Presenter #1 Hamid Khan will be speaking about, many studies report one of the main causes of concrete dilapidation is concrete cracking.  Cracks facilitate corrosion of reinforcing steel which is one of the most prevalent deterioration processes.

Cracks in concrete structures are common and often misunderstood. Cracks can occur both in hardened and fresh (plastic) concrete. Cracking is usually the first sign of concrete distress, but this is not always true as deterioration in concrete can sometimes begin prior to any sign of cracks.

It is important to understand the reason and type of cracking, to propose the correct solution to seal and repair the cracks. Crack size, shape, and orientation can help in establishing the initial causes. Cracks in structures have direct and indirect impacts. Some cracks are dormant and do not pose any immediate structural threat in a direct way, but these facilitate the activities which ultimately cause the problem.  All cracks on concrete surfaces must be addressed and repaired as these provide easier access to the corrosive agents that create conditions suitable for accelerating the electrochemical corrosion process.

Presenter #2 Ruben Barnes will speak about, the inspection of cracking generally starts and finishes with a visual inspection. A range of field testing techniques can be used to characterise cracking with more precision and provide the inspector with more information than a surface crack width. This presentation will provide an overview of the testing techniques available. It will focus on the potential outcomes from the tests, strengths, and weaknesses, accuracy and corner cases. There will also be a discussion of cracking from different perspectives such as width, depth, orientation, and growth.

Speakers Profile

Hamid Khan is a forensic engineering specialist and industry-recognized specialist in structural concrete repairs.  As the National Product Segment Specialist, Hamid’s role is to harness high-performing technologies to respond to complex repairs and applications with 24 years of experience in the industry.

Working in the Fosroc International team in Dubai for 14 years, Hamid was able to see repair products in action on a vast range of projects in the Gulf, Middle East, Europe, and Asia.

Hamid’s trusted expertise is demonstrated by his regular speaking roles at industry conferences and seminars, and numerous published articles. He is the director on the board of the Australasian Concrete Repair & Remedial Building Association (ACRA) and a past president of ACRA. Hamid played an active role in HB84:2018 Guide for Concrete Repair and Protection (A Joint publication of ACRA, CSIRO, and Standards Australia) and other industry courses.

Hamid holds a bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering, and a double Master’s in Business and Strategy from the University of Wollongong. He is certified in Concrete Technology and Construction by the City & Guilds of London Institute (UK).

Reuben Barnes is the Managing Director of PCTE. PCTE is a supplier of testing solutions for construction and industrial purposes. He has a Bachelor of Materials Engineering from the University of Western Australia. He is the VP of the WA Branch of the CIA. He specialises in non-destructive testing equipment for concrete having completed training in Japan, Italy, Switzerland, and the US. He has extensive knowledge of Ground Penetrating Radar, Pulse Echo Ultrasonics, and many other techniques.

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