Indian Concrete Institute is one of the leading professional bodies in India, catering to the professional needs of individuals and organizations involved in Concrete. Being a non-profit Organization, it is dedicated to the cause of Disseminating Knowledge on Concrete, to Promote Concrete Technology and Construction and to address the Research Needs of Concrete. The long-cherished dream of opening a student chapter for ICI in Vardhaman college of Engineering was fulfilled when the Indian Concrete Institute-Vardhaman Chapter was inaugurated on 28th December, 2018. The inaugural ceremony commenced with a prayer song by students of the college. It was followed by the lighting of lamp by Er. Mavul Rao, Er.P. Srinivas Reddy, Principal in-charge, Dr. Mallikarjuna Rao, Head of the Department (Civil), and Depa Gowtham Kumar Reddy (President, ICI student Chapter). After winning the best student chapter award on 7th September 2019, we’ve done many activities later with extra punch of energy and with the zeal of winning award in consecutive year 2020.

The following are the summary of events conducted under this professional society.

Academic Year: 2020-2021

(i) Two-day Webinar on” Good Construction Practices & Role of Blended Cements for Durable Construction”

Date: Wednesday, June 16-17, 2020

Time: 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm

Venue: Joining Zoom Meeting: Meeting ID: 443 460 4700 Password: VCE1234

Speaker: Shri N. Srinivas Rao.

Faculty Co-ordinator: Dr. G. Mallikarjuna Rao.

Audience: UG and PG students of Civil Engineering from all over India.

Poster of Two-day Webinar on” Good Construction Practices & Role of Blended Cements for Durable Construction”

About Webinar & Speaker

The understanding and practice of technicalities involved in civil engineering construction & effective use of innovative material like cement plays a vital role in building a well-planned and sustainable society. Also, there is continuous upgradation that is happening in civil engineering material. One such material is blended cement. This cement has shown a significant improvement in durability characteristics of concrete structures. Both of this topic have been dealt in this two-day webinar. The speaker has been working since long in these areas. He has vast knowledge as well as experience in dealing this topic. Currently he is regional head for technical services of Ultratech Telangana. Civil engineering students during their classroom academic courses have a very limited exposure regarding this construction practices & innovative material. We at VCE, i.e., department of civil engineering realized the need & urgency of the topic well before. However due to pandemic situation it could not materialized. But with the initiative of the head of the department this event was finally conducted successfully. Initially it was thought of conducting this session for the civil engineering students of VCE only. However, with the efforts of our head of department we could manage to get sponsors from Ultratech as well as ICI. This motivated us to extend the same event outside VCE and it was decided to keep it open for all those who were interested. And to our surprise in the first attempt of organizing such kind of webinar we received overwhelming response across the country.

About Day-1 & Day-2 Sessions

The complete webinar was a combination of two sessions conducted on two separate days. In the first session (Day-1) all the participants were exposed to the detailed Philosophy and importance of different guidelines and methods pertaining to good construction practice. The speaker has discussed about these guidelines & how they change region wise etc. The examples given by the speakers were very informative. In the second session (Day-2) of the webinar all the participants were taken to concrete lab virtually. Here the main focus was on Blended cement. The speaker has shared all the important technical knowledge about this material right from its manufacturing to its applications. The involvement of Ultratech in blended cement is explained to audience. Participants must have gained knowledge about the positive effect of the blended cement in concrete and subsequently on durability of structure. Like first session this was also a very unique and new experience for all the participants. Towards the completion of each session the participants interacted with speakers regarding their doubts. The speaker has addressed all the doubts with great enthusiasm. At the end of second session the honorable speaker Shri N. Srinivas Rao sir from Ultratech were presented gratitude & thanks by Dr. G. Mallikarjuna Rao sir.

About Feedback

In all the two sessions of this webinar participants were given participation certificates (e-certificates). As per participant’s feedback, it was a very unique and informative webinar that has happened during this lockdown period. Participants attended the webinar with maximum attendance on both days.

Academic Year: 2019-2020:

(i) Industrial Visit to PRECA Company

Department of civil engineering, Vardhaman College of Engineering organized an Industrial visit to PRECA Private limited manufacture plant at Shankarpally Hyderabad. All the students of B. Tech IV year civil visited the PRECA plant to enhance their knowledge apart from regular theoretical practice. practice. A total of 51 visited PRECA which includes students and faculty. This industrial visit is organized by the ICI student chapter- VCE on 5/07/2019, Friday.

Student at the PRECA company site

Initially, the students were provided with safety instructions and safety equipment. All the students were instructed with the do’s and don’ts in the industry. After that the students were assisted with some people of the industry to explain about the industry and the structural elements they manufacture. Initially the students were to taken to the manufacturing unit of the precast hollow core slabs. Faculty along with the people of the industry explained how the precast hollow core slabs are manufactured and how the reinforcement is placed and how they are stretched using the equipment and how the stresses are induced into the slabs.

The students saw the precast hollow core slabs and the work of reinforcement and interacted with the employees working on the site. Next, the students were taken to the other unit of the plant where the other precast structural elements were often produced and how the tension members and compression members are produced were also explained.

Photos of the PRECA site visit

(ii) Guest Lecture on Smart Irrigation for Sustainable Rural Development

A guest lecture by Prof. Suresh Rama Swamy Reddy BMS College of Engineering, Benguluru was organized on July 12, 2019 by the Civil Engineering Department of Vardhaman College of Engineering. This session was attended by all the students of B.Tech civil engineering (total of 150+) and the entire civil faculty. Prof. Suresh Rama Swamy Reddy has published his papers in renowned journals, worked in numerous projects and contributed in the field of water resources in various ways to develop innovative methods of irrigation. We came to know about lot of works that he is going to work in future and also about the sponsorships that he got from the agencies.

Photos of Guest Lecture on Smart Irrigation for Sustainable Rural Development

Smart irrigation systems that explore the efficient use of water were the topic of the lecture. The issue of the water crisis due to over-pumping of groundwater and irrigation methods used by farmers in India was listed by the guest. Because of this, aquifer levels are getting reduced and the need for intelligent methods of irrigation is clarified. The lecture concerns are:

India is a tropical country and an agrarian society.

About 50% of the population depends directly or indirectly on Agriculture.

South West Monsoon is the main source of rainfall.

Monsoon is erratic both in space & time due to climatic changes.

Kharif crops are rain fed whereas winter and summer crops require irrigation.

Photos depicting the problems faced by Indian agrarian society