Interview with Dr. C. V. Siva Rama Prasad
Dr. C. V. Siva Rama Prasad
Ph.D., LMICI, MIIBE, MIAENG, AMIRED, MASR
Associate Professor, Department of Civil Engineering
Vignana Bharathi Institute of Technology
Hyderabad, Telangana, India
Q1. Please share your educational and professional journey?
I am working as an Associate Professor, Department of Civil Engineering, Vignana Bharathi Institute of Technology(Autonomous), Hyderabad. I did my PhD from Acharya Nagarjuna University on Bacterial Concrete as a self healing material : An experimental Investigation.
Prior to joining in VBIT, Hyderabad, I worked as a Lecturer in Bule Hora University in Ethiopia during 2015-2017 and worked as Structural Engineer in Bhosho Architects Pvt Ltd, Hyderabad. Presently I am a structural consultant also in Hyderabad along with Teaching and Research.
I published one book on Industrial RCC and Steel Chimneys and organized several Seminars, workshops, FDPs during his tenure. I published several papers in reputed journals and presented papers in international conferences and national conferences.
I am a Reviewer for various reputed international journals and I am associated with various collaborations from different countries and I am a Life member of Indian Concrete Institute and Indian Institute of Bridge Engineers.
Q2. You are a Civil Engineer. What did attract you towards teaching instead of any corporate job?
Many people are first attracted to engineering because they like applying science and using their problem-solving skills. Why not use your knowledge of these processes to help train others and turn young students into engineers?
Teaching an engineering related subject especially civil engineering construction related subjects enables you to look at the creative aspects of engineering and facilitate students to develop their own problem-solving skills.
You can use real-world examples from your degree and any time spent in business to bring technical and scientific concepts to life. You will need some experience of working with children, enthusiasm for your subject, and strong communication skills.
Q3. How do you motivate yourself at every morning?
There’s something about the perfect outfit that can kind of make or break your day. That’s because when you’re feeling comfy and looking good, you project confidence, and that’s a major motivator. Build a wardrobe that expresses your style — one that feels right — and you’ll actually look forward to getting dressed in the morning.
And yes, it really can be that simple to become a motivated morning person. Sometimes all it takes are a few tweaks to your morning routine, and soon you’ll actually want to get up and start the day.
Q4. What was your Thesis topic in Ph.D? Please share some brief about it?
My thesis topic is Bacterial Concrete as a self healing material : An experimental Investigation. In the recent past, Bacterial concrete has been emerged as remedial measure of healing cracks in structures like bridges, Reinforced cement concrete Buildings, Reinforced cement concrete Pipes, Canal Lining, Pavement etc.
Crack formation is incredibly common occurrence in concrete structure that permits the water and completely different sort of chemical into the concrete through the cracks and reduces their strength and that additionally have an effect on the reinforcement once it reacts with water, carbon dioxide and different chemicals.
So, to solve this problem, we developed bacterial concrete with crushed rock sand to repair the cracks occurred in the concrete structures. In this study, experimental investigations have been carried out to arresting the cracks in the concrete using bacillus subtilis bacteria and calcium lactate.
The selection of bacteria depends on its survival in alkaline environment. Bacillus subtilis bacteria with calcite lactate is used in different percentages such as 5% ,10% and 15% of cement weight for M20 and M40 grade concrete with river sand mixes and crushed stone sand mixes as replacement of fine aggregate were presented.
Experimental investigations were carried out to study the effect of bacteria on compressive strength, split tensile strength and flexural strength of concrete. The abrasion resistance was measured in terms of cantabro loss for all mixes at the ages of 3 days, 7 days, 28 days and 90 days of curing. Investigation results have shown that the cantabro loss decreases as flexural strength increases.
Experimental investigations carried out to study the effect of Bacteria on quality of concrete and dynamic modulus of concrete, Ultrasonic Pulse Velocity (UPV) testing conducted at the age of 3 days, 7 days, 28 days, 60 days and 90 days for different mixtures using cube specimens of plain and crushed stone sand Bacterial Concrete.
The presence of calcite precipitates in the form of calcium caronate in bacterial concrete specimens was examined using a Scanning Electron Microscope. The calcite precipitates were confirmed using X-ray Diffraction and Energy Dispersive X-ray Analysis.
An empirical relations proposed between flexural strength and compressive strength, split tensile strength and compressive strength, cantabro loss and compressive strength, cantabro loss and flexural strength, UPV and compressive strength, UPV and flexural strength for bacterial concrete with river sand mixes and crushed stone sand mixes.
Q5. Which one thing do you want to change in yourself and why?
Getting attached.
Yes, I easily get attached to people. When they leave, it breaks me. I take my time, and somehow, detach myself from that person, and move on. But again, I get attached to someone else and this cycle repeats itself.
I have tried hard to change this thing, but I guess, this is in the genes. I can’t completely erase it out, because this is who I am.
But you know what? Every time I lose someone, I get closer to myself. Someone not wanting me becomes the beginning of me wanting myself. Somehow, the time gap from losing a part of myself to becoming whole again reduces with every loss.
So yes, I have always wanted to change this thing but at the same time, I don’t think I should.
When you’re attached to someone, you learn them from inside out. And that is a beautiful thing to do. Even if the person leaves, you learn a lesson, a memory to cherish forever and a story to tell your children about!
Q6. You had both academic and administrative experience in your long span of career. Which one do you like most and why?
I love both teaching and administrative work. Most of the time, I used to work in administrative works like construction activities in the campus.
Q7. Tell us about one of the moments which changed your perspective towards life?
I came from very small village which is don’t have road access and power. It’s a bit challenge for any human being in that village to finish their studies. To change the society and my village I chosen civil engineering.
Q9. What are your research interests?
My research interests are Bacterial Concrete, Industrial RCC and Steel Chimneys, Special Concrete, Structural Material and sustainable concrete materials and softaware like Auto CAD, Staad Pro, ETABS and MATLAB.
Get more about Dr. C. V. Siva Rama Prasad @
Linkedin Page: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cvsivaramaprasad/
Researchgate Page: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Cvenkata_Siva_Prasad
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/cvsrp
Youtube Channel : https://www.youtube.com/c/ResearchPapersSupport
