Karina Sarkisova and Zlata Zolotykh
SPbGASU Master's students Zlata Zolotykh and Karina Sarkisova have received a grant from the President of Russian Federation. The high state award was to recognize their active scientific work, publication activity, and contribution to the development of construction and transport science.
Zlata Zolotykh's research: improving the calculation of reinforced concrete structures
Zlata Zolotykh is a first-year Master's student in the Faculty of Civil Engineering, majoring in Design of reinforced concrete and masonry constructions. The grant was awarded for the publication of research articles in peer-reviewed journals of the Higher Attestation Commission (HAC) and the Russian Science Citation Index (RSCI), as well as for the results of research begun during her bachelor's studies.
Zlata Zolotykh The master's student's research topic is the study of the parameters for the opening of inclined cracks in the support zones of reinforced concrete structures. The relevance of this work is due to the lack of a suitable calculation method in current regulatory documentation. Clarifying the calculation parameters will optimize the design and avoid unnecessary overuse of transverse reinforcement while maintaining the required level of safety and serviceability of the structures.
The study will examine the performance of both traditional reinforced concrete and fiber-reinforced concrete structures. The advantage of fiber-reinforced concrete is that the fibers reinforce the concrete matrix throughout its entire volume, "stitching" microcracks in the early stages of their formation. This significantly improves the crack resistance of support zones: inclined cracks either do not form, or their opening is significantly reduced compared to conventional reinforced concrete, directly impacting the durability of the structures.
At the current stage, a program of experimental research and design of a series of beam samples is being developed, which will be tested under the action of a transverse force to determine the width of the opening of inclined cracks.
Zlata emphasizes that receiving the grant was an important confirmation of her professional growth and opened up opportunities for implementing larger-scale scientific projects.
She notes the significant support of the university's teachers, including the research supervisor, Associate Professor at the Department of Reinforced Concrete and Masonry Constructions, PhD of Engineering Sciences Natalia Sergeevna Vorontsova, Deputy Dean for Educational Work of the Faculty of Civil Engineering, Senior Lecturer Anna Alekseevna Tsarenko, and Lecturer, Associate Professor at the Department of Technosphere Safety, PhD of Engineering Sciences Aleksandr Sergeevich Glukhanov.
Karina Sarkisova's research: a digital platform for assessing transport accessibility
Karina Sarkisova is a first-year Master's student in Highway Construction. She previously completed a Bachelor's degree in Transport Processes Technology. Her research interests focus on transport accessibility in new urban areas.
Karina Sarkisova
A crucial point in her academic career was winning the All-Russian "I Am a Professional" Olympiad in the "Transport" category, after which she was invited to apply for a presidential grant. Four research papers in Higher Attestation Commission (HAC) publications and Olympiad results were submitted for the competition.
Karina's research focuses on creating an integrated platform for assessing the transport accessibility of territories. The model takes into account 19 indicators covering public and private transport, cycling and personal mobility, pedestrian infrastructure, and transport network development parameters. The final assessment is converted into relative values and expressed on a scale of 1 to 10, where 1 represents the worst level of transport accessibility and 10 represents excellent.
The development was conducted using St Petersburg and the Leningrad Region as examples; the results obtained demonstrated consistency with the actual transport situation. For the platform to function correctly, regular updates of road and public transport congestion data (at least twice a year) are required. The system can also be applied to other regions by introducing adjustment factors that take into account the level of motorization, population size, and other regional characteristics.
The study aims to address a pressing issue: existing methods for assessing transport accessibility fail to account for rapid changes in the urban environment, including the growth of remote employment, the share of vacant housing in residential complexes, and a number of other factors. Furthermore, development practices often overstate transport accessibility indicators. The creation of the platform allows for greater transparency and objectivity in assessments.
The development is designed for use by developers and government agencies. When low indicators are identified, the system generates practical recommendations for improving the transport situation. The platform continues to evolve and be supplemented with new analytical tools.
Karina Sarkisova is assisted in the implementation of her scientific projects by her scientific supervisors: Associate Professor at the Department of Transport Systems and Road and Bridge Construction, PhD of Engineering Sciences Aleksandr Aleksandrovich Belekhov, Associate Professor at the same department, PhD of Engineering Sciences Natalya Vladimirovna Chernykh, as well as the Head of the Department, DSc in Engineering Stanislav Sergeevich Evtyukov.
Karina notes that receiving the grant was important recognition of the work done and additional motivation for further research and professional development.
Recognition of the young researchers scientific potential
For both master's students, the victory was a significant step in their professional development and an opportunity to continue their scientific research at a higher level.
Zlata Zolotykh believes that achieving big goals begins with consistent steps and belief in one's own ideas. Karina Sarkisova emphasizes that participating in competitions requires persistence but brings valuable experience and new opportunities.
Receiving a grant from the President of the Russian Federation confirms the high level of training of the university's students and their contribution to the development of modern construction and transport science.