A student team from the Department of Civil Engineering, SRM Institute of Science and Technology (SRMIST), has won First Prize in GEO-GENIUS 2019, a national level technical event organized by IIT MADRAS in association with L&T Construction during the period of 08.03.2019 to 10.03.2019 in connection with CEA FEST 2019. Many teams have been shortlisted from all parts of the country for a final demonstration, out of which, two teams are from SRMIST and one of the team has won First Prize with a cash award.
The teams were shortlisted based on the Team Description Paper (TDP) submitted to the event organizers. The submitted TDP includes the proposal for the composition of materials and reinforcement approach for the embankment.
The shortlisted teams of GEO-GENIUS 2019 were tasked to build up a model embankment with a combination of recycled construction materials and recycled reinforcement materials provided by the event organizers.
The winning team developed a model embankment using Quarry dust, GGBS, and Fly ash and also used cloth bags to reinforce the embankment. The materials were combined and compacted at optimum moisture content and maximum dry density based on prior experimental studies carried out in Soil Mechanics Laboratory and literature review. Using the materials at the optimum combination, the angle of slope obtained by wrapping the batter face with cloth bag reinforcement was 43o, which was found to be the steepest among all other competing models. This approach facilitated the team to reduce the right of way effectively and also minimize the fill requirements. This also enabled the model to perform well in the stability check.
The judges of the event Professor Dr.Dali Naidu Arnepalli, IIT Madras, and Professor Dr.T.Thyagaraj, IIT Madras, had appreciated both the teams of SRMIST for their versatile approach towards the problem statement.
Further, The Director (E&T) of SRMIST Dr.C.Muthamizhchelvan has congratulated the winning team comprised of third-year undergraduate students, Vignesh Kumar S, Nighil Reddy G.D and Jayasuriya S and wishes the mentor Mr.S.Chezhiyan, Assistant Professor, for guiding them. The Head of the Department Dr.K.S.Satyanaranayan and other faculty members also appreciated the winners and runners for their efforts made to bring laurels to the Department and University.
