Oskar Aru receives Estonian Concrete Association student prize
A technician with Merko Ehitus Eesti, Oskar Aru, was recognized for a master’s thesis in the field of building design and construction management at Tallinn University of Technology.
The Estonian Concrete Association’s student awards were established to promote and enhance achievement in research into concrete, concrete architecture and concrete construction. The recipients of the awards are selected from among concrete-related final theses at Estonian colleges and universities.
Aru’s master’s thesis, which dealt with calculations of load-bearing structures made of post-stressed concrete and monolithic reinforced concrete at the Rail Baltica Ülemiste railway terminal, analysed one solution used in a project. The engineer who produced the principal design documentation had proposed a composite (steel + concrete) ceiling panel for the tunnel under Suur-Sõjamäe street. The thesis analysed an alternative solution where a post-stressed ceiling panel was used instead.
The jury praised the thesis for its thoroughness and the proposal of what it called a very competitive alternative. The alternative is also less environmentally impactful, with a 23% smaller CO2 footprint compared to the composite panel.
The Estonian Concrete Association has been awarding the student prizes for concrete-related final theses since 2007. All final theses written by students at Estonian institutions of higher education are eligible.
Members of the board of the Estonian Concrete Association Jürgen Einpaul, Kalev Ramjalg, pictured with recipient Oskar Aru