Kane able to engineer praise for final-year project
Published on 10 December, 2010
As the concrete supports in bridges, buildings and other major structures deteriorate over time, the use of steel tendons for external post-tensioning has become a valuable remedy.
As a CQUniversity Co-op Engineering student earlier this year, Sean Kane completed his final-year project thesis investigating this technique to improve the shear strength of damaged concrete sections.
Sean Kane on a recent visit to CQUniversity Mackay Campus
More recently in October, fresh graduate Sean's presentation on this subject won an Engineers Australia Queensland Branch 'Structural Division' Competition for 'the best of civil engineering student research topics' (against candidates from all other competing universities). The competition was for the best presentation based on an undergraduate thesis.
Now working with Mackay's Aspec Engineering firm, Sean says his degree was worthwhile due to the practical experience based on co-op placements with Main Roads and Aspec.
He's been working at a wide variety of mines and ports throughout Central Queensland, including BMA Hay Point Coal Terminal, Dalrymple Bay Coal Terminal, BMA Goonyella-Riverside Mine and RTCA Clermont Mine.
Sean's role covers many tasks including structural inspections, audits and risk assessments, accident/incident investigations, design of repairs and upgrades, development of inspection procedures and site assistance.
Longer-term he hopes to develop experience as a structural engineer, get his chartered engineer status and maybe "one day far in the future" start his own consultancy.
