Tuesday • 8 September 2026
| 14:00 – 17:00 | fib PhD Training Programme on
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| 19:00 – 23:00 | Welcome & Icebraking Evening ILWA |
| REGISTRATION Tuesday: 16:00 – 20:00 | Wednesday-Thursday: 08:00 – 16:00 | Friday: 08:00 – 12:00 ILWA | |
Wednesday • 9 September 2026
| 08:30 – 09:30 | Opening Ceremony Keynote Lecture: Research-Driven Innovation for the Precast Concrete Industry by Eduardo Júlio, Instituto Superior Técnico, Portugal ILWA Plenary Room |
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| Coffee Break at Schwackhöfer House | ||||||
| 10:00 – 12:00 | ILWA1 | ILWA2 | ILWA3 | ILWA4 | ||
| Themes | Material Performance | 3D Printing | Connections and Fastenings | Structural Monitoring | ||
| Lunch served at Schwackhöfer House | ||||||
| 13:00 – 15:00 | Themes | AI and Knowledge Based Modeling | Structural Performance | Durability | Sustainability and Circularity | |
| Coffee Break & Mentoring Coffee Break at Schwackhöfer House | ||||||
| 15:30 – 17:30 | Themes | Numerical Modelling | Novel Non-Metallic Reinforcement | Structural Assessment | Sustainable Concrete | |
Each author has 15 minutes for presentation and 15 minutes for discussion.
Thursday • 10 September 2026
| 08:30 – 09:30 | Keynote Lecture: Publishing in Structural Concrete: Facts, Figures, and an Editor’s Perspective by Sylvia Keßler, Helmut-Schmidt-University / University of the Federal Armed Forces Hamburg, Germany ILWA Plenary Room |
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| Coffee Break at Schwackhöfer House | ||||||
| 10:00 – 12:00 | ILWA1 | ILWA2 | ILWA3 | ILWA4 | ||
| Themes | Sustainable Concrete | Material Performance | Connections and Fastenings | Structural Monitoring | ||
| Lunch served at Schwackhöfer House | ||||||
| 13:00 – 15:00 | Themes | Numerical Modelling | Material Performance | Structural Performance | Soil–Structure Interaction | |
| Coffee Break & Mentoring Coffee Break at Schwackhöfer House | ||||||
| 15:30 – 17:30 | Themes | Novel Non-Metallic Reinforcement | AI and Knowledge Based Modeling | Structural Assessment | Sustainability and Circularity | |
| 19:00 – 23:00 | Networking and Social Evening at a Traditional Viennese Heuriger "Fuhrgasslhuber" | |||||
Each author has 15 minutes for presentation and 15 minutes for discussion.
Friday • 11 September 2026
| 08:30 – 09:45 | Research Pitches ILWA Plenary Room |
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| Coffee Break at Schwackhöfer House | ||||||
| 10:00 – 12:00 | ILWA1 | ILWA2 | ILWA3 | ILWA4 | ||
| Themes | Structural Performance | Material Performance | Connections and Fastenings | Reliability Concepts | ||
| Lunch served at Schwackhöfer House | ||||||
| 13:00 – 15:00 | Themes | Material Performance | Structural Performance | Reliability Concepts | Numerical Modelling | |
| 15:00 – 16:00 | fib YMG Get-Together ILWA |
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| 16:00 – 17:00 | Awards, Recognitiong and Closing Ceremony ILWA Plenary Room |
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Each author has 15 minutes for presentation and 15 minutes for discussion.
Detailed Programme (updated 21/08/2026)
Workshop
Nonlinear Finite Element Analysis of Reinforced Concrete Structures
Nonlinear finite element analysis has become an indispensable tool for assessing the real behaviour of reinforced concrete structures. It allows engineers to capture phenomena such as cracking, crushing, stress redistribution, and reinforcement yielding that cannot be represented adequately by conventional linear-elastic analysis.
