No. 58. Proceedings of the 14th fib International PhD Symposium in Civil Engineering - 5-7 September 2022 - Rome, Italy - PDF format
The 14th fib PhD Symposium in Civil Engineering was held for the first time in Italy, at the University of Rome Tor Vergata.
The previous editions were organised in Budapest (1996, 1998), Vienna (2000), Munich (2002), Delft (2004), Zurich (2006), Stuttgart (2008), Lyngby (2010), Karlsruhe (2012), Quebec City (2014), Tokyo (2016), Prague (2018), and Paris (2020/21).
The selection of the venue was decided by a large group of colleagues who participated as members of the Scientific Committee, with the aim of promoting fib within the scientific community and supporting it through their scientific activity. Rome, the Eternal City, represents the past, present, and future of concrete from an architectural point of view, and few cities can match its symbolic significance in this regard.
The event provides a view of the future of the scientific community, which must face the challenge of sustainable construction. It brings together around 120 PhD theses on the main research topics in concrete structures, carried out by young researchers who will take on the responsibility of making complex decisions on the built environment, ensuring progress in technical and social development without compromising the future of subsequent generations.
The researchers come from all over the world. We received more than 151 papers from 72 research institutes and universities. As expected, Italy had the largest representation with 49 papers, followed by Germany with 31, and Hungary and Switzerland with 8 papers each. In total, 29 countries were represented. The selection process was highly competitive, resulting in 115 accepted papers.
The main topics covered in the theses are: Structural Analysis and Design (27%), Innovation in Concrete Technology (18%), Durability and Materials (17%), and Retrofitting and Assessment of Existing Structures (14%). For the first time, theses also addressed the History of Concrete Structures and the Assessment of Heritage Buildings.
The high scientific level of the Symposium also attracted interest from major international companies. Companies such as MAPEI, Bekaert, specialised firms like ASDEA Software, ATENA Consulting, and the National Federation of Concrete Companies FEDERBETON—representing the entire concrete industrial chain in Italy—offered significant awards to promote technological development in concrete and to support the engagement of young participants.
The Symposium was also used by REcube, an Erasmus+ project funded by the European Commission and aimed at promoting a sustainable approach to the conservation and reuse of modern reinforced concrete architecture at European and international level, as a multiplier event. The project involves 10 research institutes and 5 associated partners (including fib), and promotes the enhancement of significant European heritage. The REcube initiative is designed to prepare master’s students in engineering and architecture through university-led courses, fostering a new mindset in the field of modern heritage regeneration.
The communication with candidates, distribution of reviews, and daily coordination of the selection process were carefully managed by the Italian fib Young Members Group, in particular by Isabella Giorgia Colombo, Marta Del Zoppo, Diego Gino, Simone Spagnuolo, and Diego Alejandro Talledo. We sincerely thank them for their valuable contribution and dedication.
Marco di Prisco, Alberto Meda, and György Balázs
