All articles published in the November 2015 issue.
Publish Date – 2 November 2015
Good structures are an important part of our quality of life. They contribute to what in German is called Baukultur - the culture of building. It is the responsibility of structural and civil engineers to furnish buildings and our built technical infrastructure - bridges, towers, roofs - with good (i.e. high-quality) structures to make a positive contribution to the culture of building and to satisfy ourselves.
In this article, adapted from a keynote lecture at the IABSE 2015 Conference in Nara, Japan, The Institution of Structural Engineers' 2015 Gold Medallist, Mike Schlaich, explores the idea of 'elegant structures' and asks whether elegance is an ingredient of a high-quality structure.
The design of the BREEAM ‘Outstanding’ Centre was developed from the outset to control its environmental and social impact, achieving the highest standards of sustainable construction.
This month's article from Griffiths & Armour explains the benefits of net contribution clauses (NCCs) and clauses which limit an engineer's liability.
Adrian Young of BM TRADA describes the National Structural Timber Specification and explains how structural engineers will use it in practice.
This article considers the effect of changes introduced in the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 (CDM 2015) for small-scale and domestic projects. Generally the requirements of CDM 2015 do not change with the scale of the project if there is likely to be more than one contractor; however, there are some changes if a single contractor will undertake the work.
This article presents detailed advice on the material properties and structural design of CLT based on current UK practice.
In this article, issues associated with the scaffolding of historic structures are briefly explored and illustrated through four case studies. These are projects that crossed the author's desk, as a consulting engineer specialising in the conservation of historic structures, within a few months of each other. They explore some of the constraints imposed by 'historic fabric' and other factors, the compromises made, and the solutions reached.
In this new section of The Structural Engineer, we shine a spotlight on papers recently published in Structures – the Research Journal of The Institution of Structural Engineers.
Structures is a collaboration between the Institution and Elsevier, publishing internationally-leading research across the full breadth of structural engineering which will benefit from wide readership by academics and practitioners. Access to Structures is free to all during 2015. From 2016, Institution members will continue to receive free access as one of their membership benefits. The journal is available online at: www.elsevier.com/locate/structures
Ernest Pennells recounts his experiences of unethical conduct during his diverse career and calls on companies and governments to do more to challenge questionable practices.
Alastair Hughes is concerned that lessons have not been learned from the damage caused by exceptional snowfall in Scotland in 2010 and sets out measures that could address this.
Colin Caprani enjoys this introduction to MATLAB, which would make an ideal companion for engineers interested in starting to program.
Practising engineers will find this well-structured book an excellent resource, writes Tim Stratford, with case studies and data presenting the latest international research and practice.
Letters this month include discussion on the CDM 2015 Regulations, corrosion of steel frames within masonry, and a possible change to the materials factor being considered for Eurocode 3...