Two research projects from the College of Civil Engineering at Tongji University have received the “Gold Medal with the Congratulations of the Jury,” the highest distinction at the 51st International Exhibition of Inventions of Geneva. This recognition underscores the significant innovation and applied value of their work in civil engineering.

 The winning projects are “Cyber-Physical Integrated Holistic Testing Technology and System for Multi-Disasters in Tunnel Structures,” led by Professors Zhu Hehua and Yan Zhiguo, and “Technology of Fatigue Performance Improvement for Steel Structures by Applying Prestress,” led by Professors Gu Xiang-Lin and Yu Qian-Qian.

The first winning project addresses the challenge of disaster prevention and control in tunnel and underground engineering under the coupled effects of multiple hazards, such as fire and water leakage. Their technology overcomes significant challenges, including the accurate real-world simulation of structural performance evolution under combined complex loads and high-temperature fire conditions, as well as the integration of a closed-loop digital-physical system. The testing technology has been widely applied in over 30 major tunnel projects, including the Haitai Yangtze River Tunnel, the Beiheng Passageway, and the Chongtai Yangtze River Tunnel. It provides essential technical support for high-quality construction and maintenance of tunnels in multi-hazard environments.

The second award-winning innovation utilizes advanced high-performance materials to form a prestress-based enhancement system. It effectively applies prestress to steel structures, which significantly improves fatigue performance with minimal intrusion and high recoverability. The system enables precise control of the prestress throughout the structure’s entire service life, providing a robust technical solution for managing the performance evolution of critical steel infrastructure.

The International Exhibition of Inventions of Geneva is a premier global event dedicated to innovation. Established in 1973 and jointly organized by Swiss authorities and the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), it ranks among the most historic and comprehensive invention fairs worldwide.The 2025 edition featured over 1000 innovations from 35 countries and regions.