Issue 12

Several lessons have been learned about GRP and its application to building by the author's firm in carrying out a number of practical designs and supervising their construction. These, and lessons yet to be learned, are set out in relation to the many different facets of GRP behaviour in buildings. A.J. Leggatt

Towards a European Code for concrete' may be construed in two ways; in the somewhat restricted sense of 'towards an EEC Code' or in the wider sense of towards a combined East-West Code'. Both are worth consideration but the following discussion is concerned mainly with the restricted construction of a Community Code.

In the 42 years since the granting of its Charter the Institution has had five Presidents who were distinguished academics, either Principals of colleges or University Professors. The most recent was 11 years ago, so it is perhaps timely that a Presidential Address should be devoted, at least in part, to some aspects of the teaching of engineers and its relevance to their future careers as practitioners. W. Eastwood

A method is proposed for calculating the strength of stiffened steel compression flanges. The method is claimed to be simple yet reliable. J.B. Dwight and G.H. Little

A theoretical method is described for predicting the strength of stiffened plating loaded in uniaxial compression, and is used to analyse a range of cases. Local buckling is allowed for in the plating, by using an average compressive 'stress-strain' curve appropriate to the plate elements. However, local buckling is not allowed for in the stiffeners. The stiffened plating is analysed as a column, consideration being given both to pin-ended panels, and also to the effect of longitudinal continuity in a multi-bay structure. The study of pin-ended panels is restricted to the situation where overall failure is triggered by local failure of the plate. G.H. Little

In recent months first one engineer and then another has drawn our attention to a circumstance which we find most disturbing. It appears that some public authorities, and apparently an increasing number, are requiring engineers engaged to design and supervise public works to submit their adjudication of contractors' claims to the authority for consideration and approval before the engineer intimates to the contractor his judgment on the claim. It seems to us that this implies no less than that the authority wishes to influence, if not to direct, the judgment which under the ICE conditions and recognised practice in the UK it is the duty of the engineer to exercise. Both parties, authority and contractor, have sufficient and satisfactory ways to appeal and to seek redress it they disagree with the engineer's adjudication; this sort of interference with the engineer's responsibility to reach an equitable and fair decision without fear or favour seems to us to undermine the much respected integrity of the UK engineer and to be not at all in the interests of the nation, particularly at a time when our technological skills and integrity are some of our most marketable exports. If our own authorities are not prepared to adhere strictly to the standard conditions of contract which they adopt, how can we expect others to do so and to employ British engineers to design and manage projects abroad? And what of the contractors; would they consider this to be an acceptable condition if it were to be written into their contract? Verulam