Plenary lectures
Abstract of the presentation: Steel exoskeletons offer a versatile and minimally invasive solution for the seismic retrofit of existing buildings. This keynote lecture presents a conceptual classification of exoskeleton systems based on three main criteria: the selected construction material, the structural arrangement—with resisting systems positioned either parallel or orthogonal to the building façades—and the typology of their constituent elements. The lecture also introduces a performance-based design methodology centred on the N2 method, as incorporated into current international seismic codes, for evaluating the coupled response of the existing building and the external retrofit system. Particular attention is devoted to the distribution of stiffness, strength and energy-dissipation capacity, as well as to the interaction between the two structural systems. The crucial role of the exoskeleton connections—both to the existing structure and to the foundations—is also examined, highlighting their influence on load transfer, global seismic performance and the feasibility of the retrofit intervention.
Abstract of the presentation: Augmented perception refers to technological enhancements to interact with digital information integrated into the real-world environment to process complex data and/or sense subtle or imperceptible information that our raw sensory systems may not be able to capture. The field is rapidly developing and is poised to transform civil engineering by extending human sensing capabilities through the integration of artificial intelligence (AI), advanced sensor networks, digital twins, robotics, extended reality (XR), edge computing, and ubiquitous connectivity. Extending beyond conventional structural health monitoring and automation, augmented perception enables infrastructure systems to continuously interpret, predict, and respond to changing environmental and operational conditions with unprecedented situational awareness. The presentation explores the emerging paradigm in which physical infrastructure is coupled with intelligent cyber-physical systems that fuse multimodal data from distributed sensors, uncrewed aerial and ground systems including satellite observations, Building Information Modeling (BIM), Geographic Information Systems (GIS), and Internet of Things (IoT) platforms. The presentation further discusses how foundation models, multimodal AI, physics-informed machine learning (PIML), federated learning, and neuromorphic computing may redefine the design, construction, operation, and maintenance of resilient and sustainable infrastructure. The presentation examines the role of augmented perception in enabling predictive maintenance, autonomous inspection, disaster resilience, adaptive construction, climate-aware infrastructure management, and human–AI collaboration. Special attention is devoted to explainable AI, cybersecurity, digital trust, interoperability, and ethical governance as essential enablers for its widespread adoption. Future developments, including self-learning infrastructure, cognitive digital twins, quantum sensing, distributed intelligence, and collaborative human–machine decision-making, are identified as key research frontiers. By presenting an integrated vision of intelligent infrastructure that perceives, reasons, and acts in real time, this presentation outlines a roadmap toward next-generation civil engineering systems that are safer, more resilient, resource-efficient, and responsive to the challenges of urbanization, aging infrastructure, and climate change.
Abstract of the presentation: HSLA steels use in heavy loaded constructions is presented and analysed, starting with the first generation (YS up to 500 MPa), continuing with the second generation (YS up to 700 MPa) and ending with the third generation (YS above 960 MPa). For the first two generations of HSLA steels case studies are used to provide more detailed insight into their behaviour, especially regarding crack resistance and related problems that occurred in their welded joints. As a representative of the third generation of HSLA steels, also called Ultra HSLA), SIMAXX 1000 (YS around 1,000 MPa) was examined under static, impact and amplitude loading. It was shown that its structural integrity is not jeopardized in any of these loading conditions, making it suitable choice for all welded constructions, including large offshore platforms, pipelines, cranes, pressure vessels and bridges.
Abstract of the presentation: The distribution of buildings within a city provides only part of the information needed to assess the consequences of an earthquake. The number of occupants, building use and structural vulnerability jointly influence the scale of potential losses. This study examines these relationships within a selected area of the Râșcani district in Chișinău, based on an inventory and visual survey of more than 700 buildings.
The building stock is characterised by structural typology, number of storeys and use, alongside the estimated number of occupants. Buildings are classified according to the RISK-UE methodology, and the data are organised in a geographic information system to examine the spatial distribution of vulnerability and population exposure. The results reveal substantial differences between the proportion of buildings belonging to each structural typology and the share of the population they accommodate. Although low-rise buildings account for approximately half of the surveyed stock, most occupants are concentrated in residential buildings of medium and greater height. Four- and five-storey masonry apartment buildings and taller reinforced concrete buildings therefore warrant particular attention when assessing potential earthquake consequences.
The analysis is supplemented by an indicative casualty estimate for an earthquake scenario originating in the Vrancea seismic zone, using predicted building damage and occupancy assumptions. The results are discussed in light of the limitations of empirical vulnerability assessment and uncertainties in building occupancy. The study provides a basis for prioritising detailed seismic assessments by considering both structural vulnerability and the number of people exposed.
The production unit uses Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) electrolysis. It has an installed electrical power of 10 MW and a capacity of at least 180 kg H₂/h, and it delivers hydrogen at a minimum of 3 MPa with a purity above 99.999%. Feed water is prepared in a reverse-osmosis treatment station (2,200 l/h raw water, 1,600 l/h demineralised water). Two diaphragm compressors raise the pressure from 2–3 MPa to 35 MPa. Storage consists of two modules of 22 Type IV vessels each, with a total capacity of 1,760 kg H₂, roughly ten hours of nominal output.
