The Institution’s policy on continuing professional development (CPD) is set out clearly in the policy statement approved by Council, and described eslewhere in this colloquium. This paper discusses the interpretation of that policy by a consultant in the context of a busy working practice, with many demands on its time and resources. The place of CPD in the overall management structure is described and an attempt made to assess the cost and time implications. J.H. Armstrong
In this short paper I will set out (tersely and perhaps somewhat aggressively) an argument for radical reconstruction of programmes for continuing professional development. I relate my argument to findings which I have obtained within the construction industry, during a 12-month project completed only recently. But I believe they are of wider relevance, and I advance them with that personal conviction-in the first person singular! Professor J. Cowan
The Institution has a vested interest in improving the expertise of its membership in two respects. First, it will gain in prestige and influence if its members are recognised by the public as being well-educated and trained, with high professional standards, able to manage their business affairs with skill, responsive to the needs of industry, and careful of the public safety and health. Secondly, the lnstitution itself will have a ready supply of good people who are able not only to direct its affairs efficiently, but also to speak authoritatively on its behalf, to advise Government ministries, to prepare new or improved design Codes ahead of necessity, to investigate new methods of design or construction, to give advice on how to avoid those errors and mistakes that lead to disasters, and to promote the good of the profession. Professor A. Bolton
The paper discusses the basic philosophy of designing long spans in buildings, as different from, but compared to, long-span bridges. It reviews, from first principles, the fundamental interdependence between stability, stiffness, and strength, and explains historical bias. J. Bobrowski
Mr D. A. Langdown (F) (Costain Construction Ltd.): First, I would congratulate the authors on their paper which describes a job with a number of very interesting features, particularly in relation to ground works.
The term ‘model’ was formerly used mainly to denote physical scale representations of objects. Our usage of this term in engineering is widening. For example, we talk more of ‘analytical modelling’ rather than of ‘structural analysis’ because we do have a much wider choice of models than in the pre-computer era. To some extent it is the development in the use of computers that has caused us to think more deeply in terms of models. In order to program a design process, a model of the process is needed. Professor I.A. MacLeod
Conspectus The fifth report of the Standing Committee, issued in June 1982*, referred to the decision made by the Presidents of the Institutions of Civil, Municipal and Structural Engineers to reconstitute the committee under a new Chairman, following the retirement of Lord Penney, who had been the committee’s Chairman for 6 years. Sir Derman Christopherson was subsequently appointed Chairman, and the new committee started its work in November 1983.
Suddenly applied loads Readers will recall a letter from Mr N. W. Sutton (September 1985) in which he sought help in resolving a difficulty he had found in calculating the stress in a tie bar due to a suddenly applied load. His letter brought a very substantial response from members, which was referred to in the column in December. Since then we have had more letters on the subject, from Mr F. Myerscough of Preston, Mr N. Jackson of Dundee, writing from Riyadh, and Prof. S. R. Reid of UMIST. Each of the writers points out the error in Mr Sutton’s reasoning, and Prof. Reid adds further comments of more general interest. Verulam