Specialization

Structural Engineering

Email

nikhil.sharma@thapar.edu

BIOGRAPHY:

Dr. Nikhil Sharma is a Research Assistant Professor in the Civil Engineering Department at Thapar Institute of Engineering and Technology (TIET), Patiala. He specializes in the development of advanced materials for corrosion protection in reinforced concrete and steel structures, with a strong focus on nano-modified epoxy coatings, self-healing systems, and sustainable construction technologies.

Dr. Sharma earned his Ph.D. from TIET, where his research centered on modified epoxy coatings using nano-fillers such as graphene oxide (GO), reduced graphene oxide (rGO), nano-clays, and polyaniline for corrosion inhibition in concrete reinforcement. His multidisciplinary expertise spans corrosion science, nano-composite synthesis, surface modification, electrochemical evaluation, and non-destructive monitoring techniques.

He has contributed to several high-impact journals and presented at prominent international conferences. Dr. Sharma has also been recognized with the Roop and Kavita Mahajan Award for Best Doctoral Thesis (2024) by Virginia Tech and TIET with a cash prize of Rs 50,000. His ongoing work aims to integrate smart, eco-friendly materials into infrastructure for enhanced durability under aggressive environmental conditions.

EDUCATION

• Ph.D. in Civil Engineering from Thapar Institute of Engineering and Technology, Punjab, India (2020-2024).
• M.E. in Structural Engineering from Thapar Institute of Engineering and Technology, Punjab, India (2017-2019).
• B.E. in Civil Engineering from Chandigarh University, Gharuan, Punjab, India (2012-2016).

RESEARCH INTERESTS

• Corrosion in Steel and Concrete
• Nano-Composite Coatings
• Self-Healing Strategies
• Non-Destructive Monitoring
• Sustainable and Smart Composites
• Nano-Modification of Epoxy Coatings

PEER-REVIEWED SCI JOURNAL ARTICLES

1. Sharma, N., Sharma, S., Sharma, S. K., & Mehta, R. (2020). Evaluation of corrosion inhibition and self-healing capabilities of nano clay and tung oil microencapsulated epoxy coatings on rebars in concrete. Construction and Building Materials, 259, 120278.
2. Sharma, N., Sharma, S., Sharma, S. K., Mahajan, R. L., & Mehta, R. (2022). Evaluation of corrosion inhibition capability of graphene-modified epoxy coatings on reinforcing bars in concrete. Construction and Building Materials, 322, 126495.
3. Sharma, N., Sharma, S., Sharma, S. K., Mahajan, R. L., & Mehta, R. (2023). Investigations on corrosion inhibition performance of self-healing nano-clay modified epoxy coatings. Journal of Building Engineering, 106368.
4. Sharma, N., Sharma, S., Sharma, S. K., Mahajan, R. L., & Mehta, R. (2024). Synergistic corrosion prevention of mild steel bars in concrete using PANI and nano-clay modified epoxy coatings. Journal of Building Engineering, 98, 111509.
5. Sharma, N., Sharma, S., Sharma, S. K., & Mehta, R. (2023). Nano-Modified Epoxy Coatings for Enhanced Corrosion Inhibition in Reinforcing Bars. Transactions of the Indian Institute of Metals, 1-9.

PEER-REVIEWED NON-SCI JOURNAL ARTICLES

1. Sharma, N., Sharma, S., Sharma, S. K., & Mehta, R. (2023). Nano-modified epoxy coatings: An effective method for sustainable construction. Materials Today: Proceedings.

INTERNATIONAL/NATIONAL CONFERENCES

1. Sharma, N., Sharma, S., Sharma, S. K., & Mehta, R. (2024). “Epoxy Coated Rebars in Concrete: Integration of Nano-Clays and Self-Healing Microcapsules for Sustainable Construction”, 10th International conference on Concrete Under Severe Conditions – Environment and Loading (CONSEC-2024), IIT-Madras, India, 25-27 September, 2024.
2. Sharma, N., Sharma, S., Sharma, S. K., & Mehta, R. (2024). “Enhancing Corrosion Resistance of Epoxy Coatings Using Different Nano-Fillers”, International conference on Composite Materials for Environment Protection & Remediation (ICCMEPR-2024), Online Conference, 02-03 July, 2024.
3. Sharma, N., Sharma, S., Sharma, S. K., & Mehta, R. (2024). “Synergetic Effect of Self-Healing Tung-Oil Microcapsules with Nano-Clay in Epoxy Coatings for Corrosion Inhibition”, International conference on Sustainable Development in Chemical and Environmental Engineering, TIET-Patiala, Punjab, India, 22-24 February, 2024.
4. Sharma, N., Sharma, S., Sharma, S. K., & Mehta, R. (2023). “Nano-Modified Epoxy Coatings: An Effective Method for Sustainable Construction”, International UKIERI Concrete Congress, NIT Jalandhar, Punjab, India, 14-17 March, 2023.
5. Sharma, N., Sharma, S., Sharma, S. K., & Mehta, R. (2022). “Nano-Modified Epoxy Coatings for Enhanced Corrosion Inhibition of Reinforcing Bars”, International Conference on Corrosion and Coatings (i3C), Jamshedpur, India, 07-08 December, 2022.
6. Sharma, N., Sharma, S., Sharma, S. K., & Mehta, R. (2019). “Review of modified epoxy coatings for corrosion inhibition in reinforcement bars”. National conference on pollution control technologies and sustainable development, 2019 in MNIT, Jaipur, India.

AWARDS, HONORS AND ACHIEVEMENTS

1. Roop and Kavita Mahajan Award for Best Doctoral Thesis 2024, presented by Virginia Tech, USA and the Center of Excellence in Emerging Materials (CEEMS) at Thapar Institute of Engineering & Technology (TIET). With a cash prize of 50,000/- INR.
2. Awarded 1st prize in the “best poster” category in the “International Conference on Corrosion and Coatings (i3C)” held at CSIR-National Metallurgical Laboratory, Jamshedpur during December 07-08, 2022 for technical paper “Nano modified epoxy coatings for enhanced corrosion inhibition of reinforcing bars”.
3. Best poster presentation award in “CEEMS Scholar’s Day” held at Thapar Institute of Engineering and Technology, Patiala.
4. GATE 2017 qualified.