HEPHAESTUS Training and Research Chair

Chair Purpose and Missions

The HEPHAESTUS Chair is an industrial research and training chair. Its primary objective is to develop maintenance and rehabilitation techniques for historical metallic structures, such as bridges, viaducts, glass roofs, and more. To achieve this, the Chair focuses on the expertise of these structures, the assessment of damage caused by corrosion and fatigue, and the study of treatment, reinforcement, and monitoring solutions.
Its various missions are:
- Preserving heritage metallic structures,
- Developing conservation techniques for these works,
- Analyzing and validating stripping techniques and anti-corrosion maintenance methods with environmental respect,
- Designing surveillance and monitoring tools,
- Characterizing, evaluating, and reusing materials (cast iron, puddled iron, and steel),
- Training engineering students and professionals (companies and engineering firms) in maintenance and rehabilitation solutions for metallic structures.

Founding Member Partners

Industrial Member Partners

Research

Knowledge of the history of metallic civil engineering structures is a key element in anticipating their maintenance and repair. The objective of the chair is therefore to gather all knowledge on structures from the late 19th and early 20th centuries—a period of rapid development for rail and road infrastructure, as well as buildings and many other types of structures. This study will focus on:

Axis 1 - History of Civil Engineering Structures: Construction / Materials / Maintenance

The objective of this axis is to collect maximum information on the origins of metallic structures in a broad sense, focusing on structural calculations and the technological choices of the time, in order to gain comprehensive knowledge of metallic construction from the late 19th/early 20th century. A focus will be placed on their history regarding mechanical and thermal stresses, as well as their various maintenance/repairs (lead-based paints, asbestos, stripping, replacement of structural parts, anti-corrosion protection methods, etc.). This data collection will better guide the repair and reuse choices developed in task 4. All data will be gathered in a database accessible via a website open to all individual or corporate donors. This axis will be supported by a living lab to facilitate exchanges.
 

Task 1.1: Origins of these works and structures
Task 1.2: Study of structures during their construction
Task 1.3: Their history from inauguration to the present day
 

Axis 2 - Characterization of Construction Materials: Metallurgy / Corrosion / Protection Processes

The weak point of puddled iron or 19th-century steels is their low resistance to corrosion due to the solubility of oxygen in the metallic matrix. Therefore, it is necessary to protect them to limit contact with oxygen and moisture. However, protection techniques sometimes hide underlying pitting corrosion.
 

The topics covered in this section are:

Task 2.1 - Analysis of materials used for construction (cast iron, puddled iron, steel) and corrosion analysis

Task 2.2 - Analysis, comparison, and validation of stripping techniques (grit blasting, soft blasting, laser, etc.).
Task 2.3 - Proposal of anti-corrosion maintenance methods and corrosion monitoring
Task 2.4 – Environmental impact of different treatments

Axis 3 – Structural Evaluation and Expertise: Diagnosis / Assessment / Instrumentation / Metrology

The objective of this task is to propose solutions for the diagnosis and analysis of the mechanical behavior of the supporting structure of various civil engineering works: from specimen sampling and mechanical tests to modeling the behavior of beams to assess their robustness. Monitoring these structures is essential today to ensure safety. Specific instrumentation will be developed especially for these types of structures and materials. Data will be processed by AI to model their behavior and make predictions regarding their lifespan. 

Task 3.1 - Diagnosis and analysis of the mechanical behavior of the load-bearing structure. Robustness assessment.
Task 3.2 - Instrumentation and metrology for structural monitoring and prevention. Coupling between instrumentation and modeling
Task 3.3 - Structural re-evaluation of existing works and exploration of possibilities offered by Eurocode 0 for the desirable level of reliability for very old structures.

Axis 4 – Repair and Reuse: Strategy and Solutions / Reinforcement Techniques / Reuse

Repair strategies depend on the type of structure, its function, as well as its geographical location and surrounding environment. The challenge is multi-factor: economic, technical, ecological, and more. This task aims to propose repair solutions and strategies based on experiences gained from other works (task 1) and the modeling and predictions obtained in task 3. Ultimately, a guide on the rehabilitation of metallic structures will be produced.

Task 4.1 - Repair solutions and strategies, advantages and disadvantages, avenues for innovation and optimization.
Task 4.2 - Reinforcement techniques for old riveted structures (standard techniques using doubling plates, bonded plates, welding, if materials permit).
Task 4.3 - Reuse of materials and components from deconstructed metallic structures

Hélène de BAYNAST

HEPHAESTUS Chair Coordinator 

+ 2 avenue Blaise Pascal 63178 Aubière

( +33 (0)6-15-94-94-35

* helene.de_baynast@uca.fr
 

The HEPHAESTUS chair is open to all, individuals and companies

To join us HERE