CSEA Seminar – Techniques and Design Considerations for Strengthening of Existing Concrete Structures

Written by Angela Sha and Jody Liao, reviewed and edited by Duo Huang, photos by Angela Sha and Jocelyn Liao

On Saturday, September 6, 2025, the Canadian Structural Engineers Association (CSEA) hosted a technical seminar. With over 80 attendees from across the engineering community, the event brought together professionals, recent graduates, and students for an afternoon of technical learning and thoughtful discussion. 

President of CSEA, Haixue Liao, opened the event by extending a warm welcome to the attendees. He thanked the contribution from the CSEA board members, management team, speakers, and volunteers. Following that, our management team members provided a brief overview of our membership, the application process, the committees, and the upcoming annual conference and scholarship opportunities.

The seminar focused on a critical topic: “Techniques and Design Considerations for Strengthening of Existing Concrete Structures”. The keynote speaker, Dr. Tarek Alkhrdaji, Senior Vice President at Structural Technologies and Fellow of the American Concrete Institute (ACI), brought decades of specialized experience to the stage. In his presentation, Dr. Alkhrdaji explored design strategies, materials, and construction techniques aimed at extending the lifespan and enhancing the performance of aging concrete infrastructure, while also highlighting the role of structural strengthening in enhancing the sustainability of concrete structures.

Attendees gained valuable knowledge about industry best practices and emerging solutions, with a particular focus on strengthening concrete using fiber-reinforced polymers (FRP). Other conventional strengthening techniques, such as the use of steel plate, concrete enlargement and external post-tensioning were also briefly introduced. Through real project photos, drawings, and case studies, he demonstrated the effectiveness and elegance of structural strengthening in meeting client demands, extending the service life of existing structures, and reducing overall costs and material waste. Drawing on his active involvement in several ACI technical committees, he also provided clear and insightful explanations of key design concepts, formulas, and relevant codes and guidelines.

CSEA acknowledges the sponsorship from Simpson Strong-Tie, bringing in a selection of sample materials and informational pamphlets related to various structural strengthening tools. Their display allowed attendees to engage directly with the types of products discussed in the seminar. This hand-on component enriched the overall experiences and bridged the gap between technical theory and field applications.