On 2017 August 8th, four undergraduates from the majors of civil, construction and environmental engineering of Marquette University (MU), led by their Prof. Baolin Wan, went to South China University of Technology (SCUT) for two-day academic communication.
In the morning, Prof. Baolin Wan, from the MU, gave a lecture on the topic about “the research on the bond-slip relationship in the interface between fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) and concrete”. FRP is a new structural material in the field of civil engineering during the last two decades. It’s widely applied recently for its light weight, high strength, easy-processing and corrosion resistance. In the technique of FRP reinforcement concrete, the bond-slip behavior in the interface, which plays a decisive role on the reinforcement effects, is a research hotspot. However, in the engineering application, cracks may usually be found in the concrete needing strengthening. In the lecture, Prof. Baolin Wan demonstrated the influence of concrete cracks on the bond-slip behavior in the FRP-concrete interface through his discovery in experimental research and finite element analysis. Furthermore, based on the extended finite element analysis result, Prof. Baolin Wan proposed a damage model to simulate the crack developing process in the FRP-concrete interface. The effectiveness of the damage model was verified by the experimental results. After his report, he patiently answered the questions from the undergraduate students.
Report by Prof. Baolin Wan
After Prof. Baolin Wan’s wonderful lecture, Prof. Xiaohong Zheng, from the bridge teaching and research office of the SCUT, introduced the fiber laminate reinforcement concrete (CFL) technique to the undergraduate students. The CFL is a new-type FRP material self-developed by her research group. Besides the common advantages of FRP material, the CFL can be used single-layer independently, designed and manufactured freely. Due to its advantages, it has been successfully used in the reinforcements of several concrete bridges. After several applied instances in the bridge engineering, Prof. Xiaohong Zheng shared their research in the fatigue effect and the durability of the CFL.
Report by Prof. Xiaohong Zheng
After the report, the undergraduate students from the SCUT and MU shared experience with each other. Prof. Baolin Wan introduced detailly the location, major program, employment of the graduate students of the MU. He also shared the beautiful American city Milwaukee, where MU located in. Accordingly, Prof. Xiaohong Zheng introduced the SCUT and school of civil engineering and transportation to the undergraduate students from the MU. Both sides expressed their willing for strengthening the communication and cooperation. After that, the undergraduate students had a hot communication regarding their study and life in the universities.
Photo taking
In the afternoon, Prof. Xiaohong Zheng led Prof. Baolin Wan and the four undergraduate students for a visit to the MTS labs, including CFL exposure testing system, fire resistance lab, wind tunnel lab, shaking table test lab and the structural research lab. After the introduction of lab technicians about the lab equipment, experimental model and so on, the teacher and undergraduate students from the MU greatly admired the superior experimental condition of the SCUT and school of civil engineering and transportation. (Editors: MU He-Qing, GUO Houzuo)
Visiting in the lab
A brief introduction of the Marquette University.
The Marquette University (MU) is an American Catholic University. It locates in the Milwaukee city, which is the largest city of the Wisconsin State. It’s one of the largest Catholic Jesuit universities in the United States and the largest private university in the Wisconsin State.
The MU has been evaluated as the first class national university in American News and World Report. In 2017, its overall and civil engineering major ranking are 86th and 99th in national.