The SUBLIME project is proud to celebrate the achievement of PhD researcher Elena Zancato, who received the Best Innovative Research award at the M2i/MaterialenNL Conference 2024. This two-day event, held at the National Sports Centre Papendal in Arnhem, brought together researchers, industry leaders, and policymakers to explore advancements in materials innovation.
The first day was dedicated to fostering community engagement within the materials science field through presentations, posters and pitch sessions. Elena’s award-winning research stood out during these sessions, earning top recognition in the poster evaluation and pitching event. The second day of the conference opened its doors to a broader audience, offering technical presentations and discussions to share innovations and insights with the wider public.
Elena’s research addresses the pressing issue of aging steel bridges, many of which are nearing the end of their designed service life. Her work focuses on developing a probabilistic framework for fatigue assessment by integrating Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) with predictive models. Utilizing Bayesian inference and fracture mechanics, her approach updates predictions of a bridge’s structural reliability based on data gathered form the structure. This method enhances life-span predictions, reduces uncertainty, and ensures safer, more sustainable infrastructure management.
Through collaborations with industrial partners, Elena’s research optimizes the placement and type of sensors, balancing cost and accuracy while providing actionable insights for large-scale infrastructure applications. The tools and methodologies she develops aim to extend the service life of critical infrastructures, reduce material wastage, and support circular economy goals.
This year M2i Conference presented awards in three categories: Best Applicable Research, Best Innovative Research, and Best Public Relations. Elena’s recognition in the Best Innovative Research category underscores the significance of her contributions to sustainable engineering.
The SUBLIME team congratulates Elena on this well-deserved award and looks forward to the continued impact of her work on advancing sustainable and reliable infrastructure solutions.
Bridges to a Circular Society
We are excited to announce the publication of Karel Van den Berghe on circular economy strategies for large steel structures, part of the SUBLIME project. It is now available on “De Lichtkogel.nl,” delve into sustainable practices for infrastructure, focusing on the lifecycle extension of steel bridges through innovative technologies and design. This publication marks a significant step towards integrating circularity into infrastructure planning.
In Memoriam: Professor Paul Havinga
We are deeply saddened to announce the unexpected passing of Prof. Dr. Ing. Paul Havinga on May 3, 2024. A distinguished figure in computer science, Professor Havinga was a cornerstone of the University of Twente’s Pervasive Systems group and a driving force within the SUBLIME project. His leadership in Work Package 2, focusing on the development of a data platform and digital twins for steel infrastructures, was instrumental in advancing the project’s objectives.
First Annual meeting and Lunching of SUBLIME video
At our Annual project meeting, hosted by ARUP on March 22, 2024, we launched a new phase for the SUBLIME project. This project is all about using smart technology and engineering to make big steel structures like bridges and buildings stronger and last longer. We’re focusing on beating two big problems: fatigue and corrosion, with something called Structural Health Monitoring.