connected by slender full steel hangers.