Research for the Concrete Industry The Work of the Research Organization of the Cement and Concrete

The United Steel Company’s Pegasus Computer was installed in Sheffield in February, 1958, and one of the first major tasks assigned to the programming staff was in the field of structural steel design. This particular application of the computer had been suggested by the United Steel Structural Company with a view to employing the machine on their problems. L. Morgan

The paper contains the results of an investigation into the elastic critical loads of multi-bay pitched roof portal frames using an electronic digital computer. The variables considered are: (a) The number of bays. (b) The ratio Span / Stanchion height (c) The angle of inclination of the rafters. (d) The ratio Inertia of Stanchion / Inertia of Rafter (e) The end fixity of the internal stanchions. D. M. Brotton

The generalised slope-deflection method of structural analysis is now quite well-known and is particularly suitable for the electronic computer solution of rigid jointed frameworks. It was used for the analysis of plane frameworks by Livesley,who went on to develop his basic computer programme to include for automatic design and elastic instability. There is no theoretical difficulty in extending the method for the elastic analysis of any space structure, with the following variations allowed in the members, if applicable:- (i) variable sections, (ii) curved or bent centre-lines, (iii) rigid, pinned or elastically-restrained connections. It is also possible to include for the effects of:- (iv) shearing, twisting, axial and bending deformations (v) elastic supports along the lengths of members, (vi) force, moment and torque loadings, (vii) settlements and temperature changes. E. Lightfoot and F. Sawko