Title: The Gnyanam Paramam Dheyam arch at IITB: Proposal for a long life
   Speaker: Mahesh N. Varma
   Time: 17:15 - 17:45
   Venue: First Floor Conference Room, Civil Dept.

********************************************************************************


Abstract of the Talk: 


Typical RC structures deteriorate within 30 to 50
years. The main cause of this deterioration is the corrosion of embedded
reinforcements (and fatigue which is mainly related to the tensile forces
in the material). On the another hand, ancient masonry structures are
standing for more than 500 years (some even for 1000 years or more)
without much of distress. It is high time now to review the current
construction practices, structural forms, and materials to pave the path
for durable constructions. This presentation focuses on the possibility to
reconstruct the iconic "Gnyanam Paramam Dheyam" arch at IITB with
compression only geometrical forms to last for centuries.



Brief Biography of the speaker: 


Dr. Varma is the Director of Nandadeep
Building Centre at Aurangabad, India. He is a structural engineer by
profession and works mostly on the design and construction of masonry
arch-vault-dome structures. He has been the designer of the world's
largest masonry dome with an unsupported span of 89 m. Dr. Varma obtained
his Ph.D (Civil Engineering) and M.Tech (Aerospace Engineering) from IIT
Bombay.