Biography
Dr Tam studies for his BE (Hons) and ME in Australia and his PhD in Canada. After working for three years with the Hydro-Electric Commission in Hobart and a consultancy firm in Kuala Lumpur, he joined the Department of Civil Engineering of the University of Malaya in 1963. Between 1968 and 1972, he was on leave from the UM to obtain his PhD in Materials Science on the topic of chemical admixtures in concrete. After returning, he was Head of the Department before leaving in 1979 to join the then University of Singapore, now National University of Singapore, and held the position of Vice-Dean before his retirement in 1996. Currently, he is a Honorary Fellow to continue with research on concrete materials and construction.
Qualifications
- BEng (Hons) in Civil Engineering, University of Adelaide, South Australia
- MEng in Structural Engineering, University of Adelaide, South Australia
- PhD in Materials Science (Concrete Technology), University of Calgary, Canada.
- Registered Professional Engineer, Malaysia
- Registered Professional Engineer, Singapore
- Chartered Engineer, UK
- Fellow, Institution of Engineers, Malaysia
- Fellow, Institution of Engineers, Singapore
- Fellow, Institution of Structural Engineers, UK
- Fellow, American Concrete Institute
- Fellow, Concrete Society, London
- Member, American Society for Testing and Materials
Honours & Awards
- ASEAN Outstanding Engineering Achievement Award, 2021, ASEAN Federation of Engineering Organizations (CAFEO)
- Gold Medal in recognition of services to standardization, 1985, SISIR (now SPRING, Singapore)
- Distinguish Award in recognition of outstanding contributions to national accreditation programme, 2006, Singapore Accreditation Council
- Distinguish Partner Award in recognition of distinguish services and outstanding contributions towards quality and standards in Singapore, 2010, SPRING Singapore
- Singapore Concrete Institute – Life Member (inaugural first life member), 1997
- American Concrete Institute, Singapore Chapter – Distinguished Chapter Member, 1999
- Singapore Concrete Institute – Life Time Achievement Award, for contributions and dedication to SCI and the concrete industry in higher learning and engineering achievement, 2009
- Concrete Society of Malaysia – CSM Excellent Award, in recognition of contribution made to CSM, 2008
- Ready-mixed Association of Singapore Concrete Award – Properties of moist-cured cellular concrete, Lim, T. Y., Sri Ravindrarajah, R., Tam, C. T. and Lee, S. L., Proc. 10th Conference on Our World in Concrete & Structures, Singapore, 1985
- Engr. Kenneth Y D Gin Award for Prestigious Publication (Application), Institution of Engineers, Singapore – Appraisal and repair of concrete structures, Lee, S.L., Tam, C.T., Swaddiwudhipong, S., Quek, S.T. and Ong, K.C.G, Journal of Institution of Engineers, Singapore, Vol. 29, N2, pp 41-52, 1989.
Professional Activities
- Member, (Individual capacity) Building and Construction Standards Committee
- Member, (Individual capacity) Technical Committee on Building Structures and Sub-structure
- Member, Committee C1 Cement, ASTM International
- Member, Committee C9 Concrete, ASTM International
- Member, Sub-Committee C09.47, Self-Consolidating Concrete, ASTM International
- Member, ACI Committee 237 – Self-Consolidating Concrete, ACI International
- Chairmen, Technical Committee on Proficiency Testing, SINGLAS
Teaching Areas
- Concrete and its constituent materials
- Concrete construction
Research Interests
- Appropriate applications of concrete in tropical environment
- High performance concrete
- Sustainable concrete construction
Selected Publications
- Tam, C.T., Hendra, S.S., Ong, K.C.G., Tan, C.H., Lee, N.K. and Hu, C., “Development of CAC concrete jacking pipe for sewer application in Singapore”, Calcium Aluminate Cements, Centenary Conference 2008, Avignon, France, June-July 2008, pp 321-330.
- Tam, C.T., Harsono, E and Swaddiwudhipong, S., “Concreting in the tropics: precautions and opportunities”, Keynote Paper, Theme 1: Retaining and Extending Performance, Proc. Conference 3, Concrete Durability: Achievement and Enhancement, 7th International Congress, Concrete: Construction’s Sustainable Option, Dundee, 8-10 July 2008, Ed. R K Dhir, T A Harison, Z Li and S Kandasami, HIS BRE Press, 2008, pp 33-44.
- Tam, C.T., Ong, K.C.G., Zhang, M.H. and Hao J.B., “Challenges in concrete for sustainable construction”, Keynote Paper, 10th International Conference on Concrete Engineering and Technology 2009, Shah Alam, March, 2009, Jointly organised by UiTM, UM and IEM, 2009 pp
- Tam, C.T., “Innovative approach for casting of thick foundation rafts – sandwich concept”, OWICS Lecture, Proc. Twin Coimbra International Conferences on Civil Engineering – Towards a better environment and The Concrete Future, 17-19 June 2009, Coimbra, Portugal, Ed. S Lopes, I M Pinto, C T Tam and J Y S Tan, CI-Premier, Singapore, pp CF31- CF40.
- Tam, C.T. and Loo, Y.H., “Civil engineering – education, research and practice: understanding concrete“, Proc. The Professor Lee Seng Lip symposium, Education, Research and Practice in Civil Engineering and Infrastructure, March 2011, Singapore, National University of Singapore, pp 115-124.
- Tam, C. T., Ong, K.C.G., Akbarnezhad, A. and Zhang, M.H, “Research on recycled concrete aggregate at National University of Singapore, 11th International Conference on Concrete Engineering and Technology 2012 (CONCET2012), 12th –13th June 2012, Putrajaya, Malaysia