James M. Flaherty Scholar, William Wilson, at Fanshawe College
Dr. Solomon Asantey of Fanshawe College greeting James M. Flaherty Scholar William Wilson
Mr. William Wilson of Institute of Technology, Sligo is currently visiting Fanshawe College, London, Ontario on a James M. Flaherty Scholarship. William is using the visit to conduct the final experimental tests on his research on developing a new type of Ultra High Performance Fibre Reinforced Concrete (UHPFRC) for the Irish Construction Industry.
William Wilson and Dr. Solomon Asantey holding a UHPFRC cylinder
The visit will identity how the UHPFRC which has been developed at the Institute of Technology, Sligo can be modified to suit other countries such as Canada. While one type of UHPFRC mix is currently on the market in Canada it is a complex mix which requires a large quantity of material to be transported over large distances, thus resulting in a high cost. Illustrating how the mix developed at IT Sligo can be easily adapted to any climate would be cost-effective for UHPFRC projects throughout the world.
William Wilson and lab assistant Jimmy Ramirez Castaneda putting the concrete specimens into the curing chamber
William is being hosted by Dan Douglas who is the Dean in the Centre for Research and Innovation (CRI) at Fanshawe College, and is collaborating with Prof. Amneh Kalloush and Dr. Solomon Asantey. CRI facilitates and supports researchers as well as providing opportunities for partnership with local organisations. Both organisations signed a Research Collaboration MOU in March 2015. This agreement establishes a formal partnership and creates the framework for conducting simultaneous research, collaborative research, and research exchanges between the two institutions.