An AICTE sponsored two week staff development programme on “Behaviour and Applications of Ferrocement and Fibre reinforced Composites” was conducted in the Department of Civil Engineering, Government College of Engineering, Salem from 3.6.2013 to 14.6.2013 with the objective to promote research in the field of ferrocement
Fibre reinforced composites which has great scope and potential in the near future. The information brochure of the staff development programme was circulated to all the engineering colleges and also hosted in the Institution web site. There was unexpected response for this event as about 50 faculty delegates from various engineering colleges in Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka participated.
The Staff development programme was inaugurated on 3.6.2013 by the Chief Guest Prof. P. Paramasivam, Professorial fellow, National University of Singapore who also released the proceedings of the SDP.
The technical sessions were elaborated by renowned Professors in the field of ferrocement and fibre reinforced composites from various reputed institutions including the host institution and also by a few industrial experts. Some of them were Dr. K. Subramanian, Professor and Head of Civil Engg., CIT, Coimbatore, Prof. Dr. A. R. Santhakumar, Emeritus Professor, IIT Madras, Chennai, Dr. N. Ganesan, Professor, NIT, Calicut, Dr. G. S. Thirugnanam, Professor, IRTT, Erode, Sri. S. Sundarkumar, Scientist, SERC, Chennai, Dr. R. Balamuralikrishnan, Asst.Professor of Civil Engineering, Annamalai University, Annamalai Nagar, Sri. KRS. Narayan, GM, Reliance Industries, Chennai, Dr.V. Rajkumar, Associate Professor, GCE, Salem, Dr.S. Kandasamy, Associate Professor, ACCET, Karaikudi, Mr. Kingsley. J. D. Ernest, Head, CQMT, CCCLIndia,Chennai, V. Kumar, Associate Professor, ACCET, Karaikudi, Dr. V. M. Shanthi Associate Professor, GCT, Coimbator, Dr. D. ShobaRajkumar, Associate Professor, GCE, Salem.
Voluntary discussions and healthy interactions in delegates were seen during the sessions. Practical sessions were also arranged for the participants and a ferrocement water tank model was constructed in front of the Civil Engineering block. The participants actively participated in the construction work and got a good hands on training experience in the application of ferrocement. A field visit was arranged to Yercaud on 8.6.2013 to view a few ferrocement structures built over there.
The Valedictory function was held on 14.6.2013 at 3.30 p.m. with the Principal R S D Vahida Banu being the Chief guest. Certificates were distributed to all the participants by the Principal. The fully enlightened participants expressed their fulfilment of expectations by SDP during the valedictory function.