Preface_CommitteeMembers

Structures for High-Speed Railway Transportation
IABSE Symposium, Antwerp, Belgium, August 27-29, 2003
Scientific Committee
Leo Wagemans, Chairman The Netherlands
Philippe Van Bogaert, Vice-Chairman Belgium
Horst Falkner Germany
Michael Franke USA
Yaojun Ge China
Eberhard Gentz Germany
Kent Gylltoft Sweden
Byung-Suk Kim Korea
Andres Lopez-Pita Spain
Luc Maertens Belgium
Kiyomitsu Murata Japan
Dieter Pichler Austria
Pekka Pulkinnen Finland
Philippe Ramondenc France
B.C. Roy India
Fernando R. Stucchi Brazil
Marcel Tschumi Switzerland
Ton Vrouwenvelder The Netherlands
C.J. Walsh Ireland
Peter Wigley UK
Halil Karadeniz, Secretary The Netherlands
Organising Committee
Luc Taerwe, Chairman Belgium
Aad Van der Horst, Vice-Chairman The Netherlands
Roger Borenstein Belgium
Hans Burger The Netherlands
Clément Counasse Belgium
Guy Demey Belgium
Luc Maertens Belgium
Eugène Piraprez Belgium
Bert Snijder The Netherlands
Dick Stoelhorst The Netherlands
Philippe Van Bogaert Belgium
Ton Vrouwenvelder The Netherlands
Leo Wagemans The Netherlands
PREFACE
The objective of the Symposium was to provide a forum for scientists, designers and contractors from around the world to meet and discuss current and future practice and research on issues related to high-speed railway transportation, and also to exchange ideas on future structural solutions. This objective was successfully met, since the call for papers resulted in the submission of about 300 abstracts, from which 180 were accepted for preparation as papers, all of which are found in this book.
The main Symposium themes were: bridges, tunnels, stations and buildings, geotechnics, track building, environmental issues, as well as monitoring and more general discussions. The first theme ‘Bridges’ was so successful that it had to be sub-divided into three themes : bridges-general, bridges-dynamics and bridges-special topics.
This book contains excellent contributions, not only on bridges but also on typical high-speed issues such as, bridge-train interaction, passenger comfort, noise and vibration dispersed to the surroundings, impact on the rural and urban environment, architectural/engineering interfaces and others.
The international Scientific Committee IABSE-2003 has worked under the chairmanship of Prof.Leo Wagemans from 2001 to 2003. In five preparatory meetings since 2001, it has defined the themes, selected the abstracts and papers, and reviewed them all, shaping a Scientific Programme of a high standard, as well as arranging the Technical Programme at the Symposium. I would like to express my deepest thanks to the members of the Scientific Committee for their work and support.
This Symposium Report contains in print form the short versions of 8 keynote lectures and 172 papers and posters accepted by the Scientific Committee for publication and presentation. The CD Rom enclosed in this book contains all the contributions in full length.
The exchange of ideas, methods and problems encountered, while dealing with the effects of high-speed on structures, as clearly demonstrated throughout this volume, is certainly enriching for engineers involved in this field. Hence, it is our sincere hope that, by providing an overview of the latest research results and examples of good practice, the conference proceedings will prove to be useful for owners, designers and contractors in developing and producing even more advanced structures in the field of high-speed railway transportation.
The Organising Committee, chaired by Prof. Luc Taerwe, started its work early in 2001 and accomplished a tremendous work, resulting in this memorable symposium. The Belgian and Dutch members worked well in close cooperation.
It is appropriate to also recognise the remarkable efforts made by the "Technological Institute of KVIV" (Royal Flemish Engineering Society) in Antwerp, who successfully helped in organising the Symposium and preparing the Symposium Report and CD.
It is our privilege and honour to thank all the members of IABSE and other professionals, who have contributed in the various symposium committees, or as authors - to the success of the IABSE 2003 Symposium in Antwerp.
Prof. Leo Wagemans Prof. Luc Taerwe
(Chairman of the Scientific Committee (Chairman of the Organising Committee IABSE 2003 Symposium Antwerp)IABSE 2003 Symposium Antwerp) (Chairman of the Dutch Group of IABSE) (Chairman of the Belgian Group of IABSE) Delft Ghent, August 2003。