Talking About Life’s Engineering Saga (TALES)’ is a segment that exclusively focuses on the top Structural Consultants across the globe sharing their engineering journey in their own words. We have –. J.N. KHATANIAR – sharing his deep knowledge with us…
A consultant who believes RCC structures can’t be stand-alone without the help of steel sections…but steel sections can stand alone with a smiling face without use or in combination with concrete, an outdated concept of the modern construction practice.
J N KHATANIAR, SENIOR TECHNICAL CONSULTANT, SRISHTIE is here to share his wonderful journey with us…
INSPIRATION…
My father is an electrical engineer from the Jadavpur engineering college. In our family all are engineers. I oriented and learned many things from my father. Finally, I wanted to become a civil engineer. A combination of lines and curves has so many calculations and imagination to create a safe and beautiful structure. I believe “civil engineers are builders of quality of life”. So, my father was my inspiration to be an engineer.
LEARNING CURVE FROM STUDENT TO PRO…
It can’t be explained with words as it was excellent, memorable from the day of my joining as an engineering student in my college at Assam engineering college (1072-1977) and finally working as an engineer officer in Assam state electricity board during the year 1978 to 1996 and after that in professional life as civil engineering consultant through my firm “Srishtie” established in the year 1997 at Guwahati and still offering honest technical services to everyone as my social responsibilities.
CHALLENGES…
There are many challenges in the structural engineering field. All the seven states in the northeast of our country fall under very high seismic zone v, country’s number 1, and India is one of the 6th most severe earthquake-prone zones as per the Global Seismic Map.
So, all structures we are planning and designing to be healthy enough and seismic-resistant, which is a most challenging job for all professionals working in this region from a structural safety point of view.
USAGE OF PARALLEL FLANGE BEAMS…
It is most useful due to its exceptional properties and demand and the requirements at construction sites.
CHANGE TO WITNESS…
Introduction of Pre-Engineered Steel (PEB) frame structures may be by using the readily available steel sections or by using light gauge steel frame structures (LGFS) by replacing outdated RCC structures.
These are not-at-all green by nature and are time-consuming + cost + not behave well during the sudden shaking of the earth during the earthquakes in comparison to the pre-engineered buildings (PEB) steel frame structures.
AFFAIR WITH STEEL…
Without any relationship with steel, the civil engineering subject will be incomplete. In RCC building structures which we are still adopting though outdated as of date, are a combination of steel and concrete.
If we considered the structures as human beings, steel reinforcements act as the skeleton made up of bones and concrete is acting as our muscles. So, without our skeleton means bones, we can even stand on this beautiful earth. Steel frame structures are also incomparable to RCC frame structures to be safe and perfect in all respect during earthquakes.
BEST STEEL WORK…
In addition to all the RCC structures to date, I believe my best work on a date is the introduction of a truss-less roofing system in some particular frame building structures where we need more headroom, where we need steel sheets from 0.80mm to 1.30mm thickness which I am applying in so many structures like pavilion buildings and indoor stadium structures in 32 sports complexes under construction as signature projects under PWD.
INTERNATIONAL PROJECT THAT STRIKES A CHORD…
The damaged world trade Center in the USA by the extremists a few years back, the reasons behind are we had learned so many engineering aspects and deficiencies, from that, an unexpected incident.
UPGRADING WITH CHANGING TIMES…
As per the flow of the modern innovations and creations and all the scientific trends related to the overall developments of the construction practices.
Conclusion remarks:
“RCC structures can’t be stand-alone without the help of steel sections…but steel sections can stand alone with smiling face without use or in combination with concrete, an outdated concept of the modern construction practice.”
QUICK FACTS
You’re college name: Assam engineering college Jalukbari Guwahati.
Total Years of Experience: 44 years
Your idol/mentor: My all teachers and the experts in the field of civil engineering
You’re mantra of success: Honesty and Dedication.
You want to be remembered as Simple and high thinking honest civil engineer working for the benefit of the society
Steel projects you are currently working on So many projects by replacing the conventional outdated RCC construction practices.
