The Second Young Engineers Colloquium of the German IABSE group in Stuttgart: KREBS+KIEFER strongly represented

On 23 March, the Second Young Engineers Colloquium of the German group of the International Association for Bridge and Structural Engineering (IABSE) took place in Stuttgart. KREBS+KIEFER was strongly rep-resented with three contributions from different areas.

Mr Marco Isenmann, M.Eng., spoke on the topic of “Simplified measurement spectra for seismic isolation”. The procedure presented enables the use of conventional modal analysis, instead of costly and elaborate time increment analysis, with earthquake-isolated buildings. The procedure is sufficiently precise and errs on the side of caution. This opens up new opportunities for pre-dimensioning, as well as and opportunities within the framework of optimising buildings under earthquake loading.

Ms Mirka Maurer, Dipl.-Ing., gave a lecture on the topic of “Recalculation of a road bridge as a folded plate — boon or bane?”. Using a concrete road bridge, she demonstrated the benefits and advantages of FE model-ling, using folded plate elements, taking into account the options afforded by the recalculation guidelines from the Federal Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastructure (BMVI). She also explained the principles behind the options for renovation of damage to the construction.

Mr Steffen Sroka, M.Eng., spoke about the public transport and pedestrian bridge to Kienlesberg in Ulm, Germany. This is a 5-panel, semi-integral steel bridge with a total length of 270 m and a maximum span of 70 m. Together with KNIGT ARCHITECTS, KREBS+KIEFER won the tender for this architecturally chal-lenging structure and subsequently prepared the draft, permit and execution planning.

This well-attended symposium is aimed at the rising generation of engineers, and fascinating projects from the fields of study, research and engineering practice were presented. The symposium serves to transfer knowledge: the aim is to forge links between young and old alike, so that a constructive exchange can take place and experience can be passed on.