CIVIL ENGINEERING RESEARCH SYMPOSIUM 2018

“Unless you try to do something beyond what you have already mastered, you will never grow.” The Civil Engineering Research Symposium creates an ideal platform for the undergraduates to grow beyond their scope and widen their horizons. 

The 2018 symposium unfolded in the Civil Engineering auditorium 21 st of June with the participation of the final year undergraduates, Department academic staff with the fresh graduates expounding their final year researches on stage.

As all good things start with a sprinkle of religious blessings, the traditional oil lamp was lighted at the inception of the event followed by the welcome speech by the Head of the Department Prof. J.M.S.J. Bandara. The renowned academic staff of the department, Prof. Dias W.P.S, Prof. Jayasinghe M.T.R, Prof. Kulatilake S.A.S., Prof. Perera A.A.D.A.J, Dr. Jayasinghe C. (Mrs.), Prof. Mampearachchi W. K., Dr. Hettiarachchi M. T. P. ( Mrs. ) , Dr. Nanayakkara D. (Mrs.), Dr. Nawagamuwa U. P. , Dr. Baskaran K., Dr. De Silva L. I. N., Dr.  Halwathura R. U., Dr. Rajapakse R. L. H. L. , Dr. Mallikarachchi H. M. Y. C., Dr. Gunawardana W. B. (Ms.), Dr. Lewangamage C. S. Dr. Ekanayake L. L. , Dr. Kasun De Silva , Dr. De Silva L.I.N. and Industrial training director and senior lecturer Eng. Wijewickrama N.A. were all there eagerly participating the symposium. The event was sponsored by “Lanwa – Sanstha wane”. Ceylon Steel Corporation Limited, with its brand presence as “Lanwa Sanstha Wane”, is the foremost steel manufacturer that has won the trust of a discerning clientele for generation for its quality, standards and affordability.

Next followed a research presentation by Prof. Mampearachchi on Development of non-expensive clay as internal curing concrete aggregate. The knowledge imparted by him was a spot-on example for growing beyond what you have already mastered. The event was boosted through snacks and lunch in between three sessions of research presentations. The first session had 8 presenters coming through with their researches before the mid-day break for lunch. The session was led by Dr. (Mrs.) Hettiarachchi with (Mrs.) Sachithra as the time keeper. Second session with 6 research presentations lead by Prof. Ashoka with Dr. Kasun as the time keeper, Third and final session after evening tea with 4 presenters on stage with Prof Kulathilake at the lead and Dr. (Mrs.) Ashani as time keeper, enlightened the eager final years absorbing every ounce of knowledge with back to back questions after every presentation.

The symposium wrapped up with twilight illuminating the young minds on research possibilities and advancements of current researches of the field of Civil Engineering. Vote of thanks for the day was presented by Amaya Kahaduwa, one of the final year undergraduates. “Knowledge has a beginning but no end.” The Civil Engineering Research Symposium has always been an open platform for new notions and creativity. Though the sun sets for the symposium today, next year it will rise again with a novel set of minds to discover the beyond of what we master. 

Title	Supervised by	Presenter
Session 01: Chair – Dr.(Mrs.) M.T.P. Hettiarachchi, Co-chair – Mrs. Sachithra Imbulana
Development of geo-polymer concrete with coal fired boiler ash	Prof. S.M.A. Nanayakkara	D.M.S.P. Dassanayake
Investigation of properties of cellular light weight concrete blocks	Prof. S.M.A. Nanayakkara	S.U. Hendawitharana
Application of Eurocode to bolted timber joints	Dr.(Mrs.) M.T.P. Hettiarachchi	P. Sakithiyan
Modelling of corrosion induced cover cracking in reinforced concrete	Dr. H.M.Y.C. Mallikarachchi Prof. S.M.A. Nanayakkara Prof. Priyan Dias	J.A.A.Sankalpa
Re construction of 3D surface/model with optic based measurements	Dr. H.M.Y.C. Mallikarachchi	O.P.C. Randil
Design of porous concrete mixtures for drainage cover slabs in pedestrian walkways	Prof. W.K. Mampearachchi	I.M.H. Perera
Framework to integrate multiple economic analysis methods for transportation infrastructure project feasibility assessment	Dr. H.R. Pasindu	C.S. Wijenayake
Investigation of durability of open graded friction courses	Prof. W.K. Mampearachchi	B.P.D.P.P.Bamumuarachchi
Lunch
Session 02: Chair – Prof. A.A.D.A.J. Perera, Co-chair – Dr. Kasun de Silva
Design for accommodating intermediate stops for busses on southern expressway	Dr. G.L.D.I. de Silva	B.H.A. Mendis
Applicability of mackintosh probe test in evaluating the degree of compaction and engineering characteristics of compacted backfills	Dr. L.I.N. de Silva	P.A.M. Gomes
Investigation on the applicability of plate bearing tests in extrapolating the bearing capacity of large raft foundations	Dr. L.I.N. de Silva	O.M. Muthuhewa
Secondary consolidation characteristics of peaty clay	Prof. S.A.S. Kulathilake	J.P.D.C.M. Karunarathne
The cost estimating errors to contractors.	Prof. A.A.D.A.J. Perera	H.M.I. Herath
Assessment of embodied energy in alternative materials manufactured using construction waste	Prof. (Mrs.) C. Jayasinghe	P.P.U. Panamgama
Tea
Session 02: Chair – Prof. S.A.S. Kulathilake, Co-chair – Dr.(Mrs.) A.S. Ranathunga
Soil stabilization using alkaline activation of fly ash/bottom as for self-compacting mud concrete construction	Prof. R.U. Halwathura	A.V.R.D. Lakmini
A study on suitability of the four parameter “abcd” hydrologic model to stimulate rainfall runoff in selected small watersheds in Sri Lanka	Dr. R.L.H.L. Rajapakse	P.W.H. Sasanka
A study on use of daily and monthly lumped parameter hydrologic ,models for surface and ground water resource analysis in small watersheds	Dr. R.L.H.L. Rajapakse	G.M.C.A. Perera
Investigation on Energy losses in pipes	Mr. A.H.R. Rathnasooriya	P.R. Nalaka