This seminar provides PhD students with a combined theoretical and practical introduction to advanced numerical modelling of reinforced concrete, bridging the gap between fundamental mechanics and engineering application.
A central part of the seminar is a live case study involving the nonlinear modelling of a reinforced concrete shear wall using the latest generation of the ATENA software. The model will be prepared in ATENA’s native preprocessing environment and the nonlinear analysis will be executed live, allowing participants to observe crack propagation, stress redistribution, and damage evolution as the simulation progresses.
While the calculation is running, the seminar will introduce the theoretical foundations of nonlinear finite element modelling for reinforced concrete, including modelling strategies, material models, and their fields of application. Once the analysis is complete, the results of the case study will be interpreted and discussed in detail.
The final part of the seminar focuses on the application of nonlinear finite element analysis in engineering practice, including safety formats, treatment of model uncertainty, and examples from real-world structural assessment and design.
The seminar is intended to provide participants with both a solid understanding of the theory behind nonlinear numerical analysis and practical insight into how such models are prepared, executed, and interpreted using state-of-the-art software.
Key Facts
Date: Tuesday, 8 September 2026
Time: 14:00 – 17:00
Format: Lecture and live hands-on demonstration
Software: ATENA – latest generation, including native preprocessing and run-time visualization
Programme
1. Introduction: motivation and scope of nonlinear FE analysis of reinforced concrete structures – 15 min
2. Case study setup: model build and launch of nonlinear analysis in ATENA – 15–20 min
3. FE modelling of reinforced concrete: concepts and techniques – 30 min
4. Case study results: interpretation and discussion – 30 min
5. Nonlinear FEM in practice: safety formats, model uncertainty, and applications – 30 min
6. Conclusions and open discussion – 10–15 min
Keynote Lectures
Wednesday, 9 September 2026 | 08:30 – 09:30 | ILWA Plenary Room
Thursday, 10 September 2026 | 08:30 – 09:30 | ILWA Plenary Room
Mentoring Programme
Meet our mentors and discuss your research during the Mentor Coffee Breaks.
Take the opportunity to meet experienced experts, discuss your research and receive valuable feedback on your PhD project.
Wednesday, 9 September | 15:00 – 15:30 | Schwackhöferhaus
| Mentor | Scientific Area | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Philipp Preinstorfer | Advanced Maintenance and Repair | ||||
| Christian Glock | Structural Performance | ||||
| Shingo Asamoto | Durability and Reliability | ||||
| Beatrice Beletti | Material Performance | ||||
| Frank Dehn | Material Performance | ||||
| Wit Derkowski | Durability and Reliability | ||||
| Antonio Godoy | Structural Monitoring and Assessment | ||||
| Balasz Gyorgy | Material Performance | ||||
| Jan Hofman | Connections and Fastenings | ||||
| Eduardo Julio | Sustainable Concrete and Construction | ||||
| Daniele Losanno | Durability and Reliability | ||||
| Peter Mark | Structural Performance | ||||
| Dirk Schlicke | Structural Performance | ||||
| Panagiotis Spyridis | Connections and Fastenings | ||||
Thursday, 10 September 2026 | 15:00 – 15:30 | Schwackhöferhaus
| Mentor | Scientific Area | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sylvia Kessler | AI and Digital Methods | ||||
| Giovanni Plizzari | Structural Performance | ||||
| Christian Glock | Structural Performance | ||||
| Shingo Asamoto | Durability and Reliability | ||||
| Beatrice Beletti | Material Performance | ||||
| Frank Dehn | Material Performance | ||||
| Wit Derkowski | Durability and Reliability | ||||
| Antonio Godoy | Structural Monitoring and Assessment | ||||
| Balasz Gyorgy | Material Performance | ||||
| Jan Hofman | Connections and Fastenings | ||||
| Eduardo Julio | Sustainable Concrete and Construction | ||||
| Daniele Losanno | Durability and Reliability | ||||
| Peter Mark | Structural Performance | ||||
| Dirk Schlicke | Structural Performance | ||||
| Panagiotis Spyridis | Connections and Fastenings | ||||
Research Pitches
Friday, 11 September 2026 | 08:30 – 09:00 | ILWA Plenary Room
Young Members Pitches
Pitch 1
The Virtual Lab – Qualifying Systems, Connections and Products by Numerical Simulations by Thomas Mader
Thomas Mader is a postdoctoral researcher at the Institute of Structural Engineering at BOKU University Vienna, working in computational mechanics of materials. His research focuses on meshfree numerical methods and robust simulations for generalized continua. He previously worked in corporate R&D at Plansee SE, developing electro-thermo-mechanical models for manufacturing processes.
