Welding with traffic running A short portrait of Florian Begemann from the Research Training Group 2075

Steel structures, such as bridges, are exposed to increasing traffic. As a result, damage is occurring more and more often. But how can cracks be welded without closing the entire bridge? Florian Begemann is doing research on this in the Research Training Group 2075 ”Modelling the constitutional evolution of building materials and structures with respect to aging” in the Core Research Area “Future City”. We introduce the research assistant at the Institute of Steel Structures in a short portrait.

Florian Begemann focuses on the repair of weld seams on bridges under running traffic. Picture credits: Sebastian Hoyer/TU Braunschweig

Who are you and what is your research topic?

I completed my bachelor’s and master’s degree at TU Braunschweig and decided early to specialize in structural engineering with a focus on concrete construction, steel construction and statics. For more than two years, I have been working as a research assistant at the Institute of Steel Structures of Prof. Klaus Thiele in the “Material Behavior” working group with Dr. Julian Unglaub, focusing on the repair of weld seams on bridges under running traffic.

Which research question are you working on?

If repair work is required on a steel bridge, the structure has to be closed off so that the crack can be welded in rest. My research question is whether welding work is also possible under traffic loads so that the bridge does not have to be closed. In this way, damage caused by traffic detour on other bridges can be avoided.

Welding tests at the experimental facility in the Institute of Steel Structures. Picture credits: Sebastian Hoyer/TU Braunschweig

What inspires you about your research?

What excites me most about welding under service conditions is the possibility of combining practical problems with basic research. Welding under service conditions also combines many interesting aspects from structural monitoring, welding technology and service life prediction, which are important in the repair of existing bridges. These topics are becoming more and more important because of the increasing traffic volume and the progressive aging process of many existing bridges.

Why is your topic relevant to the Future City?

Many people associate the Future City first and foremost with new buildings. In my view, this idea also includes the maintenance of existing buildings, where repair works can often be sustainable.

What is special about participating in the Research Training Group “Modelling the constitutional evolution of building materials and structures with respect to aging”?

The special feature of the Research Training Group 2075 is the opportunity to exchange ideas with other doctoral students in related research areas. You always get exciting insights into other research work and can bring ideas and approaches into your own experimental and theoretical research work.

The research project “Welding under service conditions in compliance with standard requirements for weld seam quality and fatigue resistance” of the Research Association for Steel Application e.V. is an associated project as part of the Graduiertenkolleg 2075 and is worked on in cooperation with the Institute of Joining and Welding. The funding is given by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy on the basis of a decision by the German Bundestag. IGF-No. 20678N