Experts shared their experiences and research on Confined Masonry as an alternative construction technology in earthquake-prone regions.

Confined Masonry can prove to be very good in the Indian context, especially in low-rise residential buildings. IITGN decided to put this building technology into practice in 2013 for all of our housing and hostel buildings. This seminar is organised with the aim of sharing the knowledge of eminent experts and experience of IITGN in Confined Masonry so that more and more people can benefit from it.

Prof Sudhir K Jain

Director, IITGN

One can see at IITGN how the campus can be made in sync with nature. Confined Masonry is a very good technology and it is high time we bring it into practice.

Dr Shailesh K Agrawal

Executive Director, BMTPC

A seminar on Seismic Design of Confined Masonry Buildings was conducted at the institute on April 10. In view of major human and economic losses due to massive earthquakes, largely because of earthquake-vulnerable building designs and constructions, Confined Masonry (CM) has emerged as an alternative construction technology in many earthquake-prone areas. Since IITGN has pioneered and successfully built the first large-scale application of Confined Masonry in India (in its housings and hostels on campus), a seminar on Seismic Design of Confined Masonry Buildings was conducted at the Institute. It intended to popularise this building technology among practitioners, students of civil engineering and industrial organizations.

Chief Guest at the seminar, Dr Shailesh K Agrawal, executive director, Building Materials and Technology Promotion Council (BMTPC), New Delhi gave a brief idea about the rapid urban renewal happening in India which is not seen anywhere in the world. The government is also exploring various technologies which can build at a faster rate without any safety or quality compromise. He also introduced the participants to the ‘Vulnerability Atlas of India’ which can be very useful for any infrastructure project in the country. He gave three ‘S’ mantra of skill, speed, and scale to the students for infrastructure development in the country. He appealed to students to popularise this technology wherever they go.

Globally renowned experts in CM technology discussed various topics in details with the participants. Dr Svetlana Brzev, visiting professor, IITGN and adjunct professor, University of British Columbia, Canada discussed key concepts viz. seismic loading and planning of CM buildings. Prof Juan Jose, UNAM, Mexico and Chair of the Mexican Masonry Code Committee, talked about Analysis, Design, and Research in Confined Masonry in Mexico. Prof Durgesh C Rai, IIT Kanpur, delivered a talk on Analysis, Design, and Research in Confined Masonry in India. In the end, Prof Gaurav Srivastava, IITGN introduced the participants to IIT Gandhinagar Campus Design.

About 140 participants from different colleges viz. CEPT, LDCE, Nirma University, MSU Baroda, VJTI Mumbai, Sardar Vallabhbhai National Institute of Technology, LDRP, SAL Institute of Technology & Engineering Research, DDU Nadiad, BVM Engineering College, Gujarat Forensic Sciences University, Indus University and Ganpat University attended the seminar.

Industrial organisations like Container Corporation of India, ISRO, Bihar State Disaster Management Authority, ONGC and RADIX Associates also participated in the seminar.