06 Dec 2024
At the First Jiangsu Foreign Postgraduate Research Symposium held at Jiangsu University on 1 December 2024, Dhanushka Kobbekaduwa, a Sri Lankan PhD student from Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University’s Design School, won the First Prize for the Outstanding Academic Paper Award.
Dhanushka Kobbekaduwa, second from left
With the theme of “Innovation: The Foundation of Academia”, the symposium provided an excellent opportunity for international postgraduate students to communicate with peer researchers through keynote speeches, poster presentations, and oral presentations. Nearly 100 international postgraduate students from 23 universities across Jiangsu province participated in the symposium, with 12 of them selected as first prize.
As a Year Three civil engineering PhD student, Dhanushka explores how to improve the durability and sustainability of concrete structures in his awarded paper “Effect of Organic Corrosion Inhibitors on the Void Content Properties of Repair Mortars”.
Developing more durable concrete structures
Concrete, a material that forms the backbone of modern civil engineering, is being used by sophisticated infrastructure at every corner of the modern world.
However, the deterioration of reinforced concrete structures due to durability challenges, particularly reinforcement corrosion, has become a significant global concern. Corrosion weakens the bond between steel reinforcement and concrete, leading to structural integrity issues, costly repairs, and safety risks.
“As someone deeply passionate about civil engineering and construction, I have always been fascinated by the applications of concrete technology and its potential for innovation,” says Dhanushka.
His project focuses on a solution to the corrosion problem by utilising repair mortars enhanced with organic corrosion inhibitors, which reduce the rate of reinforcement corrosion, thereby improving the durability and performance of repaired structures.
Dhanushka presenting at the symposium
Dhanushka explains: “My project combines the modified repair mortars with textile-reinforced mortar (TRM) systems, a promising composite material known for its superior mechanical properties and effective crack control.
“TRM is applied as an external strengthening system to improve load-bearing capacity while mitigating further damage caused by environmental exposure.”
By advancing the understanding of these innovative materials and their applications, the project contributes to developing cost-effective and durable solutions for repairing and retrofitting concrete structures worldwide, he adds.
Pursuing research at XJTLU
Dhanushka credits XJTLU for providing the ideal platform to explore his interests and achieve his goals.
“With its advanced laboratory facilities, state-of-the-art resources, and a team of dedicated academic staff, XJTLU offers a supportive environment for research.
“I get to work with renowned PhD supervisors who are experts in civil engineering, and help me refine my research focus and develop necessary skills for successful research,” he says.
To Dhanushka, participating in the research symposium has been a rewarding experience, allowing him to engage in research presentations from postgraduate students across diverse disciplines, which helps broaden his research insights and offered fresh perspectives for his work.
“It was also an excellent platform for networking, enabling me to connect with fellow students and academic staff from various universities.
“I am grateful to my supervisory team, Dr Ominda Nanayakkara, Dr Theofanis Krevaikas, and Dr Luigi Di Sarno, for their continuous support and guidance throughout my PhD journey,” he adds.
By Yi Qian
Photos courtesy of Dhanushka Kobbekaduwa
06 Dec 2024