Amir Fam

• Professor, Department of Civil Engineering
• Canada Research Chair in Innovative and Retrofitted Structures

Building better bridges

Dr. Amir Fam - a leading researcher in structural engineering - has been reinventing the way bridges are constructed and maintained for the past two decades.

Steel rebar, traditionally used to reinforce concrete bridges, can rust and expand, causing structural damage that requires costly repairs every five to ten years.

In the early 1990s, Dr. Fam began designing bridges that employed non-corroding carbon glass and fiberglass in place of traditional steel rebar, allowing the bridges to last much longer before major maintenance was required.

Recently Professor Fam took this technology a step further, using fiberglass reinforced polymer forms filled with concrete to transfer structural reinforcement to the outside of bridges. It's an innovative solution that eliminates the potential for rust, accelerates construction, and makes stronger, more durable bridges.