Pitch 2
Concreting in All Weather Conditions? Towards Crack-Free Cast-in-Place Concrete by Christina Anegg
Christina Anegg is a postdoctoral researcher and Deputy Head of the Institute of Structural Concrete at Graz University of Technology. Her research combines experiments and numerical simulations to understand cracking in reinforced concrete and develop practical solutions for crack control and durable structures. Within fib, she coordinates Working Party 2.4.4 on thermohygromechanical simulation in practical design.
Pitch 3
Take Apart, Don’t Tear Down – Reuse and Disassembly of Structural Concrete by Mathias Hammerl
Mathias Hammerl is a postdoctoral researcher at the Institute of Green Civil Engineering at BOKU University. His research focuses on structural optimisation, circular economy and the deconstruction and reuse of concrete structures. He previously worked as a structural engineer and is a co-author of the City of Vienna’s ZiFa 1.0 guideline on deconstruction and reuse.
Alumni Keynote
Once upon a time there was a PhD Candidate… a short story of bonds, reinforcement, and aggregate experience by Panagiotis Spyridis
Univ. Prof. Dr. Dipl. Dipl. Ing. Panagiotis Spyridis is Professor of Concrete Structures and Infrastructures Engineering at the University of Rostock, Germany. His research focuses on the load-bearing behaviour and safety of concrete structures and infrastructure, with particular interests in fastening technology, reliability, sustainability, innovative materials, and complex infrastructure systems. Before joining the University of Rostock in 2023, he was Junior Professor of Fastening Technology at TU Dortmund University. He received his doctorate with distinction from the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna (BOKU), and subsequently spent several years in engineering practice, working on major international tunnelling and underground infrastructure projects before returning to academia. Prof. Spyridis is an active member of fib SAG2 on AI and Digitalisation, TG1.4 on Tunnels, and TG1.5 on Structural Sustainability. He is also actively involved with the International Tunnelling and Underground Space Association (ITA-AITES), including as a member of the World Tunnel Congress Scientific Committee and as Chair of Working Group 21 on Life Cycle Asset Management.
In his alumni keynote, he will reflect on his path from university and doctoral research to an academic career and professorship, sharing experiences, key decisions, and perspectives from his professional journey.
fib Austria Young Members Group Get-Together
Friday, 11 September 2026 | 15:00–16:00 | ILWA
As part of the 16th fib PhD Symposium 2026, all PhD participants are invited to join the fib Austria Young Members Group Get-Together.
The fib Austria Young Members Group, represented by Peter Gappmaier, Florian Brosch, Simon Leitner and Caroline Durnwalder, aims to connect young researchers, PhD students, and young professionals working in the field of structural concrete.
Our goal is to provide a platform for discussion, exchange, and networking, bringing together people from academia, engineering practice, and the wider fib community.
The Young Members Group organises activities such as technical lectures, panel discussions, excursions, and networking events, all designed to encourage exchange and strengthen connections among young members of the fib community.
During the get-together, we would like to introduce the group and its activities, learn more about your research and interests, and discuss opportunities for young researchers and professionals to become more actively involved in fib.
The event will take place shortly before the Awards, Recognition and Closing Ceremony, providing an informal opportunity to meet, exchange ideas, and share the excitement ahead of the announcement of the Best Paper Award and other symposium recognitions.
Drinks and snacks will be provided.