The analysis follows the three stages of the chain. PEM electrolysis makes use of the available renewable energy, adapts to fluctuations in generation and yields a high-purity fuel, with by-product oxygen as an additional resource. Fuelling the engines with hydrogen reduces direct carbon emissions and provides on-demand, flexible power with potential for cogeneration and continuity of supply. Grid injection opens a further outlet for production, partially replaces natural gas and transfers renewable energy to other consumers through compatible existing infrastructure.
Abstract of the presentation: Predicting the nonlinear mechanical response of masonry under external loading and inferring the properties and local conditions of existing structures from observed responses are challenging direct and inverse problems. These challenges arise from masonry’s vast design space, heterogeneous and anisotropic behaviour, brittle response, evolving damage, and complex boundary conditions. Experimental testing remains essential but is constrained by cost, scale, and the number of configurations that can be investigated. Numerical modelling enables virtual experimentation, yet high-fidelity nonlinear simulations are computationally demanding, require specialist expertise, and are difficult to deploy across extensive design spaces, uncertainty quantification, and real-time assessment. Inverse problems are particularly challenging because in-situ investigations often rely on sparse, local, or low-fidelity measurements. This talk presents a generative artificial intelligence framework designed to address both direct and inverse mechanics problems. Conditional generative adversarial networks (cGANs), originally developed for image-to-image translation, are employed to establish bidirectional mappings between visual representations of masonry and its mechanical behaviour. Masonry configurations, mechanical parameters, and corresponding full-field nonlinear strain maps are encoded as colour images, without explicitly providing the underlying constitutive laws. This formulation enables the model to learn complex nonlinear relationships directly from data. Despite training on relatively limited datasets, the framework demonstrates predictive capabilities within the training design space and generalises to previously unseen material properties and local heterogeneities. Furthermore, continual-learning strategies enable the model to extend its predictive capabilities into new regions of the design space using limited additional training data. Beyond masonry, this research establishes a pathway towards generative AI-based mechanical prediction and assessment of heterogeneous, brittle materials and composites. By moving beyond conventional pattern recognition towards bidirectional, mechanics-oriented generation, the framework offers potential for accelerating virtual experimentation, supporting inverse characterisation, and enabling more efficient structural assessment and design under uncertainty.
Abstract of the presentation: This report focuses on the mechanical performance of the flanged structure at the web openings of castellated beams, aiming to investigate the flexural behavior of castellated beams with flanges (CBF) and the influence of local loads on their failure modes. The study systematically examines the effects of flanged configuration, opening parameters, and local loads on the load-bearing capacity and failure modes of the components through mechanical tests on 6 sets of specimens and parametric finite element analysis of 130 models. The results indicate that the flanges can effectively restrain web buckling, transform the failure mode from web-post buckling to compression flange bending, increase the ultimate load-bearing capacity by 23.4%, alleviate stress concentration at the opening edges, and delay the formation of plastic hinges. In addition, opening ratio, hole spacing, web thickness, and local loads all significantly affect the mechanical performance of the components, and the relevant conclusions can provide important references for the structural design and engineering applications of castellated beams.
Abstract of the presentation: Study on a new composite member combining an outer hollow reinforced concrete (HRC) component with an inner concrete-filled double-skin steel tube (CFDST) component. Long-span bridges, high-rise buildings, and heavy-duty columns require high capacity, large stiffness, low self-weight, good seismic performance, and satisfactory fire and corrosion resistance. Traditional reinforced concrete members are heavy with limited seismic performance; CFDST members are light and offer excellent seismic behavior and high flexural stiffness and capacity; hollow RC members with an inner steel tube provide good fire and corrosion resistance. Integrating these advantages leads to the proposed CECFDST member in circular and square sections. It exhibits multiple confinement effects: mutual interaction between HRC and CFDST parts, confinement of sandwich concrete by outer and inner steel tubes, and confinement of outer concrete by stirrups. It features good fire and corrosion resistance, high capacity and stiffness, and the CFDST part can serve as a construction skeleton or platform. Potential applications include bridge piers in long-span and high-rise bridges and mega columns in super high-rise buildings. The key scientific issues are to clarify failure modes and reveal the cooperative working mechanism among components. Axial compression, flexural, and eccentric compression behaviors are investigated through tests, finite element modeling, parametric analysis, and superposition-based design formulas, focusing on contact stresses, internal force distribution, and effects of the stirrup characteristic value and nominal confinement coefficient.
Abstract of the presentation: Masonry structures are widely used in rural buildings due to their economic advantages and convenient construction methods. However, traditional masonry systems often suffer from insufficient seismic resilience, labor-intensive construction, and poor integration of thermal insulation and structural performance. To address these challenges, an innovative autoclaved aerated concrete (AAC) board-type masonry structural system was proposed, combining prefabricated AAC panels with reinforced connections to achieve efficient, energy-saving, and earthquake-resistant construction.This presentation introduces a systematic investigation of the mechanical behavior and seismic performance of the proposed structural system. The flexural behavior of AAC panels, compressive performance of AAC board-type walls, and seismic response of full-scale wall specimens were experimentally studied. The influence of reinforcement configurations, wall construction methods, and structural details on load-bearing capacity, deformation behavior, failure characteristics, and seismic resilience was analyzed. Furthermore, numerical simulations were conducted to further understand the failure mechanisms and evaluate the effects of key design parameters.The results demonstrate that the proposed AAC board-type masonry system provides improved structural integrity, enhanced deformation capacity, and favorable seismic performance compared with conventional masonry structures. This research provides an effective solution for developing low-carbon, prefabricated, and resilient masonry structures for rural and low-rise buildings.