T he 8th Asia and Pacific Young Researchers and Graduates Symposium (YRGS2017) was held at Institute of Industrial Science, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan on September 7-8, 2017. The YRGS2017 was organized by International Center for Urban Safety Engineering (ICUS), Institute of Industrial Science, The University of Tokyo and chaired by Dr. Kohei Nagai.
Figure 1. Participants of YRGS2017
The Asia and Pacific Young Researchers and Graduates Symposium (YRGS) is a platform for young researchers, scientists, engineers, and graduates to discuss the latest issue in structural engineering and construction. The first YRGS was held at Kunsan National University, Korea in 2009; the second in 2010 at Zhejiang University, China; the third in 2011 at National Taiwan University, Taiwan; the fourth in 2012 at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong; the fifth in 2013 at Malaviya National Institute of Technology Jaipur, India; the sixth in 2014 at Sirindhorn International Institute of Technology, Thailand; and the seventh in 2015 at University of Malaya, Malaysia.
In the YRGS2017, almost 110 young researchers and engineers in structural engineering and construction material fields were joined. The symposium consisted of a two-day technical program. The first day was organized in two keynote lectures and four technical sessions, while the second day was organized in one keynote lecture and four technical sessions. Seventy one papers from many countries/regions including China, India, Italy, Iraq, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, and Thailand were accepted and presented. Dr. Kohei Nagai, Chairman of YRGS2017, gave the welcoming speech during the opening ceremony. The ACF president, Prof. Hiroshi Yokota was invited by YRGS2017 to deliver an opening speech. The keynote lectures were delivered by Prof. Koichi Maekawa (The University of Tokyo), Prof. Mitsuyoshi Akiyama (Waseda University), and Dr. Hiroshi Dobashi (Metropolitan Expressway Company Limited) that introduced the latest research achievements and its social implementations in Japan on the maintenance of infrastructures.
Figure 2. Dr. Kohei Nagai addressed welcome speech
Figure 3. Prof. Hiroshi Yokota delivered an opening speech
Figure 4. Keynote lecture by Prof. Koichi Maekawa
Figure 5. Keynote lecture by Prof. Mitsuyoshi Akiyama
Figure 6. Keynote lecture by Dr. Hiroshi Dobashi
In the closing ceremony, YRGS2017 gave five "Best Paper Award" for the most outstanding technical articles presented in YRGS2017. YRGS2017 was a very successful and pleasant symposium to all participants. It was decided that the next YRGS symposium will be organized in Qingdao, China in 2018.
Figure 7. Technical session
Figure 8. Oral presentations
Figure 9. Discussions
Figure 10. Dr. Kohei Nagai presented YRGS2017 Best Paper Award
Table 1. YRGS2017 Best Paper Awards
| Title | Authors |
| Fire Damage Assessment of Concrete Using Air Permeability | H. Akasaka, M. Ozawa, Y. Sakoi, K. Tetsura, and S. S. Parajuli |
| Evaluating the Performance of High-Range Water-Reducing Admixtures through a Channel Flow Test | J. H. Lee and J. H. Kim |
| Flexural Behavior of Precast Geopolymer Concrete Sandwich Panels Enabled with FRP Connectors | J. Huang and J. Dai |
| Thermal Transient Analysis of the Bhumibol Dam Considering Effects of Solar Radiation and Variation of Reservoir Water Temperature | K. A. Bui, P. Sancharoen, G. Tanapornraweekit, and S. Tangtermsirikul |
| Analytical Investigation on Shear Resisting Mechanism of Reinforced Concrete Beams Damaged by Freeze-Thaw Action | T. Kanazawa and Y. Sato |