ME-Annual Report (2014-15)

Departmental Activities -
Teaching Activities and Student Achievements
Knowledge Transfer Dinner Talk on Polymers and Lightweight Composites
The Department in collaboration with Sika Hong Kong
Limited organized a dinner talk on “Polymers and Lightweight
Composites for Engineering Applications” on 2 June 2015.
The dinner talk began with an opening address by Ir
Paul Poon, Managing Director of CLP Power Hong Kong
Limited. It was followed by sharing from Prof. Alan KT
Lau, Department of Mechanical Engineering, PolyU on the
differences of using advanced composites for aerospace/
aircraft engineering and construction industries and their
key consideration factors in real life practice.
The speaker Mr. Thierrry Berset, Head of Corporate
Technical Department of Sika, from Germany delivered
new technologies and codes to determine the design of
composite-strengthened structures for retrofitting and
rehabilitation with due fulfilling the fire-proof requirement.
The use of weather-proof polymers and lightweight
composites (carbon fibre/glass fibre reinforced polymers)
for civil infrastructure applications has gained much
attention due to their high stiffness to weight ratio, noncorrosion
properties, possibility of joint-less designs and
self-structural heath monitor-ability that make structures
versatile and safe. With the consideration of environmental
consciousness, the use of composites can alleviate the
pressure from expensive fuel price and reduce the carbon
footprint during transportation, installation and operation
stages in all engineering projects.
After the talk, am instrumental test was conducted to
allow the guests to test the strength and properties of new
structures. A training workshop will be arranged in late
September to allow engineers to practice on how to make
and test advanced composite materials.
In view of the aforementioned issues, the Department held
a knowledge transfer session to share the characteristics
and applications of polymers and fibre reinforced polymer
composites especially in the construction and building
industry.
The talk attracted over 60 senior managements from
different industrial sectors to join, including Gammon
Construction Ltd., Electrical and Mechanical Services
Department, Swire Properties Ltd., Leighton, Meinhardt
Group, Yau Lee Group, Kumshing Construction Co., Ltd.,
Green Building Council, Jardine Engineering Corporation,
Urban Property Management Ltd., Ka Shui International
Holdings Ltd., Disneyland, ARUP, CEED.
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