SONEUK Hosts Sixth Talk Programme on Innovative Concrete Repair

London – The Society of Nepalese Engineers in the UK (SONEUK) successfully hosted its sixth talk programme on Tuesday, 5th August 2025.

The event featured a presentation titled “Effect of CFRP Layer Thickness and Repair Width on the Flexural and Compressive Strength of Damaged Concrete Beams,” delivered by member Er. Krishna Kandel. Er. Kandel is a MSc Civil Engineering graduate from the University of Portsmouth, UK, and was the winner of the SONEUK Engineering Research Competition 2025.

The session began with a warm welcome from Er. Nirdesh Khatiwada of the Talk Programme Sub-committee.

Er. Subodh Timilsina opened the programme with an inspiring note, encouraging SONEUK members to present their ideas on this platform and develop essential soft skills such as public speaking, listening, and constructive feedback. He emphasised that the true success of the programme lies not in attendance numbers but in the quality of engagement, including curiosity, attentiveness, and meaningful interaction.

Er. Kandel’s presentation focused on his research into using Carbon Fibre Reinforced Polymer (CFRP) to strengthen damaged concrete beams in a sustainable and cost-effective way. He highlighted the limitations of traditional repair methods for ageing concrete structures and shared lab test results showing that increasing CFRP layer thickness and repair width significantly improves both flexural and compressive strength. The most effective combination was found to be four CFRP layers with a 400 mm repair width. Practical applications of this method include bridges, hydropower facilities, and urban buildings.

The interactive question-and-answer session addressed the economic viability of CFRP for large infrastructure repairs and discussed its practical use in Nepal, particularly for retrofitting and repairing earthquake-damaged structures.

SONEUK extends sincere thanks to Er. Kandel for his dedicated and insightful presentation. The society also thanks all participating engineers for their engagement and contributions, which were vital to the event’s success. The session, moderated by Er. Nirdesh Khatiwada, lasted over an hour and concluded with a lively Q&A segment.