Engineering Institute of Technology lecturer Dr. Shasha Wang talks about presenting at the conference in Singapore and breaking barriers in engineering knowledge.
Engineering Institute of Technology (EIT) lecturer Dr. Shasha Wang recently presented her paper “Effect of Fiber Type and Content on dynamic tensile behavior of Fiber-Reinforced High-Strength Concrete Determined by a Split Hopkinson Pressure Bar” at the 14th International Conference on Shock & Impact Loads on Structures.
The conference was a powerful platform for researchers and engineers to exchange advancements in resilient civil structures. Dr. Wang’s participation in this esteemed conference highlighted EIT’s commitment to global research and development.
We caught up with Dr. Wang to tell us more about her research paper, what it was like presenting at such a prestigious event, and the importance of gender diversity within the engineering field.
How was your experience presenting at the 14th International Conference on Shock & Impact Loads on Structures?
Inaugurated in 1996, the series of international conferences on shock and impact loads on structures has been an important forum that regularly brings together academics and practicing engineers worldwide to share some of the most recent advances in resilient and sustainable civil networks.
It was great that EIT had a platform for this reputable conference series and became part of this area’s global research and development network.
What would you say were the key benefits of presenting at the Conference?
Getting involved in conferences provides an excellent opportunity to publicize some exciting, ongoing research activities at EIT. It forms a mechanism to showcase EIT’s vibrant research and training environment.
It helps attract more and more students into our signature Doctor of Engineering (DEng) course of carrying out all sorts of industry-oriented research projects that are of genuine real-world relevance. Apart from that, EIT’s presence at such an international conference would promote our institution and work to a wide range of audiences.
In what ways does the split Hopkinson pressure bar technique enhance the understanding of fiber-reinforced high-strength concrete behavior during dynamic loading?
Like many other engineering materials, fiber-reinforced high-strength concrete under dynamic loading conditions exhibits material behavior quite different from that under static loading conditions.
With the increasing importance of understanding the behavior of fiber-reinforced high-strength concrete under dynamic loading conditions, which is yet to be fully characterized in several ways as per prevalent industry practices, the research presented in this paper would hopefully shed some light on how exactly this relatively widely used engineering material would behave on such dynamic occasions.
How can the practical applications of your paper’s findings benefit infrastructure and construction projects in the engineering field?
In a broad sense, the findings in this area would help boost the robustness of civil structures and infrastructures against such extreme, unfortunate events as the Bourke Street car attack in Melbourne CBD and Hurricane Katrina in the US.
What are your research’s potential benefits/implications for improving the sustainability and durability of concrete structures?
Conventionally, in the process of analysis and design of concrete structures, the sustainability and durability of concrete structures were looked after by allowing for various dead loads and live loads such as the self-weight of the system, the people occupying the form, etc. This also includes structural design against wind loads, earthquakes, etc.
In addition, in recent years, more and more engineers have come to develop a consensus that the sustainability and durability of concrete structures (indeed civil systems in general) should also incorporate the structural performance against impact loads, such as wind-borne debris and vehicular impact.
The research presented in this paper aimed to contribute by characterizing the very behavior of fiber-reinforced high-strength concrete under dynamic loading conditions.
Why are women engineers underrepresented in engineering, and how can initiatives like your research promote diversity and gender equality in the industry?
There has long been an urban myth that women are inferior to men in areas requiring high quantitative skills and intensive critical thinking, such as engineering. For those still chanting this mantra in 2023, they should start by making sense of the numbers in the paper we are talking about.
As a lecturer at EIT, how does your research contribute to the overall curriculum and promote interdisciplinary collaboration among students and faculty?
At EIT, units and courses are taught by its academic staff, who are experts in their respective areas, which Engineers Australia’s latest accreditation outcomes have recognized.
Research-informed teaching is integral to maintaining the high relevance of EIT’s units and courses to the ever-changing industry needs in Australia and beyond. This is the case for our Bachelor’s and master’s courses, even more so for our Doctor of Engineering course.
