Dr. Shivang Shekhar, School of Civil & Environmental Engineering, IIT Mandi, an online guest lecture on Probabilistic framework for seismic vulnerability assessment of ageing infrastructure systems on 25 August for all the post-graduate students, structural engineers, faculty, academic and research fraternity. In his talk Dr. Shivang Shekhar provided valuable insights into the modelling of deterioration in Reinforced Concrete (RC) structures, explaining the various stages of corrosion and their underlying mechanisms. The presentation encompassed a comprehensive exploration of both primary and secondary effects associated with corrosion across different stages. The speaker delved into the topic of bridge deterioration with an emphasis on modelling bearing deterioration and conducting seismic fragility analyses. These assessments aimed to predict potential bridge failures while accounting for uncertainties stemming from material properties, structural modelling, and the progression of deterioration. The talk also incorporated an in-depth exploration of time-dependent seismic fragility assessment, with a step-by-step walkthrough of each assessment phase. During the session, a case study involving the evaluation of a double-deck bridge model was showcased, followed by a thorough review of the assessment’s findings and conclusions. The discussion extended to the utilization of parameterized fragility models for the presented case study, with a detailed breakdown of each procedural step to understand the vulnerability assessment of aging bridges. The webinar concluded with a highly insightful discussion involving active participation from the attendees, contributing to the overall depth and breadth of the topic’s exploration.

Dr. Shivang Shekhar is currently working as an Assistant Professor in the School of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the IIT Mandi. Before joining IIT Mandi, he also worked at BITS Pilani. Dr. Shivang specializes in Structural and Earthquake Engineering. Dr. Shivang Shekhar obtained his  Ph.D from IIT Bombay. For his doctoral work, he received the “Excellence in Ph.D Research Award” from IIT Bombay. Recently, Dr. Shivang was also selected for the “Promising Young Structural Engineer Award 2022” from the Indian Association of Structural Engineers (IAStructE). Dr. Shivang is also serving as an Early Career Editorial Board Member (ECEB) for the prestigious ASCE-ASME Journal of Risk and Uncertainty in Engineering Systems. Prior to joining academia, he has three years of industrial experience in a structural design consultancy firm. His research interests include structural reliability, seismic vulnerability and loss assessment of bridges. He also works on non-linear modelling and analysis of structures, probabilistic seismic risk, life-cycle analysis, application of advanced machine learning algorithms for multi- dimensional fragility models, and uncertainty quantification in structural reliability problems. Presently, Dr. Shivang is working on developing a framework for identifying optimal retrofit techniques for older bridges located in the high seismic zones of India.

August 2023