By AIT Public Affairs
30 July 2024: The Structural Engineering Forum (SEF) at School of Engineering and Technology (SET) successfully hosted the “Seismic Model Competition 2.0” on 30 July 2024, celebrating exceptional talent and innovation in structural engineering. The event was supported by CSI Bangkok and the Earthquake Research Center of Thailand.
A total of 18 teams from Thailand, Cambodia, Malaysia, Nepal, India, and Pakistan, comprising over 90 participants and their esteemed faculty members, joined the event. The teams consisted of final-year civil engineering students. Each team was guided by a mentor from AIT, showcasing the depth of talent and knowledge within the AIT community. The competition facilitated idea exchange, hands-on experience, and leadership skill development, highlighting AIT’s commitment to academic excellence and professional growth.
The event aimed to encourage participation in future events, learn the different energy dissipation mechanisms of structures, understand the various modes of structural failure, and provide networking opportunities for students. It featured distinct structural systems and strengths for each model, creating an engaging and captivating atmosphere.
The judging panel consisted of Dr. Naveed Anwar, Faculty, STE and CEO, CSI (Bangkok); Prof. Virote Booniyapinyo, Department of Civil Engineering, Thammasat University; and Mr. Thaung Htut Aung, Director, AIT Solutions. The opening ceremony was attended by Prof. Sangam Shrestha, Dean, SET; Prof. Pennung Warnitchai, Program Chair, STE; and Dr. Chaitanya Krishna, Faculty, STE, along with other key officials from AIT and various participating universities.
Team “R-MAKEN” from Rangsit University, Thailand, secured the top spot and walked away with 50,000 Baht. The winning model at the shake table competition excelled due to its superior structural design. It featured trusses connected to columns, diagonal inverted V and X bracings, and horizontal bracings. These elements helped distribute loads efficiently, resist lateral forces, and enhance stability. Redundancy in the design ensured multiple load paths, making the structure incredibly resilient. It withstood shaking of up to 45mm, earning the top spot in the competition.
Team “SEISMOSTRUCTS” from the University of Lahore, Pakistan, won the Innovative Award for their model, which endured up to 35 mm amplitude.
The event provided a platform for students to showcase their talent, enhance networking opportunities, and strengthen their communication skills. Solely organized by students from the Structural Engineering program with support from faculty and the school, this event is a testament to their talent, dedication, and professionalism. It also underscores how AIT fosters not only academic excellence but also the development of essential professional skills. Through initiatives like this, our students gain the hands-on experience and leadership qualities needed to thrive in their future careers.
The participating institutions were Atmiya University, Chiang Mai University, King Mongkut’s University of Technology North Bangkok, King Mongkut’s Institute of Technology Ladkrabang, Mahidol University, National Technical Training Institute, National University of Computer & Emerging Sciences, Norton University, Pulchowk Campus, Rajamangala University of Technology, Rangsit University, Regional Institute of Science and Technology, Scholars Institute of Technology and Management, The University of Lahore, Universiti Malaya, University of Engineering and Technology Taxila and Walailak University.
Participants Experience
Rushi Kapuriya – Atmiya University
It was a wonderful experience for us. This type of competition provides us with a platform to express ourselves, showcase our talent, and share our new ideas. I am certain that we gained a lot of innovative ideas from this competition as well. Additionally, we thoroughly enjoyed our stay at AIT and appreciated its ambiance and the green campus.
Thanaphat Me-ngoen – Chiang Mai University
It has been a good competition and a great learning experience for all of us. This experience will help us become successful structural engineers in the future. I am very impressed by AIT’s environment; the use of bicycles here promotes a healthy lifestyle and a clean environment.
